Regional Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting Specialist – Hawassa – Feed the Future Ethiopia Community Nutrition Activity

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) has over 30 years’ experience assisting governments, communities, and the private sector. As a not-for-profit, independent research institute based in North Carolina, USA, RTI has roughly 6,000 employees with global experience implementing international development projects. RTI’s Sustainable Growth & Resilience (SG&R) technical unit within the International Development Group brings together RTI experts and capabilities across food security, agriculture, energy, environment, water, governance, and economic opportunity. SG&R will leverage RTI’s experience designing and delivering multisectoral programming and technical solutions to respond to climate change, build resilience, and promote economic growth around the world. 

SG&R’s Global Food Security and Agriculture portfolio is working to strengthen agricultural markets, engage youth and women as critical leaders of the on- and off-farm workforce, and tackle the dual burden of malnutrition around the globe. RTI’s work is helping foster stronger food systems, reduce malnutrition in all its forms, build resilience and engage the next generation of food security leaders. RTI is currently partnering on nearly 30 projects in East Africa, including activities focused on private sector-driven agricultural growth in Rwanda and market systems development in Kenya. 

Project Description 

The purpose of the USAID Ethiopia: Feed the Future Ethiopia Community Nutrition Activity (ECNA) is to improve the nutritional status of women and children through improving appropriate nutritional practices and utilizations of nutrition services in the communities. The program will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with five regional offices in Bahir Dar, Dire Dawa, Hawassa, Mekelle, and Adama. RTI is a subcontractor to FHI360 on this program and will 1) lead the research, evaluation, and learning aspects of the project, 2) serve as a focal point to ensure close coordination between this program and the USAID Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture Activity, and 3) support the mainstreaming of resilience and private sector engagement through the provision of short-term technical assistance, as necessary. 

Position Description 

RTI International is seeking a Regional Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) Specialist – Hawassa for ECNA. The Regional CLA Specialist (Hawassa) will be responsible for overseeing collaboration and learning activities within Hawassa. The Regional CLA Specialist will have a key role in this approach by preparing and disseminating research and learning findings in interactive formats, and facilitating reflection, learning, and planning activities. The Regional CLA Specialist will report-out on learning in routine team meeting and disseminate highlights in written form, while including ensure knowledge management policies are followed for all research and learning deliverables. The Regional CLA Specialist will also provide supplemental analysis and data visualization of qualitative and quantitative research and M&E data and track adaptive management processes and outcomes for Hawassa. 

This position will be based in Hawassa and will report to the Regional Office Director and CLA Lead. 

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary point of contact for learning agenda activities in Hawassa, responsible for filtering learning needs and requests to the CLA Lead and Research Manager and carrying out CLA activities independently in the field.  
• At the regional level, facilitate learning events, such as reflection sessions, interactive presentations and small group discussions, roundtable discussions, and synthesizing and communicating results effectively to the CLA Lead. 
• Help to design facilitated learning activities, prepare templates and materials under the direction of the CLA Lead and Research Manager. 

• Take meeting minutes, synthesize inputs from the learning activities and channel to CLA Lead using specified formats and platforms, as needed.  
• Provide training to staff on the use of virtual collaboration and communication platforms, such as Mural, Miro, MS Whiteboard, Jamboard, etc.   
• Provide assistance to the Research Manager with data quality oversight and data, liaise with and provide support to analysts in the research partner, as requested.  
• Support and provide supplemental analysis and data visualization of qualitative and quantitative research and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) data, prepare reports and presentations for learning events. 
• Work closely with technical team members to gather and share necessary data for M&E reporting needs and CLA activities.   

• Outline specific learning questions and activities and work closely with the technical staff to generate, validate, and present data in user-friendly format.  
• Facilitate constructive and collaborative dialogue during regular Learning, Monitoring and Evaluation (LME) project reviews and biweekly team meetings.   
• Track adaptive management decisions at the regional level. 
• Follow knowledge management (KM) policies and ensure all data and reports are disseminated and processed accordingly.   
• Prepare biweekly updates on tasks and deliverables. 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and 5 years of experience, Master’s degree and 3 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 
• Knowledge of reporting procedures, best practices, guidelines, methods, and approaches for LME and CLA.   
• Excellent management, communication, and organizational skills (attention to detail is required); demonstrated flexibility and capacity to multi-task.   

• Proven ability to work under pressure, and with multiple concurrent demands. 
• Strong leadership skills across various levels of staff and locations.   
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.  
• Ability to work throughout Ethiopia. 
• Fluency in English required. 
• Additional fluency in regional language preferred.