Learning Practice Specialist

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What will you do?

• The Learning Practice Specialist will play a critical role in supporting deliberate and intentional utilization-focused learning that will guide adaptive management. Reporting to the Director of Performance Improvement, this position will provide expert-level support in fostering collaboration, learning, and adaptation (CLA) within USAID/Uganda, implementing partners, and the UMEL team. The ideal candidate will leverage data, reports, and stakeholder experiences to enhance project efficiency and effectiveness through improved learning and adaptive management practices. The Learning Practice Specialist will collaborate with the Senior MEL Specialists, Geographical Information System (GIS), and Visualization Specialist to address capacity-building gaps across the mission and IPs, and when developing guidance documents and trainings, to ensure these are grounded in best practices for learning. Additionally, the Learning Practice Specialist will provide expert-level support and advice on how projects can work together more effectively, how to better use data to learn, and ultimately, how to adapt programming.

Responsiblities

• Support the Director of Performance Improvement to design and organize learning events. They will draft the event summaries and develop appropriate follow-up actions with participants in events.
• Lead the development and implementation of a UMEL learning strategy that aligns with the overall MEL strengthening objectives and addresses the specific needs of the learning platform.
• Provide guidance, technical leadership, and oversight for UMEL teams supporting CLA assignments for USAID and their partners.
• Collaborate with the Senior MEL Specialist to design and implement interventions to develop the capacity of Agreement and Contracting Officers’ Representatives (A/CORs) and IP MEL Specialists to implement data quality assessments (DQAs).
• Collaborate on a capacity-building strategy. Work closely with the Senior MEL Specialists to develop and implement comprehensive MEL/CLA capacity-building strategies for USAID Mission, implementing partners, and UMEL teams.
• Design and deliver engaging CLA learning programs and curate a comprehensive library of resources, such as manuals, guides, toolkits, online courses, and other materials that support MEL capacity building, incorporating adult learning principles and innovative approaches to strengthen MEL capacity.
• Support the development of capacity-strengthening activities, tools, and practices in collaboration with the Senior MEL Specialists. The Learning Practice Specialist will also gather feedback, track the use of the learning tools and practices, and make recommendations for adjustments during the annual work planning process.
• Lead the development of a CLA calendar for the mission and UMEL to ensure proper event planning and execution.
• Advise the Director of Performance Improvement, Senior MEL Specialists, and USAID on innovative approaches to integrate CLA practices into program design, implementation, and evaluation.
• Conduct analysis of UMEL Activity data, reports, and stakeholder experiences to identify trends, best practices, and areas for improvement in CLA approaches.
• Through capacity-building efforts, lead the development and revision of learning agendas, pause-and-reflect sessions, and after-action reviews to promote continuous improvement and knowledge sharing among USAID implementing partners.
• Collaborate with the Communications Specialist and Graphics and Multimedia Specialist to create engaging learning products and knowledge management tools and products.
• Support the Director of Performance Improvement to design and deliver capacity-building initiatives on CLA methodologies for USAID staff and implementing partners.
• Provide thought leadership through the development of case studies, CLA case stories, articles, and presentations on effective CLA practices.
• Provide technical and managerial support on projects, such as learning events, workshops, training, analysis, or other tasks as required.
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field, plus 7 years of related experience; or Master’s Degree in a relevant field, plus 3 years of related experience.
• Fluency in English.
• Experience working on USAID-funded projects.
• Experience as a trainer, committed to capacity-building approaches.
• Experience with CDCS development and portfolio reviews.
• Experience in the development of knowledge management systems.
• Experience in creating communication and learning products.
• Recognized subject matter experience in USAID’s approach to collaborating, learning, and adapting, with strong people skills.
• Technical experience in one or more thematic sectors (such as health, democracy and governance, education, civil society strengthening, environment, etc.) is a strong plus.