SENIOR OFFICER, SPIA USE OF EVIDENCE, CGIAR INDEPENDENT ADVISORY AND EVALUATION SERVICE (IAES)

Senior Officer, SPIA Use of Evidence Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA) The Organization The Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA) is an external, impartial panel of experts in impact assessment appointed by and accountable to CGIAR’s representative body of funders and developing countries. CGIAR is a global research partnership for a food-secure future dedicated to transforming food, land, and water systems in a climate crisis. The SPIA Professional Team supports SPIA’s work, providing the technical and operational support to SPIA to implement its workplan and deliver its mandate. The Senior Officer, SPIA Use of Evidence is part of the SPIA Professional Team, part of which is organized under CGIAR’s Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service (IAES) hosted by the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT in Rome, Italy. About the position The Senior Officer is a critical role, requiring skills both in impact assessment methods and an understanding of how to reach users of impact evidence. Under the programmatic and strategic leadership of the SPIA Chair and/or a SPIA panel member designated by the Chair and with a reporting line to IAES Director, the position will: Provide strategic insights to use of evidence generated through the SPIA portfolio. Support panel members in understanding developments in CGIAR and demand for evidence from relevant audiences. Work with the SPIA professional team on key messages from the SPIA portfolio to be shared with relevant stakeholders. Key responsibilities Use of Evidence Develop and implement a Use of Evidence Strategy for SPIA 2023-2030 plan, defining and refining the strategies for better use of evidence by different CGIAR stakeholders. Work with panel members on developing Theories of Change for use of evidence for the strategy and key emerging SPIA products, in close collaboration with SPIA Professional Team. Liaise with consortium contract holders to co-develop sub-strategies for use of evidence coming out of the country studies of the 2023-2030 SPIA Plan. Coordinate evidence generated through subcontracted research and channel through strategic formats for use by CGIAR stakeholders. Develop an operational plan, monitor and report on the progress of the Use of Evidence strategy. Develop or adapt tools and standards for consortium contract holders and sub-grantees and support capacity to contribute seamlessly to SPIA Use of Evidence activities. Liaise with subcontracted research teams, working closely with Use of Evidence counterparts in subcontracted teams, on all use-of-evidence activities, to assure the organization and monitoring of the different events and outreach activities. Identify and engineer opportunities to engage users and communicate evidence. Support the SPIA Chair and SPIA panel members in effective communication with the CGIAR Governing bodies and committees. Identify opportunities and package appropriately emerging findings and themes from SPIA supported current country and causal impact studies (2023-2030) plan and earlier waves of SPIA evidence when applicable, for continuity of communications about evidence to users. Stimulate and support SPIA actions engaging evidence users during design and implementation, to create a foundation for subsequent use of evidence. Lead dissemination of the synthesis of insights/lessons from the SPIA portfolio aligned with the strategy and arising opportunities. Organize SPIA webinar series, including webinars to engage Science leaders on new developments in Impact Assessment in the CGIAR, focusing on evidence use. Liaise with other members of the SPIA professional team to stay up to date with technical developments in the full SPIA portfolio and identify opportunities to share generated evidence in user-friendly formats for relevant audiences. Support use of evidence activities with internal stakeholder groups. Support SPIA Principal Scientist in encouraging Science leaders, the research community of the CGIAR and national partners and stakeholders more broadly in a dialogue and reflection on findings from the reach and impact studies. In close collaboration with the SPIA Principal Scientist, plan strategic Use of Evidence activities as part of visits to CGIAR centers by members of the SPIA Panel and SPIA professional team to help increase the dialogue with several CGIAR actors. Coordinate with SPIA Principal Scientist to ensure that lessons drawn from the portfolio of learning and accountability studies are brought for discussion with Science Leadership Team and their teams. Document reflections and management and governance body responses to SPIA evidence presented at dissemination events, to be shared with System Council members. Keep other independent advisory and evaluation functions informed and up-to-date with new evidence generated by SPIA and share relevant lessons learned. Assess, monitor and supervise activities to fulfill a variety of Use of Evidence support and technical backstopping needs, which may include supervision of a long-term communications consultant. Cross-cutting responsibilities (Use of Evidence, IA Methods Guidance & Other) Coordinate copy-editing, layout work and launch campaigns for SPIA reports and technical notes. Lead the implementation of a successful communication and social media strategy of SPIA and coordinate the timing of communication products within IAES to leverage shared platforms and services. Prepare and/or coordinate preparation of communication products (technical notes, research summaries, blogs, presentations) for various audiences. Provide SPIA updates as part of IAES joint communications products (bi-monthly newsletter and annual report). Contribute to discussions to maximize use of CGIAR’s MELIA system as one appropriate channel for SPIA evidence and feed materials through this system to CGIAR management and other decision makers. Requirements A Master’s degree in Economics or Political Science. Preferably at least 5 years of post-MA experience, among which at least 2 years dealing with communicating research findings to different audiences. Mother tongue or fluent in English. Working knowledge of Spanish or French. Data visualization skills – knowledge and experience in presenting data to different audiences by using Tableau or similar software. Good understanding of rigorous impact assessment research. Experience of working in multidisciplinary, multicultural organizations and preferred good knowledge of CGIAR. Experience in communicating research findings to different audiences. Experience in public speaking and addressing different audiences in English. Demonstrated ability to independently manage and prioritize a busy and diverse workload with a range of deliverables for a variety of stakeholders. Benefits Terms of employment This is an internationally recruited position based in Rome, Italy. The salary level is level 10, on a scale of 14 levels, with level 14 being the highest. The Alliance offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive salary, non-contributory retirement plan, medical insurance, housing allowance and leave provisions. All benefits are denominated and paid in US Dollars. The initial contract will be for a period of 3 years subject to a probationary period of six months and is renewable based on performance and availability of funds. Applications Please apply online through the website (https://.../jobs/) no later than 19 January 2025, attaching a curriculum vitae, motivation letter, both in English, and contact information (e.g. names, email address) of at least three references. Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Closing date for applications: 19 January 2025 For more information about IAES, refer to: https://.../ We invite you to learn more about us at: http://alliancebioversityciat.org Please visit our careers page at: https://alliancebioversityciat.org/careers #J-18808-Ljbffr