Project Code: USAID-USA-12
| Project Title | Using evidence to maximize development impact in Latin America and the Caribbean |
|---|---|
| Project Summary | USAID's Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is seeking 1-3 monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) enthusiasts from various social science disciplines to help the LAC Bureau expand use of data and evidence for learning and accountability in the LAC region. |
| Country | United States |
| Agency | Agency for International Development |
| DoS Office | N/A |
| Post | N/A |
| Section | N/A |
| Number of Interns | 3 |
USAID is committed to accountability, transparency, and evidence-based management for all our programs in the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. The LAC Bureau supports use of innovative monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems, methods, technologies, and tools that generate the quality data and robust evidence needed to maximize results of a wide range of programs.
To that end, the LAC Bureau seeks 1-3 virtual student interns, representing a variety of social science backgrounds, to support various MEL efforts in the coming year. Illustrative examples include:
- Researching and analyzing third-party sources of data for use in strategic planning and context monitoring
- Synthesizing USAID evaluations and drafting “learning briefs”
- Identifying and synthesizing other donors’ evaluations and assessments on specific topics, such as private sector engagement or enhancing country capacity
| Skill(s) |
|---|
| Data analysis |
| Data visualization |
| Editing and proofreading |
| Infographic design |
| Research |
| Writing |
To complement program performance data, USAID uses regional and national development data supplied by international organizations, national governments, and independent third-party organizations to inform strategic planning and monitor regional and national contexts that affect ongoing programs. In 2018, USAID launched Journey to Self-Reliance Country Roadmaps, which help the Agency and our partners understand how self-reliant each of our partner countries is overall – as well as each country’s self-reliance strengths and challenges – and tailor partnerships accordingly (For more information, go to https://selfreliance.usaid.gov/ ). Together, these data help us ensure USAID programs continue to be a strategic and effective use of taxpayer funds.
USAID also commissions external, independent evaluations (performance and impact) of individual programs, or groups of programs. External, independent evaluations commissioned by USAID are published on USAID’s DEC website (see https://dec.usaid.gov/dec/content/evaluations.aspx ). In addition, studies and assessments—which focus on broader, often cross-cutting, themes or technical sectors—also help the LAC Bureau and field missions to synthesize and analyze data and evidence generated by USAID and our development partners.