Lead Mitigation Researcher, MENA MELS Activity, Remote

Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, D.C. metro area management consultancy with a 40-year history of delivering results for our clients. Our expertise is in the fields of monitoring and evaluation; democracy and governance; peace and stability; rule of law and accountability; education; gender and inclusion; strategic communications; and leadership and organizational development. MSI has implemented projects in 90 countries around the world such as Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria and Ukraine, and works domestically. We support clients ranging from the U.S. Government (e.g., the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Departments of State and Labor, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation) to large bilateral and multilateral donors (e.g., the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program). We also work with national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, foundations and universities. For more information, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com.

Project Summary:

The Middle East and North Africa Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Services (MENA MELS) Activity delivers high-quality technical support for monitoring, evaluation, and learning to the Middle East Bureau, its ten field missions, operating units, and implementing partners. Project services include monitoring systems, evaluations, assessments, and research; analysis and synthesis; learning and utilization; and MEL capacity building and training. Additional information on the MENA MELS Project is available here. MSI was commissioned by USAID to help develop a regional and country-level profile of lead prevalence and mitigation activities, including a profile of best practices in lead mitigation. Protecting communities from lead exposure and lead poisoning is an emergent USAID priority in low- and middle-income countries. In response to Administrator Power’s call to eliminate toxic lead in January 2024, USAID Missions were asked to develop plans to sensitize key stakeholders and host governments to the topic of lead mitigation and identify actionable lead mitigation activities. Currently, USAID missions across the MENA region are preparing plans but additional research is needed to inform USAID’s approach.

**Please note: Only current residents or citizens in Lebanon, Tunisia and Egypt are eligible for this position**

Position Summary:

The Lead Mitigation Researcher of Lebanon, Tunisia, or Egypt will provide critical insights and recommendations with respect to the Researcher’s assigned country. The Researcher will start with a desk review of relevant literature at the MENA and national level. This role will explore existing research, policies, data, and interventions related to the sources of lead exposure, as well as strategies implemented to mitigate its impact. The Researcher will then conduct key informant interviews in each of the priority countries with various stakeholders such as government, business, and civil society, to help understand what work in the main mitigation space is being done, what gaps need to be addressed, and what opportunities exist for USAID to support these efforts. The period of performance is between July – September 2024 for approximately 25 days.

Responsibilities:

• Identify the primary sources of lead exposure in assigned country, including Lebanon, Tunisia, or Egypt.
• Contribute to the design of qualitative research tools.
• Explain specific needs in assigned country, including Lebanon, Tunisia, or Egypt, in terms of preventing and responding to lead exposures.
• Help identify successful or promising interventions, campaigns, or programs in Lebanon, Tunisia, or Egypt to prevent exposure to lead and mitigate the harmful effects of lead exposure.
• Identify the key stakeholders in Lebanon, Tunisia, or Egypt that work on lead exposure assessment and/or mitigation, including government, civil society, and private sector actors.
• Conduct qualitative research with key stakeholders, including in person or remote interviews.
• Contribute to the evaluation and interpretation of findings and help to identify and generate programming recommendations for USAID.
• Contribute to the development of PowerPoint presentations and writing short summary documents for the assigned country.