Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) Officer
Social Contract Activity in Kosovo

Overview:

Development Professionals, Inc. (DPI) is hiring a Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) Officer for the Social Contract Activity in Kosovo funded by USAID, which will continue through December 2026. This five-year activity introduces sustainable practices for public participation to improve Kosovo citizens’ quality of life and strengthen their partnerships with municipal governments. This will be a full-time position based in Pristina, Kosovo.

Project Background:

The Social Contract Activity is implemented by Democracy International (DI) as the Implementing Partner, DPI as the Learning Partner, and Democracy Plus (D+) as a key Local Partner. The Learning Partner, in close cooperation with the other partners and local stakeholders, provides a range of MEL and CLA support for the Activity’s interventions. 

Through this role, the Learning Partner supports the achievement of two key Activity objectives:

• Objective 1 (Years 1-3): Develop, test, and evaluate public participation action plans in five pilot municipalities.
• Objective 2 (Years 3-5): Scale up successful public participation practices to 10 additional municipalities; Monitor participation practices in the pilot municipalities.

To date, the Learning Partner has completed public participation assessments in partner municipalities, a mid-term learning assessment, as well as regular monitoring and CLA support. For the latter, the Learning Partner has developed the Activity’s monitoring system and tools, trains partners on using the tools, and analyzes the monitoring data to suggest ways to improve and adapt activity implementation. Over the remaining contract period (Years 4-5), the Learning Partner will continue providing a range of monitoring and CLA support in accordance with the Activity’s MEL Plan and Annual Work Plan.  

Role Summary:

The Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) Officer will be responsible for all aspects of CLA activities and relevant reporting/dissemination. The position reports to the Learning Lead and will serve as the point person in the strategic use of CLA for adaptive management of Activity interventions across municipalities. These may include including performance-monitoring data analysis, after-action reviews, quarterly and annual internal review workshops, beneficiary focus groups, “Pause and reflect” exercises, listening sessions/FGDs with municipal stakeholders, learning presentations with municipality leadership, and an annual Learning Summit event, in addition to other forms of reporting and dissemination of project learning (e.g., identifying and developing “success stories”). 

The role will also support various applied research activities, including data collection for project monitoring, learning, and adapting. The Learning Team also includes a Learning Lead; Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Officer; and a Project Assistant.

Tasks and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Responsible for implementing an array of ongoing CLA activities, including relevant design, facilitation, and reporting.
• Responsible for identifying opportunities for knowledge sharing and coordination among Activity partners, beneficiaries, and other stakeholders to strengthen the effectiveness of Activity interventions, knowledge management, and organizational learning.
• Plan, organize, and facilitate learning and knowledge sharing activities and events for Activity partner staff and beneficiaries.
• Document evidence, results, and learning from collaborative exercises and materials, including identifying and drafting “success stories” featuring program beneficiaries as guided by the relevant outreach/dissemination plan. 
• Provide training and capacity building on CLA methods, tools, and best practices to Implementing Partner and Local Partner staff.
• Support collaboration among beneficiaries, Activity partners, and other stakeholders to discuss findings from research studies, evaluations, and assessments, and identify how they can adapt program implementation to improve sustainability of outcomes.
• Identify key messages, develop, and disseminate knowledge and learning products through diverse communication channels.
• Support the MEL Specialist as needed for implementing the MEL Plan, including regular monitoring and adaptive management components. 

Qualifications:

• At least a Bachelor’s degree in international development, organizational development, communications, knowledge management, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of demonstrated experience in designing and implementing organizational development/learning activities, including training/facilitating large groups. 
• Practical experience with applying USAID’s CLA Framework, tools, and approaches (or similar frameworks) is strongly preferred. 
• Experience designing learning exercises and events with diverse stakeholders. 
• Experience conducting data collection and analysis exercises to inform programming.
• Experience building and maintaining working relations with stakeholders, including interfacing with donors, government officials, partner organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Excellent teamwork, interpersonal, communication, presentation, and facilitation skills.
• Professional proficiency in written and spoken English; excellent written and oral communication skills.
• The ability to travel within Kosovo as required for monitoring and CLA support.

This position is open to Kosovar citizens.

Application Process:

Please submit your resume and cover letter to [email protected], with the subject line “CLA Officer – Kosovo SCA”. Please submit as soon as possible or before December 20th. Qualified applicants will be interviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.