Summer Intern - Program Monitoring & Evaluation

Job Description

Sesame Workshop is seeking an Intern - Program Monitoring & Evaluation. The work will focus on evidence synthesis and communication needs of Sesame Workshop's Play to Learn humanitarian initiative. This project, funded by the LEGO Foundation, reaches children and caregivers affected by the Syrian and Rohingya Refugee Crises in Bangladesh, Jordan, and Lebanon. The Play to Learn Project provides a range of early childhood development services focused on improving outcomes for children, their caregivers, and facilitators. The project is in Year 3 and will be scoping and drafting a Learning Agenda to help identify the most important questions to answer that can: (1) support more efficient, equitable, and timely decision-making; (2) fill knowledge gaps that persist; and (3) test and explore hypotheses or assumptions.

The intern will work with the Senior Director for Program Monitoring and Evaluation to support evidence synthesis and communication work and products between June 7-August 6, 2021. This position is intended for a graduate student with some experience in evidence synthesis and use, some technical familiarity with early childhood development or a related field, an interest in deepening their expertise in these areas (and adding to their own portfolio of work products) and learning about the ways that monitoring and evaluation departments support a consortium of partners serving refugees and host communities.

Responsibilities:  
• Complete one to three rapid evidence syntheses or desk reviews on various topics linked to playful learning, early childhood development, remote service delivery, remote monitoring, or other relevant topics
• Draft up to one context analysis
• Draft up to three theories of change based on evidence as well as the graphic/visual representation
• Write a critical review of monitoring data, in order to determine the types of analysis that could be useful to pursue for consortium-level learning as well as monitoring approaches we should consider using in the future
• Support the organization and delivery of a reflection meeting on mid-year progress, structured around monitoring data
• Clean, enter and analyze data if needed

Qualifications: 
• Must be currently enrolled in a graduate program. Graduate studies could be social work, international development or humanitarian studies, conflict studies, education in emergencies, early childhood development, child protection, or a related field.
• Relevant experience or expertise in monitoring and evaluation, data systems, data analysis in education, child protection, social services, early childhood development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to write clearly and communicate technical ideas accurately.
• Experience with MS Office Suite is required 

Project Information

Sesame Workshop has been awarded a $100 million grant from the LEGO Foundation to support a new early childhood development initiative for millions of children affected by the Rohingya and Syrian refugee crises. The 5-year program will leverage the power of learning through play, providing communities affected by refugee crises access to vital early learning opportunities. Together with BRAC and the IRC, and supported by our research partner NYU, we will reach displaced and host community children and their caregivers in Bangladesh and the Syrian response region through direct services and mass media programming. The program will also include robust and ambitious research and advocacy components aimed at identifying best practices for play-based learning in humanitarian response and encouraging prioritization and sustainable investment in early childhood development at national and international levels.

Department Information

Sesame Workshop's International Social Impact department, a division of Social Impact and Philanthropy, develops and implements Sesame's powerful initiatives to serve children and families around the world, builds strong partnerships and coalitions to maximize reach and impact. Building upon the familiarity and appeal of the trusted, beloved Sesame Street characters – and their global counterparts – we create and disseminate unique educational resources and tools for families most in need. Sesame's research-driven initiatives reach many children who would otherwise have little or no access to early childhood education and support all aspects of children's development – including healthy habits, cognitive development in areas such as early literacy and math, and social-emotional well-being and resilience. We reach and engage children and the important adults in their families and communities using multiple media platforms and innovative strategies – from television and radio to digital media, mobile technologies, books, E-books, magazines, classroom materials, teacher/provider training, social media, and more.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Minorities/Females/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-rz5k52-52-14-8-34-42 in your application.