About – JaRco Consulting

WHO WE ARE

Established in 2007, JaRco Consulting is a research and advisory firm specializing in Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL), research, and data collection for development and humanitarian programs.

Headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with an office in Washington DC area, JaRco combines deep local knowledge with international expertise to deliver high-quality evidence that informs strategic, programmatic, and investment decisions.

Our multidisciplinary team of technical experts and researchers is committed to generating actionable insights that strengthen programs and improve outcomes, particularly for vulnerable communities in Ethiopia and across sub-Saharan Africa.

What we do

Coordinate and administer large-scale socioeconomic, baseline and endline surveys.
Design and conduct a wide range of evaluations, including process, performance, outcome, impact, midterm, terminal, and ex-post evaluations, using quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches.
Design and implement monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning systems for integrated and sector-specific projects and programs.
Conduct third-party monitoring of humanitarian and development programs.
Facilitate strategic-planning workshops and support institutional development and organizational capacity-building initiatives.
Provide customized technical assistance, training, and capacity-building support.

WHAT DRIVES US

Our Mission

To provide the best technical assistance to local and international development initiatives in Ethiopia and Africa, enabling our clients to implement their programs more effectively and efficiently.

Our Vision

To be a center of excellence for the provision of innovative solutions and cutting-edge approaches that strengthen the work of our partners and improve people’s lives.

Our Goal

To generate high-quality evidence-based research and fill knowledge gaps which are crucial in making programmatic decisions that impact the lives of vulnerable populations.

Our Capabilities

Our Expertise

JaRco has extensive qualifications and experience in coordinating, conducting, and managing a diverse range of small- and large-scale studies, including nationwide anthropometric measurement validation surveys. We frequently collaborate with international consulting firms, Ethiopian government institutions, development partners, and other stakeholders. Many of our assessments, evaluations, and surveys culminate in stakeholder validation workshops, during which we present findings and develop practical recommendations and comprehensive plans for dissemination, ongoing implementation, and scaling up.

Our Technical Capacity

JaRco has the technical and operational capacity to conduct large-scale surveys across Ethiopia and internationally, including in Somaliland, Tanzania, and Senegal. Our experience includes coordinating a UNICEF survey covering 11,000 households and 480 qualitative interviews across 480 kebeles in six Ethiopian regions. More recently, we conducted a nationwide youth survey involving approximately 21,000 interviews, demonstrating our capacity to manage complex field operations.

Our Facilities and Infrastructure’

JaRco maintains robust infrastructure for implementing multiple projects simultaneously. Our Addis Ababa office supports more than 160 national and international staff and is equipped with high-speed internet, backup power, and dedicated in-house data servers. We also maintain over 600 tablets, 100 GPS devices, and 4×4 Land Cruisers operated by licensed, experienced drivers, enabling safe and reliable fieldwork in remote and challenging locations.

Our Data Quality Assurance

JaRco prioritizes data quality throughout every project. Our teams carefully design and pre-test data-collection tools and ensure accurate translation and back-translation. Experienced field supervisors review both paper-based and digitally captured data. They receive project-specific training to conduct spot checks and back-checks, verify skip patterns, identify inconsistencies, and investigate errors, ensuring that collected data are complete, accurate, and reliable.

OUR VALUES

Quality

We fulfil our commitments by establishing clear timelines, quality standards, and performance benchmarks from the outset of every assignment. Our teams follow rigorous quality-assurance procedures, including regular progress monitoring, internal technical reviews, and timely communication with clients and stakeholders. We foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement, drawing on lessons from each project to strengthen our methods and performance. By combining innovative approaches, up-to-date technical expertise, and careful attention to detail, we consistently deliver reliable, practical, and high-quality results that meet our clients’ needs.

Integrity

Integrity is the cornerstone of JaRco’s values and guides every aspect of our work. We act with honesty, transparency, accountability, and professionalism while fostering mutual respect and trust among our clients, partners, employees, and the communities we serve. We maintain our reputation as a trusted technical-assistance by consistently upholding rigorous technical and ethical standards. We are committed to working fairly and impartially with partner organizations, government institutions, development agencies, and communities, while safeguarding confidentiality, respecting diverse perspectives, and ensuring that our decisions remain objective and evidence-based.

Respect

Respect for the people, communities, and environments in which we work is fundamental to JaRco’s approach. We ensure that our employees and subcontractors understand and value local cultures, customs, languages, knowledge, and perspectives. We engage communities with sensitivity, listen to their priorities, and promote inclusive participation throughout our assignments. We are equally committed to environmental responsibility by using resources efficiently, reducing waste, minimizing our carbon footprint, and considering the environmental effects of our operations whenever possible.

Diversity

JaRco welcomes people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and professional experiences, recognizing that our strongest work emerges from the exchange of different perspectives and ideas. We value the unique contributions of every individual and promote an inclusive working environment in which people feel respected, supported, and empowered to participate. We treat our employees, clients, partners, and community members with dignity, fairness, respect, and cultural sensitivity while providing equal opportunities for meaningful engagement and professional growth.

WHERE WE WORK

We have experience working in all of Ethiopia’s regions and chartered city administrations. Additionally, we have conducted studies in other African countries, including Cameroon, Djibouti, Gambia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Lesotho, Malawi, Senegal, Somaliland, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.