Consultant (monitoring and evaluation)
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Vacancy code: VA/2010/APO/MMOC/LIFT/ICA/109
Background
UNOPS Asia and the Pacific Office (APO) have been appointed as the Fund Manager for the Multi-Donor Livelihood and Food Security Trust (LIFT) Fund in Myanmar. The Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT) is a donor fund of US$ 100 million over five years to address food insecurity and income poverty in Myanmar. The Donor Consortium of the LIFT Fund comprises Australia, the European Community, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The Overall Objective of the LIFT Fund is progress towards the achievements of the United Nations Millennium Development Goal number one for Myanmar, the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger.
The Purpose of the LIFT Fund is to improve the food and livelihood security of the poorest and most vulnerable populations of Myanmar, with an initial focus on the cyclone Nargis affected areas of the Delta.
As outlined in the log frame, the project has the following major outputs:
• Direct agricultural production support provided and used by targeted households.
• Effective market and employment support mechanisms (on farm, off farm and non-farm) provided and used by targeted households.
• Effective social protection measures provided for the chronically poor of the targeted household
• Capacity of local organizations strengthened to support livelihoods and food security initiatives.
• Effective support provided to targeted households for nutrition and hygiene.
• Monitoring and Evaluation and commissioned studies are used to inform program and support the enabling environment.
Cross-cutting issues streamlined in program activities include gender equality, environment sustainability, good governance, social protection, disaster risk reduction and assistance to especially vulnerable people.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Fund Manager’s Office (FMO) has developed key elements of the overall M&E system such as the log frame, village profile, database for input/output monitoring and an overall conceptual framework for the system. However linking together all the elements of the M&E system and developing inclusive mechanism and common understanding among Implementing Partners and other key stakeholders is still required. Additional work is required on developing and defining common or shared indicators from Implementing Partners, the FMO and other development actors in the area of Livelihoods and Food Security in order to aid programme development and donor fund flows. Developing an overall system that can be used to inform programme and policy development still needs to be developed.
In order to fully develop the LIFT M&E system, the consultant will be required to review the formats and elements of M&E framework prepared to date and guide the FMO in the development of an overall comprehensive M&E system linking the various reporting requirements and feedback/learning mechanisms to meet the needs and expectations of key stakeholders.
In order to give strategic direction to LIFT, the M&E framework needs to be further developed and be practically operationalised in the context of the LIFT fund. The consultant will be required to develop clear indicators for results and develop concrete details and plans for each element of the M&E system. This will include, but is not limited to:
• Review and assessment of the various components of the M&E system developed to date and identification of the gaps in terms of both processes and components of the M&E system.
• Development of a baseline at different levels (Implementing Partners and Program Wide) identifying key variables, both quantitative and qualitative for livelihoods and food security issues for the different regions LIFT is operating in.
• Clear articulation of results and definition of indicators, (output, outcome and impact), including practical guidance on the collection of data for each indicator, both within and in addition to the log-frame in order for all the elements of the M&E system to be designed and taken forward.
• Common or core indicators, including practical guidance on the collection of data for each indicator to be developed with Implementing Partners and included in their M&E systems where applicable.
• Developing monitoring systems at different levels (Implementing Partners, FMO, independent/external and Fund Board) for input, output, and outcomes.
• Review and advising on reporting systems at different levels (Implementing Partners, FMO, Fund Board and Donors) including feedback systems.
• Evaluation processes for Implementing Partners, Fund Manager and Fund Board.
The consultant will be required to provide clear guidelines on how all the elements of the M&E system will be linked and how the M&E system will feed into LIFT output number FIVE, “M&E evidence and commissioned studies are used to inform program and policy development”.
The consultant will be required to work closely with the M&E Officer and Implementing Partners drawing on their knowledge, experience and systems and where appropriate, incorporate these into the LIFT M&E system.
Monitoring and progress controls
The Fund Director will monitor the performance of the consultant in line with his/her assignment. H/she will work in close collaboration with the M&E programme officer, Livelihoods and Food Security programme officer and implementing partners.
Deliverables
The key deliverables of this assignment will be:
• A practical operational handbook incorporating all the elements and process for the LIFT M&E system. This will include, but not be limited to, detailed guidelines on the practical operational aspects of the M&E system including how the various levels of M&E (Implementing Partners, FMO, external and independent) and elements (log frame, baseline, indicators, database and management information system, practice groups, commissioned research and studies, external and internal assessments and evaluations) of the M&E link together to generate information/data and how this is analysed/used and fed back into LIFT to promote learning and best practice and generate knowledge for improved programming and policy dialogue. Included in this detailed report will be definitions of indicators including the frequency of collection, and specific guidance on how the data should be collected, analyzed and reported.
• A M&E work plan for the next 12 months and an outline of the M&E requirements for the life of LIFT.
• A workshop for debriefing LIFT Implementing Partners, Fund Board (FB) and FMO, to be held before departure.
Please note that all UNOPS personnel are responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and those of UNOPS.
Required Selection Criteria
Competencies
• The consultant (Monitoring and Evaluation) should have demonstrated skills in conceptualizing, designing and implementing M&E systems for complex livelihoods and food security programs in agricultural based economies preferably within South East Asia;
• The consultant (Monitoring and Evaluation) should possess excellent technical skills and have a demonstrated track record in developing and operationalising M&E systems for rural development, livelihoods and food security programs.
• The consultant should have demonstrated skills in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and be familiar with log frame development; HEA, RIMS and results based monitoring systems.
• Good analytical skills, resourcefulness, initiative, maturity of judgment.
• Ability to deliver in time and work under pressure.
• Ability to work in a multicultural team.
Education/Experience/Language
• Advanced or Master level University degree in development studies, agricultural or social sciences, statistics or related fields relevant to the above duties with at least 11 years of relevant experience or a Bachelor degree in related fields combined with at least 13 years of experience in similar responsible position.
• Demonstrated experience in conceptualizing, designing and implementing M&E systems for complex livelihoods and food security programs in agricultural based economies preferably within South East Asia.
• Excellent writing and data analytical skills. Computer literate.
• Proven experience in working with minimal supervision in a complex political environment.
• Strong communication and facilitation skills and ability to establish good working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders in a sensitive environment.
• Understanding of the socio-economic and political situation in Myanmar would be a significant asset.
• Fluency in both written and spoken English.