Consultancy: Review of MENA Field Monitoring Strategies & Programmatic Visit Reports as a part of Stocktaking exercise on implementation monitoring, 4 months, Remotely - MENA Regional Office

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Consultancy title: Review of MENA Field Monitoring Strategies and Programmatic Visit Reports as a part of Stocktaking exercise on implementation monitoring

Duration: 4 months

Duty Station: Home based/Remote support

Programme Monitoring informs the continuous improvement of programme implementation and strategies through evidence so that intended programme results are met, risks are managed, and underperforming interventions are adjusted as necessary. Programme monitoring, encompassing both implementation monitoring and results monitoring, informs adaptive programming, management for results, and transparency by facilitating corrective actions to overcome implementation bottlenecks and providing evidence for programme strategies.

As 2021 is the transition year to the new Regional Office Management Plan (ROMP), it is an opportune time to conduct a stock taking exercise on MENA COs’ capacity, practices and mechanisms to carry out implementation monitoring and adaptive programming. The exercise primarily focuses on aspects related to implementation monitoring rather than results monitoring from the perspective of reviewing strategies, plans and practices in place to conduct field monitoring on implementing partners’ activities and progress. The exercise aims at informing MENARO’s planning and programming to strengthen COs’ capacities to conduct implementation monitoring and adaptive programming for the coming years.

Objectives of the Assignment:

1. Understand MENA COs’ field monitoring strategies, methods, and practices;

2. Assess the quality of programmatic visit reports prepared by CO colleagues and Third Party Monitoring (TPM) agencies; and

3. Identify strengths, good practices, capacity gaps, implementation risks and areas for improvements for MENA COs to strengthen their field monitoring and capacity building to Implementing Partners (IPs). How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work:

The consultancy is intended to strengthen MENA COs’ capacity and practice on field monitoring and IP management by reviewing their field monitoring strategies, plans and programmatic visit reports prepared by UNICEF colleagues and TPM agencies. The review of sampled programme visit (PV) reports will provide an analysis and insights on the quality of field monitoring by UNICEF programme managers/TPM agencies, programme delivery and implementation by IPs on the ground. The review of PV reports will provide insights into the capacity gaps and areas for improvement in the process of field monitoring, follow-up actions and overall work process to feedback to the programme implementation. The review will assess the alignment with the global guidance on field monitoring and identify key strengths, good practices, capacity gaps, implementation risks and areas for improvements to strengthen MENA COs’ field monitoring and capacity building to IPs. There are three components of activities under the consultancy.

1. Review of field monitoring strategies, methods and practices by MENA COs

As a part of stocktaking exercise, field monitoring strategies/ plans, methods, tools have been collected from COs. Under the consultancy, the relevant documents and materials will be reviewed to understand existing practices on field monitoring and identify the good practices, capacity gaps, implementation risks and areas for improvements around the operationalization of the field monitoring plans and strategies. The review will be carried out based on the Field Monitoring Guidance, e.g., assessment of the appropriate coverage, scale and frequency. It also reviews and assesses how well the outstanding findings identified through field monitoring are reviewed and discussed among relevant teams and the management in COs.

2. Review of programmatic visit reports by COs and TPM

PV reports from each MENA CO/RO (16 offices) will be reviewed based on the refined criteria in consideration of key characteristics of good quality programmatic visits and Field Monitoring Guidance. PV reports will be sampled based on key criteria, e.g., government IP vs. CSO IP, sectors, humanitarian vs. development programmes, size of country programmes, and/or according to COs’ monitoring strategy/plan. The initial proposal for the sample size is 5-10 reports per CO/RO which have the minimum required PV less than 200 (13 offices) while 10-15 reports per CO with the minimum required PV more than 200 (3 offices), which will be discussed and adjusted during the inception phase. It is expected that the review of PV reports will assess the quality of the programmatic monitoring and whether it is generating sufficient evidence/assurance on programme implementation, delivery and risks. Recommendations will include the good practices, capacity gaps, implementation risks and areas for improvements around implementation of programmatic visits by COs and TPM.

3. Development of the stocktaking exercise summary report

Data analysis will be conducted to identify good practices, capacity gaps, implementation risks by IPs and lessons learned in field monitoring strategies, plans, methodology, practices in MENA COs. Key findings from various sources will be summarized as a summary report and a score cards highlighting good practices, areas for improvement and practical and actionable recommendations from the stocktaking exercise. The information sources include, but are not limited to, TPM assessment report (2020), Risk Management baseline study (2021), questionnaire with Chiefs of Planning section, review of internal audit recommendations, review of eTools data including programmatic visit reports and TPM reports.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Consultancy Requirements:

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Masters) in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Monitoring and Evaluation, Programme Management, or other relevant area.

Experience:

• A minimum of eight years of professional work experience in one or more of the following areas is required: programme development/ management; programme implementation; monitoring and evaluation; research methodology; result based management (RBM) or another related area.
• Experience working in one or more countries in MENA is considered as an asset. • Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization specifically on implementation monitoring and implementation partnership management is considered as an asset.
• Fluency in English (verbal and written). Knowledge of French or Arabic is considered as an asset.

Applicants are also required to indicate availability and financial quotation in USD to undertake the terms of reference above.

TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS:

This is a remote/home based consultancy, no travel is required.

Payment Schedule:

UNICEF will pay a lump sum payment monthly, based on submitted progress reports. Workplan will be discussed and agreed upon with supervisor at the beginning of each month

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter
2. P-11
3. Financial quote as a lump sum, inclusive of professional fees, travel/administrative/subsistence costs, if applicable
4. Names of three referees

Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.