IC/PNG/032-2022 Monitoring and Evaluations Consultant

Consultant Leadership

Overview

Lead M&E strategies and ensure compliance for UNCDF projects in PNG.

You have:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in public administration, business management or related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant monitoring and evaluation experience for development programmes within international organisations.
• In-depth knowledge of M&E systems and processes in the development context.
• Strong computer skills: MS Excel, MS Access, and statistical packages (SPSS, SAS etc) for data management.
• Understands corporate tools and mechanisms, including risk logs, MOU, LOA, NEX requirements.
• Experience working with and knowledge of the UN system; experience in joint UN programming context is a plus.

Contract

This is a International Consultant contract. More about International Consultant contracts.

Background

**. Project Background**

UNCDF is the UN’s capital investment agency for the world’s 46 Least Developed Countries (LDC). UNCDF uses its capital mandate to support LDCs pursue inclusive growth. UNCDF promotes financial inclusion, also through digital financial services (DFS), as a key enabler of poverty reduction and inclusive growth; it demonstrates how localizing finance outside the capital cities can accelerate growth in local economies, promote sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure development, and empower local communities. Using capital grants, loans and credit enhancements, UNCDF tests financial models in inclusive finance and local development finance; ‘de-risks’ the local investment space; and provides proofs of concept, paving the way for larger investors.

Introduction: Digital Finance in UNCDF

UNCDF manages several initiatives in LDCs in Asia, Pacific, and Africa, to develop an inclusive digital finance eco-system that offers a wide range of financial services specially for low-income vulnerable communities. Specifically, UNCDF provides a mix of policy, technical and financial support to a range of government and private sector actors in each country, as well as invests in research and other public goods that benefit all market actors.

UNCDF has formulated its strategy ‘Leaving no one behind in the digital era’ based on over a decade of experience in digital finance in LDCs. UNCDF recognizes that reaching the full potential of digital financial inclusion in support of the Sustainable Development Goals aligns with the vision of promoting digital economies that leave no one behind.

UNCDF’s digital interventions in Papua New Guinea

UNCDF launched financial inclusion interventions in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 2009 through its Pacific Financial Inclusion Program (PFIP) and in 2021 has adopted the Inclusive Digital Economy Accelerator (IDEA) strategy, which focuses on creating an inclusive environment for the inception and scale of financial and digital inclusion solutions. UNCDF has been supporting digital financial service providers, banks, and other stakeholders in PNG to develop the ecosystem, a key enabler of poverty reduction and inclusive growth, and to design and develop innovative solutions, products, and services that support Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE).

UNCDF is part of the EU funded joint UN Support to Rural Enterprise Investment and Trade (STREIT) project in PNG and is responsible for the access to finance component under the project. The STREIT project aims to support – vanilla, cocoa, and fisheries value chains through a range of inter-related inputs. As part of its inputs to the project UNCDF will scale up DFS eco-system in the project areas focused on supporting agri-value chains.

The country strategy will leverage the digital finance initiatives under STREIT and link it to PNG’s IDEA program.

UNCDF PNG is also engaged in the implementation of multiple donors funded projects in the field of digital financial services under its IDEA programme. Some of these projects include:

Markets, economic recovery, and inclusion program (MERI): UNCDF is working closely with a financial service provider to facilitate easier access to finance and affordable financing for women market vendors, using a portfolio guarantee mechanism. This program also focuses on capacity building such as financial literacy and business development skills trainings.

Rapid financing facility (RFF) aims to support women entrepreneurs by working with financial service providers to promote suitable and affordable mobile financial products and services. Scaling up the DFS eco-system coupled with essential capacity building support leverages the opportunities brought by digital financial services in an evolving digital economy. A portfolio guarantee scheme will be established to introduce a concessional credit scheme for the women entrepreneurs in partnership with a partner financial institution.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Objectives

Under the direct supervision of the Country Lead of UNCDF, the M&E consultant will:

• Lead the development and implementation of M&E strategies, plans and processes in alignment with UNCDF and UNDP requirements
• Provides implementation support and guidance on compliance regarding partnerships and contracting
• Ensures facilitation of knowledge building, learning, and sharing

1. Scope of Consultancy

Lead the development and implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) strategies, plans and processes in alignment with UNCDF and UNDP requirements

• Development and execution of M&E work plan, including internal assessments and external evaluation of the PNG programmes
• Promotes M&E standards in line with UNCDF and other UN agency requirements, ensures quality assurance/control across the programmes
• Provides input for PNG country strategy, programme design and set-up with defined indicators
• Periodically reviews and updates the M&E tracking sheets for the programmes by liaising with partners and country-based programme staff
• Coordinates report submission of all key programme stakeholders by eliciting inputs from staff (e.g. quarterly, semi-annual and annual reports)
• Supports knowledge and information requests from all key programme stakeholders and supports the development of project proposals – particularly performance monitoring plans and M&E sections
• Coordinates and follows up on implementation of recommendations from programme reviews and evaluation reports

• Collaborates and coordinates with other UN agencies, government agencies, donors, NGOs, and other organizations on M&E issues at the global, regional, and national levels

• Support in implementing any upcoming Challenge Funds/ RFAs round, ongoing, and past rounds

• Monitor grantee implementation, and barriers to implementation, and ensure grantees remain on track

• Formulate the drafting of timely quarterly and annual reports on the progress, achievements, implementation status and delays of grantees from past and present rounds
• Support the M&E at the regional and HQ level ensuring timely data collection from the various private sector partners as well as other outreach data
• Contribute to the development of semi-annual and annual reports for IDE practice and any other report upon request

Provides implementation support and guidance on compliance regarding partnerships and contracting

• Supports the pipeline management, including ensuring monitoring the pipeline management in Atlas
• Management of partner agreements and supports the development of partner project workbooks, ongoing reports monitoring and follow ups, development, and distribution of tailored reporting tools in alignment with UNCDF existing tools and templates
• Carries out the collection, evaluation, analysis, and dissemination of quantitative and qualitative data as required from donors, project partners, UNCDF internal and external stakeholders
• Provides evaluation feedback into policy/project/programme design, and regularly monitors risk logs of projects
• Support in providing technical assistance to partners to overcome implementation challenges, ensure reports are received in a timely manner and verify grant claims for grant disbursement

Ensures facilitation of knowledge building, learning, and sharing

• Develop a Knowledge and Learning strategy that includes a learning agenda and an implementation plan for the programmes
• Identifies and formulates evaluation findings, lessons learned and recommendations to be integrated into broader knowledge management efforts

• Implementation of the strategy, track progress made, raise issues, and make recommendations

• Promote synergies and close collaboration across the various UNCDF programmes working on IDEA related topics with UNCDF donors and other development organizations (e.g. CGAP, GSMA)

• Capacity building for local staff and support the team in identifying learning opportunities, feeding into the Knowledge and Learning strategy

• Organize regular internal and external knowledge sharing sessions as well as trainings on techniques to capture and disseminate learnings from program activities (e.g. through webinars and/or podcasts)

• Support in preparing business analysis case studies and blogs based on based on projects implementation and enabling or challenging market factors

The consultant will agree on a list of required outputs (outputs/products, beyond the development of the M&E strategy) to be delivered in consultation with the project team. This will become the workplan for the consultant under the contract in addition to undertaking other activities reasonably requested by UNCDF, UNDP and other stakeholders for the successful accomplishment of the immediate objectives.

1. Key deliverables and schedule of payment

Payments will be made against the following reporting schedule:

Deliverable and Disbursement Condition

Days required for deliverable

Payment Percentage

Due Date

• Develop a M&E framework and plans, define project indicators, means to collect, and review monitoring data
• Map potential donors for UNCDF PNG to align against country strategy
• Input into PNG country strategy, (IDEA) programme design and set-up with defined indicators

30 Days

20%

31st May 2022

• Review all current and upcoming projects, quarterly and KPI reporting, activity implementation reports, quality assurance of reports received
• Management of partner agreements and support the development of partner project workbooks, ongoing reports monitoring and follow ups, development, and distribution of tailored reporting tools in alignment with UNCDF existing tools and templates (monthly, quarterly, and annual reports required by UNCDF internal and external stakeholders)
• Prepare quarterly project update reports for submission to donors

15 Days

15%

31st July 2022

• Support in implementing any upcoming Funds/ RFAs round, ongoing and past rounds
• Monitor the quarterly and annual reports on the progress, achievements, implementation status and delays of grantees from past and present rounds
• Assist in the preparation of internal country reporting, financial reporting and data and progress reports (quarterly, semi-annually, and annual reports) in adherence to and compliance with project Annual Work Plans and M&E frameworks

15 Days

15%

30th Sept 2022

• Develop a knowledge and learning strategy that includes a learning agenda and an implementation plan
• Support the M&E at the regional level ensuring timely data collection and dissemination for internal departmental and regional reporting, private sector partners, donors

15 Days

15%

30th November 2022

• Review M&E reports, update risk matrix and logs, lessons learned and organize monitoring and implementation progress reporting with key partners and donors
• Conduct and produce a M&E need identification survey among project staff and identify M&E capacity gaps

15 Days

15%

28th Feb 2023

• Finalize content of M&E report for the programmes
• Formulate evaluation findings, lessons learned and recommendations to be integrated into broader knowledge management efforts
• Implement M&E capacity building activities for the program staff and generate knowledge management products on M&E such as handbooks, toolkits for indicators, lessons learnt reports

30 Days

20%

1St April 2023

1. Working Arrangement

Selected candidate will be part of the UNCDF PNG country team and will work closely with STREIT/ RFF/ MERI and any other UNCDF projects.

This is a remote-based assignment. The consultant will be expected to be available via zoom during PNG working hours. The consultant must be reasonably accessible by email and telephone (preferably mobile). The use of reliable, internet-based telecommunications application software (Zoom, MS Teams or equivalent) is required.

The consultant is expected to have their own equipment to perform the tasks above.

Competencies

Competencies

• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to work independently as a team player
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; research, analytical and writing abilities
• Ability to deliver high quality outputs with minimal supervision and under pressure
• Learning and sharing knowledge and encourage the learning of others.
• Informed and transparent decision making

Required Skills and Experience

1. Required Experiences and Skills

• At least a bachelor’s degree or higher in public administration, business management or related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant monitoring and evaluation accountability and learning experience for development programmes within international organisations
• In-depth knowledge on M&E systems and processes in the development context
• Strong computer skills: MS Excel, MS Access, and use of other statistical packages (SPSS, SAS etc) for data management and analytical reporting purposes
• Understands corporate tools and mechanisms, including risk logs, MOU, LOA, NEX requirements
• Understands principles of results-based budgeting
• Proven experience working with and knowledge of the UN system (Experience and knowledge of working in joint UN programming context will be considered a plus)

• Good familiarity with the relevant framework, systems and processes of donor and international organizationEvaluation

  Cumulative analysis

  The proposals will be evaluated using the cumulative analysis method with 70% technical and 30% financial scoring. The proposal with the highest cumulative scoring will be awarded the contract. Applications will be evaluated technically, and points are attributed based on how well the proposal meets the requirements of the Terms of Reference using the guidelines detailed in the table below:

  When using this weighted scoring method, the award of the contract may be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

  a) Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

  b) Having received the highest score from a pre-determined set of weighted technical and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

  * Technical Criteria weighting. 70%

  * Financial Criteria weighting. 30%

  Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 49 points in the Technical Evaluation would be considered for the Financial Evaluation. Interviews may be conducted as part of the technical assessment for shortlisted proposals.

  Criteria

  Points

  Percentage

  Technical criteria

  70%

  i. Qualification

  15%

  • Education qualification in the related field

  15

  ii. Experience

  55%

  • Relevant professional experience in monitoring and evaluation, accountability and learning experience for development programmes within international organisations
  • Demonstrable experience in areas of M&E systems and processes in the development context

  20

  • Experience in usage of ERP/financial management application software packages and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages, web-based management systems. Use of other statistical packages (SPSS, SAS etc) for data management and analytical reporting purposes

  10

  • Understands corporate tools and mechanisms, including risk logs, MOU, LOA, NEX
  • Understands principles of results-based budgeting

  10

  • Good familiarity with the relevant framework, systems and processes of donor and international organizations. Working with and knowledge of the UN system will be considered a plus

  10

  iii. Competencies

  • Strong organizational and planning skills with the ability to work independently as well as a team player
  • Ability to deliver high quality outputs with minimal supervision
  • Excellent oral and writing communication skills in English

  5

  **If necessary, interviews shall also be conducted as part of the technical evaluation to ascertain the best value for money.

  Financial Criteria – Lowest Price

  30%

  Total

  100%

  Documents to be included when submitting Consultancy Proposals

  The following documents may be requested:

• Duly executed Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP.
• P11 form using template provided by UNDP which indicates all experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) with at least three (3) professional references.
• Technical proposal outlining the proposed methodology and approach for completing all the tasks outlined in the TOR as well as three examples of previous outputs developed for similar initiatives.
• Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per template provided. If an Offeror is employed by an organization/company/institution, and he/she expects his/her employer to charge a management fee in the process of releasing him/her to UNDP under Reimbursable Loan Agreement (RLA), the Offeror must stipulate that arrangement at this point, and ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal submitted to UNDP.

• Lump-sum contracts

  The financial proposal shall specify a total lump-sum amount, and payment terms around specific and measurable (qualitative and quantitative) deliverables (i.e. whether payments fall in instalments or upon completion of the entire contract). Payments are based upon output, i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR. To assist the requesting unit in the comparison of financial proposals, the financial proposal will include a breakdown of this lump-sum amount (including travel, living expenses, and number of anticipated working days).

  Travel and Communication

  In the case of unforeseeable travel, travel costs, including tickets, lodging, and terminal expenses, should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant before travel and will be reimbursed.

  Submission Instructions

  Completed proposals should be submitted to procurement.png@undp.org , no later than [29/03/2022] [5PM]. For any clarification regarding this assignment, please write to procurement.pg@undp.org

  Please be guided by the instructions provided in this document above while preparing your submission.

  Incomplete proposals and failure to comply with proposal submission instruction may not be considered or may result in disqualification of proposal.

  UNDP looks forward to receiving your Proposal and thank you in advance for your interest in UNDP procurement opportunities.

  Note:

  Applications without i) financial offer, ii) P11 form and iii) Documents mentioned under Technical Proposal will NOT be considered for evaluation.

  Financial proposal should be on provided format (i.e Annex 3- OFFEROR’S LETTER TO UNDP); The financial proposal should also incorporate the costs related travel to Bougainville including flights, daily rate and other costs

  Firms are not eligible for this consultancy assignment (open only for national individual consultants).

  Incomplete application will not be considered, it will be disqualified automatically.

  Please complete the Statement of Health form and submit along with proposal

  ANNEXES:

  Annex 1 - Terms of Reference

  Annex 2 - General Conditions of Individual Contract

  Annex 3 - Offerors Letter and Financial Proposal Template

  Annex 4 - P11 IC Form

  Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Please group them into one (1) single PDF document as the application only allows to upload maximum one document

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Potential interview questions

Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: jobs.undp.org