REOI –
Individual Consultants
1st Edition
December2020
Foreword
This REOI is based on the 1st edition of the IFAD-issued standard procurement document for REOI advertisement – individual consultants to be used in projects financed by IFAD, available at www.ifad.org/project-procurement.
IFAD does not guarantee the completeness, accuracy or translation, if applicable, or any other aspect in connection with the content of this document.
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
(Individual Consultants: MONITORING AND EVALUATION OFFICER)
LESOTHO
GAFSP
Assignment title: Recruitment of Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Reference no. (as per procurement plan): LS-2000002563-005-NP-STAFF-TORS
The Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Nutrition under SADPII Project has receivedfinancing from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) towards the cost of GAFSP, and intends to apply part of the proceeds for the recruitment of consulting services provided by an individual consultant as part of the post of recruitment of Monitoring and Evaluation Officer .
The use of any IFAD financing shall be subject to IFAD’s approval, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the financing agreement, as well as IFAD’s rules, policies and procedures. IFAD and its officials, agents and employees shall be held harmless from and against all suits, proceedings, claims, demands, losses and liability of any kind or nature brought by any party in connection with GAFSP.
The consulting services (“the services”) include [Engagement of a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, for 24 months
This request for expressions of interest (REOI) follows the general procurement notice that appeared on the IFAD website on 4th April 2024, on UNDB on4thApril 2024,and on Lesotho local newspapers on 4th April 2024.
The attention of interested consultants is drawn to IFAD’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Policy[1] and the Revised IFAD Policy on Preventing Fraud and Corruption its Activities and Operations[2]. The latter sets forth IFAD’s provisions on prohibited practices. IFAD further strives to ensure a safe working environment free of harassment, including sexual harassment, and free of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) in its activities and operations as detailed in its IFAD Policy to Preventing and Responding to Sexual Harassment, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.[3]
Interestedconsultants shall not have any actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest. Consultants with an actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest shall be disqualified unless otherwise explicitly approved by the Fund. Consultants are considered to have a conflict of interest if they a) have a relationship that provides them with undue or undisclosed information about or influence over the selection process and the execution of the contract, or b) have a business or family relationship with a member of the client’s board of directors or its personnel, the Fund or its personnel, or any other individual that was, has been or might reasonably be directly or indirectly involved in any part of (i) the preparation of the REOI, (ii) the selection process for this procurement, or (iii) execution of the contract. Consultants have an ongoing obligation to disclose any situation of actual, potential or reasonably perceived conflict of interest during preparation of the EOI, the selection process or the contract execution. Failure to properly disclose any of said situations may lead to appropriate actions, including the disqualification of the consultant, the termination of the contract and any other as appropriate under the IFAD Policy on Preventing Fraud and Corruption in its Projects and Operations.
The Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Nutrition Lesotho under SADPII Projectnow invites eligible Individual consultants (“consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the services in the form of a curriculum vitae (CV). A consultant will be selected in accordance with the individual consultant selection (ICS) method set out in IFAD’ Project Procurement Handbook that can be accessed via the IFAD website at www.ifad.org/project-procurement. Interviews will be conducted as part of the selection process.
The shortlisting criteria are:Qualifications, Specific and General experience as stipulated in the TORs
Any request for clarification on this REOI should be sent via e-mail to the address below [email protected] no later than 11th April 2024 , 16:00hrs and Harare Pretoria time zone.The client will provide responses to all clarification requests by 18th April 2024, 16:00hrs and Harare Pretoria time zone.
Expressions of interest in the form of curriculum vitae (CV) must be delivered in a written form to the address below ( by mail[email protected]) by 23rd April 2024, 16:00hrs.
Attn: Project Director
Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Nutrition SADPII Project
P.O. Box 24
Livestock Offices Moshoeshoe II , Maseru
100,
Lesotho
Tel:+266 22312578
E-mail: [email protected]
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Individual consultant: Responsible for daily tracking and reporting of all SADP activities, collecting and consolidating data from all project districts using the existing system, and assisting in supervising surveys to ensure their alignment with the M&E system’s design and the PMU’s information needs.
POSITION/ASSIGNMENT: Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) Officer
REPORTING TO: Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist
DUTY STATION: Maseru
1. BACKGROUND OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The Government of Lesotho is implementing the Smallholder Agricultural Development Project (SADP)2 with financial support from the World Bank, Government of Japan and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The project covers ten districts – Maseru, Leribe, Botha-Bothe, Mokhotlong, Thaba-Tseka, Berea Mafeteng, Mohale’sHoek, Quthing and Qacha’sNek. SADP is coordinated by the Project Management unit (PMU) based in Maseru. The project has four components:
Component 1. Promoting Climate Smart Agricultural Practices and Advisory Services. This component aims at strengthening the adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers to adjust and modify their production systems to minimize the potential future impacts from climate variability.
Component 2. Improving Agricultural Commercialization and Nutrition. This component will build on Component 1 by addressing financial constraints in the agricultural sector so that the training and advisory services provided under Component 1 is complemented with much needed financing to help the farming community undertake productive and profitable investments.
Component 3. Project Management, Coordination and Monitoring and Evaluation It is responsible for: implementation and coordination, financial management and procurement, communication, visibility and awareness programs, environmental management and safeguards, and monitoring and evaluation.
Component 4. Contingency Emergency Response Component (CERC). This is a zero allocation to partially cover emergency response via implementation of key activities by the appropriate agencies to respond to the emergency.
GAFSP: Additional funding has been secured from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme (GAFSP) Grant. GAFSP objective is to enhance resilience of small-scale agriculture and food systems through increased commercialization and system change. This is aligned with the objectives of SADP II. In order to effectively operationalize the grant, SADP II seeks to hire an additional team member within the M&E office.
OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT
Reporting to the M&E Specialist, the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer, will be
responsible for supporting the PMU in planning, coordinating, and executing the project’s M&E functions in line with the agreed M&E plan, ensuring adherence to quality and efficiency standards.
The main objective of this position is to support the PMU in reporting on GAFSP implementation progress on a biannually basis (every 6 months) in accordance with the grants guidelines.
To this end, the SADP 2 follows Government of Lesotho and IFAD guidelines and procedures as stated in the Financing Agreement.
2. SCOPE OF SERVICES
Under the immediate supervision of the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, the M&E Officer will further perform the following scope of services:
a. Update the logical framework and the MIS platform including data collection tools to reflect the GAFSP grant additional indicators in alignment with SADP 2 M&E plan.
b. Support in the preparation, or revision (as appropriate) of comprehensive SADP 2 monitoring plan that is based on project documents such as the Project Appraisal Document (PAD), Project Implementation Manual (PIM), the Grant manual, Procurement Plan, Annual Work Plan and Budge (AWPB), and the Results Based Framework, and any other relevant official documents of the SADP 2.
c. Provide technical support in the development of and oversee the review of project level M & E plan and associated work plans for each Component as reflected in the Project results framework.
d. Participate in developing and monitoring progress of GAFSP AWPBs, in support of the Component Leads.
e. Under and coordinate the collection of prescribed necessary data and information required for targeting programme activities to reach Project beneficiaries.
f. Ensure the acquiring of data and information for specific M & E needs directly from relevant Government of Lesotho (GoL) offices, and other relevant stakeholders (WFP, etc) particularly for indicators not requiring a survey.
g. Ensure and undertake quality control of M & E outputs (e.g. surveys, etc), including contributing substantively to the design and field testing of the monitoring methodology, review participating in the supervision of design and implementation survey, participatory data collection methods and protocols, data verification techniques, and any other technical evaluation and analytical tasks conducted.
h. Support the development and maintenance of a M & E database for SADP 2, including technical, financial, and physical progress.
i. Maintain a detailed knowledge bank of all the relevant issues that impact on M & E of SADP 2.
j. The Officer shall support the M&E Specialist in developing Terms of References (TORs) for M & E tasks to be carried out by consulting firms (e.g. the design of surveys, evaluations ( GAFSP mid-term and final evaluation), etc using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods.
k. Under the instruction of the M & E Specialist, participate in evaluations and assessments of potential sub-contractors.
l. Develop plans and ensure mentoring and training of SADP 2 staff, so as to foster capacity development on M & E.
m. Attend, participate and provide necessary inputs for preparation of deliverables in meetings, workshops, and trainings, that strive towards the overall attainment of the Project Development Objective (PDO).
n. Support the M & E Specialist in serving as the focal point for providing M & E inputs on SADP 2 Implementation Progress Reports to the GoL, donors, and any other relevant stakeholders.
o. Prepare and submit M & E inputs as per the Results Framework to the consolidated quarterly/bi-annual/ annual project implementation progress reports meeting deadline as per the requirements of the SADP 2 donors.
p. Prepare consolidated progress reports for project management to submit to the relevant stakeholders, in accordance with approved formats and schedule to create a better learning and delivery environment within the SADP 2 PMU.
q. Provide support to other relevant PMU colleagues and other consultants in coordinating the preparation and consolidation of annual work plans and budgets, monthly and quarterly, projects reports and other SADP 2 deliverables.
r. Support the M & E Specialist in reviewing monitoring reports, analyse them for impact evaluation and to identify the causes of potential bottlenecks in project implementation and make recommendation that support the attainment of the SADP 2 PDO.
s. Support the M & E unit’s tracking of SADP 2 progress on the Project’s Results Framework during project implementation.
t. Participate in and support M & E missions being undertaken by the SADP 2 donors.
u. Undertake any other relevant activities instructed by the Project Director or the M & E Specialist in a timely manner.
v. Work with the KM officer in generating data to support KM to guide evidence building and policy engagement.
w. Support the KM Officer in revising the project KM and communication strategy, in line with the GAFSP priorities.
3. CONTRACT DURATION AND CONDITION
a. Contract duration is 24 Months months from date of signature, subject to a satisfactory performance during the probationary period of Four (4) months of the incumbent and subject to business continuity and availability of funds.
4. FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE CLIENT
a. The Client shall render the Officer with all such facilities as may be reasonably required to enable the Officer to discharge his/her duties that is:
i. office space,
ii. laptop/computer,
iii. landline telephone, and
iv. transport related to the assignment delivery.
5. QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIRED EXPERIENCE
a. Have a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Economics, Project Management, Business Administration, or any other related field.
b. A postgraduate qualification in Monitoring and Evaluation will be an added advantage.
c. Have a minimum of 3 years’ experience working with Monitoring and Evaluation in the agricultural sector in Lesotho, relating to agricultural projects/initiatives, and/or project cycle management.
d. Work experience in government or donor funded projects and other relevant institutions will be an added advantage.
e. Work experience as a M & E Officer in or with donor funded activities will be an asset.
f. Experience with the logical framework approach to monitoring as well as quantitative, qualitative, and participatory monitoring approaches.
g. Demonstrated good oral and written communication skills and other technical skills that enhance M & E activities.
h. Excellent capability of working independently, whilst being fluent in English and Sesotho.
i. A high level of computer literacy is required; demonstrating experience and familiarity with Excel, Word, Power point and Access.
j. Ability to interact with multiple staff in the relevant stakeholders, PMU and donors, and respond in a timely manner to contribute to each partners attainment of the PDO.
k. Strong organisational skills focusing on details and effectiveness in analysing and resolving M & E issues.
l. Familiarity with statistical M & E electronic reporting systems.
m. The successful candidate must be willing to work for extended periods without direct supervision, and travel to all ten (10) districts of Lesotho.
n. Should have strong and proactive interpersonal communications skills, experience in team leadership and participatory management.
o. Strong organizational skills and ability to work in a team-oriented, dynamic, and diverse environment.
p. Proven track record in working effectively within multidisciplinary teams, recognizes the value of sharing ideas, knowledge, and information with others, and takes personal responsibility for doing so.
q. Demonstrated computer skills, and knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite especially, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
r. Demonstrated ability to adapt to challenges and changes in the workplace.
6. CLIENT ASSIGNMENT MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING ARRANGEMENTS
a. The M & E Officer is subject to an annual performance review. The performance evaluation shall be based on the work program/ plan prepared at the beginning of each rated period.
b. The Project Director – SADP II is responsible for the coordination of activities acceptance and approval of the reports.
c. The M & E Officer candidate will be selected in accordance with the selection of Individual Consultants Method set out in the IFAD Procurement Framework.
d. The short-listed candidate will be requested to participate in personal interviews and submit the names and contact details of personal referees who can attest to their abilities.
e. A pre-employment screening and background check will be done on all short-listed candidates.
f. The successful candidate must understand the objectives and delivery mechanisms of the projects’ portfolio.
g. He/she must be willing to work in a team, be flexible to emerging or changing conditions, and undertake initiative in his/her broad field of actions.
[1] The policy is accessible at https://www.ifad.org/en/document-detail/asset/41942012.
[2] The policy is accessible at www.ifad.org/anticorruption_policy.
[3] The policy is accessible at https://www.ifad.org/en/document-detail/asset/40738506.