Consultancy for third party monitoring SomReP consortium - South and Central Somalia Resilience & Social Protection Program

 Description of Program/Project

Project Goal

Contribute to improved resilience and increased adaptive capacities for communities and households in Somalia to protect their livelihoods over continuing shocks.

Project Objectives/Outcomes

Vulnerable HHs and communities in Southern Somalia are more resilient to cyclical shocks and stressors and better able to secure HH needs year on year.

Project location

Somalia. Bay Region: Baidoa District Lower Shabelle Region: Afgoye District

Number of target beneficiaries

23,080 HH (2,600 pastoral, 12,400 agro-pastoral, 3,980 peri-urban, and 4,100 IDP)

Key Project Activities/Results Areas

• Results 1-5: Conduct participants, in-depth, vulnerability assessments and systems analysis at community level
• Result 1: Promote sustainable production and diversification of income through beneficiary training and enhancing HH and community assets
• Result 2: Establish and/or strengthen community managed savings and other safety nets for the most vulnerable HHs and link them to early warning systems
• Result 3: Promote sustainable management of natural resources with NRM committee trainings and rehabilitation of soil, water, and pasture resources
• Result 4: Strengthen traditional and local institutions and empower them to take targeted early actions to mitigate shocks
• Result 5: Undertake document learning within the consortium and with the communities and other stakeholders
• Results 1- 5: Rigorous monitoring of program indicators

Donor

Europe Aid

Length of Program

36 months

Brief Background of the Program

The Somalia Resilience Program (SomReP) is a multi-year effort by seven leading NGOs to tackle the challenge of recurrent droughts—and the chronic vulnerability that results—among pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, and peri-urban households across Somalia. The program is designed to address the communities’ unique needs toward building resilient livelihoods., The program builds on collective lessons learnt by consortium members; World Vision, Oxfam, DRC, COOPI, CARE, ADRA, and ACF. The SomReP program has grown significantly since its inception in 2013. To date the consortium has 7 active donors with on-going program interventions in 9 districts targeting pastoral, agro-pastoral and peri-urban groups by the 7 consortium members. Presently, SomReP has received funding from European Aid to implement a resilience program in; Bay Region: Baidoa District, Lower Shabelle Region: Afgoye District for the period of three years. It is noted that, for the program to achieve its intended goal and objectives, there is need to hire the services of a third party monitor to provide, continuous monitoring of outputs, outcome and the impact of the program and to ensure evidenced based decision making.

Purpose and Objectives of the engagement

The main objective of the consultancy assignment is to deliver to the SomReP stakeholders and Partners; an analysis to understand the overall project relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, equity and sustainability. Verify project activities as described in project documents (embed log frame) and Measure high-level project indicators (objective/ outcome and goal/ impact level). Under this assignment, it requires that the consultant review the project design documents including; the log frame, M&E plan and Indicator Tracking table (ITT) at the beginning of executing the intended assignment.

Time Frame and Work Plan

The time frame for this consultancy will be three (3) years, 2016 - 2018, distributed as per the table below:

Outputs Timeline

•  Validate outputs, and activities as described in the SomReP documents.
• Design data collection tools for monitoring and validate the existing one
• Provide realistic and workable recommendations to the management
• Assess integration of humanitarian accountability standards in project implementation
• Map and provide the GPS data for all the cash for all work outputs Quarterly
• Measuring program outcomes through Annual assessments.
• Assess the integration of gender, disability, resilience, child protection and engagement with faith/religious leaders
• Assess the equitable distribution of SomReP programs among communities in the targeted districts.
• Provide the income level data for the program beneficiaries. Annually
• Impact Assessment to determine efficiency, and effectiveness of the program implementation End of program

 Methodology

In carrying out the assignment, the consultant will use participatory approaches as much as possible and in close consultation with the stakeholders including; interaction with management, program staff and beneficiaries. The consultant in close coordination with DM&E manage will use, key informant interviews, focused group discussions, documentary review, Beneficiary interviews and any other method deem necessary to ensure the stated objectives are achieved

Logistics

• Travel logistics (embed flight schedule)
• Access to Operational Areas (security/ physical access)

Management of the Consultancy and Field Work

The consultants to undertake this assignment will report directly to the DM&E manager for SomReP to ensure compliance with the intended objectives. Regular consultation meetings will be arranged between the SomReP DM&E Manager and the consultant as need arises.

Consultant Responsibilities

• The consultants shall carry out the tasks and specific activities outlined in these terms of reference to deliver to specific expected outputs professionally, responsibly, sensitively and in a timely manner.
• Carry out quarterly on-site monitoring (OSM) to conduct data and activity verification on the implemented activities.
• Conduct Annual assessment to determine implementation progress towards the SomReP outcome indicators.
• Submit validation and assessment report and all the hard copy of the data sets to, the DM&E Manager for filing.
• The consultant shall ensure that, his/her core monitoring team is properly trained on the M&E system used in SomReP.
• Quarterly presentation of the key findings to the management to ensure clear understanding of the SomReP implementation Progress.
• Lead in Conducting performance and impact evaluations and midterm/final performance evaluations for SomReP Program.
• The consultants will be responsible for the final production and submission of the agreed outputs under this assignment.
• Work closely with government officials (MOPIC) during data collection.
• Based on the TOR, submit a Technical (5 - 6 pages max) and Financial (2-3 pages) Proposals including a detailed work plan

World Vision Responsibilities

• Provide the selected 3rd Party Monitor with necessary documents to enable clear understanding of the SomReP program.
• Create linkages with field staff, Implementing Partners and other stakeholders to ensure effective accomplishment of consultant tasks
• Arrange key informant interviews and focus-group discussions as per the evaluation plan
• Liaise with local implementing partners on behalf of the consultant to plan data collection
• Provide necessary orientation and training to the consultant.
• Review and approve field approaches to be used by the Monitoring team.
• Review reports and data sets to ensure quality. Equally provide ongoing feedback to the selected Monitor
• Review all reports and provide feedback to the consultant to ensure consistency with the SomReP implementation documents
• Arrange accommodation and meals

 Deliverables

At the end of every quarter, the third party monitor shall be expected to submit the following to World Vision Somalia:

• Provide summary report highlighting the following information (Maximum: 15pages)
• Activities conducted during the month
• Summary findings from the monitoring activities conducted.
• Key lessons learnt during the monitoring exercise.
• Attach photos and quotes highlighting significant change
• Recommendations
• Annexes
• All data collection tools
• Findings on the integration of humanitarian accountability standards in project implementation
• Findings on the integration of gender, disability, resilience, child protection and youth and environment.
• 1- page “fast facts” summary pointing out key facts of the findings
• 20 minutes monitoring summary PowerPoint presentation to be delivered at Nairobi national Office level.

Conditions

The consultant is expected to deliver the assignment within the agreed time frame. SomReP will pay the consultant on a quarterly basis. The payment schedule and other details will be elaborated in the contract to be signed between SomReP and Consultant. The consultant is requested to quote his/her consultancy fee for the assignment and mention when he/she will be available to carry out the assignment. However, remuneration and terms of consultancy are negotiable.

Qualifications of the Consultants to carry out the assignment

• The consultant is expected to have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in conducting, Monitoring and Evaluation, Project management, capacity building, policy analysis and organizational development.
• The consultant should demonstrate relevant experience in conducting a similar assignment and provide two referees for the purpose of applying for this work.
• The consultant should be qualified in the field of; Project management, International Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, policy management or any other related fields.
• A minimum qualification of a Master degree is preferred.
• He/ She should have the ability to provide good reports, Analysis and presentation to SomReP.
• The Consultant may apply as individual or as a team of competent consultants clearly stating the responsibilities of each member of the team.
• Prior experience working in Somalia and relationships with Somali-speaking field data collection supervisors will strongly be considered.