Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability And Learning Expert

1. IntroductionOxfam is seeking an expert to support the MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning) systemdefinition and establishment for the regional programme “Supporting Women’s Transformative Leadership inChanging Times in Middle East and North Africa (AMAL) programme” and to provide remote and face to face supportto Oxfam country Offices in oPt, Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen and partner organizations in implementation of thesystem.2. BackgroundOxfam has been working in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region for over five decades. Over the past fourdecades it has been promoting gender equality and supporting women’s right to participate and be represented ingovernance and decision-making structures and processes.This focus is complementary to other areas of Oxfam’s work on women’s rights and to the broader goal of Oxfam tocontribute to a ‘world without poverty.’ Oxfam is committed to supporting women, men and children, living inpoverty, to claim their rights to sustainable livelihoods, to basic social services, to life and security, to be heard, andto an identity.AMAL is a three-year multi-country programme to be implemented jointly by Oxfam GB, Oxfam Novib, IntermonOxfam and partners. It is aimed to promote active participation and leadership of women in the MENA region,including the poorest and most marginalised women, in local, national and regional governance structures anddecision-making processes. By doing so, the programme aims to ensure that they have a say in formulation and/ortheir needs and priorities are reflected in socio-economic policies and practice at all levels. The programme is set tobe implemented in the OPTs, Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen.AMAL started in October 2012 and activities are underway. A baseline study was completed in each country focusingon selected indicators and a consolidated report will be available on 21 November. All country offices are currentlyworking on developing their MEAL strategies based on common guidelines.3. PurposeThis consultancy is envisioned to provide systematic support to the teams involved in this regional programme on allaspects of monitoring and evaluation of the programme. It will thus be based on specific deliverables based on theprogramme timetable. The consultancy is arranged around the following components: Elaborate the overall MEAL strategy and system for the programme based on Oxfam policies and specificguidelines Provide remote support and in-country training to Oxfam offices and partners in development andimplementation of their MEAL strategy Manage the processes of midterm and final evaluation of the programme and contribute to learning reviewsof the programme Develop case studies and beneficiaries’ stories showcasing AMAL programme achievements throughdifferent activities Contribute to reporting on results in AMAL1st draft 21 Nov 2013 24. Indicative ApproachesOxfam MEAL systems are tailored in order to adapt to different context and specificities. They are meant to becoherent with our rights based approach and for this reason emphasis is given on participatory approaches, balanceof quantitative and qualitative methods, and feedback.Oxfam will seek to apply and integrate the principles of transformative leadership in its Monitoring, Evaluation,Accountability and Learning (MEAL) system, this was included in the baseline. The approach will: Be rights based, participatory and horizontal approach, meaning that partners will be involved from the verybeginning of the inception phase and at each stage of the MEAL process; Incorporate key questions, indicators and mechanisms to monitor transformative leadership within Oxfamand partners; and Emphasise the Cross Programme Learning.The monitoring and evaluation system will be designed based on the logframe, indicators and some tools preidentifiedthat will be adapted for the purpose of monitoring and evaluation this programme.5. Main activities and TimelineThe duration of the consultancy will be 1 December 2013 until 30 November 2015. The main activities areelaborated in the table below with an indicative timeline that will be confirmed at the beginning of every stageAction Duration TimeframeComponent1: MEAL strategy Development ASAP - 15 Feb Review the draft MEAL strategies submitted by each Cosand provide support for completion: comments, adviceand actual write up of sections to help them finalize5 days Develop and write the regional MEAL strategy, includingthe MEAL tools, MEAL plan and capacity building plan indiscussion with the programme manager5 days Develop data collection tools for the indicators in the logframethat were not included in the baseline for countryand regional components as requested5 days Draft the consolidated MEAL strategy for AMALprogramme making use of the above and the baselinestudy results5 days Share and validate MEAL strategy with ProgrammeManager and Oxfam MEAL committee2 daysComponent 2: Technical input and training for country offices and partners duringimplementation of the MEAL strategy-Feb 2014 – September2015 Monitor the implementation of the MEAL strategy andplan in terms of timing and quality on a monthly basisthrough skype follow ups with MEAL/Programme Officersand report any issues back to the programme manager2 days/month22 DaysMarch, May, June, Aug,Sep 2014Fed, March, May, June,Aug, Sep 2015 Provide technical assistance to the programme team atCos on the proposed methods in the collection ofquantitative & qualitative information from varioussourcesRemote support byreviewing documentsUp to 5 days/monthUp to 60 days Provide training to the programme team and partners onprogramme standards and on knowledge, skills andcompetencies necessary for effective monitoring,evaluation, learning and accountability.2 trainings/country32-40 days includingtravelAs per capacity buildingplan tentative timing 1 inMarch 2014And 1 in March 2015Component 3: Carry out the MEAL work for the regional activities, provide feedback onprogramme progressFeb 2014 – September20151st draft 21 Nov 2013 3 Data collection and/or analysis for MEAL of regionalactivities at agreed upon milestones utilizing the agreedupon tools (1 seminar, 3-4 workshops, Online resourcecentre, study tours, advocacy work)12 days As per regional work plan(to be shared) Data collection and analysis for MEAL of the innovationfund25 days 10 days in 2014, 10 daysin 2015 (exact dates to beidentified) Consolidation and analysis of MEAL data collected atcountry level on a quarterly basis18 days 3 days in each of Jan, Apr,Jul 20143 days in each of Jan, Apr,Jul 2015 Producing reports presenting the above results andrecommendations to the AMAL programme managerIncluded in above Developing lessons learnt reports, criteria for successstories/ case studies derived from implementation atcountry and regional levels12 days 2 days in each of Jan, Apr,Jul 20142 days in each of Jan, Apr,Jul 2015 Prepare the sections on progress on indicators, outputsand outcomes in the annual programme reports to thedonors, based on data analysis10 days 5 days in October 2014,5 days in October 2015 Develop TORs for the midterm review of the programmeand follow up on implementation15 days March-April 2014 Develop TORs for the final evaluation of the programmeand follow up on implementation15 days August- Sep 2015(Tentative)Total 2516. Outputs- AMAL MEAL Strategy and plan- AMAL MEAL Tools- Analysis reports and sections of annual reports- Training material and reports- Case studies and lessons learnt reports- TORs for midterm and final evaluations