Country: Nepal
Closing date: 28 Jan 2015
POSITION DESCRIPTION
POSITION TITLE: Monitoring and Evaluation International Consultant
LOCATION:Kathmandu, Nepal with travel to field
GROUP/UNIT: Enterprise and Agriculture
LENGTH: 21 days in February and 19 days in May 2015
Start Date in Nepal: Feb 1, 2015
REPORTS TO: Chief of Party (CoP)
PROJECT FOCAL POINTMonitoring and Evaluation Unit in Kathmandu and the field.
****1. PROJECT SUMMARY and INTRODUCTION****
The Knowledge-based Integrated Sustainable Agriculture and Nutrition (KISAN) project is USAID’s five-year food security flagship project in Nepal, implemented by Winrock International. The project started in February 2013 and ends in February 2018. The project is in its third of five years. KISAN promotes sustainable solutions to reduce poverty and hunger by achieving inclusive growth in the agriculture sector, increasing the income of farm families and linked on and off farm agribusiness enterprises. This includes improving the quality and availability of agro-inputs to increase production, improving capacity of famers, local service providers and extension workers, improving farmer access to markets and market efficiency, and upstream strengthening the target supply and value chains.
KISAN targets selective supply and value chain development and strengthening in the agricultural subsectors of:
- Rice.
- Maize.
- Lentil.
- Vegetables (wet season), dry (cold season), off season/high value).
- Seed production and marketing of rice, maize, lentil, vegetables of the above crop groups.
- Agriculture mechanization, irrigation, post-harvest activities and quality assurance in the target crop value chains.
- Livestock artificial insemination of dairy cattle and milking buffalo.
USAID Nepal has identified 20 Feed the Future (FtF) Districts in the Western, Mid-Western and Far-Western Regions of Nepal. These 20 Districts are Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Kanchanpur, Doti, Achham, Kailali, Dailekh, Surkhet, Bardiya, Banke, Rukum, Jajarkot, Salyan, Rolpa, Dang, Pyuthan, Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Kapilvastu and Palpa. KISAN implementation is in all 20 districts until June 30, 2015 and then in 8 districts from July 1, 2015 until the project ends. KISAN maintains a Regional Office in Nepalganj and four Cluster Offices with the West Cluster based from Kapilbastu District; Bheri Cluster based from Banke District and Rapti Cluster based from Dang District with both for the Mid West; and the Far West Cluster based from Kailali District. The current office and district staffing arrangements will change from July 1, 2015.
****2. OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY MISSION****
USAID places high emphasis on obtaining objective and verifiable baseline information and then measuring performance and outcomes from development aid. Although KISAN has an established M&E team and approach, information collection including surveys, analysis and reporting requirements across all target supply and value chains requires strengthening to meet project and donor requirements. The consultant will review the current KISAN M&E approach, data requirements by USAID Nepal for Feed the Future reporting, and recommendations to improve the project M&E approach. Options to be assessed include reviewing current and future staffing needs, and possible use of third party service providers for information collection. This includes information collection from individual on and off farm enterprises participating in the KISAN target supply and value chains and receiving project support in some way.
****3. OVERALL ACTIVITIES AND TASKS****
After arrival in Nepal, the consultant will be briefed by the KISAN M&E team, and conduct the following activities and tasks in Kathmandu and in selected KISAN field locations.
****3.1 Attend USAID M&E workshop on Feb 4 – 5, 2015****
- A Feed the Future (FtF) M&E Expert from the Bureau for Food Security, USAID, Washington, D. C. will conduct a workshop for all FtF partners in the first week of February 2015, in Kathmandu. The workshop will review and confirm all obligations under the FtF Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP). The consultant will attend this workshop with the KISAN M&E team, and based on the workshop outcomes, prepare a summary of requirements and changes to be made to the KISAN PMP.
****3.2 Design baseline survey for indicators not covered by the Forward Baseline****
- KISAN is currently using baseline data provided through USAID FORWARD, although the FORWARD baseline did not cover all baseline data required by KISAN, and KISAN will greatly benefit from a more targeted baseline. The consultant will work with KISAN M&E staff to design a rapid baseline survey on KISAN value chains (rice; maize; lentil; vegetables; seed; agriculture mechanization, irrigation, post-harvest activities; artificial insemination in dairy cattle and milking buffalo).
****3.3 Assess potential M&E service providers and develop TOR that will be part of the request for proposal (RFP)****
- During January 2015 KISAN will announce an Expression of Interest for M&E service providers in Nepal to conduct surveys of project outcomes. The consultant will assist in assessing potential M&E service providers who could effectively carry out the expected activities. The consultant will develop a ToR for an RFP that details the activities to be covered by surveys.
****3.4 Review current M&E approach and PMP****
- The consultant will review the current M&E approach and how data for all indicators (required and custom indicators) required by the FtF MS / PPR and USAID/Nepal are captured and measured for the target supply and value chains with reference to the Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP). The consultant will also review the current M&E staffing and recommend a strengthened M&E team where this is required, and the use of third party M&E service providers where appropriate. The consultant will meet with RIDA, the USAID appointed M&E Contractor, and confirm their data needs. The consultant will analyze the KISAN M&E strengths and weaknesses, and recommend improvements to the current approach where appropriate.
****4. DURATION****
The duration of this consultancy is 40 days, and Annex 1 refers.
Future backstopping missions to the KISAN M&E team for the remainder of the project is expected, and in their submissions candidates should indicate if they are interested and available for repeat missions to KISAN.
****5. DELIVERABLES****
The deliverables include the current project needs outlined in 3, although these may alter based on altered donor and project requirements.
- Design a Baseline survey.
- Design a reliable and objective data collection approach for on and off farm enterprises receiving KISAN support in the target supply and value chains. This is expected to require commercial in confidence approaches and may involve using third party service providers.
- Prepare a Technical and Financial Assessment of potential M&E service providers, and prepare a detailed ToR to be part a RFP for M&E Service provider / s. This will include background performance checks.
- Report on requirements and changes to be made to the existing KISAN PMP and the M&E approach based on Workshop recommendations, and discussions with the KISAN M&E Team.
- Prepared a final PMP Report.
****6. QUALIFICATIONS OF THE M&E CONSULTANT****
The consultant will satisfy selection criteria demonstrating requisite experience in research methodology and research methods in the agricultural sector including:
- Minimum of a Master’s degree in Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Agribusiness, Biometrics or field related.
- 10+ years of experience in conducting M&E in the agriculture sector, particularly supply and value chains.
- Experience/familiarity with current USAID/Feed the Future indicators required
- Experience in conceiving, establishing and managing M&E platforms and teams.
- Familiar with online databases
- Demonstrated competence in timely data collection, analysis and reporting.
- Preference may be given to candidates with experience in South Asia including Nepal, or South East Asia.
- Candidates should be familiar with USAID-funded programs and USAID/FtF programs, or demonstrate equivalent M&E experience.
- Highly proficient in Excel.
- Proficient in GIS will be highly regarded.
- Excellent written, verbal and people communication skills
Annex 1: Tentative timeline of the consultancy
Activities and Tasks
Days
Meeting with KISAN team (Review current M&E approach and PMP)
3
Attend USAID M&E workshop
2
Design baseline survey for indicators not covered by the Forward Nepal
2
Field visit including travel time and interaction with KISAN team in regional, clusters and districts
4
Assess potential M&E service provider and develop TOR
2
Drafting the reports (deliverables)
2
Finalization of reports
2
Travel Days
4
Follow up visit (second trip)
19
Total
40
How to apply:
