Individual Consultant for Conducting an Evaluability Assessment, Enable and Bouzour... Tender

Procurement Summary

Country : Lebanon

Summary : Individual Consultant for Conducting an Evaluability Assessment, Enable and Bouzour Projects

Deadline : 27 Mar 2024

Other Information

Notice Type : Tender

TOT Ref.No.: 98410732

Document Ref. No. :

Competition : ICB

Financier : Self Financed

Purchaser Ownership : Public

Tender Value : Refer Document

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Tender Details

Tenders are invited for Individual Consultant for Conducting an Evaluability Assessment, Enable and Bouzour Projects

Closing Date: Wednesday, 27. Mar 2024

Intervention Sector(s): Development

PROJECT BACKGROUND

ENABLE Project

With funding from the European Union, the International Labour Organization (ILO) is implementing ENABLE project focusing on providing livelihoods opportunities to enhance the economic capacity of the most vulnerable and marginalized communities residing in targeted areas. The project will provide integrated employment services and short‐term employment opportunities, which will reduce dependency on social assistance for the extremely poor and vulnerable, contributing towards social cohesion. Program activities are being implemented in Beirut, Mount Lebanon, North/Akkar, and South/Nabatieh governorate. The programme runs from January 2023 till December 2025.

Bouzour Project

The ILO is implementing the Bouzour project - Building Inclusive Markets and Decent Work for Syrian Refugees and Lebanese Host Communities with funding from the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida). The project focuses on the agriculture and agri-food sector as a key sector for the livelihoods of both Lebanese and Syrian vulnerable population groups and in particular women of both communities and aims to develop specific agricultural and agri-food value chains with potential for decent job creation that will benefit both groups. The project runs from July 2023 until June 2025.

The project seeks to achieve four key outcomes with interlinked components:

1. Enhanced Productivity and Working Conditions in the Horticulture Sector: The project supports farmers in adopting modern greenhouses and sustainable farming practices, improving productivity, crop quality, and working conditions for both Lebanese and Syrian workers.

2. Upgraded Market Opportunities for Farmers and Agri-Businesses: By identifying and capitalizing on local and international market opportunities, the project helps farmers and agri-businesses in selected sectors to access upgraded markets, fostering inclusive growth.

3. Adoption of Solar Energy Systems for Sustainable Electricity Generation: To counter the energy crisis, the project promotes solar energy systems for farmers, reducing costs, ensuring stable electricity supply, and leading to environmental benefits.

4. Capacity Building for Efficient Resource Management: The project empowers farmers and small agri-businesses with essential business management skills, enhancing their ability to plan, calculate profits, and make informed decisions.



ASSIGNMENT OBJECTIVE

The overall objective of the assignment is to support the ENABLE and Bouzour projects in different M&E related activities. For ENABLE project, the objective is to conduct an evaluability assessment to assess the project logical framework, outputs and indicators, propose improvements to the overall M&E framework including gender indicators, impact monitoring tools, and to verify resources needed to conduct proper monitoring activities. The consultant shall also support in implementing the suggested findings from the evaluability assessment to enhance ENABLE monitoring tools.
The chosen consultant will collect from the ENABLE team relevant documentation and will conduct a preliminary stock-taking of the M&E plan, system and activities to date.

For Bouzour project the objective is to support the project in reviewing the programme logical framework, outputs and indicators, and support in designing the overall M&E framework including gender indicators, impact monitoring tools, and to verify resources needed to conduct proper monitoring activities. Under Bouzour, the project-s monitoring and results measurement (MRM) system will be based on the Donor Committee for Enterprise Development (DCED) Standard for Measuring Results in Private Sector Development. The MRM system is designed to structure data collection, strategy development, analysis and reporting. The system will not only answer questions like ‘what happened or what did not happen- but also analyse and explain ‘why something has worked or has not worked-. Considering this, the purpose of using a DCED Standard-based results measurement system in the project is two-fold: i) to improve project performance; ii) to provide credible estimates of project achievements for reporting purposes. In terms of results measurement, the project sets benchmarks for each indicator of each intervention. The consultant is expected to follow the DCED Standard for Measuring Results in Private Sector Development in the development of the overall M&E framework.


TASKS AND DUTIES for ENABLE PROJECT

Phase 1: Assessment of ENABLE M&E framework

Analyze the programme logframe/Results Framework approach, to identify the logic between the activities, outputs, outcomes, objectives and risks/assumptions and review information sources.
Assess the quality of the risk analysis at project design and assessment, test assumptions and importance and likelihood assigned to risks and identify any missing risks and mitigation measures.
Review the causal logic and results-level linkages between the UNSDCF/ILO Country Programme Outcomes and the ENABLE Programme.
Review the results phrasing and assess the indicators definitions, key questions, and methodological approach.
Assess the effectiveness and impact of the project and determine the soundness of the approach in terms of the future evaluability of the project-s impact.
Review the resources and management arrangements for implementing the M&E plan to ascertain feasibility and appropriateness and make recommendations for improvements if needed.
The consultant shall consider the quality of the information, the appropriateness of the Management Information System (MIS) for storing and safeguarding the data, and use of this information by project stakeholders and in performance reports.
For all of the above, the consultant will talk to key ENABLE officials, use EA tools available, and identify good practices and also specific improvements/ recommendations that should be made to the M&E system. The consultant shall give specific actions for acting upon these recommendations. Major risk areas and means of addressing these will also be identified, recommending overall changes to ILO-s design and quality control system for M&E of large projects.


Phase 2: Implementation of findings



After the completion of the assessment phase, the consultant shall implement the corrective measures found at the level of the assessment.
The consultant shall conduct a one-day workshop to present the changes to the team before finalizing the changes.
The consultant shall develop the proper monitoring tools for ENABLE project, as per the log frame and monitoring framework.


TASKS AND DUTIES FOR BOUZOUR PROJECT

Analyze the programme log frame/Results Framework approach, to identify the logic between the activities, outputs, objectives and risks/assumptions and review information sources.
Propose modifications to the programme logical framework, outputs and indicators, based on the DCED Standard for Measuring Results in Private Sector Development
Design the overall M&E framework system and data collection methods including gender indicators, impact monitoring tools, and to verify resources needed to conduct proper monitoring activities.
It is worth mentioning that the tasks and duties pertaining to both programmes should be performed in parallel.

METHODOLOGY

The evaluability review includes two complementary data collection and review activities:

Document review, including project documents, log frame, work plan, communication strategy, and existing M&E plan and systems planned surveys to verify sufficiency of data collection and allocation of resources.
Assessing the M&E framework from A to Z as per the above.
Conduct key informant interviews or group interviews, either through email, telephone, online, or in person. The types and number of interviews will be based on the needed information to fill in the identified gaps and develop the needed changes.
Based on the desk review, interviews, and the assessment, the assignment will address the identified gaps and revise the M&E system of the projects to ensure their evaluability. This will entail a revamped TOC; validated assumptions and risks; a clear, complete and logical results framework; a coherent, detailed, and relevant M&E plan with SMART indicators, indicator measurement guidance notes for each indicator, data collection plan to report on all indicators; adequate reporting processes; clear assigned roles and responsibilities for the ILO and stakeholders.
The desk review and interviews will suggest findings that will point to additional issues and information to find. The M&E appraisal checklist can also help to guide the analysis.

Key steps being followed in the analysis are:



a - Mapping of logic and analysis of indicators

Analyse the context (social, political and economic information) to help understand why and what the problems are that ILO seeks to address.
Review the logic and each intended outcome, as well as the baseline or starting conditions, specified indicators and targets (if these are not documented, attempt to compile through interviews or other communications).
Note key partners for each outcome that should be involved in M&E knowledge exchange.
For each outcome, identify the logical fit between activities, major outputs, indicating the time frame for each and how these align with the targets, milestones, and proposed measurements.
For each outcome, review the identified risks and assumptions as well as adequacy of mitigation plans.
For each outcome, identify the contribution and logic between outcome and impact.


b- Methodological approaches for defini

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