International Consultant on setting up the M&E system

Implementation Readiness of the Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for Aral Sea Basin (CAMP4ASB)

Terms of Reference for

International Consultant on setting up the M&E system

1.       Background

On November 3, 2015, the World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved an allocation of US$38 million from the International Development Association (IDA) to finance the first phase of the CAMP4ASB regional program. This approved financing includes US$9 million for Tajikistan, US$14 million for Uzbekistan, and US$15 million for regional activities to be implemented by the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (EC-IFAS) with support from the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC) for day-to-day regional coordination and implementation.

The Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for Aral Sea Basin (CAMP4ASB) aims to enhance regionally coordinated access to improved climate change knowledge services for key stakeholders (e.g., policy makers, communities, and civil society) in participating Central Asian countries as well as to increased investments and capacity building that, combined, will address climate challenges common to these countries. CAMP4ASB[1] is comprised of three components as follows:

2.       Objectives of the assignment   

The main objective of the assignment is to set up a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system (M&E System) of the CAMP4ASB Program to reflect and measure all project-related targets and achievements. The system shall be established in a way to provide reliable and verifiable data to back up operational management and decision-making process, which ensures CAMP4ASB effective implementation by the National and Regional Coordination Units (NCUs and RCU).

Other objectives of the project M&E system are to (i) identify quantitative and qualitative project targets and indicators; (ii) collect data on the extent of reaching the quantitative and qualitative project targets at its various implementation stages; (iii) analyze collected data at various project stages and take management decisions regarding the further implementation stages; and (iv) analyze efficiency of the project based on its implementation results.

3.       Scope of work and tasks

In his/her activity the International Consultant on setting M&E system shall be guided by the Project Operational Manual (POM) and Project Appraisal Document (PAD). He/she will be responsible for providing assistance support to the RCU and NCUs in the following activities:

·         Analyze information to develop a comprehensive Program Results Framework (PRF) that will include baseline/interim quantitative and qualitative indicators and targets, as well as indicators to measure the project success/impact.

·         Develop data collection tools to identify interim quantitative and qualitative targets and Program success/impacts

·         Develop a Project M&E System Manual that will include but not be limited to:

a.       Goals, tasks and main elements of the M&E System

b.      Electronic M&E System's intermittent reporting forms

c.       Electronic M&E System's inputting manual

d.      Sample M&E System targets' data collection tools.

·         Jointly with the M&E software developer, formulate the structure and content of the database, which shall be used for data collection and disaggregation by quantitative and qualitative targets

·         Conduct training for NCUs and RCU as well as the experts, who shall be involved to the baseline survey, to introduce the Program M&E System and instruct how to use it.

4.       Criteria of the M&E system:

Key elements of the Program's M&E System shall contain the following criteria:

·         Accuracy: assurance of accuracy entails performance of quality control procedures locally at all stages of collection, processing and storage of data and reporting documents  

·         Timeliness: obsolete data is rarely useful, especially when it comes to operational decision-making. An efficient M&E System shall be able to provide the latest data to its users

·         Coherence: to ensure reliability of data, the system has to be processed and compiled in a uniform, coherent, and regular way. Inconsistencies in collection and submission of data can distort information and analysis of trends

·         Completeness: to have the entire picture, all elements of the Program's M&E System have to be united as a completed jigsaw puzzle. Accurate and timely decision-making demands that data is integrated and information is presented in generalized form. Monitoring reports have to be presented orderly and exclude voluminous detailing to prevent "information overload"

·         Relevance: irrelevant and unnecessary data and information ruin the program. To operate efficiently, the Program's M&E System has to provide information that is relevant to donors, NCUs and RCU.

5.       Qualification and experience requirement

Education & Experience:

·      University degree in economics, social science, statistics, management or related fields

·      At least 10 years of experience in research, monitoring and evaluation of social projects and programs, as well as in the M&E System software development (especially at the level of content and structure)

·      Sound experience in development of similar M&E System for international projects and programs in Central Asia

·      Experience of working in Central Asia, good awareness of data collection process in the region

·      Work experience in the fields of environment, water and/or climate change will be an advantage

Personal qualities:

·      Applicants must demonstrate enthusiasm for, and commitment, to sustainable development and environmental management

·      Excellent communication, including report writing, and inter-personal skills

·      Excellent team-player

·      Evidence of strong analytical skills, and problem identification and solving

Communication and computer skills:

·      Computer skills (MS office, MS Word, MS Excel, Power point, Internet E-mail etc.) is required, experience with establishing and maintaining databases will be an advantage.

·      Fluency in written and spoken English and Russian.

6.       Timeline and Reporting

The estimated duration of the consultancy will be February 2017 – July 2017. Tentative number of working days is up to 45.

The Consultant shall report to the CAMP4ASB RCU Coordinator.

[1] For more details about the project and description of all components and subcomponents please, refer to the CAMP4ASB Project Appraisal Document (PAD)

All interested candidates may review the detailed Terms of References and submit their CVs, technical and financial proposal to Sanzhar Mustafin at smustafin@carececo.org and camp4asb@carececo.org not later than February 07, 2017. An application must be submitted in Russian and/or English language in electronic form. The application must not be longer than 5 printed pages (Times New Roman, 11th font, single line interval), excluding the information specified in the paragraph 3 above.

Please note that only short listed candidates will be contacted.