Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Consultant / Консультант(-ка) з моніторингу, оцінки та навчання

Job Title:                            Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Consultant  (STTA)

Location:                            Kyiv, Ukraine

Timeframe:                      September 20 – December 31, 2023 (Final Dates TBD with consultant)

Level of Effort:                Up to 25 Working Days (Level of Effort)

Background

Global Communities brings together local ingenuity and global insights to save lives, advance equity and secure strong futures. We achieve this mission in collaboration with a wide range of public and private sector partners, including communities directly affected by poverty, disasters and conflict. In Ukraine, Global Communities is implementing USAID’s Decentralization Offering Better Results and Efficiency (DOBRE) in Ukraine, a nine-year, $107 million local government activity launched in 2016 to help 100 communities build effective and responsible local governance processes that better serve citizens. The activity promotes decentralization reform and territorial reorganization in all of Ukraine’s oblasts. DOBRE supports local governments in the areas of service delivery, economic development, financial management, civic engagement, youth development, and emergency assistance.

Global Communities is also delivering humanitarian assistance through USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance funded Community Led Emergency Action and Response (CLEAR) program, an 18-month, $15 million to address urgent protection, shelter & settlements, and water, sanitation needs for 22,580 people affected by the war. CLEAR’s protection component includes child protection, Gender-Based Violence, psychosocial support, and coordination, advocacy, and information services. The program is implemented primarily through local NGO partners with some activities implemented directly by Global Communities. In addition to providing direct assistance, the program is strengthening local organizations through targeted technical assistance, training, and mentoring.  

Position Overview

The MEL consultant will lead a stock-taking exercise and refinement of monitoring and evaluation plans and reporting, research and collaborative learning processes for the Global Communities Ukraine portfolio, in collaboration with MEL teams, project leadership, technical staff, and partners. This includes collaboratively reviewing and enhancing MEL frameworks, data collection tools, and reporting templates two projects. Where possible, the consultant will also conduct participative training of staff and partners on MEL system operations and tools. S/he will also provide leadership and capacity building in knowledge generation, translation, and management strategies to support data use for strategic decision-making, programmatic learning and scale up of evidence-based practices. S/he will work together with project leadership to improve collaboration and effective knowledge exchange among the various programs, local partners and external stakeholders.

Objectives and Duties

The MEL consultant will be responsible for, but not limited to, the following tasks:

Quality Reporting, Monitoring, Evaluation, Assessment & Research Planning:

• Review, improve and document tools and processes for monitoring project implementation both for internal and external reporting.
• Coordinate and contribute to the development of methods and protocols for systematic data collection and analysis of project progress against performance indicators. Address challenges in data and information management that impact quality. Coordinate proper data maintenance. Support design and implementation of innovative solutions to gather monitoring data.
  • Specifically, oversee support to the DOBRE and CLEAR teams in collection, verification, and updating of monthly and quarterly data; monitor data accuracy, entry, and cleaning; and oversee maintaining accurate and up-to-date metadata.

Knowledge Management and Capacity Building:

• Assess and suggest strategies for generating a shared understanding of MEL processes and knowledge exchange between DOBRE and CLEAR projects through communication, training, learning and development activities.
• Assess priority training needs for DOBRE and CLEAR staff and partners on effective MEL practices, e.g., tools and methodologies for planning, monitoring, reporting, and measuring progress towards key performance indicators. Incorporate best practices from Global Communities guidelines on project cycle and project strategic objectives and interlinkages into plans for Global Communities and partner staff capacity building.
• Assess and suggest strategies for strengthening coordination between MEL, technical, and communications teams to provide data for success stories.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree preferred.
• At least eight years of experience in monitoring and evaluation for USAID funded development projects required; USAID and/or BHA experience required.
• At least five years of experience in MEL systems design, set-up, development and oversight on USAID funded projects.
• Expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
• Expertise in database management and data analysis.
• Experience in training, facilitation and capacity strengthening.
• Strong writing and analytical abilities.
• Fluency in Ukrainian and English required.

Deliverables (estimated level of effort in %)

• Inception report and workplan for duration of consultancy. (10%)
• Final consultancy report due December 1, 2023 with feedback and recommended changes incorporated by December 15, 2023. (15%)

• Capacity building priorities identified, and trainings proposed for both projects, jointly with Global Communities HQ MEL Team. (25%)
• Major MEL gaps in database management, tools, and methods are identified and response plan developed (25%)
• Improved cross-project learning practices and systems recommended, with suggested implementation plan developed jointly with Global Communities Ukraine and HQ MEL Teams. (25%)

To apply please send the CV (3 pages maximum), cover letter, and financial proposal (total cost of services) to [email protected] indicating Monitoring, Evaluation & Learning Consultant / Консультант(-ка) з моніторингу, оцінки та навчання in the subject line by 18 PM, September 25, 2023.  

Global Communities is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability.

Global Communities is committed to ensuring a safe and respectful environment for all staff, representatives, partners, participants, and anyone with whom Global Communities interacts worldwide, especially children and adults at risk. All Global Communities staff and representatives are explicitly prohibited from engaging in any activity that may result in any kind of breach of our safeguarding policies. In addition, it is Global Communities’ policy that it is the responsibility of anyone engaged with Global Communities to proactively build a safe and supportive environment in our work. All our staff and representatives are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with this commitment and obligation.