Background

The United Nations in Liberia is represented by the UN Mission (UNMIL) and the UN Country Team (UNCT), comprising 16 specialized agencies, funds, programmes, the World Bank, the IFC and the IMF. Working together, the UN in Liberia has developed the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF – 2008-2012), and is engaged in planning and implementing joint programmes, in support of the Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (Lift Liberia – 2008-2012).
 
In October 2010, the UN in Liberia launched Delivering as One (DaO), with a view to replace with the current system of separate country programmes and plans for agencies and entities and with One Programme and One Budget framework, overseen by One Leader. The new model, currently referred to as the United Nations Development Assistance Plan (UNDAP) is anticipated in either December 2012 or July 2013. The objective of the One Programme model is for the UN to become a more effective development partner to the Government of Liberia by responding to the country’s national priorities more efficiently, coherently, and increasing the sustainability of programmatic results.
 
In November 2010, a mid-term review was conducted of the UNDAF in Liberia. It found that the UNDAF M&E framework was not an effective tool for monitoring of progress and results achieved, and that the UNDAF Outcome Group’s work plan monitoring was also critically insufficient. Similarly, the review of the UN and GoL Joint Programmes, conducted in December 2009, found that the Joint Programmes had weak M&E frameworks and that the monitoring of progress and accountability mechanisms needed improvement.
 
At the presentation of the MTR of the UNDAF in December 2010, the UN Resident Coordinator and UNMIL DSRSG for Governance and Recovery, Mr Moustapha Soumaré, pledged that the UN would actively address the shortcomings of the UN M&E systems and frameworks, and also look at how to improve and enhance support to and linkages with Government M&E efforts and initiatives.
 
The UN Inter-Agency Programming Team (IAPT) and its M&E Advisory Group has decided to initiate the implementation of the RC/DSRSG’s commitment, by commissioning a consultancy that will study the M&E systems and practices across UN bodies and Government entities, and identify ways to enhance accountability for results, learning from experience and use of available information.
 
The overall objective of this consultancy is to have an inventory of systems for monitoring and evaluation in key UN entities in Liberia and across line ministries in the GoL, along with actionable recommendations for how to strengthen the demand and use of monitoring and evaluation information, and also looking at capacity for monitoring and evaluation. This information will enable the UN as well as Government to take concrete steps to improve the environment and opportunities for quality monitoring and evaluation in Liberia.
 
Providing the inventory of key GoL M&E systems is intended to inform relevant UN agencies what information is being gathered and processed in GoL and where linkages should be established, but equally to assist GoL in its own efforts to improve its monitoring and evaluation systems and efforts. The same applies to the assessment of demand and use of M&E information in GoL, which this consultancy will also produce; the objective being to contribute information to GoL’s strategic work on monitoring, evaluation and results based management.
 
Additional objectives of the consultancy are to sensitize management levels in the UN and GoL about the role of working environments, organizational conditions and ability to implement changes, for effective results based management. Also, in and of itself, the consultancy will contribute quality evidence and analysis to discussions across UN and GoL about monitoring, evaluation and results based management.

Duties and Responsibilities

 
The scope of the consultancy includes:
  • To develop an inventory of key UN and GoL M&E systems – with a clear distinction between Monitoring and Evaluation;
  • To assess practices for demand and use of Monitoring and Evaluation information in key UN agencies and GoL entities – with a clear distinction between Monitoring and Evaluation;
  • To assess capacity for M&E in key UN and GoL entities;
  • To develop recommendations for how the UN and the GoL can strengthen their M&E system, addressing harmonization of and possible linkages between various M&E systems, as well as where and how capacity could be enhanced; To develop recommendations for where and how to change practices for M&E information demand and use.
 
Deliverables/Outputs :
 
The outputs will be assessed against, among other things, the brief conceptual framework submitted as part of the initial proposal submitted by the selected consultant(s).
 
Deliverables are linked to the payment as follows:
  • An Inception Report, outlining the key scope of the work and intended work plan of the consultancy, will be submitted after 5 days of commencing the consultancy. The inception report will be discussed and agreed with the Consultancy Management Team; 20 % of total contract sum;
  • A presentation of preliminary findings, in line with the agreed scope of work, will be presented verbally half-way through the consultancy; 23 days after commencement of the consultancy; 20 % of total contract sum;
  • A draft Report will be presented and discussed with the Consultancy Management Team and key stakeholders before the departure of the consultant; 40 days after commencement of the consultancy; 20 % of total contract sum;
  • A Final Report with specific recommendations, including a proposed action plan for the way forward will be submitted within two weeks of the Consultant’s departure; 45 days after commencement of the consultancy; 40 % of total.
 Application Procedure: 
 
Only shortlisted applicants will be notified and forwarded the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice along with terms of reference and general conditions of contrat for the services of Individual Contractors. Short listed candidates will be asked to submit the following:
  1. General Proposal explaining why they are the most suitable for the work;
  2. Financial proposal;
  3. Personal CV including past experience in similar projects and at least 3 references.
To be added to the Request for Proposals: All applicants must submit a brief conceptual framework explaining what results based management, monitoring, evaluation mean and how they connect in practical ways in public organizations such as the UN system and Government institutions. The conceptual framework must also address key organisational conditions for meaningful and useful M&E. This will provide the opportunity to critically assess whether the applicant has a clear conceptual mind about the subject matter, and what type of process, analysis and recommendations can be expected. In addition, the assessment of the consultancy outputs can be made against this initial conceptual framework; it strengthens the clarity of the ‘contract’ that is the consultancy.
 

Competencies

The consultant must have:

  • At least 10 years of work experience in management (public or private sector), programme development, monitoring and evaluation and/or related fields;
  • A detailed knowledge and familiarity of the UN, its programming processes and coordination mechanisms, as well as public sector management. Work experience from within the UN would be an asset, as would work experience from Liberia;
  • Fluency in English.

Required Skills and Experience

The consultant must have:
  • Advanced University degree (Masters Degree or equivalent) in a relevant Social Science (Public Administration, Business Administration, International Relations, etc.).