Background

The Government of Sri Lanka, with the technical support of the UNDP Sri Lanka, has secured funds from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to implement a seven-year Project in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka on climate resilient integrated water management. The Project, titled as Climate Resilient Integrated Water Management Project (CRIWMP), supports the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable smallholder farmers in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka; particularly women, who are facing increasing risks of rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and extreme events attributable to climate change. The Project will address technical, financial and institutional barriers related to achieving integrated water management to improve agriculture-based livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the Dry Zone.

The key objective of this Project is to strengthen the resilience of smallholder farmers in Seven dictricts of the Dry Zone (Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kurunegala, Puttalam, Mannar, Vavuniya and Trincomalee) to climate variability and extreme events through an integrated approach to water management. This will be achieved through three outputs that build upon previous experience and best practice:

•           Output 1: Upgrading and enhancing resilience of village irrigation systems and scaling up climate-resilient farming practices in three river basins of the Dry Zone

•           Output 2: Enhancing climate-resilient, decentralized water supply and management solutions to provide access to safe drinking water to vulnerable communities and;

•           Output 3: Strengthening weather/climate and hydrological observing, forecasting and water management systems to enhance adaptive capacity of smallholder farmers to droughts and floods. 

The Project implementation organizational structure includes a Project Management Unit established under the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment and a field office located in Anuradhapura.  The Project entered into partnerships with four leading Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to assist the project social mobilization process in targeted districts through educating, engaging and empowering project beneficiaries and local stakeholders to enhance the effectiveness of the project implementation and to ensure the intended project results are achieved. UNDP, as the responsible party for project quality assurance, is providing technical assistance to implement the Project through a team of Specialists.

The project is in its fourth year of implementation and the mid-term review is planned to be held in 2021.

SCOPE AND OBJECTIVE    

The overall objective of the assignment is training, capacity building and data management related to Project lof-frame. This also includes performance monitoring of the CSOs hired by the project against the intended results of social mobilization. The consultant also required to collect, analyse and synthesize the data required for Annual Performance Reporting to GCF.

Duties and Responsibilities

The TOR aims to achieve the expected outputs through the most appropriate methodology/ action plan which is to be proposed by the consultant by applying the below elements. The Consultant must provide a detailed description of the operational M&E system, CSO performance monitoring and reporting method which includes the quality assurance mechanisms that will be put in place, appropriate to the local conditions and context of the work. The Consultant is expected to travel once a month to each of the Project districts, with prior approval from the Project Manager. Transport facility for the visits will be provided by the Project and all other logistics are to be included in the financial proposal of the consultancy.  

1.         To develop and implement a data management system for the Project              

• Design and operationalize the data management  system for the project in line with project result’s framework
• Devise an online activity monitoring tool as part of the data management system
• Formulate a set of relevant, measurable indicators for progress tracking of the project activities, outputs and results
• Systematically compile and record Project data
• Set up a mechanism to monitor the performance of CSOs of the Project
• Advice the technical team about project Midterm Evaluation requirements in line with the CSO engagement of the project

2.         Provide quarterly reports based on the synthesise data

• Collect and compile monthly, quarterly and annual reports of the project by the CSOs
• Collect and compile data for the gender action plan and the grievence redress mechanism of the Project
• Collection, compilation and synthesisantion of data required for Annual Performance Reporting, Mid-term and Terminal evaluation

3.         Overall responsibility of managing the training and capacity building programmes of the project

• Develop training plan for the project in consultation of the technical staff and CSOs of the project
• Liaise with training firms, resource persons and technical staff on development of the training modules, manuals and materials by meeting the expected quality requirements
• Liaise with project partners, CSOs and contractors on scheduling, organizing and delivery of the training programmes
• Develop a system for pre and post evaluation and quality assurance of the trainings and capacity building programmes conducted by the project

The above deliverables are subject to adjustments depending upon project needs and emerging priorities. Any changes will be discussed and agreed to, with the consultant. Consultant’s duty station during the contract will be Colombo with travel to Project distrcits as required

Expected Output/Deliverables

1. To develop and implement a data management system for the Project  - 15th December 2020

• Study the relevant project documents review the log frame and result matrix, and the indicators
• Review the AWP and CSO plans of the project, and extract relevant indicators to monitor the project outcomes and outputs

2. CSO monitoring system is in place - 15th December 2020

• To establish an CSO monitoring system that includes the above and guides the CSO to operationalize the system
• Review and compile CSO progress reports, workshop reports, attendance sheets, meeting minutes and respective activity reports,
• Collect from CSOs and compile Social and Environmental safeguard / grievance redress related reports, data, solutions etc which need to update APR

3. Analyze and synthesize the data relevant to 2020 for reporting purposes – 15th March 2021

4.  Updated project gender action plan and social safeguard and environment plan – 15th March 2021

• Support CSOs to adopt the gender action plan and the social safeguard and environment plan
• Collect data and update the gender action plan and the social safeguard and environment plan

5.  Develop training plan and finalise traning modules and training material for the Project in consultation of the technical staff, training firms and CSOs of the project – 15th March 2021

6. Updated baseline report - 10th June 2021

• Review project baseline report and update as required 
• Develop and update project baseline for the remaining districts

7. Delivery of 50% of the annual training plan – 31st August 2021

8. Online monitoring system is up and running – 31st August 2021

• Complete the online monitoring system with the developer
• Act as the administrator to the system. Make sure the data feeds on daily basis.

9. Analyze and synthesize the data relevant to 2021 for reporting purposes and completeion of the assignment – 30th Spetember 2021

TIME FRAME

The envisaged time frame of the consultancy is 180 days (15 days per month) - 12 months from 1st October  2020 to 30th September 2021

Competencies

CONSULTANT PROFILE     

The prospective consultant should have the following competencies and qualifications:

a  Technical competencies

• Demonstrated experience in the water sector project/programme developments;
• Demonstrated experience in intigrtaed water management in dry zone of Sri Lanka;
• Strong understanding about global and national climate change and environmental issues especially for water sector;
• Strong understanding of local participatory water management practices;
• Demonstrated experience in application of propoer M&E systems for larger development and complex projects;
• Skills demonstrated in capacity building and monitoring
• Candidate should have a minimum of 20 years (overall covering above aspects) of professional experience in training, capacity building, data management and monitoring and evalauation

b.  Partnerships

• Maturity and confidence in dealing with senior members of national and private sector institutions,
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
• Excellent written communication skills, with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize relevant collected data and findings for the preparation of quality analysis for the development of the report.
• Excellent coordination skills and result oriented collaboration with personnel with different subject expertise.

c.  Results

• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact & result for the client and responds positively to feedback;
• Good team player who has ability to maintain good relationships

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Master’s Degree in Development Studies, Sociologist, Agriculture or equivalent in a relevant area such as climate change adaptation and water management, or related fields.

Experience

1. Minimum of 20 years of demonstrated experience and knowledge in the earlier mentioned fields of expertise, experience working on training, capacity building, data management and monitoring and evaluation
2. Demonstrated strategic technical and intellectual skills in the substantive areas;
3. Demonstrated leadership, facilitation, coordination skills, ability to mentor technical teams;
4. Working experience with international organizations or similar projects/programme design and implementations;
5. Excellent communication (both oral and written), synthesis, analysis and trouble-shooting skills;
6. Computer proficiency especially related to professional office software packages (Microsoft Office).
7. Languages/ Other
8. Excellent English language skills, particularly in the preparation of written documents; Work experience in the region is preferred.

HOW TO APPLY

• To apply please access UNDP Jobs site http://jobs.undp.org.

The application should contain:

• Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position and a brief methodology on how you will approach and conduct the work.
• Updated CV to include qualifications/competencies and relevant past experience in similar projects and contact details of 3 professional referees who can certify your competencies, professionalism, quality of writing, presentation and overall suitability to this TOR
• Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a combimation of factors including cover letter, the credentials on offer and brief interview (optional) and the offer which gives the best value for money for the UNDP.
• Please send the Financial Proposal separately to the following e-mail address: consultants.lk@undp.org  stating the vacancy number/position  in the subject line.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL   

All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee: LKR (_______________________________________)

Or

All Inclusive Daily Fee: LKR (_____________________________________)

Amount in words:

(Rs._______________________________________________________________)

Note: Payments will be based on invoices on achievement of agreed milestones i.e. upon delivery of the services specified in the TOR and certification of acceptance by the UNDP. The applicant must factor in all possible costs in his/her “All Inclusive Lump Sum Fee” including his/her consultancy and professional fee, travel (economy class flights is required to and from the Duty Station) honorarium, board and lodging, and any other foreseeable costs in this exercise. No costs other than what has been indicated in the financial proposal will be paid or reimbursed to the consultant. UNDP will only pay for any unplanned travel outside of this TOR and Duty Station on actual basis and on submission of original bills/invoices and on prior agreement with UNDP officials. Daily perdiums and costs for accommodation/meals/incidental expenses for such travel shall not exceed established local UNDP DSA rates.

For an Individual Contractor who is 65 years of age or older, and on an assignment requiring travel, be it for the purpose of arriving at the duty station or as an integral duty required travel under the TOR, a full medical examination and statement of fitness to work must be provided.  Such medical examination costs must be factored in to the financial proposal above. Medical examination is not a requirement for individuals on RLA contracts. 

PAYMENT FOR SERVICES

Payments will be based on milestones certified by Project Manager.

Payment Milestones will be as follows: .

15th December 2020 –20 % of the total contract value upon successful completion of deliverable 1& 2

10th March 20201 - 30 % of the total contract value upon successful completion of deliverable 3, 4 & 5

10th June 2021 - 10 % of the total contract value upon successful completion of deliverable 6

31st August 2021 – 20 % of the total contract value upon successful completion of deliverable 7 & 8

30th September 2021 - 20 % of the total contract value upon successful completion of deliverable 9

UNDP is committed to achieving diversity within its workplace, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.