Expression of Interest for GPF II Monitoring & Evaluation Advisor
BACKGROUND
1. The Organisation: AusAID
The Australian Government’s overseas aid program aims to assist developing countries reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development, in line with Australia's national interest.
The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) manages Australia’s aid program and advises the Australian Government on international development policy. AusAID’s work contributes to the global commitment to achieve eight ‘Millennium Development Goals’ to:
• halve the number of people living in extreme poverty and hunger;
• ensure that all children receive primary education;
• promote sexual equality and give women a stronger voice;
• reduce child death rates;
• improve the health of mothers;
• combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases;
• make sure the environment is protected; and
• build a global partnership for those working in development.
With a head office in Canberra, strongly complemented by its field offices around the world, AusAID works in close partnership with Australian and foreign government officials, international and multilateral organisations (including the United Nations, World Bank and Asian Development Bank), the private sector, non-government and community organisations, and civil society. AusAID has working relationships with many more companies and organisations which help us design and deliver important programs of assistance.
Further information about the organisation also be found on the AusAID website http://www.ausaid.gov.au
2. Government Partnership Fund (GPF)
The Australia and Indonesia Government Partnership Fund Phase II (GPF II) is a whole of government program that strengthens government to government partnerships between Australia and Indonesia and contributes to economic and public sector development. It is an initiative under the Australia Indonesia Partnership Country Strategy.
Following a first five year phase, GPF II has been redesigned and includes 11 partnerships between 14 Indonesian and 11 Australian agencies. A Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (MEF), has been developed for this second phase.
3. GPF II Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (MEF)
The GPF II MEF outlines the proposed approach, methodologies, tools and reporting arrangements for the MEF. It has been developed following discussions with Australian and Indonesian government agencies funded under GPF II, and with AusAID. The MEF is designed to inquire about actual change and then utilise the information to analyse the significance and implications of that change. It is not a simple check against indicators of progress. This makes it a more resource intensive approach to monitoring and evaluation, albeit a relevant one for the particular facility design. Further to this, GPF II is managed by AusAID directly. AusAID has limited resources to directly manage the GPF II facility and requires additional technical assistance to undertake detailed monitoring and evaluation.
For this reason it is proposed that AusAID contract monitoring and evaluation resources for this facility, either on an ad hoc or regular part-time basis.
An M&E Advisor, contracted to provide regular inputs for GPF II, would provide the technical support required across the life of the program. This person would be required for a minimum of six weeks at the time of the annual report (January-March) for the GPF II and a further 4-6 weeks throughout the year for 4 years.
At the facility level, the M&E Advisor will be responsible for collection and synthesis of all partnership reports and undertaking confidential interviews with counterpart Indonesian agencies for the purposes of producing the mid year and annual reports. It will also be the responsibility of the M&E Advisor to manage selected case studies and peer reviews as required, for improvement and learning purposes. The adviser will draw from information available under AIPEG and other sources to provide some assessment to assist in explaining the context for understanding progress in GPF II.
Finally, under AusAID direction the M&E Advisor will be responsible for the regular evaluation of GPF II, primarily focused on testing the assumptions and logic underneath the partnership activities.
THE POSITION: GPF M&E ADVISOR
4. Position Description / Terms of Reference
The M&E Advisor is an independent person contracted directly to AusAID with responsibility for facilitating and managing the GPF II MEF. Particular responsibilities would include:
4.1. Collect monitoring reports produced six monthly and annually by Australian agencies in cooperation with Indonesian partners. Synthesize main findings across these reports ensuring the requirements of AusAID M&E Standards are met and serve the information/data needs of other key stakeholders such as national partners. An evidence-based, timely contribution to the Quality at Implementation Reports, Independent Progress Reports and Activity Completion Reports should be prepared when requested. Reports must reflect an analytical contribution whereby the implications of findings are explored, not simply reported.
4.2. Conduct interviews with Indonesian and Australian partner agencies according to the interview schedule provided in order to explore the experience of the partnership project both for the purposes of verification and further information gathering.
4.3. Manage at least one additional data collection method on an annual basis, choosing from either the suggestions made for case studies, contextual analysis, or peer reviews or an additional method as agreed with AusAID. Collate and synthesize all information from these three data sources above.
4.4. Production of an annual report which focuses upon the outcomes of GPF II against its overall objectives and its intention to contribute to economic public sector reform as well as detail about progress in cross cutting areas.
4.5. Facilitate a further analysis process based on this report with AusAID, Indonesian and Australian partner agencies and the GPF II Steering Committee.
4.6. Manage an annual evaluation of GPF II, focused on exploring program assumptions and based upon the standards for evaluation established by AusAID Indonesia. This task will involve identification of a suitable evaluation expert or team, establishment of terms of reference and overall management of the evaluation process. It will also involve supervision or standard-setting for the final report and facilitation of discussions on the findings of the report with relevant stakeholders as outlined above.
4.7. Identify where the implementing Agencies will require on-going M&E technical support, and where they will be expected to implement the M&E plan themselves. This will include identification of capacity required by the implementation team to implement the M&E Plan and develop a simple capacity building plan to develop relevant skills, and ensure there is an enabling environment in place to implement the M&E plan
4.8. Provide regular support to the implementation of the M&E Plan (according to the resourcing provided). The focus ought to be on the on-going design of M&E activities; assuring the quality of the M&E system implementation; and providing technical support for the collection; analysis and interpretation of data where more advanced skills are required.
4.9. Contribute to the intellectual development of the initiative during implementation. Working as a facilitator, supporting the implementation team and other relevant stakeholders to interpret and respond to M&E findings over the life of the initiative.
5. Qualifications
The M&E Advisor should hold a post graduate degree that includes a research dissertation component. Alternatively, evidence of training in advanced research or evaluation design, conduct and management. Short professional development courses in M&E are not considered advanced training. It is also expected that the person contracted for this position will have high level of English proficiency and will have at least five years experience in monitoring and evaluation for either domestic or international development organizations.
6. Experience
Essential
6.1. Experience developing and implementing M&E systems for projects in resource constrained settings. This is required to ensure the proposed M&E systems are feasible in the given context. If the candidate does not have experience in resource constrained settings, they need to be able to articulate strategies to deal with this while maintaining a sufficient degree of rigour proportionate to the level of decision making.
6.2. Demonstrated practical experience in research or evaluation design, conduct, and management. This experience should reflect expertise in developing a fully elaborated design of an M&E system which includes the design approach, articulation of M&E questions, development of sound methods and tools, conduct of data collection activities, analysis of data (or supervision of such), interpretation and dissemination of results and report preparation. Development of an M&E plan that has not been implemented by the candidate will not be considered adequate experience.
6.3. Demonstrated ability to breakdown and communicate complex concepts into simple language with a range of stakeholders in multi-cultural settings.
6.4. Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver M&E capacity building activities for implementation Agencies.
6.5. Demonstrated ability to facilitate responses to, and learnings from M&E findings, with implementation teams and other relevant stakeholders.
Desirable
6.6. Demonstrated experience in the delivery of development projects. This is required to ensure that the consultant is sensitive to the difficulties of implementing development projects in complex settings, that the design is feasible and value for money, and that the M&E systems meet the needs of all relevant stakeholders.
6.7. Demonstrated on-going membership of a domestic or international evaluation society, or other demonstrated commitment to keeping up to date with the theoretical and practice developments in the field of evaluation.
7. Input & Output (Reporting)
The M&E Advisor will be working under the direct supervision of Economic Governance Unit Manager and/or Senior Program Manager based in AusAID Jakarta office. Multiple short term inputs will be required over the period March 2012 – December 2014. The final number of input days will be determined progressively as the M&E Advisor work is undertaken. The dates and inputs shown in the following table are indicative and subject to change.
Date :1 – 31 Mar
Details :M&E Advisor to develop a plan and timetable of case studies and peer-reviews for overall learning.
Input Days : Up to 10 days
Output :
Planning Document on Case
Studies and Peer Review
Date : 1 Apr – 15 May
Details : M&E Advisor undertakes case studies and facilitates a peer review of the case studies.
Date :31 May
Details: M&E Advisor finalises reports on case studies and peer-reviews for overall learning.
Input Days: Up to 15 days
Output : Consolidated Report on case studies and peer reviews
Date 1- 30 Jul
Details : M&E Advisor synthesize the information from case studies & peer review, and the Activity Progress Report for submission to GPF II Steering Committee.
Input Days: Up to 10 days
Output : Synthesized Report on Activity Progress Report & case Studies
Date : 1 Jan - 15 Feb
Details :
M&E Advisor conducting Evaluation of the key GPF II Assumptions (based on the GPF II Monitoring and Evaluation Framework)
M&E Advisor conducting interviews with GOI counterparts to verify and expand information collected through the Program Annual Report
M&E Advisor conduct annual Contextual Assessment to provide additional information on the Facility Report
M&E Advisor Synthesises Program Annual Report, additional data from the interview with GOI, and contextual assessment in the Annual GPF II Facility Report
M&E Advisor working with AusAID Activity manager on finalising the Quality at Implementation (QAI) for GPF II
Input Days: Up to 25 days
Output :
Annual GPF II Facility Report that meet AusAID Standards and include the following:
- Update on key GPF II Assumption
- Interview Report highlighting the key findings
- Contextual Assessment Reports
- Key information that could feed in to QAI
TOTAL ESTIMATED ANNUAL INPUT DAYS : Up to 60 days
8. Expression of Interest (EoI)
Please submit your expression of interest for the position via email to:
gpf.secretariat@ausaid.gov.au by Midnight, Thursday 9 February 2012
Please put “EOI M&E Advisor” in the subject field and attached the latest CV in your email. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
1. The Organisation: AusAID
The Australian Government’s overseas aid program aims to assist developing countries reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development, in line with Australia's national interest.
The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) manages Australia’s aid program and advises the Australian Government on international development policy. AusAID’s work contributes to the global commitment to achieve eight ‘Millennium Development Goals’ to:
• halve the number of people living in extreme poverty and hunger;
• ensure that all children receive primary education;
• promote sexual equality and give women a stronger voice;
• reduce child death rates;
• improve the health of mothers;
• combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases;
• make sure the environment is protected; and
• build a global partnership for those working in development.
With a head office in Canberra, strongly complemented by its field offices around the world, AusAID works in close partnership with Australian and foreign government officials, international and multilateral organisations (including the United Nations, World Bank and Asian Development Bank), the private sector, non-government and community organisations, and civil society. AusAID has working relationships with many more companies and organisations which help us design and deliver important programs of assistance.
Further information about the organisation also be found on the AusAID website http://www.ausaid.gov.au
2. Government Partnership Fund (GPF)
The Australia and Indonesia Government Partnership Fund Phase II (GPF II) is a whole of government program that strengthens government to government partnerships between Australia and Indonesia and contributes to economic and public sector development. It is an initiative under the Australia Indonesia Partnership Country Strategy.
Following a first five year phase, GPF II has been redesigned and includes 11 partnerships between 14 Indonesian and 11 Australian agencies. A Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (MEF), has been developed for this second phase.
3. GPF II Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (MEF)
The GPF II MEF outlines the proposed approach, methodologies, tools and reporting arrangements for the MEF. It has been developed following discussions with Australian and Indonesian government agencies funded under GPF II, and with AusAID. The MEF is designed to inquire about actual change and then utilise the information to analyse the significance and implications of that change. It is not a simple check against indicators of progress. This makes it a more resource intensive approach to monitoring and evaluation, albeit a relevant one for the particular facility design. Further to this, GPF II is managed by AusAID directly. AusAID has limited resources to directly manage the GPF II facility and requires additional technical assistance to undertake detailed monitoring and evaluation.
For this reason it is proposed that AusAID contract monitoring and evaluation resources for this facility, either on an ad hoc or regular part-time basis.
An M&E Advisor, contracted to provide regular inputs for GPF II, would provide the technical support required across the life of the program. This person would be required for a minimum of six weeks at the time of the annual report (January-March) for the GPF II and a further 4-6 weeks throughout the year for 4 years.
At the facility level, the M&E Advisor will be responsible for collection and synthesis of all partnership reports and undertaking confidential interviews with counterpart Indonesian agencies for the purposes of producing the mid year and annual reports. It will also be the responsibility of the M&E Advisor to manage selected case studies and peer reviews as required, for improvement and learning purposes. The adviser will draw from information available under AIPEG and other sources to provide some assessment to assist in explaining the context for understanding progress in GPF II.
Finally, under AusAID direction the M&E Advisor will be responsible for the regular evaluation of GPF II, primarily focused on testing the assumptions and logic underneath the partnership activities.
THE POSITION: GPF M&E ADVISOR
4. Position Description / Terms of Reference
The M&E Advisor is an independent person contracted directly to AusAID with responsibility for facilitating and managing the GPF II MEF. Particular responsibilities would include:
4.1. Collect monitoring reports produced six monthly and annually by Australian agencies in cooperation with Indonesian partners. Synthesize main findings across these reports ensuring the requirements of AusAID M&E Standards are met and serve the information/data needs of other key stakeholders such as national partners. An evidence-based, timely contribution to the Quality at Implementation Reports, Independent Progress Reports and Activity Completion Reports should be prepared when requested. Reports must reflect an analytical contribution whereby the implications of findings are explored, not simply reported.
4.2. Conduct interviews with Indonesian and Australian partner agencies according to the interview schedule provided in order to explore the experience of the partnership project both for the purposes of verification and further information gathering.
4.3. Manage at least one additional data collection method on an annual basis, choosing from either the suggestions made for case studies, contextual analysis, or peer reviews or an additional method as agreed with AusAID. Collate and synthesize all information from these three data sources above.
4.4. Production of an annual report which focuses upon the outcomes of GPF II against its overall objectives and its intention to contribute to economic public sector reform as well as detail about progress in cross cutting areas.
4.5. Facilitate a further analysis process based on this report with AusAID, Indonesian and Australian partner agencies and the GPF II Steering Committee.
4.6. Manage an annual evaluation of GPF II, focused on exploring program assumptions and based upon the standards for evaluation established by AusAID Indonesia. This task will involve identification of a suitable evaluation expert or team, establishment of terms of reference and overall management of the evaluation process. It will also involve supervision or standard-setting for the final report and facilitation of discussions on the findings of the report with relevant stakeholders as outlined above.
4.7. Identify where the implementing Agencies will require on-going M&E technical support, and where they will be expected to implement the M&E plan themselves. This will include identification of capacity required by the implementation team to implement the M&E Plan and develop a simple capacity building plan to develop relevant skills, and ensure there is an enabling environment in place to implement the M&E plan
4.8. Provide regular support to the implementation of the M&E Plan (according to the resourcing provided). The focus ought to be on the on-going design of M&E activities; assuring the quality of the M&E system implementation; and providing technical support for the collection; analysis and interpretation of data where more advanced skills are required.
4.9. Contribute to the intellectual development of the initiative during implementation. Working as a facilitator, supporting the implementation team and other relevant stakeholders to interpret and respond to M&E findings over the life of the initiative.
5. Qualifications
The M&E Advisor should hold a post graduate degree that includes a research dissertation component. Alternatively, evidence of training in advanced research or evaluation design, conduct and management. Short professional development courses in M&E are not considered advanced training. It is also expected that the person contracted for this position will have high level of English proficiency and will have at least five years experience in monitoring and evaluation for either domestic or international development organizations.
6. Experience
Essential
6.1. Experience developing and implementing M&E systems for projects in resource constrained settings. This is required to ensure the proposed M&E systems are feasible in the given context. If the candidate does not have experience in resource constrained settings, they need to be able to articulate strategies to deal with this while maintaining a sufficient degree of rigour proportionate to the level of decision making.
6.2. Demonstrated practical experience in research or evaluation design, conduct, and management. This experience should reflect expertise in developing a fully elaborated design of an M&E system which includes the design approach, articulation of M&E questions, development of sound methods and tools, conduct of data collection activities, analysis of data (or supervision of such), interpretation and dissemination of results and report preparation. Development of an M&E plan that has not been implemented by the candidate will not be considered adequate experience.
6.3. Demonstrated ability to breakdown and communicate complex concepts into simple language with a range of stakeholders in multi-cultural settings.
6.4. Demonstrated ability to develop and deliver M&E capacity building activities for implementation Agencies.
6.5. Demonstrated ability to facilitate responses to, and learnings from M&E findings, with implementation teams and other relevant stakeholders.
Desirable
6.6. Demonstrated experience in the delivery of development projects. This is required to ensure that the consultant is sensitive to the difficulties of implementing development projects in complex settings, that the design is feasible and value for money, and that the M&E systems meet the needs of all relevant stakeholders.
6.7. Demonstrated on-going membership of a domestic or international evaluation society, or other demonstrated commitment to keeping up to date with the theoretical and practice developments in the field of evaluation.
7. Input & Output (Reporting)
The M&E Advisor will be working under the direct supervision of Economic Governance Unit Manager and/or Senior Program Manager based in AusAID Jakarta office. Multiple short term inputs will be required over the period March 2012 – December 2014. The final number of input days will be determined progressively as the M&E Advisor work is undertaken. The dates and inputs shown in the following table are indicative and subject to change.
Date :1 – 31 Mar
Details :M&E Advisor to develop a plan and timetable of case studies and peer-reviews for overall learning.
Input Days : Up to 10 days
Output :
Planning Document on Case
Studies and Peer Review
Date : 1 Apr – 15 May
Details : M&E Advisor undertakes case studies and facilitates a peer review of the case studies.
Date :31 May
Details: M&E Advisor finalises reports on case studies and peer-reviews for overall learning.
Input Days: Up to 15 days
Output : Consolidated Report on case studies and peer reviews
Date 1- 30 Jul
Details : M&E Advisor synthesize the information from case studies & peer review, and the Activity Progress Report for submission to GPF II Steering Committee.
Input Days: Up to 10 days
Output : Synthesized Report on Activity Progress Report & case Studies
Date : 1 Jan - 15 Feb
Details :
M&E Advisor conducting Evaluation of the key GPF II Assumptions (based on the GPF II Monitoring and Evaluation Framework)
M&E Advisor conducting interviews with GOI counterparts to verify and expand information collected through the Program Annual Report
M&E Advisor conduct annual Contextual Assessment to provide additional information on the Facility Report
M&E Advisor Synthesises Program Annual Report, additional data from the interview with GOI, and contextual assessment in the Annual GPF II Facility Report
M&E Advisor working with AusAID Activity manager on finalising the Quality at Implementation (QAI) for GPF II
Input Days: Up to 25 days
Output :
Annual GPF II Facility Report that meet AusAID Standards and include the following:
- Update on key GPF II Assumption
- Interview Report highlighting the key findings
- Contextual Assessment Reports
- Key information that could feed in to QAI
TOTAL ESTIMATED ANNUAL INPUT DAYS : Up to 60 days
8. Expression of Interest (EoI)
Please submit your expression of interest for the position via email to:
gpf.secretariat@ausaid.gov.au by Midnight, Thursday 9 February 2012
Please put “EOI M&E Advisor” in the subject field and attached the latest CV in your email. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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