Monitoring & Evaluation Consultant Swedish Committee for Afghanistan
Swedish Committee for Afghanistan is looking for
Monitoring & Evaluation Consultant
Posted at Kabul Management Office, Kabul, Afghanistan
Background
Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) is a non-governmental organisation working to assist in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan. Operations started in Afghanistan in 1982 on an emergency basis, which subsequently evolved into long-term development programmes. SCA today works in the sectors of Health, Education, Disability, and Rural Development, with vulnerable groups in rural underserved areas as primary beneficiaries. With around 6000 staff, SCA is one of the largest non-governmental organisations in the country. Through its activities, SCA aims to fight poverty, support economic and social development and strengthen democratic development and gender equality & human rights.
SCA is also established in Sweden working with fundraising, information and advocacy alongside its activities in Afghanistan. In Sweden SCA works as a member driven association based on popular commitment and support, making effort to affect the public opinion by providing knowledgeable and reliable information about Afghanistan, in order to increase sustainable cooperation and assistance in a spirit of solidarity.
Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation Unit
The PMEU is a methodology unit whose overall goal is to contribute to enhanced effectiveness and quality in achieving SCA’s development objectives by fostering a culture of results orientation. This will be done through the promotion at the organisational (KMO), programme and project levels of the development,of the maintenance and utilization of results-based management for planning, performance/impact measurement, methodological learning, providing feedback to partners and project participants, and ensuring accountability (both upwards and downwards). To achieve this, the PMEU aims at ensuring that necessary tools and systems, skills and infrastructure are in place.
The PMEU’s work can be divided into two sections: Monitoring and Evaluation, and Planning.
The Monitoring and Evaluation section has two main functions: 1) Establishing a system, including policies, guidelines, and tools for the coordination of monitoring and evaluation of SCA’s operations and, 2) Providing capacity development support and technical assistance to SCA’s programmes and projects for more effective and efficient monitoring and evaluation.
The Planning section deals with planning and reporting systems to ensure quality and compliance with donor regulations of both project / programme applications and reports to donors and government agencies. The unit also coordinates the overall organisational planning cycle and provides assistance and technical backstopping to SCA’s programmes for all tasks related to planning and reporting.
Scope of Work
Over the last three years SCA has introduced and further developed a functioning system for results-oriented planning of its projects and programmes. However, while project management is active in monitoring activities and outputs and SCA conducts many evaluations of its work each year, monitoring and evaluation throughout the organisation is poorly focused and coordinated, is insufficiently oriented towards planned outcomes, quality and process, and is not carried out within the framework provided by a standard set of relevant approaches and methods.
The Consultant will be responsible for the design and establishment of a comprehensive M&E system in SCA which will cover all levels of the organisation. That is, while the system will necessarily focus on the efficient and effective collection and analysis of data against outcome indicators and outputs specified in SCA’s key programme planning documents, it will include developing coherent means of measuring quality and capacity development processes in the programmes, as well as efficiency and performance of management and administrative functions. If possible this will link the monitoring of operations in SCA’s Stockholm Management Office, through operations in the Kabul Management Office and down to its nine Project and Field Offices.
Entry Requirements
Required Qualifications and Experience
Academic degree, preferably at master’s level, in a relevant field, or equivalent documented experience and skills.
At least five years’ experience of monitoring and evaluation of donor-supported development projects in a not-for-profit organization;
Significant experience of the design of large-scale M&E systems, or other forms of complex systems in a large organisation;
In-depth knowledge and experience of Results-Based Management and a full range of M&E methods and approaches ;
Demonstrated experience in applying methods of use in organisational capacity building, including process facilitation, coaching, and training;
A solid understanding of development theory and approaches;
Ability to take the initiative, innovate and pursue work proactively with little direct supervision;
Proven experience of handling complex tasks and meeting deadlines with the production of outputs;
Excellent command of spoken and written English.
Desirable Qualifications and Experience
Experience of work in challenging conflict / post-conflict/ multi-cultural environments
Advanced user-knowledge in computer aided management, including database development and administration
Ability and willingness to travel to project offices within Afghanistan and adjust to difficult and basic living conditions
Responsibilities
Working in close cooperation with the Deputy Coordinator for M&E, and reporting to the Coordinator of PME, the Consultant has the following two main responsibilities:
1. Design of an organisational M&E system (to be completed in the initial 6 months):
Conduct a comprehensive mapping of SCA’s M&E practices to determine what may be built upon or adapted for the new system;
Consult at all levels and with all departments and units to assess the M&E needs in SCA;
Design the overall M&E concept including, what areas of operation are to be included, what will be the focus of M&E, where will strict rules be applied and where will flexibility be allowed, and how the system’s parts will be integrated (including reporting and information flows).
Refining and elaborating the concept through further consultation in SCA;
Achieving a detailed design: drawing up policies, guidelines, tools and other instruments.
Design an MIS to be developed by IT experts which will store, manage and integrate the data and analysis produced by the new M&E system;
2. Facilitate the introduction of the new M&E system in SCA (to be completed in the 4-month contract extension)
Prepare and lead specially dedicated management workshops to introduce SCA management to the new system;
Design and provide trainings to SCA units and staff in how to implement the new system;
Coordinate with PMEU staff’s ongoing capacity building inputs with SCA programmes and projects in M&E;
Provide coaching of key staff members in programmes and projects in managing the new system;
Assist PMEU staff to monitor the process of establishing the new M&E system.
Outputs
The consultant will delivery the following outputs in fulfilling the above responsibilities:
1. During the initial 6 months:
Mapping monitoring document, outlining the M&E practices, key features, links and interrelations to reporting, gaps and challenges to projects and programmes in M&E;
Summary paper of M&E needs and demands for M&E at all levels in SCA
Design concept M&E system;
Full set of policies, instruments, and tools which comprise the M&E system;
Design concept of MIS to store and manage monitoring data.
2. During the 4-month extension
Management Workshop with Sweden & Afghanistan senior management, as well as programme and project managers – to introduce the new system;
Minimum 7 training workshops with individual programmes, policy units and support Units - to continue introduction process;
Trainings and consultancies (with support from PMEU staff) in all of SCA’s 9 project/field offices;
Final report assessing the functionality of the new system and identifying any further needs for its development, outlining further steps for integrating the new system with planning, implementation and reporting, and giving guidance to PMEU for effective coordination and monitoring of the system.
___________________________________________________________________________
Application information
Contract period: 10 months fixed-term contract: an initial 6-months’ position + 4 months’ extension, conditional on the successful completion of the initial task.
Conditions: Non family posting. The position is subject to standard SCA employment conditions with a competitive salary, free housing, insurances and other benefits.
Duties to begin: August 2012
Application: Send your application (a 1-page letter explaining why you are interested in this position and your key competencies) and CV (no more than 2 pages) in English to application.sca@sak.se
Last date for applications: 6 June 2012
Only qualified applicants will be notified.
More information about SCA can be found on our web sites www.sak.se and www.swedishcommittee.org
Monitoring & Evaluation Consultant
Posted at Kabul Management Office, Kabul, Afghanistan
Background
Swedish Committee for Afghanistan (SCA) is a non-governmental organisation working to assist in the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan. Operations started in Afghanistan in 1982 on an emergency basis, which subsequently evolved into long-term development programmes. SCA today works in the sectors of Health, Education, Disability, and Rural Development, with vulnerable groups in rural underserved areas as primary beneficiaries. With around 6000 staff, SCA is one of the largest non-governmental organisations in the country. Through its activities, SCA aims to fight poverty, support economic and social development and strengthen democratic development and gender equality & human rights.
SCA is also established in Sweden working with fundraising, information and advocacy alongside its activities in Afghanistan. In Sweden SCA works as a member driven association based on popular commitment and support, making effort to affect the public opinion by providing knowledgeable and reliable information about Afghanistan, in order to increase sustainable cooperation and assistance in a spirit of solidarity.
Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation Unit
The PMEU is a methodology unit whose overall goal is to contribute to enhanced effectiveness and quality in achieving SCA’s development objectives by fostering a culture of results orientation. This will be done through the promotion at the organisational (KMO), programme and project levels of the development,of the maintenance and utilization of results-based management for planning, performance/impact measurement, methodological learning, providing feedback to partners and project participants, and ensuring accountability (both upwards and downwards). To achieve this, the PMEU aims at ensuring that necessary tools and systems, skills and infrastructure are in place.
The PMEU’s work can be divided into two sections: Monitoring and Evaluation, and Planning.
The Monitoring and Evaluation section has two main functions: 1) Establishing a system, including policies, guidelines, and tools for the coordination of monitoring and evaluation of SCA’s operations and, 2) Providing capacity development support and technical assistance to SCA’s programmes and projects for more effective and efficient monitoring and evaluation.
The Planning section deals with planning and reporting systems to ensure quality and compliance with donor regulations of both project / programme applications and reports to donors and government agencies. The unit also coordinates the overall organisational planning cycle and provides assistance and technical backstopping to SCA’s programmes for all tasks related to planning and reporting.
Scope of Work
Over the last three years SCA has introduced and further developed a functioning system for results-oriented planning of its projects and programmes. However, while project management is active in monitoring activities and outputs and SCA conducts many evaluations of its work each year, monitoring and evaluation throughout the organisation is poorly focused and coordinated, is insufficiently oriented towards planned outcomes, quality and process, and is not carried out within the framework provided by a standard set of relevant approaches and methods.
The Consultant will be responsible for the design and establishment of a comprehensive M&E system in SCA which will cover all levels of the organisation. That is, while the system will necessarily focus on the efficient and effective collection and analysis of data against outcome indicators and outputs specified in SCA’s key programme planning documents, it will include developing coherent means of measuring quality and capacity development processes in the programmes, as well as efficiency and performance of management and administrative functions. If possible this will link the monitoring of operations in SCA’s Stockholm Management Office, through operations in the Kabul Management Office and down to its nine Project and Field Offices.
Entry Requirements
Required Qualifications and Experience
Academic degree, preferably at master’s level, in a relevant field, or equivalent documented experience and skills.
At least five years’ experience of monitoring and evaluation of donor-supported development projects in a not-for-profit organization;
Significant experience of the design of large-scale M&E systems, or other forms of complex systems in a large organisation;
In-depth knowledge and experience of Results-Based Management and a full range of M&E methods and approaches ;
Demonstrated experience in applying methods of use in organisational capacity building, including process facilitation, coaching, and training;
A solid understanding of development theory and approaches;
Ability to take the initiative, innovate and pursue work proactively with little direct supervision;
Proven experience of handling complex tasks and meeting deadlines with the production of outputs;
Excellent command of spoken and written English.
Desirable Qualifications and Experience
Experience of work in challenging conflict / post-conflict/ multi-cultural environments
Advanced user-knowledge in computer aided management, including database development and administration
Ability and willingness to travel to project offices within Afghanistan and adjust to difficult and basic living conditions
Responsibilities
Working in close cooperation with the Deputy Coordinator for M&E, and reporting to the Coordinator of PME, the Consultant has the following two main responsibilities:
1. Design of an organisational M&E system (to be completed in the initial 6 months):
Conduct a comprehensive mapping of SCA’s M&E practices to determine what may be built upon or adapted for the new system;
Consult at all levels and with all departments and units to assess the M&E needs in SCA;
Design the overall M&E concept including, what areas of operation are to be included, what will be the focus of M&E, where will strict rules be applied and where will flexibility be allowed, and how the system’s parts will be integrated (including reporting and information flows).
Refining and elaborating the concept through further consultation in SCA;
Achieving a detailed design: drawing up policies, guidelines, tools and other instruments.
Design an MIS to be developed by IT experts which will store, manage and integrate the data and analysis produced by the new M&E system;
2. Facilitate the introduction of the new M&E system in SCA (to be completed in the 4-month contract extension)
Prepare and lead specially dedicated management workshops to introduce SCA management to the new system;
Design and provide trainings to SCA units and staff in how to implement the new system;
Coordinate with PMEU staff’s ongoing capacity building inputs with SCA programmes and projects in M&E;
Provide coaching of key staff members in programmes and projects in managing the new system;
Assist PMEU staff to monitor the process of establishing the new M&E system.
Outputs
The consultant will delivery the following outputs in fulfilling the above responsibilities:
1. During the initial 6 months:
Mapping monitoring document, outlining the M&E practices, key features, links and interrelations to reporting, gaps and challenges to projects and programmes in M&E;
Summary paper of M&E needs and demands for M&E at all levels in SCA
Design concept M&E system;
Full set of policies, instruments, and tools which comprise the M&E system;
Design concept of MIS to store and manage monitoring data.
2. During the 4-month extension
Management Workshop with Sweden & Afghanistan senior management, as well as programme and project managers – to introduce the new system;
Minimum 7 training workshops with individual programmes, policy units and support Units - to continue introduction process;
Trainings and consultancies (with support from PMEU staff) in all of SCA’s 9 project/field offices;
Final report assessing the functionality of the new system and identifying any further needs for its development, outlining further steps for integrating the new system with planning, implementation and reporting, and giving guidance to PMEU for effective coordination and monitoring of the system.
___________________________________________________________________________
Application information
Contract period: 10 months fixed-term contract: an initial 6-months’ position + 4 months’ extension, conditional on the successful completion of the initial task.
Conditions: Non family posting. The position is subject to standard SCA employment conditions with a competitive salary, free housing, insurances and other benefits.
Duties to begin: August 2012
Application: Send your application (a 1-page letter explaining why you are interested in this position and your key competencies) and CV (no more than 2 pages) in English to application.sca@sak.se
Last date for applications: 6 June 2012
Only qualified applicants will be notified.
More information about SCA can be found on our web sites www.sak.se and www.swedishcommittee.org
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