UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME JOB DESCRIPTION I. Position Information Contract: Individual Consultant to Design a Monitoring & Evaluation System for the LED Framework and Action Plan for Botswana Department: Economic Diversification and Inclusive Growth Activity: Local Economic Development Reports to: Programme Specialist Timeframe: 40 consultancy days [over period November 2017 March 2018] II. Organizational Context Background of Assignment The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development [MLGRD], in partnership with the Botswana Association of Local Authorities [BALA] and the United Nations Development Programme in Botswana [UNDP-Botswana] requires the services of an experienced Service Provider/s to develop a comprehensive results-based Monitoring and Evaluation System, an Implementation Plan to establish and rollout the M&E System, and a user training manual for the LED Framework and Action Plan for Botswana. Botswana has made significant strides in reducing poverty over the last 30 years. However, going forward, sustainable job creation, increased access to basic services and poverty eradication will continue to depend on strategies that diversify and sustain national economic growth. There are concerns regarding the continued uncertainties over global economic performance, weak global demand for and the associated depressed diamond prices. These, in turn, have affected the expected performance of the domestic economy particularly in relation to revenues generated from diamonds. The acute dependence of the national economy on a declining mining [diamond] sector remains a key challenge for sustaining national economic growth, employment creation and revenue generation. Thus, one of the key issues to be addressed in Botswana is to fully implement a national economic diversification strategy that drives inclusive and sustainable national economic growth, creates jobs and eradicates poverty. Local Economic Development [LED] has been identified as a development approach that can contribute to the achievement of these outcomes. Policy guidance to achieve this goal in Botswana is provided by the national LED Framework and Action Plan; the national Economic Diversification Drive [EDD] and a range of policies that are designed to support investment, trade and value addition across many sectors of the economy; the development of small, medium and micro enterprises; and promote gender equality, the economic empowerment of women; and enhance sustainable youth employment. In addition, the current national planning frameworks which include Vision 2036 and the National Development Plan 11 and its related local development plans, have been designed to anchor and drive national and local efforts to achieve inclusive and sustainable national economic growth, create jobs and eradicate poverty, and to localise the global Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development. Furthermore, one of the key areas of focus under the United Nations Sustainable Development Framework [UNSDF] and the UNDP Country Programme Document [CPD] for 2017-2021, is to enhance the capacities of Government to increase planning and implementation management capacity, mobilise and effectively target the use of increasingly diminishing resources to drive sustainable economic diversification and inclusive growth. It is also telling that UNDP support under both the UNSDF [2017-2021] and the UNDP CPD for the same period is focused on three priority areas that cut across the four national priorities on Sustainable Economic Development; Human and Social Development; Sustainable Environment; and Governance, Peace and Security. The three priority areas for both the UNSDF and the UNDP
CDP [2017-2021] are embedded across these national priorities under the rubric of [i] Policy and Programme Development; [ii] Implementation Capacity; and [iii] Quality, Disaggregated and Timely Data. All these priority areas can be effectively pursued through monitoring, evaluation and learning systems that inform and are integrated into policy and programmes design, implementation management and are driven by a culture of data analysis and critical reflection moments that inform policy design and decision making. To address the foregoing challenges, a national LED Framework and Action Plan has been developed and adopted in Botswana. The LED framework and Action Plan is a key policy entry point for the UNDP Economic Diversification and Inclusive Growth portfolio. It is designed to guide and coordinate the planning and implementation of the LED project under the UNDP supported programme. This far, a significant number of tools and systems have been developed and used to pilot LED in 4 districts of the country. The lessons learned from the pilots will inform the expansion of the LED project to the remaining 12 districts in the country. At the national level, while recognising the importance of building capacities to guide and co-ordinate LED planning and implementation, the national LED Framework and Action Plan for Botswana also places explicit focus on tracking the performance and impact of LED programmes and projects. Several evaluations and reviews of national development efforts in the country indicate that the contraction in flows of national revenue from the mining sector calls for more judicious management of public expenditure and the structural transformation of the economy. In this regard, the design and implementation of national development policies and plans must include systems to monitor, evaluate and report accurately on the extent to which value for money is being optimised. Resultsbased monitoring, evaluation and learning systems are recognized as the bedrock of programme and project planning and management. They also provide opportunities for critical reflection moments during which data is collected and analysed, and lessons learned to inform evidencebased policy planning, programme design and decision making. In this context, the UNDP requires the services of a consultant to develop the M&E System, an Implementation Plan to establish and roll the M&E System, and a User Training Manual for the LED Framework and Action Plan for Botswana. III. Functions / Key Results Expected III.0 Scope of Works The scope of this assignment is for the consultant to develop a results-based M&E System, an Implementation Plan to establish and roll out the M&E System, and a User Training Manual for the LED Framework and Action Plan. In developing the M&E System the Consultant must consider the following guiding principles. III.1 Guiding Principles In designing the results based M&E System and Implementation Plan the consultant will be guided by the following principles: - a. Designing the results-based M&E System for the LED framework and Action Plan must be participatory and ensure consensus on its scope, structure and operation among the relevant stakeholders that include government ministries, departments and agencies; local councils; local institutions; the association of local authorities; community development organisations; and other relevant non-state actors. The Consultant must work with Botswana Statistics to ensure that the system developed can be integrated into the National M&E system at national and sub-national levels. The consultant must also work with the National Strategic Office who is coordinating the monitoring of NDP 11 to ensure alignment of results. b. The M&E System must facilitate the specification of LED baseline data; LED programme performance tracking; impact evaluation; and the outlining of desired results with clear indicators during implementation of the national LED Framework and Action Plan c. The M&E System must articulate the roles, responsibilities and reporting systems for the local councils and other partners at local and national levels that are key drivers of LED planning and implementation
d. The results matrix comprising the activities, outputs, outcomes, and related performance indicators of the M&E System must be aligned with national data, and monitoring and evaluation frameworks articulated in the national indicator frameworks for Vision 2036; the National Development Plan 11; and the global Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development e. The M&E System must be anchored and driven through the decentralised structures provided for under the proposed Botswana Strategy for Development of Statistics, and f. The Consultant will work under the direction of the Director - Department of Local Governance and Development Planning in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and relevant staff from other ministries, governments departments and agencies, local councils and development partners. III.2 Specific Actions The Consultant will conduct his/ her work according to the guiding principles above and will also carry out the following actions to ensure a quality services. - i. Review the documents relevant to this assignment including existing monitoring and evaluation tools and the national LED Framework and Action Plan as a tool to drive national economic diversification and inclusive growth outcomes at national and local levels ii. Based on [i] above, define and align the relevant results chain of the LED Framework and Action Plan as an instrument to achieve national economic diversification and inclusive growth iii. Formulate relevant, simple and straightforward performance indicators at national and local levels to monitor and evaluate the activities, outputs and outcomes outlined in the results chain of the LED Framework and Action Plan against the agreed baselines. Where possible, ensure that data in the results chain is disaggregated by sex, age, disability, geographical location and income status and other relevant demographic variables iv. Design the practical procedures, measures and detailed implementation plan to operationalize the M&E system indicating, inter alia: - what needs to be measured the most appropriate source of information to be collected method and regularity of information collection Analysis, storage and retrieval of data v. Based on the relevant variables and performance indicators in the results chain; design data collection, reporting and storage forms for capturing quantitative and qualitative information at national and local levels and by different actors involved in LED planning and implementation vi. Design user-friendly methods to store such information and the pathways for sharing it as evidence for policy review and decision making by relevant LED stakeholders at national and local levels vii. Ensure that the proposed data management method[s] under the M&E System are complementary to existing national data systems and protocols in terms of definition, collection, collation, analysis, storage and dissemination viii. Develop a training manual to enhance the capacities of stakeholders responsible for rollingout the M&E System at national and local levels, and ix. Develop a framework for managing consultations with relevant stakeholders that include central government ministries, local councils, community based organisations, industry, independent professional bodies and the private sector in developing the M&E System and Implementation Plan IV. Key Deliverables The Consultant is expected to deliver the following: - i. Inception Report describing their understanding of the ToRs and detailing the approach, methodology and work plan for the assignment as guided and outlined in the Scope of Work. The Inception Report should be presented within 30 days from the date of signing the contract of engagement in soft copy. ii. First draft of the results-based M&E System [including all templates/forms], an Implementation Plan to establish and rollout the M&E System, and a User Training Manual for the LED Framework and Action Plan for Botswana, as outlined in the Scope of Work, Inception report and Technical Proposal. iii. Facilitate national workshop to get stakeholders consensus on the 1 st draft M&E System for the LED Framework and Action Plan
iv. Second draft of the results-based M&E System, an Implementation Plan to establish and roll out the M & E System, and a User Training Manual for the LED Framework and Action Plan for Botswana as outlined in the Scope of Work, Inception report and Technical Proposal. v. A Final comprehensive result-based M&E System [including all templates/forms], an Implementation Plan to establish and rollout the M& E System, and a User Training Manual for the LED Framework and Action Plan for Botswana as outlined in the Scope of Work V. Competencies The consultant must have the following core competencies: - i. Expertise in designing and applying robust and appropriate performance monitoring and results frameworks, including experience in indicator development, testing and data collection, analysis and use of project and programme reviews in policy development and decision making. ii. Demonstrated experience in monitoring and evaluation of large, complex, long-term programmes. iii. Planning and managing methods of generating data to demonstrate project and programme effects and impacts on institutions, systems, processes and different segments of populations at national and local levels. iv. Demonstrable knowledge and experience of central and local government interactions, and a positive attitude towards the private sector and community empowerment as key factors in promoting local development. v. Political sensitivity in managing interactions with stakeholders within the state and nonstate sector domains. vi. Demonstrated ability to draw lessons from relevant international, regional, national and local practices and processes and adapt them to the realities of Botswana. vii. Previous work experience in advisory positions and/or capacity development in technical cooperation in relation to the public-private sector and community engagements in service delivery and local development especially in developing countries. viii. Good understanding of change management concepts and participatory approaches to problem solving in the context of public-private partnership arrangements. ix. Very strong planning, system development and organizational skills, including results orientation. x. Experience in conducting training sessions, including facilitation skill. xi. Excellent oral and written communications skills in English. xii. Fully proficiency in the following software applications - Word, Excel, and Power point. VI. Qualifications Education: The Consultant must have at least a Master s Degree or higher in Public Administration, Economics, Development Planning; Social Science, or in a relevant discipline as determined by the adjudicating panel. Experience: At least 10 years work experience in the design and implementation of results-based M & E systems preferably in the public sector with central and local government agencies, non-state actors, communities and development partners. Language Requirements: Excellent command of both written and spoken English VII. Evaluation Criteria Proposals be evaluated based on the Lowest price and technically compliant offer approach as follows: a. An offer is responsive/compliant/acceptable if it scores a minimum of 70% on the criteria outlined below and fully meets the qualifications and language requirements; b. Proposals scoring below 70% on the technical criteria will not qualify to be evaluated for the next stage of the assessment. Qualifications [Minimum academic qualifications Master s Degree] Adequate work and/or professional experience Completeness of Consultancy package submitted [Motivation letter & professional fees]
Context: [15] Knowledge of country development context, relevant state & non-state actors Knowledge of Monitoring & Evaluation related issues Knowledge of Local Economic Development issues Knowledge of Results Based Management Technical Competence [50] In developing and implementing M&E systems. In facilitating Results Based Management training In facilitating multi stakeholders consultations In undertaking qualitative & quantitative analysis Methodology/Approach [25] Has set out a clear methodology of how the works will be undertaken Presentation & Reporting [10] Good writing, interpretation & communication skills. Total 100%