Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework consultant.

Terms of Reference (TOR) for an Individual Contract (IC)

A.         Project Title: Consultancy to develop Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework for Sudan Peacebuilding and Stabilization Programme (SPSP) programmatic framework

B.    Project Description. On 3 June, the Security Council, through resolution 2524 (2020), established the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). The resolution mandates that UNITAMS will have the following four strategic objectives, in close collaboration with the Transitional Government of Sudan and under Sudanese sovereignty:
 

1. Assist the political transition, progress towards democratic governance, protection and promotion of human rights, and sustainable peace;
2. Support peace processes and implementation of future peace agreements;
3. Assist peacebuilding, civilian protection and rule of law, in particular in Darfur and the Two Areas.
4. Support the mobilization of economic and development assistance and coordination of humanitarian assistance.

The «Sudan Peacebuilding and Stabilization Programme (SPSP)», presently under development, will be funded by the Stabilization Window of the Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) Sudan Financing Platform.[1]  The SPSP will articulate a programmatic framework for each strategic objective falling under the UNITAMS mandate, which will group the major interventions undertaken by the UNCT within that area. The development of the SPSP comes at a time when the drawdown and liquidation of UNAMID has increased the imperative to determine which peacebuilding, stabilization and protection of civilian activities should be prioritized to support the mandate, while preventing critical protection gaps associated with UNAMID’s mandate cessation. It will have to simultaneously address support to the political transition in Sudan and the reconfiguration of the UN presence. Finally, it will be required to integrate a strong community stabilization dimension, while focusing on support to institutional reforms at the national and sub-national levels.

This project aims to assist UNITAMS to establish the programmatic framework to support the mandate’s implementation. The purpose of this consultancy will be specifically to develop an M&E framework to facilitate the monitoring and evaluation of programmes across the four pillars of the mandate that will fall under this framework. To this end, the consultant will be expected to support the articulation of high-level outcome statements for the mandated strategic objectives, outlining the desired changes under each area of programmatic support. These outcomes should be undergirded by theories of change for each of the pillars of the mandate that explain why the particular approaches adopted under the programmatic frameworks are expected to bring about the outcome-level changes. The consultant is also expected to support the operationalization of these outcomes by articulating a set of key indicators in support of the priorities of the guiding documents.

The consultant will be required to adopt a thoroughly participatory and inclusive approach, ensuring extensive consultations  with relevant agencies, funds and programmes, as well as national and international partners.

 As per resolution 2524 (2020), the strategic objectives of UNITAMS are:

1. Assist the political transition, progress towards democratic governance, in the protection and promotion of human rights, and sustainable peace, including: Assist, through good offices, the Sudanese transition, including national efforts to realise the objectives of the Constitutional Document; Provide technical assistance to the constitution drafting process, the population census, preparations for elections, in support of national efforts. Support the implementation of the human rights, equality, accountability and rule of law provisions of the Constitutional Document, in particular those provisions that guarantee women’s rights, and future peace agreements, including through close cooperation with the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Country Office in Sudan
    
2. Support peace processes and implementation of future peace agreements, including:  Provide good offices and support to the Sudanese peace negotiations, including supporting the meaningful participation of civil society, women, youth, refugees and IDPs and members of marginalised groups; Provide, if so requested by the parties to the negotiations, scalable support to the implementation of any future peace agreements, including support to accountability and transitional justice, including for acts of sexual and gender-based violence, to disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR), including transitional weapons and ammunition management, and taking into account the different needs, experiences, and safety of female and male ex-combatants, including children, as well as the monitoring and verification of possible ceasefires with particular focus on Blue Nile and South Kordofan (the Two Areas) and Darfur;
    
3. Assist peacebuilding, civilian protection and rule of law, in particular in Darfur and the Two Areas, including: Support Sudanese-led peacebuilding, in particular conflict prevention, mitigation and reconciliation, community violence reduction with a particular focus on inter-communal conflict, mine action, collection of small arms and light weapons consistent with international standards, and durable solutions for IDPs and refugees, and their safe, voluntary and dignified return, reintegration and relocation with host populations as appropriate, including through integrated peacebuilding mechanisms. Assist, advise and support the Government of Sudan’s capacity to extend state presence and inclusive civilian governance, in particular through strengthening accountable rule of law and security sector institutions and building trust between state authorities and local communities, including through community-policing initiatives, or other methods of unarmed civilian protection, and providing advisory and capacity building support for security authorities, in particular the Sudanese Police Force (SPF), including through  United Nations advisers;

Assist, advise and support the Government of Sudan to establish a secure and stable environment within which any future peace agreement can be implemented, by providing effective support to national and local authorities on civilian protection, in particular IDPs, in the conflict-affected areas, supporting the Government of Sudan in implementing the National Plan for Civilian Protection (S/2020/429) and developing measurable benchmarks, and through deploying mobile monitoring teams, facilitating local crisis mediation, early warning mechanisms, including Women Protection networks, communications and outreach strategies with affected populations;

Support the strengthening of the protection of human rights, in particular in conflict affected areas, including by supporting protection for women and for children from all forms of sexual and gender-based violence and other violations and abuses, through monitoring and reporting of violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and refugee law, implementation of the Framework of Cooperation between the United Nations and the Government of Sudan on conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), support to the development and implementation of action plans and a national prevention plan on violations and abuses against children, through women and child protection advisers and supporting the provision of medical, psychosocial, legal and socioeconomic services to all survivors of sexual violence;
 

1. Support the mobilisation of economic and development assistance and coordination of humanitarian assistance, including: Collaborate with the international financial institutions, to support the mobilisation of international economic and development assistance;Support and facilitate, in close cooperation with humanitarian actors, full, rapid, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance and its coordination, in accordance with the relevant provisions of international law and in line with humanitarian principles; Ensure effective and integrated cooperation of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes and promote cooperation with relevant partners, including the international financial institutions and donors, in carrying out, as relevant, the strategic objectives of UNITAMS, with a view to making maximum use of existing and forthcoming bilateral and multilateral assistance in Sudan, including in response to the COVID-19 pandemic;

[1] http://mptf.undp.org/factsheet/fund/4SD00

C.    Scope of Work

Building on work already conducted within UNITAMS and the Office of the Resident Coordinator to establish a programmatic framework for the “Peacebuilding and Stabilization Window” of the MPTF, and a programmatic framework for the UNCT to support the implementation of the mandate, the consultant will:

1. Review in-depth all relevant literature, background documents, relevant national legislation, strategies, policies, reports, available within UNITAMS and the UNCT including documentation provided by UNAMID.
2. Work in collaboration with the Technical Working Groups (TWG) established between UNITAMS and the UNCT, and the consultant(s) hired to assist the development of the programmatic framework, shephard the process and develop an M&E framework for the SPSP. In order to do so, actively participate in TWG discussions where necessary, conduct a series of consultative meetings and workshops with stakeholders, including UNITAMS and UNCT staff and any relevant government counterparts, to obtain input to the programmatic framework and M&E framework. In this respect, it is envisioned holding a workshop involving the TWGs, comprised of key UN stakeholders in Sudan, including the UNITAMS team, the UNCT and the PBF Secretariat, to articulate strategic-level outcomes.   Throughout his/her assignment the consultant is expected to work closely with the PBF Secretariat’s M&E Specialist to ensure coherence with ongoing and future PBF-funded peacebuilding projects.
3. Work closely with the respective TWGs assigned to developing the programmatic framework for the Sudan Peacebuidling and Stabilisation Prgoramme (SPSP), and with the M&E Specialist in the PBF Secretariat, ensure consistency, a mutually reinforcing programme of work and ensure ensure coherence with ongoing and future PBF-funded peacebuilding projects.
4. Develop a comprehensive and detailed M&E framework to support the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the programmatic frameworks developed under each of the four strategic priorities. The M&E framework will need to include:
   1. High-level outcome statements that translate each strategic objective into clear language of anticipated change, both to help orient existing programmes, as well as inform future programme design
   2. For each outcome, concise and well-articulated theories of change that explain why the particular approaches adopted under the programmatic frameworks are expected to bring about the desired changes, including key assumptions, and supported by evidence as ascertained from the document review. (These theories of change should be based on the overall SPSP Theory of Change)
   3. A set of SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound) indicators for each outcome, to support monitoring, adapative management, and final evaluation of programmes
   4. Means of verification, possible data sources, and responsible parties for outcome-level indicators
5. Identify institutional capacity opportunities and challenges for implementation of the M&E plan, including existing sources of data and expertise that can be leveraged, as well as possible capacity-building support that may be required for UNCT members and other key partners 
6. Identify and map national and international partners working in the field that need to be engaged, especially elements within the government and other counterparts to ensure that the M&E framework is inclusive, comprehensive and sustainable at both national and sub-national levels.
7. Ensure that the M&E plan is gender-responsive and takes into account gendered conflict dynamics (NB: sex-disaggregated indicators alone are not sufficient for this purpose.)
8. Ensure youth dimensions and priorities specific to young people are mainstreamed
9. Ensure that the proposed activities are conflict sensitive and grounded in a strict “do no harm”/No One Left Behind approach
10. Ensure that the draft M&E framework is circulated among key stakeholders and that their feedback is incorporated before finalizing the documents
11. Ensure that all products and process deliverables are aligned with the relevant processes in the Office of the Resident Coordinator and with UNITAMS. The consultant should provide regular progress reports to RCO and UNITAMS to ensure the same understanding and agreement on the steps taken within this consultancy. 

UN CORE VALUES AND COMPENETNCIES

Professionalism: Ability to identify and analyze political, ethnic, racial, social and economic problems. Extensive knowledge of the political dynamics in Sudan, including local dynamics, as well as those related to the peace process. Shows pride in work and achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; Asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; Tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients ” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

H.    Qualifications of the Successful Individual Contractor

• Advanced university degree in social sciences or discipline relevant to peacebuilding, rule of law and sustaining peace
• At least seven years’ of relevant work experience in monitoring and evaluation related to peacebuilding, rule of law and sustaining peace;
• Experience in project development, implementation and management related to peacebuilding, rule of law and sustaining peace
• Demonstrated familiarity with the United Nations and its agencies, funds and programmes
• Familiarity with UN work in the Arab States region at country and regional level will be an asset
• Language requirements: English.  Working knowledge of Arabic will be considered an asset.