CONSULTANCY TO ESTABLISH BASELINES OF MELS’ PROJECT COMPONENT 1 INDICATORS

Consultant Position Description

The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning for Sustainability (MELS) Project, is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by EnCompass and its partner, All In for Development.

MELS supports USAID/Peru in the design and development of evaluations and studies to improve the use of evidence and learning for decision-making (Component 1); strengthens monitoring, evaluation, and learning capacities among USAID implementing partners and Government institutions to consolidate their monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems (Components 2 and 3); finally, MELS provides technical assistance to USAID and partners to improve collaboration, learning and knowledge management for sustainability.

For USAID and MELS, the value of the evaluation lies in its use. The evaluations and studies carried out by MELS are expected to support key decision-makers from USAID and its implementing partners who participate in these processes, to contribute to learning and to improve the quality of development programs and projects.

MELS is seeking a consultant to establish the baseline of 3 indicators related to the use of evidence and implementation of the recommendations contained in the evaluations. In order to do so, the consultant is expected to apply a survey to 49 representatives of 20 organizations. This instrument contains mostly closed-ended questions which will allow determining the level of institutional performance regarding the use of evidence. The questionnaire includes open questions that will allow to understand in greater depth the factors that influence this performance. The instrument has been developed by MELS and it is expected that, as one of the first activities, it will be reviewed and validated by this consultancy. The application of the survey is estimated to last 30 minutes.

The development of this consultancy requires frequent interaction with the members of the MELS team, as well as for the consultant to be hired to have an appropriate computer and internet service, in order to carry out the activities remotely. The level of effort estimated for this consultancy is 22 days, the payment is per product delivered and approved according to the schedule specified in this Scope of Work (SOW), and the consultancy service will be carried out in Lima, Peru between November and December 2020.

Position Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant is expected to

1. Participate in meetings with the MELS Performance Monitoring Specialist and the Evaluation and Inclusion Specialist, to:
   1. specify expectations of the consultancy, and make a detailed review of the SOW and work schedule
   2. explain the instrument and index, and review progress in the guidelines for their application
   3. specify the content of the consulting report and the baseline reports
2. Review the indicators reference sheets of three MELS’ indicators:
   1. Number of organizations that use M&E evidence
   2. Percent of recommendations considered in the recommendation plans that are implemented
   3. Number of documents incorporate MELS-generated evidence
3. Review supporting documentation related to the use of the information
4. Complete the guidelines for applying the instrument and calculation of the index, based on the progress of MELS
5. Design and conduct a validation session for the survey and index
6. Coordinate meetings with organizations involved in the consultancy
7. Apply the survey to 49 representatives of 20 organizations
8. Develop a PPT and conduct a meeting to present the preliminary findings of the fieldwork
9. Organize the information collected in a database, as agreed with MELS
10. Prepare 3 baseline reports in the format agreed with MELS
11. Coordinate and update deliverables according to the revisions made, until the approval of the final version

Position requirements

Qualifications

• Professional with a master’s degree or MBA in social sciences, administration, public management, and related.
• At least 6 years of professional experience in mid-level management in the public or private sector or related field, or equivalent years of experience in consulting as a member of the technical team, developing activities related to monitoring and evaluation of development programs and projects.
• Specialization studies in monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience in developing data collection instruments and baseline studies.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to work and communicate effectively with technical and administrative staff.
• At least level 3 in English and 4 in Spanish. (See the scale at the bottom)
• Analytical skill.
• Ability to write reports.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Immediate availability.

Table 1. Level of competence in foreign languages

Level

Speaking ability

Reading ability

2

Limited working proficiency

Able to satisfy routine special demands and limited work requirements

Sufficient comprehension to read simple, authentic written material in a form equivalent to usual printing or typescript on familiar subjects within familiar contexts.

3

General professional proficiency

Able to speak the language with sufficient structural accuracy and vocabulary to participate effectively in most formal and informal conversations on practical, social, and professional topics.

Able to read within a normal range of speed and with almost complete comprehension of a variety of authentic prose material on unfamiliar subjects.

4

Advanced professional proficiency

Able to use the language fluently and accurately on all levels normally pertinent to professional needs.

Able to read fluently and accurately all styles and forms of the language pertinent to professional needs.

5

Functionally native proficiency

Speaking proficiency is functionally equivalent to that of a highly articulate well-educated native speaker and reflects the cultural standards of a country where the language is natively spoken.

Reading proficiency is functionally equivalent to that of a well-educated native reader.

Deliverables

Deliverables

Level of Effort / Days

Due Date and Payment

1. Validated tool and index, and guidelines for the application of the survey

6

10 days after signing the contract, with prior approval of deliverables.

1. Schedule of meetings for applying the survey

1

10 days after signing the contract, with prior approval of deliverables.

1. PPT and meeting to present the fieldwork findings

8

16 days after completing the fieldwork, with prior approval of deliverables.

1. Final consultancy report, which must include 3 baseline reports and the database with the information collected.

7

100% – 25 days after signing the contract, with prior approval of all reports and final reports.

How to apply

Please submit your CV, highlighting the jobs that included activities like those required in this consultancy, and your cover letter indicating your daily rate (in Peruvian soles): https://encompassworld.com/careers-and-consulting/ Application deadline is 20th November 2020

EnCompass LLC is a progressive Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote, celebrate, and support a diverse and inclusive organizational culture and workforce. We are committed to providing all of our employees with an environment free from discrimination and harassment, where all are treated with dignity and respect. We do not tolerate, and explicitly prohibit, discrimination or harassment of any kind, at any time, in all aspects of employment. This includes recruitment, hiring, promotions, disciplinary measures, terminations, compensation, benefits, social and recreational programs, and training. EnCompass also does not tolerate retaliation against individuals who report discrimination or harassment. Our continuing commitment to the principle of Equal Opportunity Employment for all means all employment decisions are based only on the job requirements, the candidate’s qualifications, and the needs of EnCompass as a business—not on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, belief, sex (including pregnancy and related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability status, veteran status, genetic information, HIV status, family/marital/parental status, or any other status protected by the laws and regulations in the jurisdictions where we work.

The employer will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required of personnel so classified.

The incumbent must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with a demonstrated ability to juggle and prioritize multiple, competing tasks and demands and to seek supervisory assistance as appropriate.

About the Company

EnCompass LLC is a women-owned, small business consulting firm working in International Development, and offering innovative and customized solutions for leadership, capacity strengthening, technical assistance, and monitoring and evaluation. We have experience in more than 70 countries and a team of more than 100 staff and 1,200 experts around the globe. We partner with government and multilateral agencies, nonprofit organizations, and corporations around the world, offering thought leadership, rich diversity, and technical expertise in global health, inclusive development, education, human rights, and food security.

Founded in 1999, EnCompass began as a virtual organization supporting clients and implementing work through a network of staff and expert consultants. Today, we have more than 110 full-time staff and a Global Consulting Network, our vetted database of specialists, through which we engage, on average, 200 consultants each year. In early 2017, EnCompass opened its first international office in Addis Ababa for Transform: a Primary Health Care project. In 2019, we set up our second field office in Lima, Peru. We maintain a full-time staff presence in Benin, Ethiopia, Germany, Great Britain, Peru, and Uganda.