MELSA Toolkit Rollout Consultant (INT7748)

Philippine Nationals Only

 

Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty.

Background

For FY 2021-2022, Oxfam Philippines’ core MELSA team embarks on a strategy of enhancing a peer-to-peer support system for MELSA focal persons and project staff with defined MELSA functions to complement existing technical support mechanism provided by the core MELSA unit.  This strategy constitutes not just a practical response to resource mobilization challenges that the country team is facing given the current pandemic context, but should also be framed as part of Oxfam Philippines’ transformative practices aimed at redressing power imbalances by consciously supporting and investing in the empowerment of staff and partners in relation to various aspects of MELSA work.  Such rebalancing from the previous system of MELSA support provision centered on a core MELSA unit within the organization, towards one wherein everyone’s contribution to MELSA and achievement of program quality is valued more fully, is also in line with emerging steers in recent years at global, regional, and country levels:

• Toward staying relevant and rebuilding trust within the new global context, and as part of its own practice of feminist principles, the Oxfam confederation in its evolving global strategic framework has committed itself to nurturing a more enabling organizational culture, specifically: “To support and empower all those who work for and with Oxfam, we will make conscious choices and investments to redress existing power imbalances within our organization.” (Oxfam Global Strategic Framework, 2020 to 2030).

 

• Emphasizing strategic, systemic, and collective actions beyond technical fixes in terms of facilitating more significant improvements in overall program quality, Oxfam Asia’s program quality focal persons cited the need for working as a network towards building strong mutual accountability for support provision. This network approach includes the development of effective peer-to-peer support mechanisms at all levels (Communique, Oxfam in Asia Program Quality Meeting, Bangkok, 27-29 November 2018).

 

• Oxfam Philippines’ approved two-year country operational plan lays down as one of the country team’s specific focus areas in terms of investments around knowledge and learning goals the strengthening of current program teams’ and implementing partners’ capacities for providing expert support for achieving program quality. This involves the systematization of existing approaches (tools, templates, guidelines, platforms, etc.) and the optimization of learning and knowledge sharing mechanisms such as online knowledge portals and communities of practice (Oxfam Philippines’ COP, 2021-23).

In line with these, the core MELSA team recently initiated the development of a MELSA toolkit that brings together available tools, templates, guidelines, and other reference or knowledge materials of Oxfam Philippines’ project staff and partners related to doing MELSA work.  The toolkit is envisioned to be made available to all MELSA focal persons and project staff via the country team’s online platforms to support the performance of their MELSA functions.  The toolkit thus supports the proposed peer-to-peer support system for MELSA operations in the coming years.  With the on-going upload of the toolkit online, there is now a need to prepare for the subsequent rollout of this knowledge resource among MELSA focal persons and project teams.  This Terms of Reference (ToR) outlines objectives, parameters, and deliverables for the proposed consultancy to facilitate the design and implementation of the rollout process.

 

Objectives of Consultancy

This consultancy aims to facilitate the design and conduct of a learning and knowledge sharing process among Oxfam Philippines’ MELSA focal persons and project teams to orient them on the MELSA toolkit and encourage their initial use of the said resource both in performing their own MELSA tasks within their respective projects/portfolios and extending support to MELSA and PQ colleagues within Oxfam Philippines and its network of implementing partners. 

The consultancy involves engaging an external service provider, with relevant competencies, to work on achievement of the following specific objectives within the identified time frame: 

1. Work closely with Oxfam Philippines’ core MELSA team to come up with a design for a learning and knowledge sharing program with MELSA officers and project staff, and implement said program towards facilitating effective rollout of the MELSA toolkit.

2. Facilitate regular knowledge sharing and reflection sessions to encourage early use of the MELSA toolkit, and systematically gather feedback and insights from participants toward continuous improvement of the toolkit’s current structure/format and content.

3. Develop and put in place appropriate systems to optimize the MELSA toolkit’s use in MELSA work and peer-to-peer support provision such as regular tracking and sharing of insights, adoption of community of practice approaches, and documentation of the onboarding processes for orientation with future MELSA and project/portfolio staff.

Parameters for the Consultancy

The contracted consultant shall be reporting directly to Oxfam Philippines’ MELSA Manager in designing and implementing rollout activities with MELSA focal persons and project staff.  The rollout activities shall be framed as a learning process, starting with a general orientation session for all concerned country staff meant to provide a broad overview of the MELSA toolkit, its general structure, and its contents, and some tips in terms of navigating through the online platform and adopting or customizing the various resources that are currently available.  Other parameters for the onboarding process around the MELSA toolkit include the following: 

• Learning design or process should provide space for onboarding of MELSA officers and project staff within each of the three (3) portfolios – resilience, gender justice, and humanitarian – to allow more in-depth discussions on the peculiarities of MELSA work as well as on the unique status of MELSA systems and practices for each portfolio.

• Onboarding strategies should consider the particular stage of the project cycle wherein each project team is currently situated, and their existing practices and specific needs. Introduction of available resources in the MELSA toolkit and initial efforts to get them to try these out should start from these practices, requirements, and/or capacities.

• Apart from an overview of the MELSA toolkit’s content, the rollout design and activities should be able to provide spaces for sharing of tips or pointers in using, adapting, and building on the available resources for their respective MELSA needs. These pointers could come from the MELSA team, the project teams themselves, or the consultant.

• The onboarding and learning process should include discussions in terms of tracking use of the toolkit and insights gained from such utilization. These could be in the form of regular sharing or reflection sessions by the MELSA focal persons and project staff, and a real-time feedback mechanism (e.g. via the MELSA focal persons’ chat group).

• Contracted consultant will be required to provide a proper documentation of the whole onboarding process and materials to facilitate the conduct of similar rollout activities in the future with new MELSA core team members, portfolio/project MELSA officers, and project staff. Such documentation could be integrated in the toolkit’s online version.

• The learning and rollout process should include discussions on a practical system for continued capture, systematic review, and uploading of new materials around MELSA work for each stage of the project cycle, cross-cutting principles or approaches, and particular program areas (e.g. portfolio-level MELSA, MELSA for influencing, etc.).

Key Deliverables

The consultant shall produce the following major outputs based on the specific objectives and parameters that were outlined above, working closely with Oxfam Philippines’ MELSA team, concerned project/portfolio teams, editorial boards/committees, and the PAC unit:

1.  A brief inception report (not more than 8 pages) to accompany this ToR and reflect: a) Contracted consultant’s own capture of key agreements with the core MELSA unit and project teams/staff with regard to specific approaches in carrying out the proposed consultancy; b) Detailed proposal for the learning and knowledge sharing processes around the MELSA toolkit’s rollout; c) Work plan with more detailed milestones.

2. An orientation activity and follow up learning and knowledge sharing sessions on the MELSA toolkit with Oxfam Philippines’ MELSA focal persons and project staff to facilitate understanding of and familiarity with its structure, and encourage initial use of available MELSA resources. Post-activity reports on these rollout activities to highlight major content areas, key discussion points, and recommendations.

3. An end-of-project report in the form of a knowledge product (MELSA Practice Notes) that communicates experiences and key insights of the Oxfam Philippines’ country teams in running the toolkit rollout process, including agreements and outputs around the following: a) System for tracking and reporting on future use of and enhancements of the toolkit and its available resources; b) Mechanism for revisions in the toolkit and development, review, and inclusion of new MELSA resources and materials into the toolkit; c) Processes and practices for a sustained community of practice on the use of and sharing of insights around the toolkit and the participants’ MELSA work; and, d) Assessment of the rollout/learning process (what worked, did not work, results).

Qualifications:

Applicants for the consultancy should meet the following minimum criteria:

1. Graduate of education, community development, development communication, or social sciences courses, and/or of formal training on learning program design and evaluation.

2. Past experiences in the conduct of adult learning processes, specially to facilitate the use of new knowledge resources within a development organization or international NGO.

3. Previous work on or involvement with development concerns such as women’s rights and issues, disaster risk reduction, financial inclusion, accountable governance, etc.

4. Good skills in active listening, documenting learning processes, and synthesizing insights as evidenced by available portfolio of activity reports and knowledge products.

5. Able to work with diverse teams and individuals towards meeting tight deadlines.

6. Can deliver high quality outputs based on the agreed work plans and targets, while being adaptive and innovative, and with minimal supervision from their direct line manager.

Period of Engagement:   August 23,  2021 until October 29, 2021

Other Responsibilities

• Adhere to Oxfam’s principles and values as well as the promotion of gender justice and women’s rights.
• Perform priority organizational tasks related to his/her competencies as may be assigned from time to time.

Organizational Values:

• Accountability – Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions
• Empowerment – Our approach means that everyone involved with Oxfam, from our staff and supporters to people living in poverty, should feel they can make change happen
• Inclusiveness – We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences.

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

Note: All offers of consultancy will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.

In response to Covid-19 if you are offered a role where you are required to travel between countries please ensure you have been briefed by the Hiring Manager about any changes to working or precautions you should take as part of your role.