Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist 422 views

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(INDIVIDUAL CONSULTING SERVICES)

Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI)

Education and Skills Strengthening Project

Grant no.: IDA-D7600

Assignment Title: Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

Reference No.: MH-MOE-300018-CS-INDV

The Government of the Republic of Marshall Islands has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Education and Skills Strengthening Project (ESSP) and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

The consulting services (“the Services”) will assist the Project Manager and the RMI National Training Council to effectively implement the World Bank-funded project.

The assignment will focus on supporting the ESSP project activities, complementing the existing M&E systems by collecting relevant data for monitoring the project’s activities, inform needed course-correction, and evaluate outcomes of activities. This consulting assignment is a long-term position (12 months) to be located in Majuro, RMI.

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment is indicated in the attached Terms of Reference (ToR).

The National Training Council now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services (attach a Cover Letter of no more than four (4) pages addressing the mandatory experience and qualification requirements curriculum vitae with description of experience in similar assignments, similar conditions, etc.). Firms’ staff may express interest through the employing firm for the assignment and, under such situation, only the experience and qualifications of individuals shall be considered in the selection process. The criteria for electing the Consultant are:

Mandatory Qualifications and Experience:

• BA degree in a relevant discipline such as social, economic, political sciences, or development studies,
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in monitoring and evaluation preferably with a background and interest in education and/or labour
• Proven expertise in qualitative and quantitative methodologies, operational research, Education Management Information System, reporting, data quality assessment, data analysis and presentation
• Experience in providing technical support and assistance to government agencies or other

agencies in the M&E in Education and Skills area

• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Fluency in English
• Good knowledge of productivity softwaresuites such as Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel and ability to use these applications to perform tasks on the job.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience:

• Experience working with RMI, development partners and NGOs
• Good understanding of secondary education, TVET and the current RMI skills gap
• is desirable
• Strong technical skills including ability to process and analyze data using one or more statistical software packages including SPPS, Epi-info, Stata and MS access.
• Experience in capacity development, training, advising, coaching and mentoring

The attention of interested Consultants (including firms) is drawn to paragraph 3.14, 3.16 and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” July 2016 revised November 2017 “Procurement Regulations”, setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

Further information can be obtained at the address below during office hours; 0900 to 1700 hours local time.

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (in person, or by e-mail) by 5:00pm, 30 August, 2022. The subject line should state: “Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist- full name of the candidate”.

Julius Lucky
Director

National Training Council
ntcdr@ntcinfo.org : mel_manager@ntcinfo.org
Phone: 692 625-4521

Cc:

Malie Tarbwillin

Assistant Secretary,
Division of International Development Assistance
didadirector@gmail.com : filipesefeti@gmail.com

Phone: 692 625 5968

Susan Kommwa

Project Manager, ESSP

suekommwa@gmail.com

Phone: +265 999 521 818

Republic of the Marshall Islands

Ministry of Education, Sports and Training

Terms of Reference

1. BACKGROUND

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) is one of the world’s smallest, most isolated, and vulnerable nations. The country consists of 29 atolls and five individual islands (24 out of these 34 atolls and islands are inhabited). It covers an area of 1.9 million square km (around the size of Mexico) but has just 181 square km in land area (around the size of Washington, DC). The population was estimated at 58,413 in 2018, of which around 28,000 (53 percent) reside in Majuro (the country’s capital) and 10,000 (18 percent) in Ebeye, the two largest urban centers. Its low elevation makes the country highly vulnerable to natural and climate related disasters threatening the physical viability of some areas of the main and more remote outer islands (OI).

Project summary

ESSP aims to increase access to and quality of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) opportunities and improve labor market outcome for Marshallese beneficiaries in RMI and abroad. This project is designed to address the RMI’s challenges in building and using its human capital. In RMI, participation in secondary and post-secondary education and training as well as poor academic performance across the board is a main concern. And the labor market in RMI faces a dual challenge of skills gaps and a high formal sector unemployment (especially among youth). The Project was approved by the World Bank´s Board of Directors on 21^st January 2021 and declared effective on 6^th April, 2021. The International Development Association (IDA) grant for the proposed operation is US$10 million.

The key stakeholders to this project include the Ministry of Education, Sports and Training (MOEST), Public-School System (PSS), the National Training Council (NTC), and the Ministry of Finance, Banking and Postal Services, Division of International Development Assistance (DIDA).

This project will support the following:

1. Improvement in the general secondary education to increase acquisition of foundational skills (Math and English)
2. Expansion and improvements in the supply of technical and vocational training programs, specialization tracks within secondary schools, accredited college-level programs in post-secondary institutions, and shorter programs by governmental and non-governmental organizations.
3. Strengthening of the labor market intermediation services in the country such as workforce planning, counseling and career guidance, employment center, recognition of prior learning, work placement program, etc.
4. Project management and monitoring and evaluation. Financed M&E activities would complement existing M&E systems in collecting relevant data for monitoring the project, inform needed course-correction, and evaluate outcomes of activities. As part of building MOEST capacity, the component would finance assessments, the development of a roadmap and action to prepare for (including make efficiency gains where possible) and navigate any changes in the level of, or access to, resources or services and ways of working which may alter as a result of the Compact renegotiations process.

The project also aims to improve equity, especially related to women’s participation in TVET and in the work force and related to students, especially boys, from islands other than Majuro and Ebeye.

By following best practice in building schools of the future, embedding programs in clear pathways for continuing education, increasing participation of employers in training development and delivery, and recognizing the importance of migration, activities are designed to ultimately increase the likelihood of enrollment in further studies and employment in RMI and abroad, especially for the most disadvantaged students and job-seeker.

NTC and PSS are the technical leads for their component(s). Each Agency has assigned one staff to manage the activities for about 30 percent of their work program. Of the project support a PIU comprised of two coordinators, one for NTC and one for PSS, one administrative assistant, and one project manager. Additional staff will include 1 coordinator for Ebeye and 1 Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist To maximize coordination and efficiency, the PIU is located within the NTC’s office.

1. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The government of RMI is looking for a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist to support ESSP project activities complement existing M&E systems by collecting relevant data for monitoring the project’s activities, inform needed course-correction, and evaluate outcomes of activities. Within this context, activities designed by the M&E specialist will generate evidence-based insight for decision making.

III.    SCOPE OF SERVICES

The M&E specialist will ensure project activities are consistent with the approved annual workplan and budget and to and generate evidence-based feedback for program decision making.

The M&E specialist will work closely with the PSS and NTC sections, responsible for maintenance of M&E systems.

Specifically, the responsibilities of the M&E specialist will include, inter alia:

1. Project Monitoring and Data Analysis
   • Design and update the processes and guidelines of the existing M&E systems to generate regular information related to progress of the project
   • Liaise with project management and implementation units to design data collection instruments, collect and analyze data
   • Prepare monitoring field visit plans and conduct monitoring visit as and when required
   • Participate in monitoring mission
   • Document all analysis and evidence of progress towards project targets
   • Provide insights into indicators that are at risk of not being met
   • Share raw data and calculations on indicators in the results framework for verification by the World Bank before the Results Framework is updated and resolve any discrepancies.
   • Support data analysis for project mid-term and completion reviews

2. Project Reporting and Results Dissemination

• Compile periodic progress data and use this data to Prepare Monthly, Trimester and Annual Monitoring Reports

3. Capacity Building in Monitoring and Evaluation

• Conduct M&E need identification survey among PSS and NTC staff and identify M&E capacity gaps
• Develop appropriate monitoring and evaluation training package in consultation with PSS Commissioner and Director at NTC
• Organize capacity building training for staff to minimize M&E capacity gaps

4. Support to Research Activities and Results Dissemination

• Collaborate on and provide guidance as required for all research activities conducted under the project
• Assist to organize and facilitate various events such as meetings, workshops, conferences, and seminars to disseminate project results.

1. INSTITUTIONAL AND ORGANIZATION ARRANGEMENTS

The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist will report to the ESSP Project Manager.

The Government of RMI will provide the Financing Agreements, WB Guidelines, and all the existing reports and materials related to the Project. Government of RMI will provide office space, general office supplies and office equipment.

1. DURATION, LOCATION, CONDITIONS

The position is a full-time position to be located in Majuro, RMI.  The duration will be for 12 months with the opportunity to extend based on performance and availability of budget.

Government of RMI will provide the Financing Agreements, WB Guidelines, and all the existing reports and materials related to the Project. Government of RMI will provide office space, general office supplies and office equipment.

1. REPORTING AND DELIVERABLES

The M&E specialist will report directly to the Program Manager

The deliverables of the M&E specialist will include, but not be limited to, the following:

• M&E Framework
• M&E Plan
• M&E tools/formats
• Field monitoring reports
• Training completion reports
• Monthly report of works performed
• End of assignment report

III.  Qualifications and Experience

        Mandatory Qualifications and Experience

• BA degree in a relevant discipline such as social, economic, political sciences, or development studies,
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in monitoring and evaluation preferably with a background and interest in education and/or labour
• Proven expertise in qualitative and quantitative methodologies, operational research, Education Management Information System, reporting, data quality assessment, data analysis and presentation
• Experience in providing technical support and assistance to government agencies or other

agencies in the M&E in Education and Skills area

• Excellent written and oral communication skills. Fluency in English
• Good knowledge of productivity softwaresuites such as Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel and ability to use these applications to perform tasks on the job.

       Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Experience working with RMI, development partners and NGOs
• Good understanding of secondary education, TVET and the current RMI skills gap
• is desirable
• Strong technical skills including ability to process and analyze data using one or more statistical software packages including SPPS, Epi-info, Stata and MS access.
• Experience in capacity development, training, advising, coaching and mentoring