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Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Consultant

Date of Publication
Application Deadline
Company
Cuso International
Brief Description
Introduction
 
Cuso International (Cuso) is a development organization that works to reduce poverty and inequality through the efforts of highly skilled volunteers, collaborative partnerships and compassionate donors. We envision a world where all people can realize their potential, develop their skills and participate fully in society. Cuso international works in developing countries across the world. Funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Cuso is implementing the 4-year project Blueprints for Gender Equality (BLUEPRINTS) in Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines; the project will build the capacity of local governments to better integrate gender into policies, programs and services.
 
Background of Consultancy
 
Cuso International is seeking to engage the services of a Baseline and MEAL consultant to develop the Baseline Report for the BLUEPRINTS project gathering data and information from ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs), national databases and women’s rights organizations (WROs). The consultant will also coordinate with Cuso on the design of the MEAL Plan for BLUEPRINTS ensuring a sound system is designed for regularly collection and analysis of data and information.
 
Key deliverables for BLUEPRINTS Baseline Report
  • Review of BLUEPRINTS proposal, logic model and performance measurement framework (PMF), including set outcome and output indicators and targets for the project.
  • Establish a baseline for local partners (MDAs and WROs) in each of the four countries based on performance indicators and targets through which progress toward each expected outcome and output will be measured.
  • Identify available sources of data in the four countries (e.g. national surveys, MDAs, WROs, etc.) for outcome and output indicators and assess the quality of available data, as well as feasible options for the additional data collection that the relevant indicator(s) may require. This includes thinking ahead to data collection for the various indicators relating to beneficiary ratings of the degree of change they have experienced supported interventions by local partner organizations for example.
  • Collect data from available sources of data for each outcome and output indictor in each country and regional-wide data. Data should be validated by local partners and should be gender-sensitive and disaggregated by socio-economic status, gender (if self-identified), age, ethnicity, geographic local and any other relevant category.
  • Validate the outcome indicators Cuso is proposing to use in measuring progress toward expected BLUEPRINTS project outcomes, and to consider other indicators that it may be equally important or more practical and/or useful for the project to be monitoring.
  • Prepare Baseline Report, including comprehensive narrative explanation of how the data was collected, analyzed and validate as well as clearly indicate baseline data limitations. The Baseline Report must demonstrate credibility of baseline data set and be included as part of the MEAL Plan.
Key deliverables for MEAL Plan
  • In coordination with Cuso’s MEAL team, develop monitoring dashboard to track, analyze and display key performance indicators in-house.
  • The design and implementation of a mid-term process-output evaluation to assess whether activities are being implemented as intended and if they have delivered the expected products on time. This will also serve as a milestone to determine if immediate remedial actions are necessary.
  • The design and implementation of a final outcome evaluation based on a contribution analysis and Outcome Harvesting to determine the influence of different stakeholder on results and retrospectively identify emergent impacts. Then, working backwards, the evaluation will determine whether and how BLUEPRINTS has contributed to the observed changes.
  • Design collective learning process which will be used as a learning component, based on the monitoring and evaluation data. This will include: 1) Design of inclusive and gender-responsive tools and instruments to monitor and document the sharing of gender inclusive practices; 2) Integration of a learning component in both the mid-term and final evaluation to assess the sustainability and inclusivity of the cooperative knowledge sharing spaces. It will also assess if knowledge, experiences and practices shared through these spaces have led to any concrete changes in partner organizations; and 3) Individual stories collected from direct and indirect beneficiaries to support the identification of most meaningful changes.
Experience and Abilities
 
Education:
  • Diploma/Degree in social sciences, international development or acceptable combination of education, training and /or experience related to job requirements.
Experience:
  • Minimum 5 years’ experience conducting social and/or economic research, with specific thematic focus on gender equality and socioeconomic integration of vulnerable groups in the Caribbean, such as women, youth, Indigenous Peoples, persons living with disabilities and LGTBQI community
  • Minimum 5 years’ experience working with MEAL systems and frameworks, including design of MEAL frameworks and systems and developing baseline reports
  • Experience collecting, sorting and analyzing large sets of social and economic data
  • Experience developing reports that synthesize accurately social and economic data
  • Experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures (or demonstrated ability to work with a diverse group of individuals)
  • Efficient communication skills (verbal and written)
  • Proven experience writing MEAL documents
  • Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to listen, be patient, diplomatic and maintain confidentiality
Conditions of the consultancy
 
The Consultant will have a set of deliverables and timelines that will be agreed upon with the BLUEPRINTS Team. Supervision will be provided by the Caribbean Representative, Cuso and the Project Manager, BLUEPRINTS. Cuso anticipates the start date of the consultancy by May 1, 2022 and an end date of July 11, 2022.
 
HOW TO APPLY:
 
To apply, please forward: 1) Copy of professional resume in English, maximum 4 pages; and 2) Proposed technical proposal and budget (please budget should include all necessary expenses related to the consultancy). Please send applications to tania.shephard@cusointernational.org.
Applications should be received no later than April 22, 2022, 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time.