Sierra Leone: Monitoring and Evaluation Expert - Consultancy to Establish an M&E System - National Strategy for the Reduction of Teenage Pregnancy
Country: Sierra Leone
Closing date: 12 Aug 2013
TERMS OF REFERENCE
MONITORING & EVALUATION EXPERT
Consultancy to Establish an M&E System –
National Strategy for the Reduction of Teenage Pregnancy
Background
In Sierra Leone, teenage pregnancy is one of the more pervasive problems affecting the health, social, economic and political progress and empowerment of women and girls. The issue to address is alarming and is reflected in the following national statistics: 34% of all pregnancies occur amongst teenage girls (SLDHS 2008), 26% of women age 15-19 have already had a birth (MICS 2010), 40% of maternal death occur as a result of teenage pregnancy (MICS 2010) and the untimely pregnancy of young girls is ranked as the third most common reason for them dropping out of school (UNICEF 2008). To address this issue, H.E. the President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma launched in May 2013 the National Strategy for the Reduction of Teenage Pregnancy.
Adolescent pregnancy is dangerous, with serious long-term health consequences for the young mother and the baby. Pregnancy is the leading cause of death for adolescent girls and the youngest girls are particularly at risk and babies born to adolescent mothers are also at greater risk. But the impacts of adolescent pregnancy are felt far beyond the walls of the family home. It also has a demonstrable impact on the social and economic development of communities and countries.
In light of the large spectrum and heterogeneity of partners involved, the implementation of the National Strategy requires close coordination of all the stakeholders, internal communication as well as a detailed Monitoring and Evaluation system in place. To guarantee daily coordination of the implementation of the Strategy’s activities, the Government of Sierra Leone has approved the creation of the National Secretariat for the Reduction of Teenage Pregnancy.
The role of the National Secretariat is to promote and facilitate the collection and dissemination of information to enhance the partners’ decision-making and planning capacity within the framework of the National Strategy. The Secretariat bears the responsibility to support the design and implementation of the Monitoring and Evaluation System.
Objectives
The overall objective is to develop a Performance Management System for measuring the achievements of the National Strategy for the Reduction of Teenage Pregnancy, which includes both a strategic and operational framework for results-based management.
The immediate objective is to design a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system that will enable the National Secretariat to effectively manage and measure the achievement of the Strategy’s activities, assess challenges and the lessons gained and make recommendations for the replication and/or expansion of activities.
Scope of Work
The National Secretariat is currently seeking to procure the services of a suitably qualified M&E Expert to act as Consultant for the establishment of an M&E system for the National Strategy for the Reduction of Teenage Pregnancy.
Specifically, the Consultant will focus on developing a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system that aims at providing accurate and reliable data to ensure the effectiveness of the intervention management as well as the achievement of the objectives and targets of the National Strategy for the Reduction Teenage Pregnancy.
The M&E system should be aligned with the objectives of the Strategy and customized to the needs of the beneficiaries (specifically, but not limited to, Adolescents and Young People). To ensure the objectives are achieved, programme management need to track results at the output and outcome level consistently. This will enable appropriate results-based management allowing adjustments to program components. Effectiveness and efficiency of programme benefits need to be monitored closely. Ownership from the programme stakeholders (Government at national and district level, partner organizations, civil society but also beneficiaries themselves) will ensure both that activities are effectively delivered, and contribute to the overall objective of the Strategy.
The M&E system for activities undertaken through the Strategy for the reduction of Teenage Pregnancy follows several principles corresponding to the following approaches:
(i) A results-based management approach: The M&E system should aim at enhancing results-based management. Therefore, management at all levels needs to keep abreast of M&E tools and use them in planning and improve programming.
(ii) A system focused on people and beneficiaries: Results and “change measured” should be consistently communicated as feedback to the beneficiaries and other stakeholders.
(iii) A targeted M&E system: The M&E tools and data should pay special attention to gender and youth. Gender and youth issues must be highlighted and, when possible, data will also be disaggregated accordingly.
(iv) An M&E strategy aligned with “Sector Specific Management Frameworks”: the M&E system, and related indicators, should be directly aligned with existing national management systems. The approach should also be compatible with systems developed by partners of the Programme.
Deliverables
- An M&E Assessment of already existing and complimentary systems that involve indicators selected for this strategy, particularly partners’ M&E frameworks and data collection mechanisms.
- A minimum of 6 years of professional work experience in the design, development and operational application of Monitoring and Evaluation systems.
- An overall M&E system for applying performance management successfully completed (including an M&E plan, a budget, a data collection framework, reporting formats as well as review and accountability mechanisms) developed through a participatory process involving representatives of all partners of the National Strategy (Government, UN Agencies, NGOs, Civil Society Organization) as well as Adolescents and Young People and others stakeholders.
- A finalized baseline study from best available data covering all sectors.
- Brief presentations on the proposed overall M&E system for the National Strategy to key stakeholders for feedbacks and comments.
- Trained partners on the RBM approach, indicator relevance, monitoring flows and reporting accuracy for the National Strategy M&E system (including, but not limited to, the member of the National Secretariat, particularly the M&E Officer and Ministry Focal Points).
- The following reports will be required:
• An M&E Plan which sets out the action plan and the major components of the M&E system.
• A Final Report summarizing the ‘learning outcomes” at the end of the assignment, collate the methodological approach and the lessons gained as well as make recommendations on how to implement the M&E plan.
Desirable Qualifications and Experiences
1. The candidate must have obtained at least a master’s degree in Economics, Social Affairs or Public Administration or related subjects.
2. Practical experience with monitoring and evaluations, Results-Based Management (RBM) and Logic Model planning and reporting frameworks; inclusive of designing and delivery of training sessions.
3. Experience with establishing baselines, targets and indicators within a results- based performance measurement frameworks
4. Experience in providing monitoring and evaluation services for national, regional or international agencies.
5. Experience in analyzing data from a variety of sources.
6. Experience in developing accurate, timely and reliable data-gathering tools.
7. Experience in working in regional and international contexts gathering and analyzing data from a wide range of sources and agencies will be an asset.
8. Knowledge of the Adolescent focused programmes and/or of Sierra Leone will be an advantage.
Duration and Timing
The consultancy is expected to be undertaken over 5 weeks (with 4 weeks in country).
Reporting
The Consultant will report to the Multisectoral Coordinating Committee (MCC) of the National Strategy. S/He will be under the direct supervision of the Coordinator of the National Secretariat for the Reduction of Teenage Pregnancy. The Consultant will also work closely the members of the Multisectoral Technical Committee. The Consultant is expected to work with a high degree of independence coupled with proactive planning and a collaborative approach for the involvement of all key stakeholders.
How to apply:
Candidates will be selected further to a written test and interview. If interested, please send a CV to Philippe Lust-Bianchi at lustbianchi@nationalsecretariat.orgThe closing date for the receipt of applications is 12 August, 2013.
