TERMS OF REFERENCE
CONSULTANCY SERVICES TO CONDUCT CAPACITY STRENGTHENING TO CFC STAFF ABOUT MONITORING, EVALUATION, LEARNING AND ACCOUNTABILITY (MEAL)
About Chance for Childhood
We are child centred international non-governmental organization supporting children and young people in Africa who face inequalities such as lack of access to education and safe spaces, providing them with the tools and skills they need to build their own futures.
We don’t work alone. Together with partners, supporters, children, and their communities, we protect, educate, and create lasting change for every child threatened by violence, neglect and conflict.
We believe that no child should have to fight for a safe, happy childhood. We exist to ensure that every child in Africa can thrive from their early years through to adulthood. Our interventions in Africa are in Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Assignment Background
Chance for Childhood (CFC) seeks to enhance its Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) capabilities. The organization aims to engage an external individual consultant to provide training focused on Baseline Studies, Adaptive MEL management, compliance with the Logical Framework, Mid-term evaluations, and the development of MEL guidance tools to their staff in Rwanda.
Objective
The primary objectives of this consultancy are as follows:
- To equip staff with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively design, implement, and manage M&E systems, ensuring they understand both qualitative and quantitative methods.
- To enable staff to better assess the impact and effectiveness of their project/ programs, leading to improved decision-making and project/ program adjustments based on evidence.
- To foster a culture of data-driven decision-making within the organization, empowering staff to use M&E findings to inform program strategies and resource allocation.
- To help the organization identify gaps in their current M&E practices and develop strategies to address these gaps effectively.
- To enhance staff capabilities in reporting M&E findings clearly and effectively to various stakeholders, including donors, beneficiaries, and the broader community.
Scope of Work
The consultant will undertake the following tasks:
- Baseline Studies:Train staff on conducting baseline studies that establish benchmarks for future evaluations.
- Adaptive MEL Management:Provide insights on adaptive management practices within the MEL frameworks and plans.
- Logical Framework Compliance:Ensure that staff understand how to align their activities with the logical framework requirements particularly the project performance indicators.
- Mid-term Evaluations:Facilitate training on conducting mid-term evaluations to assess ongoing project effectiveness.
- MEL Guidance Tools Development:Collaborate with CFC to create user-friendly MEL tools and resources that will ensure proper performance track and evaluation of projects. This will also include training the team about the standard social sector research and evaluation approaches.
Expected Deliverables
The consultant is expected to deliver:
- A detailed training manual and materials that cover all aspects of MEAL relevant to CFC.
- Design MEL guidance tools to guide the CFC project implementation complying to all MEAL standard requirements.
- Conduct 3-day training sessions with practical exercises for staff engagement.
- Pre-training and post-training evaluation reports to measure effectiveness.
- A final report summarizing training outcomes, participant feedback, and recommendations for future MEL practices.
Qualifications and Experience Required
The ideal consultant should possess:
- A Master’s degree in a relevant field (Monitoring and Evaluation, Statistics, Economics Development Studies, and other Social Sciences).
- At least 5 years of experience in Monitoring and Evaluation capacity building related practices, particularly within child protection, social inclusion or similar sectors.
- Proven track record in developing and delivering MEAL training programs.
- Strong analytical skills and experience in creating practical tools for monitoring and evaluation.
- Proof of MEAL manuals, guidelines and tools previously developed.
- Three links to work samples demonstrating most relevant previous productions.
- Three references (with contact information) from previous clients
- Proficiency in qualitative and quantitative research methods.
- Familiarity with M&E frameworks, tools, and methodologies.
- Strong presentation and facilitation skills to engage diverse audiences.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and effectively.
Methodology
The consultant will utilize a participatory approach to engage CFC staff throughout the training process. This includes:
- Interactive workshops with group discussions and hands-on activities.
- Use of case studies relevant to CFC's operational context.
- Continuous feedback mechanisms during training sessions.
Timeline
The consultancy is expected to be completed within a timeframe of three days from the contract signing date. Specific milestones will be established in collaboration with CFC management and the MEL Officer.
Budget
The total budget for this consultancy is Eight Million, One hundred thousand Eight thousand and Fifty Rwandan Francs (8,108,050 RWF) which is inclusive of all related costs including 15% withholding tax.
How to apply
Interested consultants should submit:
- A technical proposal detailing their approach to responding to the terms of reference.
- A curriculum vitae highlighting relevant experience.
- Technical aptitudes of previous work related to MEAL training or similar projects.
- A financial proposal with detailed budget breakdown that reflect the scope of work outlined above, including all associated costs for materials, designing relevant documents and other expenses.
Submissions should be sent to apply@chanceforchildhood.org with the subject line MEAL Capacity Strengthening for CFC Rwanda Staff. The deadline for submission of proposals is Friday, 24th January 2024 at 5pm. Only strongest candidates will be contacted due to anticipated high volume of applications.
Safeguarding
The successful candidate will be asked to read, sign and comply with the Chance for Childhood safeguarding policy before signing the contract.