TOR – INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT MONITORING AND EVALUATION CONSULTANT FOR DONOR FUNDED PROJECTS

AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM

TERM OF REFERENCE FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT MONITORING AND EVALUATION CONSULTANT FOR DONOR FUNDED PROJECTS

 Procurement Number: APRM/004/SIDA/ M&E /2020

1)INTRODUCTION

The African Peer Review Mechanism was established in 2003 by the African Union Heads of State and Government with the primary purpose of fostering practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable and inclusive development, as well as accelerated regional and continental integration. It seeks to rectify underlying deficiencies in governance and socioeconomic development processes among member states of the African Union. The APRM covers four thematic areas: (i) Democracy and political governance; (ii) Economic management and governance; (iii) corporate governance; and (iv) Socio- economic development. Participating countries go through detailed review processes (including consultations with government, the private sector, civil society and other stakeholders), culminating in a peer review exercise at the level of Heads of State and Government.

A key feature of the APRM is that it is home grown. This, as well as its voluntary nature, are important in buttressing and consolidating Africa’s ownership of its development agenda. As an assessment and monitoring tool, the APRM can also help to track progress towards meeting regional and international development aspirations and commitments including AU’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The African Union and the Heads of State are cognizant of this and in January 2017 expanded the mandate of the Mechanism from the core reviews to monitoring and evaluation role for the African Union Agenda 2063 and the SDGs. This is a reflection of the confidence reposed in the Mechanism and will contribute to the universalization of the APRM where all AU member states will become members of the APRM.

2)DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT

In December 2019, the Swedish International Development Corporation Agency approved the APRM-SIDA Project. The project will help strengthen the APRM and contribute to the delivery of its mandate. It will support the implementation of the 2020 – 2023 Strategic Plan and reposition the APRM as an instrument for monitoring AU Agenda 2063 and the SDGs. Apart from addressing the immediate challenges faced by the Mechanism, the grant will help in the review and refinement of the APRM tools and processes, to ensure that the Mechanism remains relevant in a rapidly changing world and is also able to take on board the expanded mandate and expectations of member countries. In this regard, the project is expected to support the following key areas of the APRM: (1) Deepening the APRM Review, (2) Strengthening Civil Society Participation, (3) Strengthening Gender Participation, (4) National Governance Reporting, (5) Corporate Governance (6) Development of AU Guidance Note for State Owned Enterprises (SOEs). These programmes are designed to shape the work of the mechanism.

APRM intends to apply part of the agreed amount for this grant as payments towards the procurement of Individual Consultant (IC Monitoring and Evaluation for the SIDA Program and the External Partner funded programs of APRM.

3) DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The position supports the implementation of the monitoring and evaluation of the SIDA and External Partner funded project activities. The successful candidate will work closely with the Partnership Unit and APRM Monitoring and Evaluation department to qualitative and quantitative data for the SIDA and funded programmes and Activities respectively, as well as generating M & E quarterly reports. The candidate is also expected to support the National Governance Reporting unit of the APRM.

4) OBJECTIVE

To ensure that the all Donor/External Partner funded programmes and project are implemented in a timely manner, while ensuring compliance with the relevant policies and regulations

5) SCOPE OF WORK

The Consultant shall provide consulting services over the period of 12 months to the APRM. The scope of the work is detailed below:

i)To provide support to results-based planning, management, monitoring, reporting and evaluation of the activities under SIDA as well as other External Partner funded Projects by implementing M&E annual work plan as follows:

• Contribute to drafting, quality assurance and finalization of various reports from the sections to Senior Management level, based on African Union’s Manual and donor requirements.
• Contribute to providing guidance on AU reporting policies, and practices including monitoring and evaluation policies and

ii) To facilitate knowledge building and sharing as required by the organization, focusing on the        following results

• Participate as appropriate in quality assurance oversight and evaluation processes for the SIDA and other External Partner funded projects to contribute to the strategic positioning of the
• Ensure timely implementation of all activities through liaising with all stakeholders
• Support management of knowledge networks, communities of practice on M & E, etc

iii)Support the Partnerships Unit through preparation of donor funding proposals

iv)) Co-ordinate and regularly hold meetings to ensure smooth implementation of all   programme/project activities

v) Prepare project implementation status reports as may be required by the donor and AUC Policies and Regulations

vi) Ensure that all projects funded by SIDA and External Partners are delivered on-time, within scope and within budget by undertaking the following:

• Developing a detailed project plan to monitor and track progress of projects
• Manage changes to the project scope, project schedule and project costs using appropriate verification techniques
• Measure project performance using appropriate tools and techniques
• Report and escalate to management as needed
• Perform risk management to minimize project risks
• Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation
• Track project performance, specifically to analyze the successful completion of short and long-term goals
• Meet budgetary objectives and make adjustments to project constraints based on financial analysis
• Perform other related duties as assigned

6)FACILITIES AND SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED BY CLIENT

The Client will provide:

1. Access to all information and stakeholders to facilitate the assignment;
2. Adequate office space with essential office furniture, office equipment and supplies; and
3. Access to Internet, and network resources and any relevant records

7)TIMEFRAME/DURATION

The expected commencement date for the assignment is Mid July 2020 and the duration shall be 12 calendar months. This consultancy work will be based at the APRM Secretariat in Midrand, South Africa.

8)DELIVERABLES

Acceptable Monitoring and Evaluation Reports that should be submitted to SIDA and other External Partners on a Quarterly basis

9)  LOCATION AND VISA (WHERE APPLICABLE)

The consultant will be based at APRM Offices.

The Consultant shall be required to travel to the APRM Secretariat at APRM Offices at own cost. In addition, the Consultant will be required to acquire Visa for the travel, but APRM may facilitate with the necessary documents for application.

10) CO-ORDINATION

The Co-ordinator shall assign tasks, including geographic areas of coverage, to the Consultant in line with the Terms of Reference. Performance will be assessed based on deliverables.

11)  RESERVATIONS AND CONFIDENTIALITY

APRM reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if works/outputs are incomplete, not delivered, or for failure to meet deadlines. In the event of the Consultant ending the contract prior to delivering all agreed upon outputs, a portion of the payments shall be returned to the APRM.

The consultant undertakes to maintain confidentiality on all information that is not in the public domain and shall not be involved in another assignment that represents a conflict of interest to the prevailing assignment. The Consultant shall undertake to refrain from promoting any political or religious beliefs in the during the term of this contract.

12) GENERAL INFORMATION

All consultancies will be advertised on an equal opportunity basis. The performance criteria to be used to assess the consultant shall be based on the deliverables and scope of work defined in these TORs.

13) LANGUAGE OF ASSIGNMENT

The Monitoring and Evaluation reports may be presented in English or French.

14) PAYMENT

Payment will be a monthly consulting fee of 8,414.40 USD for a period of 12 months based on the satisfactory deliverables

15)REPORTING

The Consultant report to the Head of Partnership at the APRM Office

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Only Candidate/Consultants who obtain a technical score of 70% and above shall be considered with the award being made to the candidate with the highest technical score.

Proposal must be submitted by email : [email protected] or physically to the address below on or before 16th July 2020 at 1100hrs. The Proposal shall be opened on 16^th  July 2020 at 1100hrs local time.

Submissions to be titled: PROCUREMENT NUMBER: APRM/004/SIDA/ M&E /2020: MONITORING AND EVALUATION CONSULTANT FOR DONOR FUNDED PROJECTS/ PROGRAMMES

All applications in writing should be accompanied by up-to-date Certified Curriculum Vitae and supporting documents (Note: do not send originals) with the names and addresses of three referees, one of which should be the last consultancy and addressed to:

Project Coordinator African Peer Review Mechanism

Private Bag x09, Halfway House, 1685

Physical Address: 230 15th Street, Randjies Park, 1st Floor Midrand, South Africa

Tel: +27 11 256 3400/01/29Fax: +2711 256 3456; Email: [email protected]