ALG is seeking Water sector performance monitoring and evaluation expert to participate in an upcoming assignment in Sierra Leone (West Africa) with the Millenium Challenge Corporation (MCC) . Duration of the assignment: 6 months.

About the project

This support is focused on the following three key projects that are being implemented concurrently:

1. Regulatory Strengthening Project-The objective of this project is to support the Government in its efforts to operationalize and build core capacities at the Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission in order to ensure transparency, support the long‐term financial sustainability of the water and electricity sectors, and improve overarching sector governance.

2. Water Sector Reform Project-The objective is to support Government efforts to (i) improve water sector coordination; (ii) strengthen commercial practices, operational independence, and planning capacity at the Guma Valley Water Company; and (iii) enhance transparency, accountability and customer service practices.

3. Electricity Sector Reform Project-This project will support Government efforts to (i) operationalize the emerging institutional framework and market structure in Sierra Leone’s electricity sector; (ii) improve integrated planning capacity; and (iii) strengthen operational efficiency and corporate governance at targeted electricity sector institutions, particularly the Electricity  Generation and Transmission Company.

Tasks:

Task 1: Desk review of relevant literature of the THP and MCC Scorecard The desk review shall include the THP Program description, Monitoring and Evaluation Plan for the Threshold Program, Skills Requirement and Capacity Building Needs Assessment of Implementing Entities, MIS Assessment Report, Guma Valley Water Company Capacity Building Needs Assessment, Electricity Generation and Transmission Company Business Strategic Document and EWRC Organization Development Plan, MCC Scorecard Guidance, Sierra Leone Action Plan on MCC Scorecard Indicators, and Strategic Document of MDAs

Task 2: Assessment of participants’ knowledge level on monitoring and evaluation, and data management. The Consultant is required to conduct an assessment to gather information about the level of existing skills and knowledge of proposed participants. This will inform the design of the training and determine how the training should be customized to achieve the maximum impact on participants’ M&E capacity. About 30 participants, drawn from 15 institutions will be trained. This assessment will help to determine the best way to group participants for the training sessions.

Task 3: Design and development of the training agenda, content and materials. The Consultant shall provide clear content for the materials of all topics and exercises that will be administered during the training period. (E.g. Power point presentations, training manual or guideline, sample spreadsheet template and dashboard.

Task 4: Conduct training : Training sessions should be structured around participants’ classifications and needs as determined by the assessment conducted in task 2.

Task 5: Follow up mentoring and coaching of participants
The Consultant shall be required to provide follow up support in the way of mentoring and coaching of participants in their respective institutions for a period of three (3) months after the training in early 2020. This is expected to provide an opportunity for effective application of knowledge and skills acquired in the training. This will create an opportunity to receive feedback from the Consultant on data systems and processes that are being instituted in the various MDAs as a result of the training. The Consultant shall develop a mentoring and coaching implementation plan with clear deliverables that will be rolled out within the 3 months period. The plan should be part of the deliverables in task 3. This task is limited to the implementing entities and ministries of the Threshold Program. The Consultant shall be required to submit monthly reports to MCCU on the implementation

Objectives of this Assignment
The MCCU as part of its capacity building effort will have a Consultant train Monitoring and Evaluation Officers, Data Management Officers and Planning Officers of the THP implementing entities and MDAs on results‐based monitoring and evaluation, to enable these institutions to effectively handle routine performance or result tracking  and data analysis and reporting.

Responsibilities of the expert

• Support Team Leader in the review of literature of the Threshold program and Water Sector related documents of MDA’s.
• Support the assessment of participant’s knowledge level in water sector monitoring indicators and data management of water sector data. Work closely with the Team Leader and sector entities.
• Conduct training for the related entity personnel involved in data collection, processing and reporting,
• Participate fully in report writing and all workshops.

Qualifications

Education and Skills

• A minimum of a master’s degree in any of the following: water engineering Economics, Business Administration or its equivalent. Being a registered member in a professional registration body is desirable.
• Fluency in written and spoken English. Required professional experience
• Minimum of five (5) years of professional experience in performance monitoring and evaluation.
• Extensive experience and/or familiarity with local and international utility standards, performance monitoring, benchmarking and water sector institutions and policies.
• Strong quantitative data collection and analytical skills.
• At least five (5) years of general experience in analysing multi sector data, including experience with indicators relating to water sector performance used in the Threshold Program.

Preferred professional experience

• At least five (5) years of experience in designing and using data gathering tools for water sector performance monitoring.
• Experience in training and development of training materials.
• Experience in implementation of at least two (2) similar projects in monitoring and evaluation, preferably in developing countries.
• Experience working in sub‐Saharan Africa or other developing countries.