Short-Term Consultancy in digital project Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E), based in Brazzaville, Congo

Short-Term Consultancy, based in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo / Member of Geo-Enabling team for Monitoring and Supervision (GEMS)

1. Background: Operational Context in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States (FCS)

Fragility, Conflict, and Violence (FCV) impact the lives of over a quarter of the world’s population. Fragility, violent conflict and poverty are undoubtedly interlinked, as large-scale violence can significantly hamper development and destabilize countries and entire regions. About 60 percent of the world’s extreme poor are expected to live in FCV contexts by 2030. Conflicts have led to a substantial proportion of forced displacement and humanitarian needs while contributing to local marginalization and setting some affected countries back decades in terms of development progress. Today, it is estimated that about 2 billion people live in countries that face fragility and experience violent conflict or significant interpersonal violence. Addressing the challenge of FCV and reaching the affected populations is therefore a strategic priority for the World Bank Group (WBG) and a necessity for achieving the twin goals of eradicating extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity.

Limited access in FCV contexts inhibits the World Bank from serving some of the people most in need. The WBG’s Development Committee highlighted in its ‘Vision for the World Bank Group in 2030’ that “The WBG will stay engaged with all clients while continually ensuring that its resources are strategically deployed to meet global and client needs and targeted to areas of the world that most need funding.” Fragility and violent conflict do not only lead to destruction, displacement, and deprivation, but also often result in access constraints on the ground, for security-related and logistical reasons. The lack of physical access and insights into specific dynamics and needs in FCV contexts inhibits operational engagement, precisely in some of the areas where development interventions are most urgently needed. This can limit the WBG’s ability to effectively deliver on its significant IDA-18 commitments in fragile contexts to reach the populations most in need, and thus, to effectively address poverty and marginalization.

To reach the most vulnerable, we need to get eyes on the ground where we cannot always have boots on the ground. As the WBG pivots toward a risk-based approach to FCV, the systematic use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) will be crucial along the risk chain, from preparedness and prevention, to recovery and reconstruction. Not least given the significant allocation of IDA resources to FCV contexts, there is urgent demand by clients as well as WBG Global Practices (GPs) and Country Management Units (CMUs) for methods and tools that enhance transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness of interventions in regions with limited physical access. The Geo-Enabling methodology for Monitoring and Supervision (GEMS) has been developed in response to this demand, with the aim to provide project teams, client agencies, and partner organizations with timely access to invaluable field information from areas that cannot be regularly visited. This agenda was integrated in the IDA 19 FCS policy Commitments as well as an operationalization measure in the recently adopted World Bank Group FCV Strategy.

2. ICT for Operational Effectiveness in FCV contexts and the GEMS Initiative

The main pillar of ICT support provided by the FCV Group consists in rolling out the GEMS initiative systematically across fragile states, to geo-enable operations for remote project supervision, M&E, and third-party monitoring.

Development Objective: The GEMS method enables project teams to use open source tools for in-field collection of structured digital data that automatically feeds into a centralized M&E system. The integrated data can include any kind of indicators, based on tailor-made forms; photos, audio, videos; time and date stamps; and GPS coordinates that allow for automated geo-mapping of the information. Using these tools systematically allows operations to enhance the transparency and accuracy of M&E and increase the accountability of third-party monitoring (TPM). Moreover, the GEMS method provides WBG GPs and CMUs with a platform for remote supervision, real-time safeguards monitoring, and portfolio mapping for coordination across projects and partners.

Focus of the GEMS method: The core of the GEMS methodology is a 3-days hands-on training with 2 main aims:

• Building M&E capacity among government agencies, WBG Task Teams, and Country Teams to use the GEMS methodology independently and sustainably, customized to their specific project needs.
• Implementing the method systematically across the portfolio, to allow for real-time supervision and coordination of operations via a centralized platform that puts all field data on an interactive map.

After the training, each participant should have acquired the necessary skills to use the tools and methods independently for the benefit of the portfolio’s M&E system and supervision needs. Moreover, the Country Teams will have access to a central digital platform for monitoring the portfolio in near real-time.

3. Objective and Scope of Work: Leveraging ICT to Enhance M&E, Supervision, and Citizen Engagement

The FCV Group is looking to hire a short-term consultant (STC) to join the GEMS team. The consultant will be based in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, and fully embedded in the GEMS team, within the World Bank’s Fragility, Conflict and Violence Group. The consultant will work under the guidance of the GEMS TTL and in close coordination with the corresponding Country Office/CMU. The consultant will also closely work with other units of the WBG, in particular the Geospatial Operations Support Team (GOST).

A major objective will be to oversee the portfolio-wide implementation of the GEMS method by the client and Country Office/ CMU, for operational supervision, Monitoring and Evaluation, safeguards monitoring, and portfolio mapping. A major task will be to oversee the GEMS supervision system and implement the method across the WBG portfolio in the RoC. In this regard, the STC will be responsible for managing the CMU’s digital data collection and analysis platform and conduct customized geospatial analysis, as well as training workshops according to the CMU’s needs. The focus will be to support operational M&E, Project Supervision, Environmental and Social risks/safeguards monitoring and further the mapping of the operational portfolios across the CMU. The consultant will also provide close support to ongoing and future work on territorial assessments and geo-mapping and directly assist the Country Manager, Operations Managers and Program Leaders of the CMU. This work will be performed under the guidance of the Country Office/CMU and the GEMS TTL.

The consultant will be responsible for regular follow-up engagement and technical support to clients, as required. This may include the delivery of GEMS capacity-building training for PIUs, WBG project task teams, safeguards and procurement specialists, and select partners. Additionally, this may include reviewing and drafting project documents, such as Project Appraisal Documents (PAD), M&E frameworks, TORs, etc. and any documents necessary to the full deployment of the GEMS method in a project, sector or administration.

The consultant will directly support ministries and government agencies in the RoC as well as donors and other partners, if there is interest, in setting up systems for data collection, sharing and coordination. To leverage the GEMS system as an inter-agency coordination tool, the consultant will also build capacity with stakeholders outside of the World Bank. To this end, the consultant will closely work with government agencies, donors, UN agencies and other partners to leverage the GEMS tools and method for supervision and coordination. In this regard, the consultant will oversee the technical cooperation in terms of leveraging the GEMS tool, develop strategies for joint data analysis, and create data collection questionnaires upon agreement with the partners.

The consultant will also support the wider remote supervisionagenda. The consultant will work with the GEMS team, the CMU and a range of partners to explore and apply complementary field-appropriate ICT tools and procedures to improve remote supervision as well as effectiveness and accountability of operational engagement. In this regard, the STC will closely cooperate with the IT Solutions department on the Project360 Implementation Support Platform (P360). Supervision solutions that will be explored through the use of P360 will include inter alia (a) earth observation and remote sensing through satellite imagery; (b) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV/drones) and sensor technology (c) ‘big data’ including call detail records and social media data for complementary monitoring tasks; and (d) mobile network/SMS-based systems for citizen engagement, beneficiary feedback, and grievance redress mechanisms. The above list is not exhaustive and may be extended during implementation of the activity.

4. Deliverables

The selected STC will be responsible for the following main deliverables:

• Coordinate the ongoing implementation of the GEMS methodology in the CMU.
• Administrate the CMU’s GEMS system, based on a KoBo Toolbox platform.
• Deliver GEMS capacity building trainings to project task teams, client Project Implementation Units, and select partners in the CMU.
• Leverage GIS and geospatial analysis at the demand of the CMU.
• Train World Bank staff in the GEMS method (train-the-trainers approach).
• Regularly record statistical data on training participants and trained/supported projects as well as information on project-specific use cases in a centrally provided database. Recordings are expected immediately after any trainings and provided project support.
• Update the abovementioned database on a regular basis, at least bi-weekly.
• Oversee the sustainable application of the GEMS method across the CMU’s portfolio and ensure that gradually all projects are integrated in the system.
• Support other supervision initiatives in the CMU
• Support back-office tasks required for the systematic application of the GEMS method across the WBG portfolio.
• Provide follow-up support to clients, the CMU and project teams to ensure that the system is leveraged sustainably**.**
• Digitize data collection questionnaires for specific clients and projects.
• Explore options for collaboration on data exchange and analysis with partners.
• Produce practical guidance material and use complementary field-appropriate ICT tools and procedures for operational engagement in FCV contexts.
• Prepare a monthly briefing note on the GEMS implementation throughout the portfolio of the country.

5. Selection Criteria

The ideal candidate will have a primary expertise in M&E, FCV, ICT and digital data collection systems as well as an in-depth understanding of World Bank operations, policies and procedures. S/he will be familiar with ways in which technology can be applied to monitor projects and other dynamics on the ground and will meet the following selection criteria:

• Fluency in French, enabling the consultant to conduct interactive technical trainings and to produce high-quality written outputs in French.

• Fluency in English, enabling the consultant to engage with colleagues at ease and provide briefing documents in English on a regular basis.

• Master’s degree or PhD in either (i) engineering, geography, or computer science; or (ii) economics, development studies, international relations, public policy or a related field. In both cases, specific experience in using ICT to boost development effectiveness will be crucial.

• At least 5 years of experience in issues related to M&E, ICT, geospatial analysis or development/humanitarian work, with a clear demonstration of the ability to apply technologies to solve the challenges of development/humanitarian interventions.

• Advanced GIS skills and proven experience with geospatial data and analysis (through ArcMap, QGIS, R, and/or Python)

• Experience contributing to and managing working partnership with a diverse range of technical and operational teams, but withan and between organizations and firms

• Ability to manage databases and suite of large datasets.

• Proven experience in using mobile data collection tools, such as KoBoToolbox, ODK, ONA, SurveySolutions, SurveyCTO, etc.

• Experience working with household survey/census/ firm data is a plus.

• Knowledge of data analysis programs such as R, SPSS, Stata or Phyton is a plus.

• Knowledge of M&E systems, especially as they apply to fragile contexts, demonstrated through field experience.

• Strong knowledge of Bank operational policies and business practices.

• Demonstrated initiative, leadership skills, innovation and drive for results including ability to undertake a diversity of tasks within a rapidly changing and demanding environment on short deadlines.

• Excellent communication skills, with an ability to adapt to an audience that is operational, but not necessarily knowledgeable of ICT issues.

• Advanced skills in MS office applications, in particular Excel and PowerPoint.

• Excellent workflow management skills and a proactive attitude.

• Solid understanding of FCV issues and travel experience to fragile states is preferred.

  6. Administrative Arrangements

• The selected consultant will be contracted by the FCV Group for a period of 75 days with the possibility of an extension, at a fee to be negotiated with the supervisor. The Consultant will report to a Task Team Leader based in Washington DC. S/he will closely collaborate with the World Bank’s FCV Group and the Geospatial Operational Support Team (GOST), based in Washington DC, and with other relevant teams, as needed.

• The contract will comprise the Fiscal Year 2025 (until June 30, 2025). The consultant will be based in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo but can be expected to travel to other client countries, in particular fragile states in Africa.