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

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

Member of Geo-Enabling team for Monitoring and Supervision (GEMS)

A. 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.

B. 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 Geo-Enabling initiative for Monitoring and Supervision (GEMS) 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: At its core, the GEMS methodology has two main aims:

1. 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.
2. 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 an initial training, participants 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, with close support provided by the GEMS team. Moreover, the Country Teams will have access to a central digital platform for monitoring the portfolio in near real-time.

C. 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 and enhance digital project M&E in the Sahel. The consultant will be based in Bamako, Mali, 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 Task Team Leader (TTL) and in close coordination with the Sahel CMU, and other GEMS colleagues in the region. The consultant will also closely work with other units of the WBG, in particular the Poverty Global Practice and the Geospatial Operations Support Team (GOST).

A major objective will be to oversee the portfolio-wide implementation of the GEMS method by World Bank-funded projects in the Sahel, for Monitoring and Evaluation, operational supervision, Environmental and Social risk/safeguards monitoring, and portfolio mapping. In this regard, the STC will be responsible for ongoing client support and quality control in terms of effective application of GEMS for digital project M&E. The STC will also manage the CMU’s digital data collection and analysis platform, conduct customized geospatial analyses, and present related datasets and analytical outputs to the CMU. Moreover, the consultant will provide close support to ongoing and future work on territorial assessments and geo-mapping and directly assist the Operations Manager in Bamako, as well as Country Managers and Program Leaders of the CMU. A major part of this task will be regular and clear communication on the implementation of GEMS to the CMU. This work will be performed under the guidance of the Country Office/CMU and the GEMS TTL.

The consultant will directly support ministries and government agencies in the Mali and other Sahel countries, as well as donors and other partners, if there is interest, in setting up digital systems for data analysis. To leverage the GEMS system as an inter-agency coordination tool, the consultant will also build capacity with stakeholders of partner agencies, in particular the Sahel Alliance. 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. 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 particular, the STC will work with the Poverty Global Practice to facilitate the systematic integration of the GEMS method with the Iterative Beneficiary Monitoring (IBM) work in the Sahel. The consultant will also ensure that GEMS is effectively leveraged for citizen engagement, beneficiary feedback, and grievance redress mechanisms. The above list is not exhaustive and may be extended during implementation of the activity.

D. Deliverables

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

• Monitor the ongoing implementation of the GEMS method for project M&E in Mali and the Sahel CMU (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Niger) in coordination with GEMS colleagues based in the respective countries.
• Oversee the sustainable and qualitative application of the GEMS method for digital M&E across the CMU’s portfolio and ensure that gradually all projects effectively apply the system.
• Conduct ongoing quality control on the use of GEMS by all relevant World Bank-funded projects in the Sahel for effective M&E.
• Provide follow-up support to clients, the CMU and project teams, and support other GEMS team members in the region, to ensure that the system is leveraged sustainably**.**
• Deliver GEMS M&E capacity building trainings to project task teams, client Project Implementation Units, and select partners in the CMU.
• Train World Bank staff in the GEMS method and in its effective use for project supervision, in cooperation with the PIUs adopting GEMS**.**
• Support WBG projects and Country Teams in leveraging the GEMS system for the Iterative Beneficiary Monitoring (IBM) method, in cooperation with the Poverty GP.
• Support other supervision initiatives in the CMU.
• Leverage GIS and geospatial analysis at the demand of the CMU.
• Develop interactive dashboards and maps with GEMS generated project data, as well as relevant external data with a spatial component (i.e. ACLED data, UNHCR refugee databases, etc.)
• Explore options for collaboration on data exchange and analysis with partners.
• Produce practical guidance material for the use of KoboToolbox and Power BI to enhance project M&E.
• Contribute to a monthly briefing note on GEMS implementation throughout the portfolio of Sahel CMU.
• Regularly record and update statistical data on training participants and trained/supported projects as well as information on project-specific use cases of GEMS in a centrally provided database. Recordings are expected immediately after any trainings and provided project support.

E. 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 andwill meet the following selection criteria.

Core selection criteria (only candidates that fulfill all criteria listed here will be considered):

a. Substantial experience in project M&E, incl. through digital tools, demonstrated through field experience.

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

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

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

e. 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.

f. 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 for project M&E.

g. Proven experience in using mobile data collection tools, such as KoboToolbox, ODK, ONA, SurveySolutions, SurveyCTO, etc. as well as dashboard software, such as Power BI and/or Tableau.

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

Additional selection criteria:

i. Ability to manage databases and suite of large datasets.

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

k. Experience contributing to and managing working partnerships with a diverse range of technical and operational teams, both within and between organizations.

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

m. Strong knowledge of Bank operational policies and business practices.

n. 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.

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

p. Excellent workflow management skills and a proactive attitude.

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

F. Administrative Arrangements

• The selected consultant will be contracted by the FCV Group for a period of 50 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.
• The contract will comprise the Fiscal Year 2024 (until June 30, 2024). The consultant will be based in Bamako, Mali, but can be expected to travel to other client countries in the Sahel region and West Africa.