Consultancy announcement

Recruitment of individual consultants to facilitate MEL courses for USAID DRC Mission staff and partners

USAID/DRC Mission Strategic Support Program

Short Term Assignment

Background

SoCha, LLC is contracted to provide technical and advisory services to the United States Agency for International Development in the Democratic Republic of Congo (USAID/DRC) on the 5-year Mission Strategic Support Program (MSSP). The purpose of MSSP is to provide these services in planning, designing, conducting, disseminating, and learning from monitoring and evaluation of the Mission's portfolios assisting the mission with strategy and activity-level performance monitoring, evaluation, and learning, including conducting data gathering and verification, data visualization (including Geographic Information Systems), data quality assessments, impact and performance evaluations, assessments, organizational learning, and collaboration among USAID's implementing partners. The activity will also implement a capacity-building agenda for the Mission and Implementing Partners, developing a baseline of M&E knowledge within the mission and tailoring a curriculum to provide skills development to mission staff.

Capacity building for Mission staff and partners is part of MSSP's Objective 5 “Capacity Building and Coordination”. To contribute to this component of its support to the USAID mission, MSSP is looking for training consultants with experience in providing instruction on USAID project cycle management and USAID MEL guidelines and ensuring learning outcomes. This SOW covers the conduct of training courses for both mission staff and partners (Implementing partners and local firms).

The MSSP MEL course comprises three main modules, which are in turn divided into specific topics. The three modules are as follows: Reviewing and Using AMELPS for effective CLA and M&E; M&E skills for Quality Assurance; Activity Data Management and Reporting. Additional modules may be added.

Training workshops will be organized according to a schedule to be agreed with MSSP, the Mission and partners, with the possibility of single sessions focusing on a single topic or a single topic within a module.

Objective of the Consultancy

• Adapt the existing MSSP MEL course(s) to different audiences as needed;
• Develop new MEL training materials as needed;
• Conduct the training sessions according to the schedule established by MSSP and the Mission;
• Help the MSSP to meet the Federal Acquisition Certification (FAC) requirements for course(s) certification from the Bureau of Acquisition and Assistance;
• Measure and ensure learning outcomes.

Specific tasks

• Identify the sections of the courses that should be adapted to each target audience.
• Prepare materials for hands-on sessions.
• Frame the modules to meet the CLP requirements from the Bureau of Acquisition and Assistance.
• Prepare materials for site visits.
• Facilitate the training sessions according to the agreed schedule.
• Measure pre-and post-learning results.
• Draft the training reports and ensure their finalization based on MSSP’s feedback.
• Based on the evaluation of the completed sessions, include in the training reports recommendations on how to improve the training content and approach. These recommendations will be discussed with MSSP and considered for the following training sessions.

Timeline

The consultants’ assignment will last Twelve (12) months up to the end of the current fiscal year: from October 2023 to September 2024.

Location

To strengthen the MEL capacity of USAID implementing partners, MSSP will organize the training sessions in Kinshasa, Goma, Lubumbashi, Bukavu, Kalemie and Mbuji Mayi.

Level of effort

The average estimated LOE for each consultant is 15 days per month, including the preparation and running of training sessions and the drafting of training reports.

Practical arrangements

The training sessions will be organized in Kinshasa and in the provinces based on the request from the Mission and partners. For training outside his place of residence, the trainer will be covered for travel, accommodation and per diem costs, in accordance with MSSP policy.

Eligibility & Selection Criteria

• At least a Master's degree, but preferably a PhD, in a relevant social science field;
• At least 5 to 10 years' professional experience in teaching at university level;
• At least 5 to 10 years' professional experience in adult education, particularly in monitoring, evaluation and learning;
• Previous experience working with USAID programs is required;
• At least 5 to 7 years' experience in developing training modules;
• At least 5 to 7 years' experience working with international cooperation agencies and donors;
• At least 5 to 7 years' experience writing reports for development and humanitarian projects and programs;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and French.

How to apply:

To apply, please upload your CV (4 pages max) and a cover letter (1 page max) using this link:

https://jobs.socha.net/consultants-to-facilitate-mel-courses-for-usaid-drc-mission-staff-and-partners-democratic-republic-of-congo/10/13/2023/

In your cover letter, please mention your minimum proposed daily LOE rate for this consultancy and be prepared to provide justifications if requested. LOE must be fully burdened fixed daily rate in U.S. Dollars.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Position will remain open to applicants until it is filled.

Evaluation of Applications:

Applications will be first screened and only candidates meeting the minimum criteria will progress to the pool for short listing. Shortlisted candidates will then be assessed and scored against the technical evaluation criteria and interviews will be conducted accordingly.