Role Title

MEL Consultancy, Serbia

(Monitoring/Evaluation/Learning Consultant(s) for a pilot project in Serbia: Improving Citizens’ Engagement on Issues of Public Interest)

Role Information

Role Type Pay Band Location Duration Reports to

Support to project implementation and business development

Total budget for MEL Consultancy: GBP 8,500

Serbia Fixed term for duration of project with a possibility of extension

Project Manager/ dotted line to Regional Senior Evaluation Advisor

Role purpose

Working closely with the Project Manager and the project management team – on supporting implementation of the pilot project civil society organisations (CSOs) in Serbia, the MEL Consultant(s) will be responsible for the design of MEL methodology and the collection of baseline data, ongoing process monitoring during the pilot project implementation as well as the collection of end line data and the preparation of the evaluation report as an input to the final conference/National Learning Event and the Final Project Report.

About the Project: Serbia – Improving Citizens’ Engagement on Issues of Public Interest

This pilot project of nine months duration is funded by the UK Good Governance Fund and implemented in Serbia by the British Council and its partner Trag Foundation. With this pilot initiative we aim at supporting 30 civil society organisations (CSOs) and grass-root initiatives from 13 districts in order to improve their capabilities to more actively engage citizens on issues of public interest. It is intended to scale up the project to a larger initiative in the phase following the piloting.

The pilot project consists of three main streams of activity: a) increasing knowledge and skills of CSOs/grassroots to actively engage with citizens and articulate their interests; b) engaging with citizens through grant-funded local actions’ implementation; c) national learning event.

More broadly, the pilot project is aimed at supporting the development of an active and vibrant civil society, which will positively contribute to further development and democratization of Serbian society, continued respect of the rights of citizens, the rule of law and gender equality. In these efforts, the British Council typically works with authorities and those in power to open the space for dialogue on issues that matter to citizens, working with CSOs to develop more diplomatic, evidence-based and less confrontational approaches anchored in a greater understanding of the political landscape.

About Us

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust.

We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Each year we reach over 20 million people face-to-face and more than 500 million people online, via broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body.

The British Council in the Western Balkans operates as a cluster within the Wider Europe region of fifteen countries which borders the Middle East to the south, Asia to the east and EU Europe to the west. We have more than 75 years of experience in the Western Balkans and six offices across the region. Office in Serbia will celebrate 80th anniversary in 2020. The British Council’s main programmatic areas are Education, Society, English, and Arts. One of our flagship programmes currently being implemented in the Western Balkans Six is the 21st Century Schools Programme which builds the capacity of teachers to teach students critical thinking and digital skills with practical knowledge of how to code.

Key Assignments

The MEL Consultant(s) will be responsible for the execution of the overall monitoring, evaluation and learning function. She/he will be especially focused on following assignments:

Further develop existing Result Framework, especially at outcome level and together with the project team finalize output/outcome indicators and data collection approach, methods and tools. In addition, this process should be used for clarification of the MEL roles between project team and MEL Consultant, including data collection responsibilities, data pathways, monitoring field visits, etc.

Update the Result Framework on monthly basis. It is expected that MEL Consultant will regularly gather implementation data from project partners and based on these inputs consolidate the Result Framework on monthly basis. Data will be used for on-going implementation overview, decision making and reporting.

Design and conduct a baseline study against which assessment of the project results will be done. The MEL Consultant will be responsible for developing the baseline study methodology, including data collection methods and instruments. In addition to the design, MEL Consultant will be also responsible for conducting the baseline study and producing the baseline report.

Build monitoring and evaluation capacities of the local CSOs/initiatives supported through the project. Building capacities and coaching of local civil society organizations and grassroot initiatives is essential activity within this project. This will also include building of monitoring and evaluation skills of local CSOs/initiatives to track implementation and effects of grant-funded actions supported through the project.

Monitoring field visits. It is expected that MEL Consultant will visit each local CSO/grassroot initiative supported through this project. Monitoring visits will be important tool for additional contextualization of the project and collection of qualitative data, including insights, feedbacks and learnings from supported CSO’s/initiatives. Data collected through monitoring visits should additionally strengthen evidence on the appropriateness of the project approach and its critical assumptions, casual links and mechanisms that should bring about expected change. Frequency of monitoring visits and detailed elaboration of their purpose should be agreed with project team.

Facilitate the mid-term reflection/learning workshop. At this event, it is expected that the MEL Consultant will facilitate the process through which (i) project implementation to date as

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well as project key achievements and challenges will be critically reviewed; (ii) key lessons learned will be captured and documented; (iii) actions for following period defined and delegated.

Design the evaluation plan and conduct project evaluation. Evaluation plan will outline the overall evaluation approach, key evaluation questions; evaluation methodology; define data collection methods and instruments; and data analysis approach. Evaluation questions should reflect British Council’s and key stakeholders’ needs and interests, so it is expected that they will be defined in close collaboration with them. In addition, it is expected that evaluation plan will provide an explanation which key crosscutting issues will be addressed (e.g. value for money, gender, equity, social inclusion and partnership) and how;

The purpose (overall objective) of the evaluation is to determine the extent to which the project contributed to desired change. Having in mind that this is a pilot project, MEL should also offer learnings that will be used for development of the long-term intervention, e.g. determine appropriateness, merit and worth of the project approach; draft Theory of Change for the follow-up intervention, including critical assumptions; etc.;

Facilitate end of project learning and planning workshop which will gather project team and key stakeholders to jointly identify and discuss lessons learned and develop detailed Theory of Change for the follow up intervention.

Present key findings and learnings at the National learning event/ final conference. This event will provide framework for sharing lessons learnt from the pilot and from the relevant international best practice;

Support overall monitoring, evaluation and learning function of the project.

MethodsIt is expected that consultant(s) will propose a set of methodological approaches through which the monitoring, evaluation and learning will be delivered. We envisage that this will require a range of tools and approaches, both quantitative and qualitative, to be employed over the life of the project.

Key deliverables and timeline

Delivery timeframe

MEL activity will require engagement over the period from 1 October 2019 to end of May 2020. We may engage one consultant, or split deliverables between two or more consultants working independently or in the same firm.

Table below outlines MEL deliverables to be provided by the consultancy:

Timeline for delivery will be discussed with shortlisted candidates.

No Deliverable1 Result Framework developed2 Baseline study conducted and report developed3 Monitoring visits conducted4 Result framework updated monthly5 M&E capacity building training conducted6 Mid-term reflection/learning workshop facilitated7 Evaluation plan developed and evaluation conducted8 End of project learning and planning workshop facilitated9 Key findings/learnings presented at the Final Conference

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Key Relationships:

Internal Project Manager of the British Council Regional Senior Evaluation Advisor Wider Europe of the British Council Project Manager of the Trag Foundation Business development team of the British Council Other pilot project staff of the British Council and Trag Foundation International and local coaching TA Marketing and Communications team Western Balkans Country Director Serbia

External Donor representatives Project partner Project beneficiary organisations’ representatives (selected CSOs and grassroots)

Role requirements:

Threshold requirements: Assessment stage

Passport requirements/ right to work in country

The candidate should have pre-existing right to live and work in Serbia

Shortlisting

Notes Some work during unsocial / evening hours may be required, as well as travel around Serbia during field visits. Criminal record check.

Shortlisting

Person specification: Assessment stage

Language requirements

Minimum / essential Desirable Assessment stage

▪ Fluent written and spoken English (level C1).

▪ Fluent written and spoken Serbian or similar language

Shortlisting, Interview

Qualifications

Minimum / essential Desirable Assessment Stage

Masters Degree or equivalent in social science (sociology, political sciences, psychology, etc) or related field.

Accreditation: all post-holders with the title ‘Evaluation Specialist’ should be accredited at Adviser Level, ie 3+ (skilled) of the Competency Framework. Candidates should be

Shortlisting

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pre-accredited or have the capability for accreditation (assessed as viable candidates on the basis of current experience and qualifications).

Role Specific Knowledge and Experience

Minimum / essential Desirable Assessment stage

At least 5 years of experience in the development and delivery of monitoring and evaluation of large programmes, including those delivered in multiple countries

Sound knowledge of monitoring and the application of M&E methodologies

Experience in managing data collection tools, data analysis and production of progress reports;

Experience with the design, use and purpose of a wide range of evaluation methods including qualitative and quantitative

Facilitation and reporting skills. Excellent communication skills (written

and oral): Sensitivity to and responsiveness to all partners, Respectful and helpful relations with donors and project staff.

Monitoring and Evaluation experience in a range of international projects

Shortlisting and/or interview

Role Specific Skills

Minimum / essential Desirable Assessment stage

Best Practice in Evaluation Approaches and Methods(Level 3)

Collecting and Analysing Data and Evidence for Effective Decision Making(Level 3)

Communicating and Sharing Monitoring and Evaluation Findings, Knowledge and Expertise (Level 2)

Leading, Managing and Delivering Evaluations (Level – 2)

Level 3

Level 3

Shortlisting and/or interview

British Council core skills Assessment stage

Analysing data and problems (level 3). Analyses patternsSeeks out and examines a range of information to identify patterns, trends

Shortlisting and/or interview

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and options, to solve multifaceted and complex problems

Communicating and Influencing (Level 3): Is creative and adaptable in communications. Able to use a range of non-standard and creative approaches to inform, and persuade others, extending beyond logical argument to influence decisions and actions in a way which is inclusive and engaging.

Managing risks (Level 3): Has track record of analysing potential risks, promoting risk awareness, and holding others to account for their practices.

Planning and Organising (Level 2): Plans ahead – Organises own work over weeks and months, or plans ahead for others, taking account of priorities and the impact on other people.

British Council behaviours Assessment stage

Working together (more demanding): Ensuring that others benefit as well as me

Connecting with others (more demanding): Actively appreciating the needs and concerns of myself and others.

Shaping the future (more demanding): Exploring ways in which we can add more value

Creating shared purpose (more demanding): Creating energy and clarity so that people want to work purposefully together

Interview

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