Georgia HICD - Monitoring and Evaluation (International Consultant)

Georgia Human and Institutional Capacity Development (HICD) Activity

I.            Purpose

The Georgia Human and Institutional Capacity Development (HICD) Activity is implemented by Kaizen, a Tetra Tech Company (Kaizen) and its local subcontractors. The objective of the HICD Activity is to achieve lasting results in the human and institutional capacity development of key strategic partner institutions in Georgia that play an important role in fulfilling the country’s development objectives. It will also create a Center of Excellence (CoE) that supports Georgian organizations pursuing HICD initiatives independent of direct donor assistance.

The HICD Activity will increase the organizational integrity, operational effectiveness, and long-term viability of key partner organizations which, in turn, anchor the country’s reform efforts across all development sectors.

The HICD Activity requires the services of an International Consultant to assist the HICD activity indefinite quantity subcontract (IQS) holder Georgian organizations in developing monitoring and evaluation policies.

II.          Background

USAID’s Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) calls for implementers to invest in country-owned models of inclusive development and build sustainable capacity in the countries where USAID works. Through this strategy, USAID places a renewed emphasis on local capacity building, so that US assistance strengthens the actors and institutions responsible for transforming their countries from within. The HICD Activity is committed to USAID’s goal of strengthening local capacity and incorporates this vision into the project. Specifically, the HICD Activity works toward the goal of integrating HICD approaches into the operations and institutional culture of selected local institutions and organizations. The HICD Activity aims to further transfer knowledge of HICD methodology to key actors in Georgia. The Kaizen Accelerator approach supports subcontractors to cooperate by sharing experiences installing donor-compliant systems in the Georgian context, while also competing to win awards. These tools, such as USAID compliant manuals on different topics of interest (e.g. data quality assurance, marking and branding, financial compliance, internal controls) help in addressing the core needs of subcontractor organizations

Objectives

This activity aims to strengthen operational effectiveness of organizational structural management and develop Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning approaches within IQS holder organizations and to achieve increased efficiency.

The contracted consultant expert will work on following topics and tasks:

Topic #1: Monitoring and Quality Assurance

• Develop and conduct Knowledge Sharing Session(s) for six organizations. The Knowledge Sharing Sessions will overview the following subtopics (relevant templates to be provided):
  • Internal monitoring system for project implementation
  • Internal quality assurance system for project implementation
  • Best approaches to develop PKIs.
• Guide each organization towards drafting and adapting the systems developed during the Knowledge Sharing Session(s).
• Develop Group Work session (6 organizations) for Monitoring and Quality Assurance procedures within the overall organization and specific projects (based on size and type). The trainer will provide feedback during the group sessions as well as individually as necessary.
• Provide individual guidance to six companies on all subtopics mentioned above within the overall organization and specific projects (based on size and type).
• Develop templates, tools, and materials for the HICD Activity Center of Excellence (CoE) online repository (including but not limited to): 
  • Internal MEL manual (template)
  • Feedback Quality assurance manual (template)
  • Project PKI control sheet.

Topic #2: Project and Program Evaluation

• Develop and conduct Knowledge Sharing Session(s) for six organizations. The knowledge sharing Sessions will overview the following subtopics (relevant templates to be provided):
  • Project evaluation criteria
  • Evaluation timelines and action procedures with review/approval structure.
• Guide each organization towards drafting and adapting the systems developed during the Knowledge Sharing Session(s).
• Develop Group Work session (6 organizations) for Project and Program Evaluation within the overall organization and specific projects (based on size and type). The trainer will provide feedback during the group sessions as well as individually as necessary.
• Provide individual guidance to six companies on all subtopics mentioned above within the overall organization and specific projects (based on size and type).
• Develop templates, tools, and materials for the HICD Activity Center of Excellence (CoE) online repository (including but not limited to): 
  • Project evaluation template
  • Project Monitoring and evaluation manual.

The intervention should be completed within a 2.5 month period.

The consultant will create a 2–3-page final report on performed activities and future recommendations as a final deliverable.

The deliverables should be compliant with Georgian and US government law and delivered in English language.

The consultant will also be required to submit weekly updates on Wednesdays to the HICD team, summarizing the main activities completed during the reporting period, challenges encountered, actions taken to resolve challenges, and any pertinent recommendations.

Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Approach

The International Consultant hired for this program will coordinate closely with the HICD Activity Program Manager to incorporate the agreed upon M&E approach into the Sessions and guidance process. For this purpose, the consultant and HICD Activity will hold online meetings at pre-determined intervals to develop a tailored M&E approach in defining whether IQS holders are on track to achieve the desired results through developing targeted systems on a semi-annual basis.

To gauge the progress, the HICD Activity will develop an activity monitoring spreadsheet based on the Organizational Capacity Assessment (hereinafter ‘OCA’) survey (developed for IQS holder assessments) and monitor progress every six months from the start of the project. The complete assessment will take place after two years of the first intervention sessions for IQS holders (the last quarter of 2023) and will evaluate IQS holders’ OCA score improvement compared to a baseline score. 

Anticipated Outcome

IQS holder overall effectiveness is bolstered, ensuring proper procedures are in place for monitoring, quality assurance, and program and project evaluation. At the same time, organizations can compete with other organizations for direct and/or indirect donor fund awards due to their compliant and strong internal operating systems.

Profile of Service Provider

Kaizen will implement the program through an International Consultant. The expert should have followed minimum experience:

• At least Master’s degree in a related field with 8 years of work experience;
• At least 2 years of work experience on donor/USAID funded projects under prime contract;
• At least 3 years work experience on monitoring and evaluation procedures;
• At least 1 years of work experience on USAID donor compliance procedures (during last 8 years).
• Experience in the following regions is preferred: United States, Central Europe, and Eastern Europe.
• Fluency in English is required.

Reporting

The consultant will report directly to an HICD accelerator specialist. The HICD Activity Chief of Party is the ultimate reporting authority.

Timing and Level of Effort

This scope of work is for a maximum of 15 days LOE over a 2.5 month period. The anticipated time period of the intervention is March – June 2023 (start date can be adjusted based on consultant availability).

Location

The program will be carried out remotely, using digital platforms with relevant audio and video conferencing capabilities.

Language of Services

The language of the intervention will be English. Reporting to the HICD Activity will be carried out in English. The final report will be submitted in English.

For candidates applying for positions based in Kaizen's office in Washington, DC, we utilize career.place to mitigate bias in the recruitment process. Upon submitting an application, candidates will receive an email from career.place, prompting them to go through the anonymous screening. In order to be considered for a role, candidates must respond to career.place and proceed with the application. We do not currently use career.place for project positions outside of the United States.

At Kaizen, A Tetra Tech Company, we find strength in our diversity. We are committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive working environment in which everyone has an equal opportunity to fulfill their potential. We know that we can only do development differently if we are open to and inclusive of new and unique perspectives. We encourage candidates of all abilities, ages, gender identities and expressions, national origins, races and ethnicities, religious beliefs, and sexual orientations to apply. Further, we urge parents and non-parents, married and unmarried, those from different or non-traditional educational backgrounds, and persons of all other diverse identities or experiences to apply. Kaizen is an equal opportunity employer.