Consultancy: Programme Monitoring Consultancy - NYHQ- REQ#526123

According to UNICEF’s Results-based Management Handbook, programme monitoring is a process that provides UNICEF with data needed to determine: 1. Whether we are implementing the programme as planned; 2. Whether we are achieving the expected results (based on the theory of change and planned outputs, outcomes and impact); and 3. Whether adjustments need to be made to the programme activities and strategies in order to ensure that expected results are achieved. In this line, programme monitoring goes beyond the tracking of indicators, and it must include the analysis of results, trends, bottlenecks, challenges and opportunities, that together will lead to the necessary adjustments to programmes so they can contribute to sustainable results for children.  

The monitoring function at UNICEF is purposely decentralized in the organization. While Headquarters monitors the global and regional trends focusing on the performance of the Strategic Plan (and other global commitments), the regional offices focus on monitoring the contribution of their regions to global results, and country offices monitor how UNICEF is contributing to the national goals and targets related to children.  

At Headquarters, the monitoring function is also shared among different Divisions. Programme Division (PD)1 contributes to the monitoring and analyses of SP global results aiming to propose, in partnership with Regional offices, course-corrections of how UNICEF implements its global programmes. The recently created Division of Data, Analysis, Planning and Monitoring is responsible for the global systems of reporting and monitoring, and for providing guidance and support on monitoring to country offices. DFAM is accountable for monitoring financial data, and HR for monitoring staff related data.  

In terms of availability of data for programme monitoring, UNICEF has multiple monitoring and reporting systems that store different type of quantitative and qualitative information – financial expenditure, supply data, self-reporting result statement at country and regional levels, programmatic indicators at country level (standard indicators), and individual country answers to end-of-the-year data collection (SMQs2), among others. The challenge for Programme Division is to find an automated, efficient and cost-savings model that triangulates data from the different systems and facilitates analysis for programme monitoring, providing the needed evidence that allows timely course correction in the implementation of programmatic strategies. Proper programme monitoring will also help to address some of the GMT (Global Management Team) discussions related to the possibility of increasing the frequency of monitoring of selected global indicators to smaller intervals.    

Objective 

The objective for this consultancy is (i) to develop a monitoring protocol for Programme Division that uses data from the different UNICEF systems and other global mandated databases (JMP, Nutridash and others) allowing programmatic sectors to better monitor global, regional and country results (or contribution to results). (ii) Once the monitoring protocol is developed and agreed, (ii) to test it, fine-tuned it, and work with the 14 PD Sections to implement the concept, including forma training of PD staff.   

The consultant will look at the different global monitoring and reporting systems (including but not limited to RAM, SMQ Portal, Supply Division, Financial Systems and others), and specific thematic systems (Nutridash, WASH Joint Programme and others) to identify how data can be triangulated and used for global, regional and country monitoring of results. It is expected for the consultant to work with already existing systems and data (no new systems or data collection methods should be proposed) and for him/her to propose innovative and creative methods to categorize, consolidate and analyze data.  

The consultancy is divided into two phases: 

1. Development of a protocol for Programme Division (PD) on programme monitoring. The protocol has to propose a model that can be applied by all PD Sections;   

2. Implementation of the protocol for Programme Division, including, training existing PD staff;  

Deliverables and Estimated # of Days 

1. Written report including how different systems and data can be triangulated by PD and used for programme monitoring (programme monitoring protocol); - 30 DAYS
2. 2. Implementation of the programme monitoring protocol in PD, including training of PD staff; - 30 DAYS

Management Arrangements 

Under the overall supervision of the PD Senior Planning Specialist in Programme Division’s Director Office (PDDO), and in partnership with the Strategic Planning, Implementation, Monitoring and Reporting Section of the Division of Data, Analysis, Planning & Monitoring (DAPM), the consultant will work with the technical colleagues from the 14 PD Sections towards the finalization of the deliverables. 

Key competencies, technical background, and experience required  

The Consultant should have the following qualifications: 

EVALUATION OF THE PROPOSAL: 

The Technical Proposals will be evaluated against the following: 

1. The quality of the proposal, responsiveness to requirements and adequacy of information provided – 10 POINTS
2. Quality and comprehensiveness of similar work samples provided- 20 POINTS
3. Experience and calibre of the consultant - 20 POINTS