Call for interest: Consultancy - Information and Communication Technology for Evaluation

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is an international financial institution and a specialized United Nations agency dedicated to eradicating rural poverty and hunger. It does so by investing in rural people. IFAD finances programmes and projects that increase agricultural productivity and raise rural incomes, and advocates at the local, national and international level for policies that contribute to rural transformation.

The Independent Office of Evaluation of IFAD (IOE) promotes accountability and learning through independent evaluations of IFAD's work. In line with IFAD's 2021 Evaluation Policy, IOE reports directly to the IFAD’s Executive Board:  https://webapps.ifad.org/members/eb/132/docs/EB-2021-132-R-5-Rev-1.pdf. 

IOE provides the necessary independent assessment of IFAD’s performance and development effectiveness to the Executive Board and Management through its evaluations, reporting and dissemination of findings. IOE’s evaluations include corporate-level, thematic, sub-regional, country, project-level evaluations. IOE also conducts evaluation syntheses and consolidates its findings in a high-profile annual report (the Annual Report on Independent Evaluation).

IOE conducts evaluations engaging with key stakeholders during the evaluation process. IOE sets norms and standards for evaluations in line with international standards promoted by evaluation networks (e.g. OECD-DAC Evalnet, UNEG, ECG) and professional associations, and coordinates with Management the use and implementation of the standards in self-evaluation. IOE participates in external forums on evaluation, contributing to the discussion, and updating and enhancing its own evaluative expertise.

While the use of modern, digital Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in everyday life is pervasive, over the last three decades, ICTs have also increasingly played a role in international development (also known as ICT for Development, or ICT4D). Twenty-five years ago, the 1996 launch of the Leland Initiative to bring Internet connectivity to the African continent laid the foundation for many of today’s ICT4D efforts. Since then, communities like NetHope, founded in 2001, and the Global Digital Health Network, formed in 2009, have worked to foster integration of ICTs into the operations and field-based programs of international non-profit and non-governmental organizations.

Due to their data-based foundations, monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) are natural “use cases” in ICT4D, and were among some of the first documented examples. Recognizing the importance of ICTs to these processes, and the need for organizational capacity building, the first MERL Tech conference was organized in 2014. In 2017, IOE itself organized and hosted an international gathering focused on ICTs for evaluation (ICT4Eval), and several of the topics discussed and experiences shared were included in a book published in 2019. Moreover, in 2019, IFAD launched an ICT4D strategy focused on the use of ICTs within its funded programmes.

In 2021, IOE prepared a multi-year evaluation strategy: https://webapps.ifad.org/members/ec/114/docs/EC-2021-114-W-P-8.pdf

Inter alia, this strategy envisages further investment in the use of information and communication technology for evaluation. Recognizing that IOE has introduced the use of remote-sensing and geographic information systems in selected evaluations, it notes that this can be further expanded for data collection, management, analysis and sharing. Moreover, IOE could collaborate with peer organizations in this endeavour.   

In 2021, IOE conducted a scoping exercise on the opportunities and priorities for increasing the use of ICT in its evaluation and for building capacity in the office, resulting in a brief analytical paper. From 2022, IOE intends to elaborate and implement a multi-year plan for ICT, based on this scoping exercise.  

For this reason, IOE plans to recruit an ICT specialist, initially as a retainer consultant.  IOE is seeking expressions of interest by qualified candidates. The broad areas of engagement are:

1. Support IOE in the preparation and implementation of a multi-year ICT plan for evaluation, highlighting concrete opportunities, roles and responsibilities of IOE management, staff and external specialists. The plan will take into consideration the 2021 scoping exercise.
2. Providing technical advice to IOE in implementing ICT solutions in selected evaluations and the negotiation and resolution of problems that arise in the preparation of studies and reports.  The consultant will also advise IOE on software to be adopted for specific technical solutions.
3. On a very selective basis, provide direct ICT data collection / analysis support to individual evaluations.  
4. Support IOE’s collaboration with established international networks.

Data analysis and collection may refer to diverse areas and these will depend on the consultant’s specific expertise and experience. Examples are: (i) geographic information systems, remote sensing; (ii) machine learning, natural language programming, data mining; (iii) capturing national-level data.

As a part of the ICT plan for evaluation, the consultant will also advise IOE on software to be adopted, for example: software to capture multimedia, speech to text software, data visualization, graphical theory of change representation.  

Depending on experience, the consultant may also support IOE on: interactive dashboard, multi-media productions and interactive virtual reports.

The consultant will take into consideration the requirements IFAD’s new Evaluation Manual as well as the type of products and evaluation practices adopted in IOE and IFAD.
 

International technical expertise and operational experience in the area of ICT for development, with exposure to topics of relevance for rural development.

Understanding of the requirements of ICT in a context of project / programme monitoring and evaluation as well as ex-post evaluation

Analytical ability to write and share technical guidance/knowledge in a clear and operationally relevant manner and to support other technical and programme staff 

Education
Advanced university degree (at least Master’s level or equivalent) from an accredited institution in the field of specialization, e.g. system engineering, computer science, artificial intelligence, ICT, digital development, and related fields.

Experience
At least five years of progressively responsible experience in and demonstrated understanding of, development projects in the field of ICT for development in agricultural or rural development of which at least two of the five years of experience should be at the international level. Experience in M&E or ex-post evaluation is an asset.

Language requirements
Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English. 
Working knowledge of another official language (Arabic, French, or Spanish) is desirable.
 

Consultants are not staff of IFAD, and this consultancy does not carry any expectation of employment with the Fund. Remuneration will be in line with the standards set for UN consultants.

In the interest of making most cost effective use of funds and resources, we are only able to respond to applicants who are short-listed for interview.