UNICEF Zimbabwe is inviting proposals from Individual Zimbabwe National Consultants for Humanitarian Performance Monitoring Consultancy

Background

Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a drought following below average rainfall for two consecutive rainfall seasons (2014/2015 and 2015/2016). The accumulated rainfall totals for October 2015 – January 2016 rainfall season showed that the greater part of the country had received below average rainfall (less than 300mm)^[1] due to the ongoing El Niño phenomenon resulting in a protracted food and nutrition insecurity situation. The current El Niño event has negatively impacted the agricultural season in the country as it has caused significant deficits in cumulative rainfall between October 2015 and January 2016. In response to the dire food and nutrition security situation the Government of Zimbabwe declared a state of Drought Disaster on the 4^th of February 2016 and presented a Humanitarian Appeal of US $1.5 billion for food and nutrition, agriculture, water, education and health sectors. Based on the Zimbabwe Vulnerability Assessment Committee (ZimVAC) assessment results of July, 2016, approximately 42% of rural households, and almost 4.1 million people are reported to be food insecure during the current peak hunger season running from January-March 2017. The Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF) outlook for the 2016/2017 rainfall season over the SADC region covering the major rainfall season from October 2016 to March 2017 suggested that a chance of La Niña developing in Southern Africa is more than 60% which shows a possibility of flooding in flood prone areas. Zimbabwe can expect a higher number of people to be at risk of hunger, disease, water shortages and displacement by late 2016 and early 2017, ultimately increasing vulnerabilities, especially amongst women and children.

Introduction

It is essential, particularly at this stage of the humanitarian response to engage the services of an expert to provide technical support in Humanitarian Performance monitoring so as to provide guidance and technical support to the different UNICEF sectors in the work pertaining to Humanitarian Performance Monitoring that supports inter-agency humanitarian response implementation, monitoring and evaluation, sector coordination, interventions and gap analysis as well as mapping of who is doing, what, where and when.

Objective (s)

The Humanitarian Performance Monitoring Consultant will play a vital role in supporting the UNICEF Country Office to establish a humanitarian performance monitoring system which is functional and informs UNICEF decision-making as well as supporting resource mobilization and external reporting on progress. Specifically the position will support the Country Office in adapting and applying the minimum UNICEF Humanitarian PM tools and approaches to the country context based on the humanitarian situation and the country capacity , collecting, analysing, and sharing information that is important for UNICEF sectors, Government , UN Agencies and other stakeholders to make informed (evidence based) strategic decisions on:

Supporting the introduction of Humanitarian Performance Monitoring (HPM), specifically through the adaption and application of the UNICEF Humanitarian Performance Monitoring tools. This may include:

• Supporting the production of an integrated Results Framework (Developed from the Country Response Plan) and Multi-sectoral donor proposals;
• Support monitoring of Programme supply inputs within the wider framework of projected results for affected population;
• Working with UNICEF programme sections – prioritise key performance indicators for monitoring throughout the humanitarian situation and including into UNICEF Programme Cooperation Agreements as necessary;
• Supporting regular field monitoring visits to UNICEF project sites;
• Supporting regular assessment of UNICEF performance in Sector Coordination where UNICEF is country Sector Lead Agency;
• Support UNICEF led sectors in developing/agreeing priority indicators to monitor sector coverage and inform mapping of any gaps;
• Supporting production / format of CO SitRep with inclusion of prioritised performance indicators;
• Supporting the mapping of needs and gaps, (human, material, financial) in support of the identified prioritised response needs;
• Supporting the UNICEF sectors with the data and information required to make programmatic decisions;
• Routine monitoring of risk indicators.

Methodology & Expected Output

The consultant will work in close collaboration with the PME section, Emergency Specialist and relevant program sections in UNICEF to design and implement selected activities. Schedules of deliverables will be agreed between UNICEF and the consultant.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

General

• Support the Country Office in adapting and applying the minimum UNICEF Humanitarian PM tools and approaches to the country context based on the humanitarian situation and the country capacity and provide updates on emergency response monitoring indicators;
• Support the sectors to develop and share IM services for key decision making. These services will include data collection, collation, analysis, dissemination processes relevant to the needs of the sectors including maintaining 4Ws and map production.

  Needs Assessment

• As appropriate, design of data collection forms, ensuring that the purpose and use of all data collected is clear, questions are simple, clear, collectable and easily collatable, highlighting where potential problems might arise; organize and manage the data input and initial analysis and presentation of data for the sectors ;
• Developing and managing an emergency database collating information from various sectors;
• Generating analytical tables and alerts as and when needed.

  Monitoring

• Support the production of an integrated Results Framework (Developed from the Country Response Plan) and Multi-sectoral donor proposals;
• Support monitoring of Programme supply inputs within wider framework of projected results for affected population;
• Working with UNICEF programme sections to prioritize key performance indicators for monitoring throughout the humanitarian situation and including into UNICEF Programme Cooperation Agreements as necessary;
• Support regular field monitoring visits to UNICEF projects;
• Support regular assessment of UNICEF performance in Sector Coordination where UNICEF is country Sector Lead Agency;
• Support UNICEF led sectors in developing/agreeing priority indicators to monitor sector coverage and inform mapping of any gaps;
• Support the production / format of CO SitRep with inclusion of prioritized performance indicators;
• Support the mapping of needs and gaps, (human, material, financial) in support of the identified prioritized response needs;
• Support the Sector coordinators with the data and information required to make programmatic decisions;
• Conduct routine monitoring of risk indicators ;
• Conduct an Inventory of relevant documents on the humanitarian situation, i.e. mission reports, assessments, evaluations, etc.;
• Establish stakeholder and sector directories of humanitarian partners using format agreed with the PME section;
• Develop a Who does What Where When (4W) database and derivative products, such as maps;
• Conduct Inventory of relevant common sector data sets, including population data disaggregated by age and sex;
• Development of simple, user-friendly emergency sector monitoring reporting formats in consultation with the Government, Implementing partners, UN Agencies and other providers of multi-sectoral sector assistance.

Major Tasks and Deliverables

Task: Develop an integrated Results Framework (Developed from the Country Response Plan) and Multi-sectoral donor proposals which includes multi-sectoral monitoring tools

Deliverables: Work plan with timeframes and Humanitarian Results Framework

Task: Support the production of a weekly situation bulletin monitoring with key response indicators and associated infographics

Deliverable: Produce weekly situation monitoring bulletin

Task: Manage an emergency database collating information from various sectors and generating analytical tables and alerts as and when needed

Deliverable: Database and analytical tables

Task: Support the production / format of CO SitRep, Donor Proposals and Donor Reports with inclusion of prioritized performance indicators

Deliverables: Donor Proposal (Results framework) and Situation report

Task: Support multi-sectoral humanitarian programme planning review meetings

Deliverable: Planning and review Meeting minutes

Task: Production of a monthly Humanitarian Performance monitoring report

Deliverable: Monthly monitoring report

Task: Production of a Quantitative Report on implementation progress of the integrated Results Framework

Deliverable: Humanitarian Performance monitoring monthly progress report

Task: Support humanitarian rapid assessments (tools development, data collection, analysis and report writing)

Deliverable: Rapid assessments reports

Task: Support multi-sectoral humanitarian programme planning and review meetings

Deliverable: Planning and review meeting minutes

Task: Conduct Field monitoring activities to validate the flow of information from various sources and provide on-site support to partners

Deliverable: Detailed Trip report

Timeframe

The consultancy will begin on the 3^rd of January 2017 and end on the 30^th of June 2017.

Consultancy Requirements

Education

• A Master’s Degree in Public Health/Health Sciences or Social Sciences or International Development with at least 5 years M&E related experience in the humanitarian programmes, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa;

  Work Experience

1. Extensive knowledge of monitoring and evaluation methodologies i.e. both quantitative and qualitative data collection, processing and analysis;
2. A strong background in humanitarian programmes, having implemented or managed projects wherein systematic input, output and process data were collected and used to guide programming;
3. Knowledge of ArcGIS or other mapping software ;
4. Knowledge of Epi info, SPSS or other statistical software;
5. Hands-on experience in design, monitoring and evaluation of humanitarian projects;
6. A good understanding of routine health information systems;
7. Knowledge of sampling and questionnaire design;
8. Experience designing and implementing country level M&E and HIS trainings;
9. Minimum of 5 years’ professional experience, in monitoring and evaluation including in humanitarian programmes;
10. Experience working with and maintaining good relations with international, as well as Local Government counterparts and beneficiaries (e.g. International and Local NGOs and government representatives;
11. Ability to work in a team;
12. Solid experience in the management of people and systems in high-pressure environments;
13. Strong Information management and general IT skills;
14. Sound knowledge and experience of the UN and UNICEF system, and familiarity with the Zimbabwe context;
15. Excellent communication skills ;
16. Excellent analytical and writing skills in English;
17. Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to work in a multi-cultural environment;