Consultant MEAL coach/trainer to support implementing partner

1. Introduction

Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e. V. is one of the largest non-governmental organisations in Germany operating in the humanitarian assistance and development fields. It was established in 1962, as the German section of the “Freedom from Hunger Campaign”, one of the world’s first initiatives aimed at the eradication of hunger. Welthungerhilfe’s work is still dedicated to the following vision: All people have a right to a self-determined life in dignity and justice, free from hunger and poverty. By 2018, Welthungerhilfe and its partner organisations ran 404 international projects in 37 countries with an overall financing volume of EUR 184 million, comprised of private donations, public national and international funds. In addition, Welthungerhilfe operates a marketing and fundraising department in Germany to engage and educate a wider public in development-related topics and to mobilise funds from currently more than 57,000 permanent private donors. 

Welthungerhilfe (WHH) is coordinating the three-year Program, funded by the German Ministry for Development and Economic Cooperation (BMZ). The purpose of the Program is to Increase resilience of vulnerable households through targeted cash injections, skill development and improved income generation
Welthungerhilfe is the Lead Organization for this project being implemented with Jafra in Burj Barajneh, Shatila and Khaldeh. Welthungerhilfe’s role is to make sure that all outcomes, outputs and indicators of the project are reached, and that activities are implemented according to the contract.

2. Project Background

Overall project goal: Rural Lebanese communities and Syrian as well as Palestinian refugees in Baalbek-Hermel and Beirut have improved livelihoods and opportunities in the agriculture sector and social tensions are reduced.

Project Outcomes:

1. Increased resilience of vulnerable households through targeted cash injections, skill development and improved income generation

The project is working with the following results:

Outcome 4

Result 4.1: Support small and medium enterprises and start-ups

Result 4.2: Cash-for-work activities in waste management and food processing to improve cash flow in the communities

Result 4.3: Vulnerable households benefit from skill development

Result 4.4: Youth develop improved skills in technical professions

The project is working with the following indicators:

• At least 80 % of participating MSMEs have a business plan after the training and have improved their income until the end of the project by at least 10%
• Until the end of the project at least 1.280 people and their families benefitting from CfW income for waste removal (1080) and food production activities (200) of/above the minimum wage.
• At least 12 HH report a surplus of harvested vegetables of their roof gardens by the end of the project
• From at least 200 (out of 280) participants, that successfully passed the training, at least 70% are making an income from what they have learned 3 months after their graduation

3. Overall Objective of the Assignment

The overall objective of this assignment is

1. Develop a comprehensive MEAL framework and tools for measuring and reporting on indicators performance; develop indicator guidance reference sheet for project output and outcome indicators for Jafra Teams.
2. With the support of WHH MEAL team, the consultant shall lead the development of functioning Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning system for Jafra
3. Support in the recruitment of a qualified candidate as MEAL staff for the partner
4. Develop the capacity of Jafra MEAL staff recruited and  non-MEAL staff in key areas of MEAL including, project planning, implementation, accountability, complaint and feedback response mechanisms
5. Develop a comprehensive feasible plan for monitoring activities, evaluation activities and a base-line-study / end-line-study (if needed) to be implemented by the teams Jafra with the available resources and manpower.

4. Methodology and Responsibilities

The consultant will be expected to perform the following core responsibilities:

• Review the current Monitoring system and Completion of the Jafra Monitoring System (20% remaining Monitoring tools, Frequency of Data collection, Frequency of Monitoring Activities)
• Review the current scoring matrix used by the Partner, document the process for each activity
• Identify gaps and short comings of the current MEAL plan and develop improvements together with the team.
• Develop the Jafra Evaluation System (Evaluation and Impact assessment tools, Linkage with Logframe, Frequency of Data collection)
• Review the monitoring tools to be used for On-site Monitoring Activities (Field visits for CFW WM & FP, TVET trainings, Rooftops, MSMEs, startups…)
• Develop and set-up of a MEAL Plan for Jafra
• Support the program in outreach planning, based on proposal and annex 14 and the progress in beneficiaries reached
• Support the MEAL of Jafra on how to Monthly reporting of progress in Direct Beneficiaries enrolled (Considering when to report to avoid counting dropouts)
• Support the MEAL of Jafra in Projecting and calculating indirect beneficiaries reached
• Develop for the project Indicators a BLS-ELS and the data collection tools and frequency
• Facilitation of a documentation methodology and how to write Lessons Learned, to compile them in the mid and end of project within WHH template for lessons learned.
• Facilitation of any additional tools for Jafra team
• If needed: moderation of discussion between the consortium partners to agree on an effective MEAL system and BLS approach. Support WHH MEAL team in applying the needed tools and introducing them to the implementing partners
• Documentation of agreements

 5. Location and Duration of the consultancy

The MEAL trainer can work with the WHH MEAL team remotely and will have to visit the partner in Hamra to work with their MEAL staff.

The consultancy is planned as a part-time position (10 working days per month) for the period of November until mid-March. The consultancy will thus be 45-50 working days.

6. Finances

Consultancy fee includes all costs related to the work. Other allowances are not paid. Full insurance coverage including emergency medical treatment is the responsibility of the consultant.

It is proposed to keep a certain flexibility in the time planning due to several factors like domestic travel, which are difficult to estimate. The above calculated number of days is proposed by the consultant.

The consultant will only invoice the real number of days which s/he needed to complete all tasks.

Payment is done after the submission of (1) the final report, (2) a timesheet that is outlining in bullet-points what was done on the related days of the mission, and (3) an invoice.

7. Products and Deliverables:

Products expected:

• A feasible plan for M&E activities
• A documented manageable MEAL System according to the project indicators, donor requirements, and involving the necessary bodies from the consortium. This is already to a large extent in place, however, it needs review and work on gaps.
• Jafra team members are familiar with required M&E and BLS tools and know how to use them.

Deliverables:

1. At the beginning of the mission:

• Inception report after a kickoff meeting to visualize the methodology, deliverables, and work plan

2. At the end of the mission:

• Report
• Documentation of
  1. the facilitated BLS plan
  2. the improved MEAL system
  3. List of tools to be used during the project implementation
  4. Capacity building Plan
• Capacitated personnel:
  5. Jafra MEAL personnel is able to monitor the project
  6. Jafra MEAL personnel is enabled to execute the MEAL plan and the BLS plan together with WHH MEAL personnel

8. Target audiences

The product will be of interest to the following stakeholders:

• Directly: Partner organizations involved in implementation.
• Directly: The donors of the project
• Directly: Welthungerhilfe as implementing organization