Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

Rolling Plans Pvt. Ltd (RPPL) announces the vacancy for Rural Enterprises and Remittance Project (RERP) . SAMRIDDHI is a seven-year project funded by International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and executed by the Ministry of Industry (MOI). Government of Nepal (GON) that aims at providing sustainable sources of income to poor households, migrant families and returnees in the Eastern and Central Regions of Nepal, by supporting the creation and expansion of family, micro, small and medium rural enterprises, both in the farming and off farming sectors. The goal of the project is reducing poverty and achieving sustainable peace through employment-focused, equitable and inclusive economic development.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

Application should include a cover letter, updated Bio-data and self-verified copies of necessary documents that qualify the CV. The application through email and/or by post should mention the job position and vacancy code in the subject line or in the envelope respectively. 

Fill the Application Form online from the link: www.rollingplans.com.np/samriddhi

The TOR may be revised at the time of employment agreement.

The organization reserves the right to reject any/all applications without assigning any reason whatsoever. Canvassing at any stage of the process shall lead to automatic disqualification.

DEADLINE:

The application needs to be received latest by 17:00Hrs, October 30, 2016 (Kartik 14, 2073)  

PLANNING, MONITORING AND EVALUATION SPECIALIST

POSITION & KEY FEATURES

Job Title: Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist  

Duty Station: PMO Itahari, Sunsari with frequent visit to Project areas (about 50% of the time)

Mode of Contract: Annual, with six-month’ probation period, and extendable up to the project     period based on satisfactory performance 

Reporting to: Project Manager

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Rural Enterprises and Remittances (RER) - SAMRIDDHI is a seven years’ project signed between the Government of Nepal (GON) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on 10 December 2015 covering 16 hills and Terai districts. It aims at providing sustainable sources of income to poor households, migrant families and returnees in the Eastern and Central Regions of Nepal, by supporting the creation and expansion of family, micro, small and medium rural enterprises, both in the farming and off-farming sectors. Ministry of Industry (MOI) is the Executing Agency. Agro Enterprise Center (AEC) under Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Helvetas Nepal, selected financial institutions and the business development service providers extending services to the rural areas are the key implanting partners. The Project comprises three inter-linked components encompassing the full set of interventions required to support RMSEs’ profitable and sustainable growth:

• Component 1: Promotion of RMSEs aims at (i) strengthening micro and small entrepreneurs, migrants and their families with sustainable access to adapted Business Development Services (BDS), i.e. non-financial services in support to enterprise creation and/or expansion; and (ii) vocational training and apprenticeship to poor households to build their skills and to secure gainful wage employment in RMSEs. Activities will be driven by an assessment of markets, business opportunities and available services and by an inventory and classification of existing RMSEs through a validation process.
• Component 2: Productive Investment builds on results of component 1 and aims at (i) facilitating RMSEs/migrants/remittance recipient households’ access to financial services at an affordable cost by sustainable financial institutions; and (ii) mobilizing migrants’ resources and skills for creating assets and promoting profitable rural enterprises. It will develop innovative financial instruments designed to offset major constraints faced by RMSEs in accessing investment loans at an affordable cost and to stimulate migrants’ savings and investment in profitable business development.
• Component 3: Institutional Support and Project Management aims at promoting a favorable policy and institutional environment supporting the development of RMSEs at a national scale and the contribution of migration to sustainable development.

Implementation Arrangements

The MOI is overall responsible for coordination and oversight. A Project Management Office (PMO), located at Itahari is responsible for day-to-day implementation of project activities with support from two Corridor Teams providing technical and management support to Enterprise Service Centers (ESCs) and migration-related activities at the district level. Technical partners - Helvetas Nepal and South Asia will support to implement of vocational training and knowledge management aspects. Besides, selected financial institutions and business development service providers’ are expected to support the implementation. A Project Steering Committee headed by MOI Secretary at the national level will provide oversight and guidance.

Expected Results

The development objective of the Project is that viable RMSEs, in both farming and off-farming sectors, provide sustainable sources of income to poor households, migrant families and returnees. Main indicators are: (i) 60,000 RER supported rural entrepreneurs expand their existing business or create a new one; (ii) 30,000 rural youth access job placement services; (iii) 30,000 RER-supported enterprises are still in business after 3 years, of which 33% owned by women/30% owned by migrant returnees; and (iv) 21,000 RER supported vocational trainees and apprentices, of which 33% of women, are in gainful employment over at least 6 months                   

Scope of Assignment

The Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PME)Specialist maintains a good understanding of the advances in the field of planning, monitoring and evaluation in the context of enterprise development, poverty alleviation, gender and social inclusion, migration and remittances with particular attention to the relevant technological, operational, institutional and other innovations and best practices at the national, regional and global levels. In particular, the PME Specialist is responsible for all planning and monitoring & evaluation activities of the Project. Under planning, the Specialist is responsible for preparation and/or revision of project’s strategic plans such as Financial Management Plan, District Coverage Plan, Beneficiary Outreach Plan, Procurement Plan, Human Resources Management Plan etc; and operational plans such as preparation of Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPBs), Trimester and Monthly Action Plan. Under monitoring and evaluation (M&E), the Specialist is responsible to craft an M&E framework, set up a software-based M&E system, data management system, and carry out the required periodic studies and surveys. Under the guidance of the PM and under the direct supervision of the Project Facilitator, the PME Specialist works closely with the project team and contributes to the project implementation in achieving the desired outputs and outcomes. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

The PME Specialist is responsible for entire planning, monitoring and evaluation activities of the Project towards delivering project's expected output and outcomes. Specific responsibilities, but not limited to, include the following:

Planning 

• Develop and/or review and update the strategic plans such as Financial Management Plan, District Coverage Plan, Beneficiary Outreach Plan, Procurement Plan, Human Resources Management Plan etc; update them periodically and present to the PM for further actions;
• Prepare routine operational plans such as Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWPBs), Trimester and Monthly Action Plan in consultation with the project team including corridor office and ESCs, relevant implementing partners and stakeholders. Ensure adoption of a bottom-up approach in all planning processes;
• Organize review workshops at different level to get feedback for planning to the next cycle and also organize planning workshops for the endorsement of the plans prepared;  
• Prepare periodic progress report such as annual progress report, trimester progress report, RIMS and SIMES and occasional reports as required with inclusion of spatial data maps where possible; ensure timely submission of all reports to IFAD and Government of Nepal (GoN).

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Develop a framework for monitoring and evaluation of the Project activities, set up software-based M&E system following the project’s log frame indicators; also establish an MIS including the data management system;
• Develop an M&E manual for the use of project staff at various levels and also for the implementing partners including business service providers and the financial institutions 
• Prepare process monitoring guidelines in close consultation with stakeholders and the project team;
• Prepare logframe matrix with indicators and monitoring mechanisms, and annual M&E work plan and budget;
• Lead the process of identifying and designing key indicators for each component to record and report physical progress against logframe and AWPB; also steer the process of designing the tempaltes for  such progress reports;
• Identify key performance indicators and parameters for monitoring project performance and compairing them with targets; design templatesfor such performance reports as required;
• Review the quality of existing social and economic data in the project area, the methods of collecing it and the degree to which they provide good baseline infrmation for impact evaluation;
• Prepare TOR and cost estimate for periodoc studies and surveys such as baseline study, RIMS surveys, annual outcome survey, complation survey and updating of corridor maps prepared at the project onset every alternate year; supervise these works and ensure that activities are implemented in a timely manner;
• Review the existing approaches, methodologies and systems of the implemnting partners relating to PME/MIS and agree on any changes if so required;ensurethat all service provider's contracts includethe reporting mechanisms;
• Supervise the work of Data Management Officer, PMO and M&E Officers, Corridor Offices 
• Review the workforce strength of the Project on PME and propose changes, if any, with the TORs; 
• Support the Project Facilitator and the Knowledge Management (KM)  Specilaist in producing various  KM products including prolicy briefs emanating from the M&E system data and information; 

Others

• Develop and implement  capacity-building plan on PME for the project team and the implementing partners;
• Organize and undertake training/refresher to relevant staff members and the implementing partners in the areas of planning, monitoring and  evaluation, and in participatory approaches;
• Ant other tasks as directed by the Project Manager.

QUALIFICATION, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES:

• Post Graduate degree in monitoring and evaluation, development studies, management or related discipline from a reputed institution
• At least five years of professional experiences in M&E especially in the following areas preferably from a project funded by any bi-lateral and/or multi-lateral organization:

1. The logical framework approach and other strategic planning approaches;
2. M&E methods and approaches (including quantitative, qualitative and participatory;
3. Planning, design and implementation of M&E systems and MIS;
4. Proven ability of development and implementation and/or facilitating learning-oriented analysis of M&E data;
5. Working knowledge on handling GIS tools;

• Proven capacity to use computer-based data processing and information analysis;
• Excellent report writing and dissemination skills;
• A solid understanding of public policies, development approaches with a focus on participatory processes, market economy management, and gender issues
• Familiarity with and a supportive attitude towards processes of strengthening local organizations and building local capacities for self-management
• Willingness to undertake regular field visits and interact with different stakeholders, especially primary stakeholders
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite - inclusive of MS Project, and MS PowerPoint, information and communication technology
• Excellent written and spoken skills both in English and Nepali

Desirable

• Understanding of the IFAD system and procedures

Salary and Benefits

• The salary will be paid for only twelve (12) months and is negotiable within the range between NPR. 120,000 to NPR145, 000as decided by the Project Manager. 
• Tax on the salary will be applicable as per the prevailing GON rules and regulation. 
• Travel and the Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) will be as per the prevailing GON rule as applied for the gazetted class II officer while traveling out of the work station for official purpose. 

OTHER ENTITLEMENTS

• Leave: The Specialist will be provided with 21 days of home leave and 6 days of casual leave annually, which will not be carried over to the next year. S/he will also be provided 12 days of sick leave per year, which if not consumed, will be carried over to the next year. The unspent sick leave will be compensated as per the existing salary scale at the time of termination of the contract or closing of the Project. In addition, s/he will also be provided with Mourning Leave – 15 days, Maternity Leave -2 months for women (15 days for men, for maternity care leave) and all public holidays.
• Insurance: The Specialist has to insure his/her life including accidental insurance. The Project will reimburse 50 % of the monthly premium for the period working with the Project, not exceeding Rs. 300 per month, upon submission of copy of insurance policy and receipts.

Performance Assessment

The performance assessment of the Admin/Finance Officer will be based on the quality and timely completion of the tasks assigned and contributions to the Project outputs and outcomes. Details on the indicators for performance assessment will be negotiated and agreed upon on a later stage once s/he signs contract with the Project. The Project reserves the right to terminate the contract if the performance of the MS is assessed as unsatisfactory.

These Terms of Reference are subject to revision/update annually per requirement of the Project based on planning trajectory, modification in project design, or as recommended by Joint Reviews/Supervision Missions and lessons learned during the course of implementation.