International expert to establish a Monitoring and Evaluation System for the Altai Sayan Ecoregion

 

Biodiversity is shrinking at a worrying pace all around the world and Mongolia is no exception. The Altai Sayan Ecoregion consists of the Altai and Sayan Mountains (see map) and is designated a WWF-200 global Ecoregion; one of the key Ecoregions to host remaining biodiversity hotspots in the world. It covers 4 countries, with the majority of the area in Russia, then Mongolia, Kazakhstan and China. Important species in this area include the snow leopard, argali wild sheep, ibex goat, musk deer and taimen fish. The area is sparsely populated and is the home of many minority groups.

 

To improve conservation of the biodiversity in this area, Mongolia’s Ministry of Nature Environment and Tourism (MNET) is cooperating with UNDP on a community based conservation project in 4 Aimags (provinces); Khovsgol, Khovd, Uvs and Bayan Olgii. There are 20 target sites. With project support, herders are forming groups, to work together on conservation but also to empower them and improve their economic situation. Many herders reside in or near the habitats of important species and pressure from grazing is one of the main threats to species in the area, next to hunting, logging, the development of mining and infrastructure, and climate change. Local governments and protected areas area also involved in the project and supported to improve coordination and planning and to work more with local communities. On the national level the project supports MNET to develop improved policies on community based conservation and to establish transboundary conservation agreements.

 

The target area is remote and mountainous, making monitoring and evaluation particularly challenging. In 2008 the project Mid-Term evaluation recommended some substantive changes in the project logical framework and management structure. In 2009 these changes were implemented, resulting in a new logical framework with fewer outcomes, outputs and clear targets and indicators. The project monitoring and evaluation plan is now being updated, and a clear M&E system needs to be installed in the project to ensure the intended results will be achieved and results and impacts are adequately monitored. An international expert is required to support the project to develop this system and give guidance on its implementation

Objectives:

• Develop the project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan and system based on the draft plan that was previously developed
• Support project stakeholders and staff to improve monitoring and evaluation systems and skills, in particular the project monitoring and evaluation officer. 

Guiding principles:

• Clear systems should be in place to measure impact on biodiversity and livelihoods, as well as pressures (to measure reduction of the main threats).
• The M&E Plan should help ensure the project outcomes are reached and adequately monitored.
• The Monitoring and Evaluation system should aim to install methodologies that can be sustained when the project ends, and give clear guidance to project stakeholders how to adopt participatory monitoring approaches.
• The plan should be in line with UNDP and GEF guidelines.
• The M&E system should be based on local needs and capacity and the specific local context and as much as possible build on existing structures.
• The M&E Plan should be gender mainstreamed and include specific guidance on how to take into account gender considerations in the monitoring of the project.

 Documents for review:

Key documents

1)       Altai Sayan Project Document
2)       Altai Sayan Mid-Term Evaluation
3)       Altai Sayan Progress Reports 2004-9
4)       GEF guideline on monitoring of projects (1998)
5)       UNDP M&E Manual (2009)
 
Expected Outputs/Deliverables and timeframe:

Revised Project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
At least 30 project beneficiaries and project obtain basic M&E skills as a result of the training.
Survey on impact of training activities carried out by the expert
Final mission report (submitted in Microsoft Word)

Preliminary schedule of the work:

Desk review

Field mission
Training and finalisation of M&E Plan
Institutional Arrangement:
 
The international consultant will work under guidance of the UNDP Programme Officer for Biodiversity Conservation and the National Project Manager. The expert will be assisted fulltime by the project monitoring and evaluation officer as required, who will be responsible for all logistics, liaison with counterparts and where required co-facilitation/translation.
 
Duration of Assignment:

The duration of the consultancy will be 21 days.
 
Starting Date:

23 May 2010
 
Languages required:

• Excellent command of English required, knowledge of Mongolian or Russian will be an asset

Proposed Time Allocation: Mission schedule and desk work
Desk review and development of workplan (3 days)                                 
Travel to Mongolia (1 day)
Meeting in UB with counterparts, project team and UNDP (3days)
Field trip to one of the project target sites and visits to herder groups and environmental units, including training of counterparts and project staff (5 days)
Completion of M&E Plan and training of Ministry and Main office staff (5 days)
Travel from Mongolia and completion of final report (3 days)
 Payment modality and schedule:
 
The UNDP standard method of payment is the output-based lump-sum scheme and the payment will be made in 2 installments upon satisfactory completion of the following deliverables:
 
 1st installment – 20% upon the approval/clearance of the progress report
 2nd installment – 80% upon the approval of the final report
 
Evaluation criteria and weight:
 
Experts will be evaluated against combination of technical and financial criteria. Maximum obtainable score is 100, out of which the total score for technical criteria equals to 70 and for financial criteria – to 30.
 
As for the technical evaluation, the following aspects will be considered:
 
Background and education – 30 %
Practical previous experience relevant to the announced TOR – 30%
Substantial knowledge in monitoring and evaluation. and required competencies – 30%
Required language and other technical skills - 10%
Application procedure:  Qualified and interested candidates are requested to apply on-line through this site.

The application should contain:

• Filled P11 form
• Brief cover letter addressing the requirements stated
• Financial proposal* 

* The financial proposal should have a breakdown of consultancy fee and all travel-related costs that are expected to be incurred. While preparing your proposal, kindly note that the standards for air travel authorized by UNDP for individual subscribers is economy class.

• Good communication skill, demonstrated training skills, extensive knowledge of monitoring tools, evaluation surveys, working with logical frameworks, gender mainstreaming of M&E systems and developing and using indicators.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and excellent technical writing skills are a prerequisite.
• Proven ability to work under pressure and in a team.

• A graduate degree in statistics, or other relevant field with specialisation in quantitative research.
• At least 10 years of work experiences in monitoring and evaluation of biodiversity/environment projects.
• Previous experience in working with UN/donor funded projects.
• Familiarity with the Mongolian context is a major asset.