Title: Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor/Specialists

Project: Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I)

Duration: To be engaged to 31 December 2022, with possibility of multi-year extension

Reports to: MEL Advisor, Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I)

 

About P4I

Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) is an Australian Government initiative partnering with Southeast Asia to foster inclusive growth through sustainable infrastructure. P4I works with and provides services to Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The focus is on infrastructure planning and prioritisation, procurement, and policy and regulation, using technical advisory services, government partnerships, and regional learning and networking. All services include the cross-cutting priorities of gender equality and social inclusion, and disaster risk reduction and climate change.

Delivered through a single team, the initiative is led by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in collaboration with Ernst & Young, Adam Smith International, The Asia Foundation and Ninti One.

P4I has a regional hub office in Bangkok, with staff in Canberra and each target country location. More information about P4I is available at www.partnershipsforinfrastructure.org

Purpose

Given the complexity of P4I’s activities both in terms of scope (multi-sectors) and scale (eight countries plus ASEAN), P4I needs a pool of experts in monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) to support the Performance team in developing MEL plans, monitoring progress, assessing whether activities are achieving their objectives, and determining whether or not P4I has achieved its intended outcomes as described in the P4I Program Logic (see Annex) P4I_MELPanel_Tender Oct2022.

The purpose of this tender is to identify experienced advisors/consultants with experience on MEL approach and strategy for complex development programs. The advisor/consultant will provide technical support to the program in developing/strengthening MEL frameworks for P4I activities, facilitating performance reviews, conducting evaluations of key activities, and providing MEL capacity support to activity teams and P4I G2G (government to government) partners.

Scope of Work

P4I invites applications from suitably experienced individuals or organisation(s) to form a MEL Panel. The panel is a database of organisations and individuals with demonstrated experience delivering high quality MEL technical assistance relevant to P4I’s mission.

Panel members are engaged through a Tasking Note and are then mobilised quickly for specific consultancy opportunities when they arise, minimising application and contracting processes.

Roles and Responsibilities

Below are some of the key roles and responsibilities that the MEL panel members are expected to provide:

• Develop/provide advice for MEL framework for P4I activities
• Develop/provide advice on MEL tools/instrument based on the activities MEL framework
• Facilitate/provide advice on annual performance review workshop (to prepare for P4I annual progress report)
• Conduct assessment/evaluation of selected P4I activities
• Provide MEL capacity support for P4I’s partners, especially for the G2G partners

Selection criteria

Candidates are encouraged to highlight experience in the following areas:

• In the design and delivery of MEL systems, preferably for Australian Government aid programs
• Conducting MEL in the key thematic areas of GEDSI, DRRCC and Partnerships
• Conducting MEL related to infrastructure policy, planning and/or development
• Conducting MEL for capacity development initiatives, preferably with partner government officials
• Conducting MEL for policy reform initiatives, particularly in Southeast Asia
• Using case study methodology for evaluation purposes
• Working on aid program initiatives with Australian agencies other than DFAT
• Outcomes gathering processes including convening workshops and organising results
• MEL data management such as the development of output and outcomes databases
• Coordinating program design processes, including theory of change workshops
• Managing Program Performance Reporting processes consistent with DFAT Standards
• Providing technical support to individuals and organisations who may not be familiar with MEL system and concepts

Terms of engagement

Successful candidates will be contracted through a drawdown contract.

Members of the panel will be engaged through Tasking Notes, distributed by P4I activity leads to suppliers with services and rates reflecting those put forward by candidates during the Request for Quotation process. Tasking Notes will include additional relevant terms such as duration of the engagement. Suppliers will be free to engage on activities once the tasking note is signed by P4I’s Senior Operations Manager.

Opportunities will be made available to members on an as-needed basis and offered in a range of ways, including, but not limited to: open calls to all panel members; limited calls for expressions of interest; and occasional cases of sole sourcing.

Each opportunity is dependent on an assignment’s requirements and the skillsets of the available panel members. Inputs will vary in terms of scope and duration, depending on the needs identified.

Being a member of P4I’s MEL Panel provides no guarantee of work. The panel will operate in accordance with Australia’s Commonwealth Procurement Rules.

Please note, all Intellectual Property created under the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) contracts or subcontracts is vested with the Australian Government (or its nominee) immediately upon its creation.

Application Instructions

When applying to the panel, please include the following information:

1. Details of individual’s name and CV of relevant works (2-pages maximum). If an organisation, please include organisation name, the names of adviser’s being nominated and include their CVs too.
2. A brief cover letter that speaks to your CV’s details, outlining how your experience, capabilities and qualifications are relevant to the tender scope of works and P4I’s objectives (1 page maximum)
3. Nomination of positions, roles or specialisations you would like to be considered for, as detailed in the Scope of Works.
4. Names and contact details of three referees. One from your most recent consultancy, the second from a recent long-term employment and the third of your choosing.
5. Please provide a quotation on the provision of your services for a single day using AUD currency.

 

Please submit applications and queries to the P4I Procurement Manager at tenders@partnershipsforinfrastructure.org, with the subject: “P4I MEL Panel.”

Applications must be submitted by 11:59pm (Bangkok time) on Friday 21 October 2022.

Preferential Procurement

Suppliers located in P4I’s partner countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam) are strongly encouraged to apply.

P4I is committed to promoting and empowering local and marginalised groups from within the region and strongly encourages suppliers identifying as such, or with strong governance initiatives to engage such groups, to apply.

We are also seeking suppliers who can work remotely from other countries, particularly Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.