Consultant – Monitoring and Evaluation

Job description

POSITION: Consultant – Develop M&E Framework

ORGANISATION: African Parks – Bangweulu Wetlands

LOCATION: Mpika

1. Background and Context
African Parks, in partnership with CTAOP, the Ministry of Health, and relevant local authorities, is working to improve health and family planning services in the Bangweulu Wetlands. The program aims to address key health challenges in the region, including access to reproductive health services, family planning awareness, maternal and child health, and youth engagement. The intervention leverages mobile clinics, family planning sessions, and community outreach to ensure equitable access to health services, particularly for vulnerable populations.

To ensure the program’s effectiveness and sustainability, African Parks seeks to develop a comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Framework/Plan. This plan will focus on tracking key health metrics and ensuring that the program’s goals and objectives are met while providing critical data for informed decision-making, reporting, and continuous improvement.

2. Objectives
The objectives of this consultancy are to:

Develop a robust M&E Framework/Plan for the Education & Youth Initiatives, Reproductive Health and Family Planning program at Bangweulu Wetlands.
Define clear, measurable indicators for education, health services, family planning initiatives, youth engagement, and educational support.
Design data collection tools and methodologies that can be consistently applied throughout the program.
Establish systems for timely reporting, analysis, and use of data to drive improvements and accountability.
Build the capacity of program staff and stakeholders in M&E activities to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation.
Ensure that the M&E Framework incorporates gender-sensitive approaches, particularly with regard to male involvement in family planning.

3. Scope of Work
The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

i. Review of Existing Program Data and Documents

Conduct a review of existing program documents, including proposals, reports, strategic plans, and previous M&E frameworks (if any).
Assess existing monitoring and evaluation practices, identify gaps, and suggest improvements to support the Health and Family Planning program.
Development of the M&E Framework/Plan
Develop a detailed M&E Framework/Plan, ensuring alignment with
African Parks’ overall objectives and specific program goals. This framework should include:
Indicator Development: Define SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) indicators for each program activity, such as mobile clinics, family planning sessions, and youth programs.
Data Collection Methods: Identify appropriate data collection methods, including surveys, focus groups, health reports, and interviews.
Roles and Responsibilities: Clearly define roles and responsibilities for staff, partners, and stakeholders involved in the M&E process.
Data Management: Develop systems for data storage, management, and analysis, ensuring data is accurate, timely, and accessible for decision-making.
Reporting and Use of Data: Establish reporting mechanisms to ensure data is used for learning, adaptation, and accountability.
Beneficiary Contact Monitoring Techniques: Incorporate tools for success stories, best practices, Most Significant Changes (MSC), case studies, qualitative input assessments, and contributions tracing into the M&E Framework.

ii. Development of Data Collection Tools
Design and develop tools such as:

Surveys for beneficiaries of mobile clinics and family planning services.
Interview guides and focus group templates for assessing community awareness and participation.
Monitoring templates for tracking mobile clinic and family planning session delivery.

iii. Capacity Building and Training

Develop training materials for the M&E framework, data collection methods, and data utilization.
Provide training to program staff and stakeholders on the M&E system.
M&E Work Plan
Develop a work plan for the implementation of the M&E system, including clear timelines, milestones, and responsibilities.
Ongoing Monitoring and Adaptation
Develop a monitoring and adaptation plan to ensure the M&E system remains responsive to emerging challenges and needs.

4. Key Outcome-Based Indicators to be Monitored

The M&E Framework will focus on the following outcome-based indicators that are aligned with the unique socio-economic and cultural context of the Bangweulu Wetlands.

Health and Family Planning Indicators:

Improved Access to Health Services

Indicator: Percentage of the Bangweulu Wetlands population reporting improved access to health services via mobile clinics and family planning initiatives.
Outcome: Enhanced accessibility to essential health services for vulnerable populations in remote areas, improving overall health outcomes.

Increase in Family Planning Adoption

Indicator: Percentage increase in the number of households in the Bangweulu Wetlands adopting modern contraceptive methods.
Outcome: A measurable increase in the adoption of family planning methods, leading to healthier family sizes and improved maternal health.

Reduction in Unplanned Pregnancies

Indicator: Percentage decrease in unplanned pregnancies among women participating in family planning services.
Outcome: A significant reduction in unplanned pregnancies, enhancing reproductive health and family stability.

Improved Maternal and Child Health

Indicator: Reduction in maternal and child mortality rates in the communities served by mobile clinics and family planning services.
Outcome: Improved maternal and child health outcomes resulting from increased access to quality healthcare.

Male Involvement in Family Planning

Indicator: Percentage of men in the Bangweulu Wetlands engaging in family planning discussions or attending family planning sessions.
Outcome: Increased male involvement in family planning, promoting shared responsibility and improved outcomes for reproductive health.

Youth Engagement in Family Planning and Health Education

Indicator: Percentage of youth in the Bangweulu Wetlands who demonstrate improved knowledge of reproductive health and family planning.
Outcome: Empowered youth making informed decisions regarding their reproductive health and actively engaging in health education.

Reduction in Teen Pregnancies

Indicator: Percentage decrease in teenage pregnancies reported in the Bangweulu Wetlands.
Outcome: Lower rates of teenage pregnancies due to increased awareness and access to family planning services.

Reduction in Early Marriages

Indicator: Percentage decrease in early marriages among girls in the Bangweulu Wetlands.
Outcome: Cultural shifts toward later marriages, improving educational and economic opportunities for young girls.

Improved Birth Planning

Indicator: Percentage of women in the Bangweulu Wetlands who report planned pregnancies as a result of family planning services.
Outcome: Increased family planning leading to improved maternal health and reduced risks associated with unplanned pregnancies.

Educational Support and Youth Leadership Indicators:

Indicator: Percentage of scholarship recipients who successfully complete their studies and show academic improvement.
Outcome: Empowered youth through education, contributing to local development and reducing socio-economic disparities in the Bangweulu Wetlands.

Youth Empowerment through Scholarships

Indicator: Percentage of scholarship recipients who return to their communities to contribute to local development or share their knowledge.
Outcome: Strengthened local development and reduced brain drain, as educated youth contribute back to their communities.

Youth Leadership Development

Indicator: Percentage of youth leadership fellowship participants who take on leadership roles in their communities or organizations.
Outcome: Increased youth leadership and community engagement, driving positive change in health, education, and environmental conservation.

Youth Engagement in Ambassador Programs

Indicator: Percentage of youth ambassador program participants who successfully organize health and education-related events.
Outcome: Active youth leadership in promoting health and educational outreach within the Bangweulu Wetlands.

Improvement in Youth Leadership Skills

Indicator: Percentage of youth leadership fellows who report increased confidence and skills in leadership and community organizing.
Outcome: Enhanced leadership capacity among local youth, fostering long-term community development.

Increased Career Opportunities for Scholarship Recipients

Indicator: Percentage of scholarship recipients who secure employment or further educational opportunities within the region.
Outcome: Improved career prospects for youth, leading to better socio-economic outcomes in the Bangweulu Wetlands.

Sustainability of Youth Leadership Programs

Indicator: Percentage of youth leadership fellowship graduates who establish or sustain projects focusing on health, education, or environmental issues.
Outcome: Long-term sustainability of youth-led projects that address community health and development needs.

Knowledge Gains in Health and Education

Indicator: Percentage of youth in ambassador programs who demonstrate improved knowledge of key health and education topics.
Outcome: Increased community engagement and awareness of health, family planning, and education initiatives.

5. Deliverables
The consultant will deliver the following:

Inception Report: A detailed report outlining the approach, methodology, and work plan for developing the M&E framework.
M&E Framework/Plan: A comprehensive M&E Framework/Plan with defined outcome-based indicators, data collection methods, roles, responsibilities, and reporting structures.
Data Collection Tools: Developed tools (surveys, interview guides, reporting templates) aligned with the M&E framework.
Training Materials: Capacity-building materials and a training plan for program staff on implementing the M&E system.
M&E Work Plan: A clear implementation plan, with timelines, milestones, and responsibilities.
Final Report: A report summarizing the development process, findings, challenges, and recommendations for improving the M&E system.

6. Timeline
The consultancy will be completed within 60 days, with key milestones as follows:

Inception Report: 01/05/2025
Baseline Data Collection & Situational Analysis Report: 10/05/2025
M&E Framework/Plan: 15/05/2025
Data Collection Tools: 22/05/2025
Training and Capacity Building: 30/05/2025
Draft Final Report: 05/06/2025
Validation: 10/06/2025
Final Report: 15/06/2025

7. Qualifications and Experience
The consultant should have the following qualifications and experience:

A consultancy firm with a valid tax clearance certificate and at least 5 years of experience in similar work.
A Master’s degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, Monitoring and Evaluation, or a related field.
At least 7 years of experience in developing M&E frameworks for health and family planning programs.
Proven experience in designing M&E systems for community-based programs, particularly in reproductive health, family planning, and youth engagement.
Expertise in both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and tools.
Strong understanding of gender-sensitive approaches in monitoring and evaluation.
Experience in providing capacity-building and training on M&E systems.
Proficiency in M&E software (e.g., SPSS, Stata, Excel) is an asset.
Previous experience working in remote rural areas, particularly in the Bangweulu Wetlands or similar regions, is highly preferred.