Consultancy to build Oxfam MEAL framework and guidance for resilience

Consultancy on MEAL in Resilience Programming

1. Background

Oxfam has recently developed a framework and a set of guidelines to provide an introduction to Oxfam staff on how to design projects and programmes that build resilience and contribute to resilient development outcomes (see Annex A). This is intended to inform our programming (including influencing) and campaigning.

Resilience is a crosscutting theme of the Oxfam Strategic Plan[1]. It is particularly relevant to Change Goal 3 (saving lives, now and in the future): Change Goal 4 (sustainable food); and Change Goal 5 (fair sharing of natural resources) and to our current campaigns on Rights in Crisis, Inequality and Food and Climate Change.

To complement the new framework and guidelines for programme design and implementation, Oxfam would like to develop an accompanying framework for Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL).

2. Purpose of this Assignment

Based on the background described above, the purpose of this assignment is to provide Oxfam with a comprehensive understanding of existing practice in the development sector on MEAL in resilience programming. This will enable Oxfam to develop a MEAL framework for resilience, to support our Programme and Campaign teams.

Specifically, the assignment will:

· Compile indicators and data collection tools and methods used by Oxfam, other INGOs, and other actors in the development sector working on resilience, organised according to:

‒ The 6 processes for social change defined in the ‘Oxfam Framework and Guidance for Resilience Programming’.

‒ The three resilience capacities currently used by Oxfam (absorptive, adaptive, transformative) to define and understand resilience.[2]

· Identify common approaches and practices (tools and methods) in the development sector, including Oxfam, for Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning in programmes aiming to build resilience.

· Identify evaluation, research, and learning questions on resilience arising from the desk review and interviews.

3. Methodology

The consultant will design their own methodology in order to carry out this piece of work. However, we expect that the proposed methodology will include the following activities:

· Internet research (formal and grey literature)

· Desk review of programme documentation

· Interviews with Oxfam programme teams, sector experts on resilience / MEAL and resilience measurement

Oxfam will provide the consultant with Oxfam resilience programme information and contact persons for the interviews.

The consultant will be expected to conduct all the work without travelling. He/she must have a good internet connection, in order to conduct interviews with Oxfam staff and other key informants via Skype.

4. Expected Outputs and Deliverables

The main deliverable will be a report that covers the following elements:

A)Information on indicators and data collection tools and methods used by Oxfam and other actors in the development sector to measure resilience, as understood by Oxfam:

· A ‘matrix’ or table, which organises information around the 6 processes for social change (rows) and the three resilience capacities (columns). Each cell of the matrix will include:

‒ Information on indicators used – this relates to the outcomes actually measured

‒ Information on data collection tools and methods – this relates to the techniques that were used to collect the data.

· The matrix should also add a fourth column to record examples of programme strategies and a fifth column to record examples of ‘intermediate outcomes’. The latter refer to outcomes that result from particular programmes or projects, but which do not represent absorptive, adaptive, or transformative capacity. The examples of programme strategies and related intermediate outcomes provided are expected to come principally from Oxfam programmes[3]. However, for those processes where examples of strategies and intermediate outcomes from Oxfam programmes are lacking, examples coming from other humanitarian and development actors can also be proposed. Nevertheless, indicators and data collection tools and methods used to measure the intermediate outcomes should come both from Oxfam and other actors practice.

An outline for this matrix is provided in Annex A of this Terms of Reference.

· The information in this matrix should be recorded in a way that allows the reader to:

‒ Easily see the scale at which particular indicators or data collection tools/methods are applied (be it individual, household, community, regional, national, supra-national, eco-system, etc.).

‒ Distinguish between Oxfam and non-Oxfam programmes.

‒ Follow up on external references, preferably through hyperlinks, and/or through a clearly organised bibliography.

· Use the matrix to provide extra details on the main indicators and data collection tools/methods, which are common across different organisations and different programmes. This discussion will emphasise areas of commonality, and try to explain why some indicators/tools/methods feature more frequently than others.

B) Information on common approaches and practices used by Oxfam and other development actors to monitor, evaluate and learn in resilience programmes. In particular, this will include approaches and methods used to understand and monitor context, where available.

C) List of research, evaluation, or learning questions on resilience identified during the desk review and interviews.

The structure of the report will be proposed by the consultant, but it might include at least the following sections:

· Executive summary

· Methodology

· Findings:

‒ Completed Matrix

‒ Extra details on the main indicators and data collection tools/methods, which are common across different organisations and different programmes. This discussion will emphasise areas of commonality, and try to explain why some indicators/tools/methods feature more frequently than others.

‒ Common approaches and practices in doing MEL in resilience programming

‒ Global research, evaluation or learning questions on resilience

· Conclusions and Future Research Questions

· Bibliography/list of sources

· Annexes

The report must not exceed 20 pages, excluding bibliography and annexes.

The report will be written in English.

Formal debriefing with the Consultant, after the study is completed will be organized with Oxfam. If needed this could be done by teleconference.

5. Timeframe

The study will begin on November 2015. The study will require total of 20 workdays.

6. Skills and Competencies

Required skills and competencies: (E: essential, D: desirable)

· Relevant university degree (E)

· Relevant postgraduate / master degree (D).

· Pre-knowledge of resilience thinking and concepts (E)

· Pre- knowledge on resilience measurement and MEL existing approaches (D)

· Collaboration experience with development/humanitarian agencies (D)

· Previous experience of analysing conducting internet research, analysing formal and grey literature. (E)

· Previous experience of collecting and analysing data from Key Informant Interviews (KIIs). (E)

· Good analytical skills. Organised approach to using qualitative data (E).

· Excellent writing and communication skills (E)

· Fluency in written and spoken English (E).

· Fluency in written and spoken French and or Spanish (D).

1. Annexes

Annex A. Oxfam Framework and Guidance for Resilient Development

Annex B. Outline of Matrix for Inputting Indicators and Data Collection Tools/Methods

[1]Oxfam International (2013), *The Power of People Against Poverty: the Oxfam Strategic Plan 2013-19.*Available at:http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what-we-do/about-us/how-we-work/our-goals-and-values (last accessed May 2015).

[2] These capacities are also defined in the ‘Oxfam Framework and Guidance for Resilience Development’ document (see Annex A).

[3] Especially from programmes contributing to the OSP Change Goals 3. Saving lives, 4. Sustainable Food and 5. Fair sharing of natural resources where the Oxfam work on resilience is principally focused.

Consultants wishing to apply should send their proposalsvia email to Elsa Febles (efebles@oxfamintermon.org) and Jonathan Lain (jlain1@oxfam.org.uk). The proposals must include:

• Updated CV of the consultant/s participating in the research
• A research proposal that includes:

o A page-cover letter expressing your interest

o Research background and significance

o A clear methodology, including type of information, sources that will be used for the research and the way this information will be analyzed.

o A detailed work plan, with a clear timeline for completing the document. The work plan should include a schedule for providing intermediate feedback to Oxfam staff, in order to present progress.

o The research proposal should not exceeding 10 pages

• Financial proposalin Excel format, including a budget detailing daily fees for the consultant/s

The deadline for submitting applications is 23 October 2015

1. Tender process

All proposals will be evaluated against the following criteria:

• Understanding and adherence to the ToR
• Feasibility, coherence and appropriateness of the methodology
• Cost-efficiency of the budget, given the available funds

All applicants will be informed about whether their proposals have been selected or not before October 30^th 2015.