Country: Switzerland
Closing date: 22 Feb 2019
Request for proposals **
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
Improvement of the monitoring and evaluation of Prevention programmes
Terms of Reference - Consultancy
- Background **
Results-based management (RBM1) has been a priority for the ICRC over the past few years and plays a major role in the ICRC Institutional Strategy. The ICRC employs RBM to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of its operations for victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to increase its accountability, first to the victims concerned, and second to other external stakeholders, in particular donors.
In its continuous effort to improve its performance management systems and measurement approaches, the ICRC has developed tools and methodologies to support field operations.
Part of this effort is the introduction of the Programme Reference Frameworks (PRFs) for each programmatic work area of its field operations, namely Assistance, Protection, Cooperation and Prevention. The PRFs are reference frameworks that logically present the intended results (medium-term outcomes and short-term outcomes) of ICRC programmes and sub-programmes for a given area of work and target population. They propose indicators to monitor and evaluate progress towards achieving these results. The PRFs also contain information about humanitarian problems and their causes, which ICRC responds to through its programmes.
The development of Programme Reference Frameworks responds to identified needs for an improved monitoring of the expected results at field level. In particular, Programme Reference Frameworks are reference documents that allow both Programme Managers and Line Managers in delegations:
to support the design and formulation of expected results of the sub-programmes during the elaboration of the Field PfR;
to suggest indicators to measure the degree of achievement of expected results per sub-programme.
They allow managers and staff to have easy access to programme-specific results statements and indicators to support the annual Planning for Results Process (PfR): formulation of medium-term and short-term outcomes and of results monitoring frameworks.
In addition, the ICRC has built a Planning and Monitoring Tool (PMT) to capture outcome-based programming data (planning and monitoring data on results, outputs and indicators). The planning module was rolled-out in all delegations in 2017 for the 2018 PfR and the monitoring module was rolled-out in 2018 for the quarterly Monitoring for Results Process.
Finally, in parallel to PMT and PRFs, Prevention field staff write quarterly reports informing their respective professional units about activities and events they have conducted.
2. Scope of Work
The ICRC wishes to engage a consultant to advise on the monitoring and evaluation of Prevention programmes, based on the existing approaches (PMT, Prevention Reference Framework and quarterly reports) and learn from the planning and monitoring data that was captured in 2018.
This will require an assessment of the PMT and Prevention Reference Framework (PREV RF), as well as other specified tools used in parallel to:
(1) Assess the relevance and effectiveness of currently used tools for monitoring and evaluation purposes.
(2) Consolidate M&E needs;
Based on an assessment of the above, the consultancy is then expected to
(3) Recommend improvements of existing tools and develop new ones to meet the defined M&E needs for the respective Units (covering both field objectives and global events).
This work entails:
Interviews with subject-matter experts and units as relevant;
Understanding ICRC’s RBM fundamentals, Prevention Reference Frameworks and related theories of change;
Reviewing 2018 Prevention Planning and Monitoring Data;
Interviews, focus groups, workshops as relevant;
Tool and methodologies adaption and/or design.
3. Methodology
In conducting this consultancy, it is envisaged that a consultation process with various stakeholder groups of ICRC staff will take place. The consultant will need to conduct interviews, meetings and workshops (as required) to understand current programmatic and operational approaches and on identifying and recommending areas where improvements can be made.
The consultant will need to submit an action plan describing the methodology/steps prior to starting assignment activities. The action plan will need to be agreed upon and approved by the International Law and Policy Department and the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Sector of the Office of the Director-General.
4. Deliverables
The consultant is expected to deliver the following:
- for the PREV RF and its application in the PMT:
a. produced an overview of prevention outcome data/information required for accountability and decision-making,
b. Adapted the PREV RF where relevant;
- for tools used in parallel to the PMT and PREV RF, e.g. quarterly reports:
a. determine whether tools already used in parallel by the Units are suitable to meet needs not otherwise covered,
b. recommend how these tools can be improved,
c. and propose new, simple tools, e.g. for regional colleagues to capture information complimenting existing monitoring mechanism;
for field tools used to assess Prevention indicators for both delegation and regional activities, e.g. improved understanding of IHL,
a. produce an overview of existing tools and assess whether they are appropriate and useful,
b. recommend how they can be improved,
c. and specify new tools where appropriate.
5. Deadlines & administrative details
The deliverables are provided by mid-June 2019.
Applications are to be sent to gva_dp_prevention_services@icrc.org no later than Sunday, 22 February 2019. **Only submissions with a completed application form will be considered. Please see the form in the appendix at the end of this document.
- Required education and experience **
The consultant has
at least 5 years of experience in the area of results-based management, performance management systems and measurement approaches.
strong experience in the area of Results-Based planning, monitoring and evaluation of policies, programmes and projects, as well as excellent technical knowledge and experience in the designing and implementing RBM systems including data collection, data analysis, monitoring and evaluation systems, and reporting.
Knowledge / experience in programme design within the humanitarian sector and knowledge of ICRC (or other members of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement) systems, practices, processes and operations will be a distinct advantage.
7. Responsible Units
Lead Unit: Prevention Cell Unit
Main stakeholder units: Dialogue with Arms Carriers (FAS), and Advisory Service (CONSULT)
Interested stakeholder units: Communication (CIM), Academic Circles (FORUM), and Humanitarian Diplomacy (POL)
Methodological support: Centre for Operational Research and Experience (CORE) and Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Sector of the Office of the Director-General.
8. Proposal preparation cost
The provider issuing a proposal will do so at its own cost. The ICRC will not consider any requests for the reimbursement of any costs associated with the preparation and issue of the proposal.
9. Legal disclaimer
This document is a Request for Proposal (RfP) in connection with the project outlined in it. It is not intended to, nor should it be interpreted as, being an offer to contract.
Neither the ICRC nor any of its officers, employees or external consultancy make any explicit or implied representation or warranty as to, nor will have any liability or responsibility for, the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in this document or made available in connection with the project outlined in it. The ICRC and its officers, employees and external consultancy expressly disclaim any and all liability, which may be based on such information, errors therein, or omissions there from (provided nothing in this RfP shall exclude or limit liability for fraudulent misrepresentation).
10. Validity
The proposal shall remain valid 120 days after the date of issue and shall remain binding upon the provider at any time before the expiration of that period. The ICRC reserves the right in its sole discretion to request for the extension of this period, which shall be at no cost to the ICRC, if agreed with the provider.
11. Ethical principles guiding ICRC’s relationship with providers
Offering any form of bribes, gifts or any other inducement to any ICRC representative, or its designated contractors, with the view to influence the outcome of the RfP will result in the rejection of the proposal and disqualification of the provider.
12. Communication
Providers may not refer to the ICRC for any public communication purposes, such as displaying ICRC's logo for example. Publicity or news release pertaining to this RfP, or the award of any contract related to it, must not be made public without prior written approval of the ICRC. The contracts that the ICRC signs with its providers must clearly stipulate that no use may be made of the name, image or logo of the ICRC, or any of the Red Cross or Red Crescent emblems, without prior written approval.
13. Non-disclosure
The ICRC agrees to hold all information received in response to this RfP in confidence and will not disclose it to parties without express written consent from provider.
14. Ownership of Material
All materials submitted in response to this RfP become the property of the ICRC. Proposals and supporting material will not be returned to providers.
How to apply:
Obligatory application form to be submitted to gva_dp_prevention_services@icrc.org
- Cover letter
The cover letter must
identify the provider name and address,
and the name, email and telephone number of the person authorized to represent the provider in relation to the proposal.
Company presentation
Presentation of the Company Profile that should at a minimum contain the following information:
Official status of the structure (company or self-employed),
documentation to support this declaration (extract from the commercial register or certificate),
Official registered name, mailing address, main telephone number and web address (if any).
Planning proposal
Provide indicative information about project planning, bearing in mind that the details of the project design will be developed collaboratively by the provider and the ICRC project team. This needs to include
Key steps including step objectives,
Sequence of steps and individual step duration
Overall duration.
Budget
Based on the above planning proposal, the expertise and time required, provide an overall budget containing
- Overall costs for consultancy including
Travel to Geneva
Stay/accommodation in Geneva
Any other costs that might occur during the consultancy and are to be covered by the ICRC
Note: All expenses related to the project must be included.
All prices shall be quoted in CHF without VAT.
Proposed team
If using more than one staff, describe how you would staff your team thus create a single project team achieving the objectives.
State roles and responsibilities of the project team and the skills of the people involved in the project.
Provide CVs for each project team member.
Describe the proposed communication/workflow channels both within the team and between the provider team and the ICRC project team.
English will be the standard language of communication on the project.
- Standard Terms & Conditions
ICRC Terms and Conditions shall apply. Please comment the clauses/ wordings you may want to discuss. If not comment is made, this means ICRC Terms and Conditions are accepted.
See Terms and Conditions in separate document published with this terms of reference.
- Other
Customer references from up to three relevant consultancies within the last 3-5 years, or contact details for up to three customer referees.
Add other documents deemed appropriate.