Duration of assignment (months): 42 months
Narrative description of Project:
The GGF provides technical assistance and capacity building support in beneficiary countries. The PMU and TAFs will be responsible for delivery of a significant proportion of the GGF’s portfolio, which complements other GGF activity delivered through bilateral/multilateral partners (such as the World Bank and UN agencies) and an Embassy-led small grants facility. The overarching objectives and added-value of this programme are provided below:
i. Provide beneficiaries with rapid access to high-quality technical expertise which builds domestic capacity to deliver, champion and unblock reforms in response to identified needs.
ii. Deliver a flexible and mixed portfolio of projects, which retains an ability to adapt to contextual changes (including by responding to emerging trends, issues and opportunities to catalyse or unblock broader reform processes) and to scale projects up and down in response to emerging evidence, challenges and opportunities.
iii. Bring together international technical expertise and best-practice with a strong understanding of local need and context – including through a high degree of sensitivity to local political economies and sensitivities – in order to ensure that the assistance delivered is responsive and promotes local ownership.
iv. Work closely with UK government – through both British Embassies and the London- based GGF Joint Unit – to ensure that the portfolio reflects country-level priorities and are managed in accordance with DFID programme management practices.
Description of actual services provided by your staff within the assignment:
Within the scope of the project the Consultant will implement the following activities:
i. Monitor the overall economic, social and political context of the country through the cultivation of a reliable network of local contact points and Information sources in order to identify in advance any risk and/ or opportunities for GGF;
ii. Identify and maintain a country-level risk registry and risk mitigation strategy for each risk including routine monitoring and updating of existing and potential risks and other external factors that may affect the operations and/or the achievement of Impact results of the GGF’s country -level portfolio of projects
iii. Conduct a desk review to identify and document an Initial list of national priority reform areas that fall within HMG’s five thematic priority areas and, following approval from the PMU Director, meet the Embassy in country to review, update and confirm these priori ties
iv. Meet with reform stakeholders to review the national government’s reform plans and documents and clarify the reform agenda and priorities. Triangulate this information through interviews with key informants such as other embassies and donors, civil society organisations, academia and the private sector on reform needs;
v. Prepare a Reform Needs Assessment Report which maps thematic areas against reform needs to identify intersecting needs and themes for consideration as priority sectors for review with the Embassy;
vi. Generate a shortlist (to be updated annually) of entry points for GGF to be shared with the Embassy, Governance Advisor and TAFs for feedback/approval. These entry points shall consider the work of existing ODA projects, identifying gaps in donor programming and opportunities for adding value to other donor projects. They shall also consider institutional and individual drivers of changes
vii. Draft Terms of Reference for selected initiatives, specifying the minimum criteria for the proposal including required GESI elements. MEL requirements and an indicative budget;
viii. Undertake risk analysis of each initiative
ix. Provide assistance and guidance to TAF as they Implement the Initiative
x. Assess and mitigate minor Issues and, using good Judgement. escalate Issues to the PMU Director as needed
xi. Review TAF reported progress vis-à-vis approval of agreed-to milestones of an Intervention. For milestones that are not approved, communicate the reasons with the TAF team and discuss a plan for resolution leading to resubmission and approval;
xii. Monitor results of the Interventions. This includes supporting the MEL advisor with validating evidence of impact of the Intervention and undertake qualitative reviews to triangulate with TAF evidence;
xiii. Collaborate with the MEL and Commercial Advisor to undertake monthly assessments of value for money of each Initiative;
xiv. Assess and identify any opportunities for scaling up or down;
xv. Consolidate TAF reporting Into a country-level report to be submitted to the HMG;
xvi. Conduct routine meetings with the Embassy to report on country progress, adaptations, risks and emerging result sat the country level.
xvii. Organize and conduct exit Interviews with beneficiary
xviii. Incorporate/validate lessons learned and share with stakeholders
xix. Build and maintain in country relationships and networks across national governments, other IFIs, multilateral organizations and donors, stakeholders and civil society
xx. Conduct regular meetings with active TAF teams to review project milestone delivery; review contextual, political and economic changes; and discuss variances to financial plan and agree to appropriate remedial actions;
xxi. Establish a relationship with the Embassy providing a day-to-day contact point to Embassy
personnel and conducting regular weekly meetings;
xxii. Build relationships with counterparts in other countries to share operational best practices information, insights and lessons learned