Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Expert to conduct the stocktaking on the implementation of the Livestock Development Strategy for Africa (LiDESA)

Background

The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), a specialized technical office of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (DARBE) of the African Union Commission, is mandated to support and coordinate the utilization of livestock, fisheries, aquaculture and wildlife as resources for both human wellbeing and economic development in the Member States of the African Union. The Vision of the AU-IBAR Strategic Plan 2018-2023 is an Africa in which animal resources contribute significantly to integration, prosperity and peace. Within the framework of the African Union 2063, the Africa Blue Economy Strategy environed an inclusive and sustainable blue economy that significantly contributes to Africa’s transformation and growth.

The African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), a specialized technical office of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (DARBE) of the African Union Commission, is mandated to support and coordinate the utilization of livestock, fisheries, aquaculture and wildlife as resources for both human wellbeing and economic development in the Member States of the African Union. The Vision of the AU-IBAR Strategic Plan 2018-2023 is an Africa in which animal resources contribute significantly to integration, prosperity and peace. Within the framework of the African Union 2063, the Africa Blue Economy Strategy environed an inclusive and sustainable blue economy that significantly contributes to Africa’s transformation and growth.

The Livestock Development Strategy for Africa (LiDeSA) stems from a resolution of the Twenty-Fourth Ordinary Session of the Executive Council held from 21st to 28th January 2014 in Addis Ababa (EX.CL/Dec.792(XXIV)). The AUC was requested, to coordinate and lead the formulation of a Livestock Strategy for the continent that will accelerate reforms in the sector for the realization of its full potential. In response to the decision of the Executive Council, the AUC led through AU-IBAR a joint multi-stakeholder process of comprehensive sector assessments, consultations and an in-depth situation analysis covering the five official geo-political regions of Africa. This resulted in the identification of issues affecting the sector throughout the continent including but not limited to; breeds with low productivity, lack of quality land, pasture and water resources, inadequate access to animal health and husbandry services, limited access to markets and weak compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary standards. These are coupled with deficiencies in policy, legislative and institutional frameworks that deter investments along the value chains as well as the inadequate application of available technologies, knowledge and skills.

The LiDeSA is guided by the vision of the Accelerated African Agricultural Growth and Transformation Goals of the Malabo Declaration, and is informed by the CAADP results framework. The LiDeSA will position the livestock sector as a key driver for delivering the target of 6% annual growth in agriculture in the Member States, thus contributing significantly to national growth. It will also guide stakeholders’ efforts in addressing major development barriers facing the sector ensuring coordination of effort at national, regional and continental levels, promote synergy in addressing critical issues facing livestock development and bring about result oriented actions that will lead to the realization of livestock sector’s full potential.

The LiDeSA has the goal of transforming the African livestock sector for enhanced contribution to socio-economic development and equitable growth. The resolution was informed by the realization that innovative and transformative technical; policy and investment interventions are required to address the challenges facing the livestock sector.

The LiDeSA aims at addressing identified barriers in the sector, has the following strategic objectives:

• To attract public and private investment along the livestock value chains
• To enhance animal health and increase production, productivity and resilience of production systems
• To enhance innovation, generation and utilization of technologies, capacities and entrepreneurship skills of value chain actors
• To enhance access to market, services and value addition

After eight (8) years of the development and implementation of the LIDESA, a study to establish the status of its implementation at national, regional and continental levels.

To this effect, AU-IBAR is seeking a Senior Monitoring and Evaluation Expert for a short-term consultancy to conduct the stocktaking and analysis of the status of the implementation of LIDESA.

Objective

The objective of the consultancy is to plan, lead, and oversee the assessment of the status of the implementation of LiDESA.

Tasks

The consultant will be required to undertake the following tasks:

1. Design the assessment tools and assessment sampling and data collection methodology
2. Review existing LiDeSA indicators and recommend SMART indicators that are achievable and can practically be reported on at different levels in a user-friendly manner.
3. Review existing LiDeSA reporting systems, develop a mechanism for effective reporting at national, regional and continental levels.
4. Assess the level of implementation of LiDESA by MSs, RECs and other relevant partners;
5. Document best practices and lessons learnt in 8 years of implementation of LiDeSA.
6. Recommend mechanisms for LiDeSA Monitoring and Evaluation capacity building.
7. Identify the main challenges and limitations of implementation, monitoring and reporting of LiDESA;
8. Measure the LIDESA’s impact on various aspects of the livestock sector, including production, productivity, income, food security, and rural development in a subset of selected countries.
9. Assess the effects of the strategy on social, economic, and environmental dimensions, including gender and equity considerations.
10. Design robust and comprehensive M&E framework and reporting systems of LIDESA
11. Support for the development and implementation of LIDESA performance indicators, log frames, results frameworks, M&E plans and theories of change.
12. Advance analysis and design of LIDESA’s results frameworks, including baselines, indicators, indicator reference sheets, targets, means of verification and reporting tools, ensuring alignment to funder requirements.
13. Develop new indicators and procedures which are aligned with programme strategies and/or international frameworks that facilitate the quality monitoring and reporting of programme results;
14. Provide guidelines for the establishment and coordination plans for collection and analysis of data.
15. Coordinate the work with the FAO RAF livestock office and the consultant on livestock policy.

Specific Responsibilities

1. Provide technical leadership in stocktaking and gap analysis for the monitoring and evaluation of the LiDeSA and other related regional and selected national livestock policies and strategies.
2. Design and lead rigorous monitoring and evaluations of LiDeSA and related livestock policies, strategies, projects, programmes, and operations
3. Develop the overall framework for the LIDESA M&E and Performance Monitoring Plan with relevant data collection systems.
4. Review the quality of existing data in selected countries, RECs and the regional level, the methods of collecting it, and the degree to which it will be useful for impact evaluation.
5. Apply rigorous analytic thinking in leading/conducting analyses (qualitative and quantitative) and preparing dissemination materials (reports, papers, presentations, and so on).
6. Participate actively and productively in multidisciplinary evaluation teams, often with internal and external partners.
7. Stocktake and analyse AU-IBAR’s areas of work on animal resource policies, strategies, programs and projects, food safety, climate change, feed and fodder, women and youth economic empowerment, and other areas in development and emergency settings; and one cross-cutting theme or accelerator of change per AU-IBAR Strategic Plan, such as private sector engagement, data and technologies, and innovations.
8. Promote use of M&E findings and response to recommendations inform the review/update of LIDESA
9. Provide M&E outputs and provide detailed feedback (such as evaluation designs and reports)
10. Develop a result framework to capture intermediary results and fit that to the M&E indicators.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

Specific timelines for the delivery of the tasks will be agreed upon between the AU-IBAR and the consultant, but the consultant shall be guided by four key milestones:

Activity Deliverables Timeframe

Livestock policy Consultant recruited Contract agreement with the consultant and award of the contract 23rd February 2024

Inception meeting (Approach, methodology, timelines)/road map Inception report 29th February 2024

LiDeSA assessment in five regions/RECs Field /online visit to 5 RECs and 10 selected member states 1st to 10th March 2024

Draft reports from 5 RECs and MSs Continental, Regional and National reports 15th March 2024

Continental validation meeting organized Continental and regional Validated reports 29th March 2024

A PPT presentation on the stocktaking assessment delivered during the Side event on LiDeSA in the FAO Regional Conference for Africa (ARC33), 15-19 April 2023 prepared PPT presentation on LiDeSA Stocktaking prepared and translated 12th April 2024

LIDESA side event during FAO Regional Conference facilitated Meeting facilitated 15th to 19th April 2024

Submission of the final consolidated report 30 April 2024 Final consolidated and comprehensive report of the side event meeting report submitted to AU-IBAR 30th April 2024

Duty Station

The assignment will be home-based. Any travel to be undertaken under this consultancy away from the home-base will require prior written approval by the Contract Supervisor.

Duration

The duration of this assignment is 2 calendar months. Deliverables should be submitted in accordance with the schedule stated above.

Remuneration

The fees payable for this consultancy shall be US$ 13,500 and shall be payable on submission and approval of all deliverables and reports as stated above.

Any expenditure for approved missions will be covered separately in accordance with the applicable African Union Commission rules and regulations.

Supervision and Reporting

The candidate will be under supervision of the Animal Health Unit Coordinator and the overall direction of the Director of AU-IBAR. The Animal Health Unit Coordinator shall have the responsibility of approval of reports and deliverables.

Requirements

Qualification

The incumbent should have an advanced university degree (minimum Master’s level) in Monitoring and Evaluation, Agriculture/rural development/, Economics, Agricultural Economic, Business Administration, Political or Social sciences, Quantitative analysis or statistics or any other relevant or equivalent degree, or evaluation, with a focus on research and M&E methods.

General Experience

1. Applicants with proven track of Monitoring and Evaluation works and a minimum of 7 years of experience.
2. At least 7 years of experience conducting rigorous monitoring and evaluations of progressive experience in areas of M&E preferably within an International or continental organization.
3. Practical work experience in project management will be an added advantage.

Relevant Experience

1. Extent and relevance of technical expertise in leading the development of the M&E framework and conducting rigorous monitoring and evaluations;
2. Extent and relevance of work experience conducting M&E in animal resource policy, strategies, programs and projects development and analysis for intergovernmental organization that works with multisectoral stakeholders;
3. Proven knowledge of Africa’s animal resource sector, economics, international and inter-African and inter-regional trade in animal products and veterinary/livestock inputs
4. Proven ability to deliver clear and concise reports and presentations as demonstrated in previous M&E works.
5. Proven experience in M&E of similar assignments with RECS, continental and international organizations such WOAH, FAO among others
6. Proven experience in developing M&E framework and reporting tools is a strong advantage.

Skills and Competencies

1. Diplomacy and good interpersonal skills necessary for dealing with senior officials in Government, Regional Organizations, and donor/development organizations;
2. Very strong writing and analytical skills are necessary.
3. Good networking skills and ability to maintain positive and constructive dialogue with key institutions.
4. Self-starter with the ability to strategically plan own work and follow-up on implementation;
5. Proficiency in at English and French

Gender Mainstreaming

The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Evaluation Criteria

The applications will be evaluated on the basis of the relevant technical qualifications, experience and competence of the candidates.

Criteria Scores (%)

Technical proposal 10

Qualifications 15

General Experience 20

Experience 40

Other skills & competencies 15