Objective:

SI has been contracted by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and the World Bank (WB) to provide monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) technical capacity strengthening support to assist partner countries to successfully undertake mid-term reviews (MTRs) of their GPE compact priority reform. The technical team who will carry out this contract will provide the following services:

Phase I. Conduct a needs assessment, prepare an implementation plan, provide technical assistance to the Ministry and key stakeholders to collaboratively produce five compact MEL framework planning documents designed to create the foundation for the MTR: 1) Refined theory of change (TOC), 2) revised results framework (RF) – including detailed indicator review, 3) mapping data sources against compact MEL outcomes, 4) developing plans for data collection, analysis, and reporting – including roles and responsibilities, frequency, etc., 5) preparing a work plan detailing data curation, analysis, and reporting for the compact MTR.

Additionally, produce a short feasibility/evidence availability assessment with gaps in compact MEL as related to phase 2 support.

Phase II. Prepare an MTR Reform Progress Report, including preparing and presenting on the MTR experience. Support will include:

1. MTR preparations, 1) Support data gathering – based on MEL TOC/RF (including enabling factors, top-up triggers, learning assessment data), 2) data analysis, 3) determining and planning appropriate reporting plans (facilitation, visuals, short reports/briefs, etc.)
2. MTR progress report stakeholder presentations, 1) Preliminary Findings Presentation – at a meeting organized by government or other country-level partners (could be the MTR event) and 2) Second Stakeholder Presentation of FINAL Reform Progress Report – at a meeting organized by government or other country-level partners.
3. Draft written reform progress report based on MTR experience.

Additionally, produce a brief evaluation report on the role and performance of country partners in implementing and monitoring the GPE compact programs.

Position Description:

SI is seeking a consultant to serve as the Local MEL Specialist for this activity. The MEL Specialist will support the Team Lead to complete the phase I & II tasks detailed above. The candidate must demonstrate a professional familiarity with the national education system, the MOE and its leadership, and their history, policies, and current challenges. Experience with the Global Partnership for Education and/or World Bank is a benefit. This is a short-term consultancy with an estimated level of effort (LOE) of 40 days, and a tentative period of performance from September 2024 until October 2025.

**Only candidates based in The Gambia will be considered for this position**

Responsibilities:

• Support the production of contractual deliverables by agreed upon deadlines.
• With the support of a Team Lead, lead and support MEL capacity building to Ministry staff, and assist with the production of all technical processes and deliverables.
• Conduct remote meetings, interviews, and/or focus groups with key stakeholders to understand the current status of the GPE compact and compact MEL frameworks.
• Review available reports and literature to inform a needs assessment.
• Support, by drafting sections of a needs assessment and implementation plan detailing the methods and work plan of the services to be rendered.
• Co-lead the implementation of approved plan, independently, under TL advisement, provide technical assistance services detailed within the plan, and co-produce all indicated deliverables per the related work plan.
• Add inputs into quarterly progress reports for GPE.
• Support the TL during their (up to two) in-person MEL capacity building trips.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of an undergraduate qualification in Government, Public Policy, International Relations, Education, Qualitative or Quantitative Research, or another relevant field.
• Minimum of 7 years’ experience conducting social science research, with a preferred focus on strengthening monitoring, evaluation, and learning within education systems.
• Knowledge of the national education system, and the MOE, its structure, leadership, and bureaucratic systems.
• Experience designing, leading, and conducting qualitative or quantitative analysis of education data.
• Experience working with the WB, GPE, or MOEs.
• Any previous work experience with the World Bank must be disclosed.
• Written and oral fluency in English required.