Польовий/а монітор/ка з оцінки програм

Requirements Overview:

 The M&E Specialist Consultant will assess the impact of grantee interventions funded by BlueCheck Ukraine in emergency settings. The M&E Specialist will engage with key stakeholders, including implementing partners, community leadership, and beneficiaries, and report back on findings. These findings facilitate BlueCheck’s ability to ensure grantee compliance with award commitments, ensure that activities on the ground are implemented to BlueCheck and industry standards, and adhere to Do No Harm protocols. The M&E Specialist will support technical and logistical aspects of site visit planning, and adhere to all security-related recommendations.  

Scope of Work

Position Description

The Consultant–operating under the title M&E Specialist –will be responsible for conducting field visits in areas where BlueCheck funds partners providing humanitarian assistance in Ukraine and create reports based on the data collected. The objective of each field visit will either be to monitor the work of a BlueCheck humanitarian partner or to assess the humanitarian needs in a defined location.

Each Consultant will:

1. Develop a Contextual Understanding and Conduct Context Monitoring: The Consultant will develop an understanding of frontline humanitarian developments within Ukraine, while also maintaining knowledge of BlueCheck’s protocols, M&E standards, humanitarian portfolio, and response priorities. The Consultant will provide regular verbal and written reporting to BlueCheck Ukraine and other entities on issues related to the humanitarian programs they support and overall situation in Ukraine. This will include providing regular reports based on site visits, attending meetings, context, and other issues that impact humanitarian relief efforts. The M&E Specialist will need to conform all reporting to assigned templates, indicators, and guidance to ensure the standardization of reports.
2. Monitor Humanitarian Programs: Perform monitoring of BlueCheck supported projects in accordance with the thematic and geographical priorities identified by BlueCheck and in agreement with the Grantees. Utilize a mixed methods approach of tools pre-approved by BlueCheck to check for any “Red Flag” issues and also verify the quality of programming based on predefined performance criteria. The Consultant will maintain regular contact with BlueCheck grantees. He/she will travel to partner implementation sites to verify project activities and document progress and challenges (including access issues) against approved project scopes. The Consultant will report to BlueCheck on partner progress and share beneficiary feedback.
3. Perform Needs Assessments: The Consultant will independently travel to locations that are experiencing new and evolving crises to assess humanitarian needs. The Consultant will report to appropriate BlueCheck teams on his/her assessment findings.
4. Assist BlueCheck Staff in Conducting Remote Site Visits: The Consultant will assist BlueCheck staff in implementing virtual or remote site visits to areas where BlueCheck staff cannot travel. The Consultant will work with BlueCheck staff, including technical specialists, and BlueCheck grantees to plan and conduct these remote site visits. 
5. Link to BlueCheck’s Technical Standards: Where feasible, the consultant will develop and enhance BlueCheck technical standards for monitoring and assessment; guidance on these techniques will be based on M&E best practices and BlueCheck priorities. All data gathered by the Consultant will be anonymized, will protect the privacy of respondents, and will be encrypted. The data and reports will not be shared outside of BlueCheck without the written consent of the appropriate BlueCheck internal stakeholders.

Position Qualifications

Field Monitoring Specialists

Required

• Strong understanding of humanitarian aid and at least three years’ experience implementing or monitoring humanitarian or development programs
• Experience working in conflict-affected zones
• Direct implementation of Monitoring and Evaluation frameworks
• English proficiency, AND Ukrainian OR Russian language proficiency
• Travel 50-75% of the time within Ukraine.

Desired

• Experience working in Ukraine
• Experience in field monitoring
• Understanding of M&E fundamentals
• Experiencing designing monitoring programs

Activities

Monitoring Visits will require the Consultant to produce reports that include the following information:

• To what degree the Activity has implemented programming as planned in the technical narrative
• To what degree the Activity has met performance targets
• To what degree the Activity appears to have reached its intended beneficiaries
• To what degree feedback mechanisms are available to affected populations
• Any observed issues, challenges, or setbacks
• Any observed successes or implementation of previous recommendations
• Inclusion factors: gender, age, disability status, social protection, language (e.g. observed gender balance both in its staff and in beneficiaries served, accessibility of services for persons with disabilities)

Assessment Visits will require the Consultant to produce reports that include the following information:

• Direct reporting on pre-defined indicators
• A short description of recent events that have caused humanitarian need.
• A description of the affected population’s key needs and the scope of the humanitarian situation
• An overview on what humanitarian action has been taken so far and what is already planned

Under the supervision of the BlueCheck stakeholders, the M&E Specialist will communicate directly with grantees to organize site visits and plan data collection.

The following reports should be submitted in English. All reports should clearly indicate whether the information presented is of the primary or secondary nature, and who/what is the source of the information. Reporting of contradicting information is encouraged where appropriate, with the different sources cited.

 Duration

The consultancy will be full-time for a period of six (6) months from the contract start date, with the possibility of extension.

Travel Frequency

The Consultant is expected to be based in Ukraine and complete all required field visits (including travel) during the period that he/she is contracted. The exact number of field visit reports generated by these days of field visits will depend on the location(s) visited, duration of travel required, and access limitations posed by the conflict. The Consultant leave schedule will be decided post-hire. The schedule for leave shall be adhered to so as not to impact program deliverable timelines.

Working Conditions

The Consultant will not require an office, but will work from their living quarters. The Consultant will travel to project sites and humanitarian crisis sites using a combination of locally-arranged transportation and implementing partners’ vehicles.

The advisability of safe travel will be determined by the Consultant after consultation with BlueCheck staff and local partners who work in the targeted area. The Consultant will adhere to security management directives and policies as prescribed by these parties or face disciplinary procedures. The Consultant will be expected to provide their own IT and communication equipment.

Do No Harm

In all field work carried out under this contract, the Consultant must employ “Do No Harm” principles. The Consultant must use data collection methods that do not re-traumatize respondents, and respect the fact that some respondents may have experienced traumatic stress or distress. It is essential that the Consultant keep data coded and stored in a way that respects the confidentiality of respondents; that beneficiaries understand participating in data collection will not affect the level of assistance they receive; and that clear informed consent is granted at the beginning of every interview and/or photograph. No data should be collected from children younger than twelve years of age or without the consent of their parents. Data collection must operate through a conflict-sensitive lens so as to not create conflict or contribute to conflict in any way. Above all other objectives, this consultancy must do no harm to anyone involved in it.

No Consultant or stakeholder whom the Consultant works with (beneficiaries, partner organizations, residents of areas visited in an official capacity, etc.) shall be subjected to discrimination in the form of sexual harassment or abuse. Sexual harassment includes sexually oriented verbal or physical behavior that an individual would reasonably find to be unwanted or unwelcome, giving consideration to all surrounding circumstances and which may detrimentally affect the work environment. Abuse, either physical, verbal, or mental, is also prohibited. Consultants are expected to maintain professionalism in the workplace and when conducting site visits on behalf of the client. This may include but is not limited to: drug or excessive alcohol consumption, the patronizing of prostitutes, non-adherence to local laws, and other actions which could harm the reputation of BlueCheck. Consultants conducting such behavior may be subject to a temporary or permanent ban from their contract.

Physical Requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the Consultant is regularly required to talk, hear, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. Travel is a significant aspect of this role. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. The employee must occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds.

NDA and BlueCheck Representation

The Consultant must sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in advance of conducting any site visit on behalf of BlueCheck Ukraine. They may not direct partners to act on behalf of BlueCheck, but will collect important information to inform BlueCheck’s collaboration with partners in Ukraine.

For submitting applications and requests, contact Shane Hanlon at [email protected]