Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) under the Climate Change, Conflict, Displacement and Irregular Migration Programme in Sahel

Description

The Climate Change, Conflict, Displacement and Irregular Migration Programme in Sahel 2021-2024 (CCDMP) was approved in November 2021, and it includes five engagements with four selected implementing partners, a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) component and a new Team Europe Initiative (TEI) under preparation on Climate, Conflict and Migration. The tender will lead to the establishment of a separate MEAL Unit by the consultant. The consultant will support, liaise and collaborate with the two Danish embassies in the region (Burkina Faso and Mali) and the Department for Migration, Stabilisation and Fragility (MNS) at the MFA in Copenhagen. The consultant will also collaborate with and be supported by MEAL focal points in each of the four implementing partners’ projects supported by the CCDMP. Collaboration with the TEI, if approved, will also be essential for the success of the programme. Lot 1: The consultant (i.e. “the MEAL Unit”) will contribute to shared knowledge and active learning. Experience has shown that climate adaptation and conflict prevention related programming are constantly adapting based on the analysis of their impacts on the eco-systems and the feedback received from the beneficiaries. Designing and implementing programmes in fragile settings with e.g. insecure border zones require significant flexibility, clear communication of expected results, high appetite for risk, and a clear understanding of local political economies and conflict dynamics. This is also very much in line with the conclusions of the Danish evaluations on climate change adaptation. The scope of work of this assignment will be carried out with this background. Denmark is not the only donor of any of the five engagements under the CCDMP, they are co-funded with other partners, sometimes with Denmark as a relatively small contributor. The collaboration with these partners has, however, been initiated with an understanding and with a mindset of promoting shared learning between projects. Since Denmark is co-financing the projects, the MFA will therefore not be responsible for the full achievement of results of the projects. This should be taken into account during inception when the consultant will be establishing and revising the results framework for CCDMP. The projects are organisationally anchored in different geographical locations, and engagements are covering different scopes and geographies. This diversity must be taken into account in the detailed planning of the scope of work. Collaboration with implementing partners is therefore essential, not only for the narrow Danish desire to achieve results and for accountability, but even more because of intention to promote shared learning. The implementing partners and the respective projects have been selected based on their assessed ability to effectively contribute to the change pathways described in the CCDMP Theory of Change (ToC) and the following five selection parameters: 1) Thematic – integrating a climate-smart approach that seeks to reduce the root causes of fragility that drive conflict, forced displacement and irregular migration, with a strong emphasis on natural resources management, land tenure and access, as well as food security and livelihood support. 2) Demographic – a holistic focus on vulnerable groups that include farmers and herders, as well as displaced and host communities, with an emphasis on women and youth. 3) Geographic – a regional approach to crisis-affected or at-risk areas (short and longer term) – both rural and urban – as well as cross-border areas with high risks of cross-border conflict transference. 4) Partnerships – Priority is given to partner projects that combine national and regional perspectives with an emphasis on capacity transfer and local solutions. This includes, ideally, project partners who are also engaged in supporting national governments to meet their climate change commitments (i.e. UNDP and IFAD). Thus, data generated through CCDMP financing can also be used to inform the NDC reporting processes. 5) Evidence base, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning Framework (MEAL) – a commitment by partners to integrate a regional approach that strengthens the inclusion of vulnerable communities and geographic areas, through a more inclusive and human rights-based approach (HRBA)-informed approach to data collection, and more effective climate-adaptive and resilient capacities. With this in mind, the consultant must establish, facilitate and manage a MEAL Unit in support to the implementation of the CCDMP, with a functional monitoring, evaluation, accountability, results-based learning, review and risk management system. The assignment consists of three phases: (Phase 1) Inception Phase, (Phase 2) Implementation Phase, and (Phase 3) Closing Phase. The contracting authority has a maximum budget of DKK 15,000,000 net of VAT in relation to Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3 of the assignment. Tenders will be rejected if they exceed the contracting authority's maximum budget.