Vacancy: National Consultant / Researcher

Date	05 Aug 2021
Location	Accra

Job Type	Contractor/Consultant
Description	Company Profile WUSC (World University Service of Canada) is a Canadian non-profit organization working to create a better world for all young people. We bring together a diverse network of students, volunteers, schools, governments, and businesses who share this vision. Together, we develop solutions in education, economic opportunities, and empowerment to overcome inequality and exclusion for youth around the world, particularly young women and young refugees. WUSC currently works in 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $40 million. We have over 90 staff in our Ottawa office, and over 200 people overseas implementing 16 development projects in collaboration with donors such as Global Affairs Canada, the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and the African Development Bank. Job Description TERMS OF REFERENCE – ENDLINE ASSESSMENT (GH) NATIONAL CONSULTANT OR RESEARCHER 1. Introduction WUSC is one of Canada's leading non-profit international development organizations committed to building a more equitable and sustainable world. The organization works with a unique and powerful network of post-secondary institutions, private sector partners and volunteers to provide educational, employment and empowerment opportunities that improve the lives of millions of disadvantaged youth around the world. CECI is a Canadian international development organization whose mission is to fight poverty and exclusion. CECI's Canadian and field teams have over 15 years of experience in governance and inclusive development in the extractive regions of West Africa. WUSC and CECI are jointly implementing the West Africa Governance and Economic Sustainability in Extractive Areas (WAGES) project in key regions of Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Guinea that are impacted by the presence of the extractive industry. The implementation timeline for this 6-year project is from April 2016 to March 2022, with an overall budget of $22.18 million. The WAGES Project is funded by Global Affairs Canada. As the WAGES project enters its final year of implementation, WUSC and CECI intend to carry out a final assessment of the achieved results as part of its overall monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) strategy for the project. For this reason, WUSC and CECI are seeking the consulting services of a national consultant or researcher (it could be an individual or a firm) to lead and carry out this assessment in each country where the WAGES project is being implemented. The recruited national consultant in each country will work with the guidance and in coordination with the WAGES Project country team as well as the regional MEL Consultant. 2. Background of Project The West Africa Governance and Economic Sustainability in Extractive Areas (WAGES) project aims to break the vicious circle in which local communities, especially women and youth, are excluded from the benefits of mining investments. In this perspective, the project works to ensure the participation of local communities, and specifically, the integration of women and youth in the governance of natural resources, entrepreneurship, and the sustainable development of these areas. As a result, the project staff work closely with key partners that include local and national governments, mining companies as well as private sector and civil society organizations to achieve these intended results. The project has three main areas of intervention. The first component, focusing on local governance, aims at strengthening regional and local governments and local institutions, and allowing them to leverage opportunities arising from natural resource development. The second component, focusing on sustainable and inclusive local economic development, aims to increase gender and youth inclusive employment opportunities for community members. The third component, focusing on knowledge sharing, aims to establish an enhanced informed dialogue on inclusive and sustainable strategies for economic growth and local governance in the targeted regions of Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Guinea. It is important to mention that the project was conceived in the context where the legislative texts of the three countries of intervention provide that the local governments of the intervention zones will have access to financial resources derived from mining revenues to invest in local development. Although limited and unpredictable, these resources are accessible to the Districts of Ghana, the first funds have been operationalized in the Communes of Guinea, but these are still not a reality in Burkina Faso. There is, however, direct investment by mining companies to support local economic development in the 3 areas of intervention. The project's strategy is therefore to maximize the benefits of these local public and private investments to improve the well-being of populations living in extractive zones. The project’s Logic Model (LM) was revised in September 2018 to take into account lessons learned from the first years of implementation, as well as Canada’s newly released Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP). The 2018 revisions aimed to strengthen the project's focus on gender equality and youth inclusion. WAGES also has a Performance Measurement Framework (PMF) which guides process and results monitoring. During the 2018 LM revision process, the project’s PMF was also revised which means that some of the project original indicators are not the same as those used in the project’s baseline study. 3. Purpose and Objectives of the study The overall aim of the study is to collect evidence on and assess the performance of the project against its intended results and established indicators (as laid out in the performance measurement framework and Gender Equality and Youth Inclusion (GEYI) strategy, which will be made available to the selected consultants/researchers). 4. Scope of Study and Methodology guidelines The following elements should guide the design and implementation of this end-line study: The study must consciously engage in a mixed approach regarding qualitative and quantitative research methods. Moreover, the study must integrate a gender equality and social inclusion lens and strive to foster as much as possible participatory approaches; The geographic scope of the study will be aligned with the targeted areas, meaning Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Guinea. In Ghana, the project is implemented in 2 Districts, and in all likelihood the study will cover both Districts; The data collection approaches and specific tools used to assess key performance indicators have been developed by the WAGES team and already used in a previous outcome data collection exercise, but could be further reviewed and adapted to the local contexts for each country, to ensure the appropriateness and reliability of the data collected, as well as comparability with already collected data in order to assess changes and trends. Outcome statements, indicators, sources, and data collection methods for each indicator, are included in the project’s draft PMF (available upon contracting). The local evaluation consultant or local researcher for each country will be expected to review this PMF with key project stakeholders, and to collect data for all indicators in the PMF. While the national consultant or researcher, informed by discussions with field-based project teams is encouraged to suggest complementary methodologies and strategies that may be more appropriate to carry out the study, presently the PMF outlines the following data collection methods or evidence streams to establish a performance measurement throughout the project: Project documentation review; Key informant interviews; Focus group discussions; Surveys. Moreover, the findings, conclusions and recommendations from the study should mostly be presented per component (Local Governance, Local Economic Development, Knowledge Sharing), in order to facilitate the review and the understanding of the knowledge generated and shared throughout the report. Furthermore, the study will be covering the implementation period of the project since inception, taking into account the strategic review in 2018 (including new and old Logic Models, Performance Measurement Frameworks, etc.) and the adjustment made based on the Feminist International Assistance Policy, including Gender Equality and Youth Inclusion (GEYI) Strategy, GEYI Action Plans, etc. The national consultant or researcher will also be expected to adjust the overall methodology of the study, as well as each individual data collection tool, to the evolving situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in the three countries, in order to ensure compliance with all safety measures mandated by national and local health authorities, as well by WUSC and CECI. Additionally, all efforts should be put in place so that the whole study is timely and complete. The study is expected to collect data to inform the following project indicators. Quantitative Indicators Median net monthly income of community members (disaggregated by country, by sex and age) (in US Dollars). % of women (female respondents) that claim to have a say in HH budgetary and family decisions (disaggregated by country and type of decision) % of revenue from mining industry / mineral development funds accounted for in local government's budgets/annual investments plans (to be adapted to local context) % of businesses supported by WAGES in targeted communities that report growth in sales or revenues (disaggregated by country, type of contract and sector) % increase in employment rate of women, youth and community members trained by WAGES (disaggregated by country, gender, age, type of contract and sector) % women and youth supported by WAGES reporting decision-making power over their economic occupation and revenue (disaggregated by country, sex and age) % of women and youth CSOs and local governments supported by WAGES who report that they participate and influence policy debates on local development at the national level % in community members, reporting increased trust in local government (disaggregated by country, sex and age) % of trained community members demonstrating increased knowledge of policies, standards and best practices related to transparency, participation, accountability, environmental protection and rights (disaggregated by country, sex and age) % of targeted local government staff and assembly members reporting increased capacities to design, plan, manage and implement inclusive and sustainable local economic development plans with the explicit integration of extractive issues (disaggregated by sex, age and country) % of formal and informal businesses supported by WAGES that employ youth and women (disaggregated by sector and country). % of informal businesses supported by WAGES that are able to become registered as a result of project intervention % of women and youth supported reporting increased confidence in seeking employment and revenue opportunities (disaggregated by sex and age) % of women and youth trained/supported who started working and/or started a business (disaggregated by sex, age and country). % of stakeholders reporting increased access to local, national and regional knowledge sharing platforms/initiatives on local development in extractive areas (disaggregated by sex, age, country). % of targeted stakeholders reporting an increased knowledge on how to plan and support local inclusive and sustainable economic growth and governance (disaggregated by country) % increase in women and youth, and local government representatives, participating in national debates on extractive issues (disaggregated by sex, age) Number of products or services offered that are adapted to the needs of women and youth by the partners supported by the project (Disaggregation by type of partner) % of women reporting that their views are taken into account in family decisions (Disaggregation by sex) Qualitative Indicators Degree to which community leaders’ (village chiefs and other recognized community leaders depending on the context) and women and youth groups opinions are integrated into local development plans and in monitoring their implementation (disaggregated by country, sex and age). Level of reported collaboration between local and national stakeholders (disaggregated by sex, age, type of stakeholder, country) Frequency of dialogue meetings between local governments and community representatives on local development planning and implementation, reported by representatives of women and youth groups, and of the communities. Level of reported participation of Youth & Women and local government representatives in national debates on extractives issues (disaggregated by sex, age) Level of satisfaction of CSOs/women's groups and youth groups that are direct beneficiaries of the project, with the inclusion of GEYI in local and/or economic inclusive development plans (Disaggregation: by CSO/women's group and youth group) There might be some additional data to be collected on the GEYI efforts on the project, and this will be adjusted in the data collection tools and clarified with the recruited consultant. 5. Key Activities and Deliverables The selected Consultant will have overall responsibility for the implementation of the study, and for ensuring quality and timeliness of all deliverables. The study approach and data collection tools have already been designed. The Consultant will be responsible for reviewing and adapting the study approach and the data collection tools as well as responsible for sampling, piloting, enumerators’ recruitment and training, data collection, data entry, data analysis, report writing, results dissemination, and client liaison. The key activities and deliverables expected from the Consultant(s) for this assignment are as follows: Review all relevant documents, studies, and other data sources relevant to the country and the project, particularly performance indicators and definitions identified in the project Performance Measurement Framework . Participate in an Inception meeting: to clarify expectations of the mandate and provide contextual information necessary to produce the inception report and plan Review/Finalization of data collection tools: review and adaptation of quantitative and qualitative tools for data collection. These tools will be reviewed during the pre-data collection phase and must be included in the detailed work plan outlining key tasks and schedule for the assignment. Develop Enumerator Guidelines and Protocols for Data Collection Coordinate/Conduct Enumerator Training following a detailed agenda and outlining study protocols (this agenda should be included in the inception report) Coordinate/conduct/supervise data collection, as per agreed methodology Ensure Data Entry Quality by reviewing initial data entry conducted at the country level and provide feedback to Country Study Leads, where applicable Analyze qualitative and quantitative data. It is also expected that the Consultant will do a critical analysis of the data through statistical treatment and triangulation with other sources and literature review. Draft and final Study Reports including Executive Summary and Full Consolidated Report. Final Report is to be submitted in both Word and PDF versions with all annexes and raw data files included. A suggested Table of Contents (ToC) will be provided by the organization. Copies of original and cleaned data sets including any field notes are to be submitted to WUSC with the draft report. 6. Time Frame and Level of Effort The contract is expected to be carried out within 45 working days from September 1st, 2021 to December 31st, 2021. The consultant is expected to carry out all the preparation required to roll out the study as per the suggested time frame below. Required Skills or Experience Minimum of 10 years of experience in conducting multi-country project assessment and/or studies, collecting data and producing quality baseline/endline study reports, preferably for international non-profit organizations or multilateral agencies Demonstrated experience in designing, managing and completing quality endline studies including proven experience in sound sampling, mixed methods approaches (quantitative and qualitative), tool development, enumerator training, etc. Excellent facilitation skills and ability to recruit and manage facilitators for qualitative component. Demonstrated experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis. Knowledge and Skills on data management platforms such as Kobo Toolbox and KoboCollect. Knowledge of database management softwares such as Excel, SPSS, N’Vivo, R, etc. Knowledge and experience with women and youth socio-economic empowerment, governance of natural resources, and knowledge sharing in extractive industries in Ghana. Knowledge and experience in gender equality issues in extractive areas are highly preferred. Fluency in both English and French is desirable and proficiency in Twi is an asset Demonstrated ability to produce high quality work under tight timeframes Minimum of 10 years of experience in conducting multi-country project assessment and/or studies, collecting data and producing quality baseline/endline study reports, preferably for international non-profit organizations or multilateral agencies Demonstrated experience in designing, managing and completing quality endline studies including proven experience in sound sampling, mixed methods approaches (quantitative and qualitative), tool development, enumerator training, etc. Excellent facilitation skills and ability to recruit and manage facilitators for qualitative component. Demonstrated experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis. Knowledge and Skills on data management platforms such as Kobo Toolbox and KoboCollect. Knowledge of database management softwares such as Excel, SPSS, N’Vivo, R, etc. Knowledge and experience with women and youth socio-economic empowerment, governance of natural resources, and knowledge sharing in extractive industries in Ghana. Knowledge and experience in gender equality issues in extractive areas are highly preferred. Fluency in both English and French is desirable and proficiency in Twi is an asset Demonstrated ability to produce high quality work under tight timeframes How To Apply Qualified and interested parties are asked to submit the following: Letter of interest Detailed technical proposal clearly demonstrating a thorough understanding of this ToR and including the following: Description of the capacity and qualifications of the consultant(s) or consulting firm, including previous relevant experience. Key strategies and actions to be considered with regards to sampling, data collection, data analysis, integration of gender considerations and ethical standards, quality assurance, etc. A proposed timeframe detailing activities and a schedule/work plan (including a Gantt chart) Team composition, qualifications, and level of effort of each proposed team member A financial proposal with a detailed breakdown of costs for the study. The budget should not exceed CAD$15 000 Itemized consultancy fees/costs Itemized field data collection expenses Itemized administrative expenses Validity period of quotations Curriculum Vitae(s) of all proposed staff outlining relevant experience Names and contact information of three references who can be contacted regarding relevant experience A copy of a previous reports of similar work undertaken A Consulting Firm profile (if applicable). Complete applications should be submitted electronically to: WUSC at [email protected] with the subject line of: ‘WAGES Endline Study Application - Ghana Closing date for submission of the application package is end of business day on August 27th, 2021 Note Please note, employers receive numerous applications per posting and will only shortlist the most qualified candidates. Also Jobsinghana.com is not involved in any decision made by an employer/recruiter and therefore does not guarantee that applications sent will result in a candidate being shortlisted/selected for that position.
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