Republic of Tajikistan

Learning Environment – Foundation of Quality Education Project 

Consulting services

Contract No MOES/LEARN/IC/2023-02

 

Position: Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist

 Issuance date: 30/03/2023

Closing date/time: 14/04/2023

 

BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION:

The Government of the Republic of Tajikistan has received grant funding in the amount of US$50.0 million from the World Bank for the implementation of the "Learning Environment – Foundation of Quality Education Project” (the Project, LEARN) during 2023-2029. The Project will be implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science (MOES), and in close coordination with the Agency for Supervision in the Sphere of Education and Science (ASSES). 

The Project Development Objective is to enhance the quality of teaching and learning environments in selected general secondary schools.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (M&E Specialist) will be responsible for periodically monitoring and evaluating project indicators mainly through the Results Framework in the Project Appraisal Document of under the Learning Environment – Foundation of Quality Education Project. He/she will ensure that data needed for the project monitoring and evaluation are collected in a satisfactory, timely and cost-effective manner and in strict compliance with the Project Operations Manual (POM), which will be developed and adopted by the MOES within three months of project effectiveness.

 

The M&E Specialist will be contracted by the MoES using the Learning Environment – Foundation of Quality Education Project funds and will be accountable to the Director and to the Project Coordinator on day-to-day project monitoring activities.

 

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the supervision of the Director and Project Coordinator, the M&E Specialist will:

 

(a) Take the lead in periodically collecting data needed for the Results Framework with field visits if necessary;

(b) Present the updated Results Framework before every implementation support mission; 

(c) Collect the data, besides those for the Results Framework, necessary for the project monitoring, evaluation, and/or implementation as needed.; 

(d) Complete a section for M&E in the POM and review other sections;

(e) Assist in developing and regularly updating Project Implementation Plans in coordination with the MOES and other relevant stakeholders; 

(f) Develop terms of reference (ToRs) for M&E tasks to be carried out by consulting firms or individuals (e.g. the design of baseline and follow-up surveys, evaluations, etc. as described in the PAD and elaborated in the POM). Coordinate the data collection using the Project research and classroom observation tools (School User Survey, TEACH, etc.), provide quality control over the selection of the consultants for data collection and analysis;

(g) Coordinate surveys necessary for the project in consultation with survey consultants;

(h) Assist the MoES with the selection process and contract management of technical assistance (technical acceptance of reports and deliverables provided by consultants) relevant to M&E tasks;

(i) Support the MoES in providing M&E training to local government staff as needed;

(j) Ensure fluid communication and integration with Heads of Agencies MOES and other relevant stakeholders to ensure realistic inputs into annual plan and target setting exercises, and on implementation of coordinated monitoring and evaluation systems. 

(k) Support the production of quality project Implementation Progress Reports and facilitate their timely submission to Director and Program Coordinator. 

(l) Support the preparation of Monthly/Quarterly/Yearly Project Implementation Progress Reports, Mid-Term Review Report,  survey reports and a Final Completion Report required for the Project’s midterm review; 

(m) Provide regular briefings on monitoring and evaluation activities to inform various project stakeholders (e.g., MoES, World Bank, external audiences, etc.) with up-to-date information on activities implemented, accomplishments, problems encountered and solutions executed;

 

(n) Conduct regular field visits to collect and verify data in the locations where project-related activities are being conducted. 

(o) Support the MoES in disseminating information about the Project’s outcomes and organize publication of results; and

(p) Support the MoES for any other matters, as needed. 

 

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED FOR THIS POSITION:

The selected candidate will conform to the following qualifications and experience profile:

(a) Higher education degree in the field of public administration, social science, statistics or economics;

(b) Five years of relevant full-time work experience in monitoring and evaluation in internationally-financed development projects;

(c) Excellent skills in managing, analyzing, and interpreting data, designing M&E systems in projects;

(d) Ability to write clearly and concisely in English and Tajik;

(e) Very strong planning, system development and organizational skills;

(f) Strong communication and facilitation skills;

(g) Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with the team members, clients and external actors;

(h) Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (MS Word, Excel, Power point, etc.) and advance knowledge of spreadsheet and database packages;

(i) Excellent command of Russian and English, and good knowledge of Tajik is a requirement

(j) Two reference letters from the most recent employers

 

ASSIGNMENT DURATION, LOCATION AND REPORTING:

The M&E Specialist is expected to be available for this assignment as soon as LEARN becomes effective (expected in March 2023). This assignment is for a total of 12 (twelve) months starting from the contract signing date and renewable annually based on the consultant’s performance and business needs. 

The MOES shall provide an office space and necessary equipment to the M&E specialist during his/her tenure of service in the MOES of Tajikistan. The M&E Specialist is expected to work full time (office hours).

 

APPLICATION AND SELECTION: 

The Consultant(s) will be selected in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers (May 2004, revised October 2006, 2010 and 2011). The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to paragraphs 1.9 and 1.11 of the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants under IBRD Loans and IDA Credits & Grants by World Bank Borrowers dated January 2011 and revised July 2014 (“Consultant Guidelines”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest and eligibility.  

 

Qualified applicants are requested to send documents via e-mail: maorif-marketing@mail.ru 

Please, include the position title in the subject of the email.

 

For more information, please call: (+992 37) 2274502 from 8:00 to 17:00 

 

The deadline for submitting documents is 14 April 2023, before 17:00 (Dushanbe time).