INTRODUCTION

Solidaridad, an esteemed international network organization with over 55 years of experience, is dedicated to fostering resilient communities and sustainable supply chains worldwide. In East and Central Africa, Solidaridad has a significant presence in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Our mission is to bring supply chain players together and engage them with innovative solutions to improve production, ensuring the transition to a sustainable and inclusive economy that maximizes all stakeholders’ benefits. Solidaridad, Ethiopia, is currently implementing initiatives in the cotton, textile, leather, and coffee commodities in collaboration with the Ethiopian government and private sector partners and stakeholders.
2.0 Purpose
Solidaridad Ethiopia seeks to hire a Monitoring and Evaluation Expertise for a 2-month assignment to provide technical expertise in developing and implementing gender-inclusive MEL systems. The consultant will work closely with selected CSOs to strengthen their capacity, establish reliable data collection frameworks, and integrate gender-specific indicators into their MEL processes.
 Background

Solidaridad established a country office in Ethiopia since November 2015 with registration # 3531. The office re-registered on July 11, 2019, under the CSO Proclamation 1113/2019. Currently, Solidaridad is implementing a small grant aimed at integrating Gender-Inclusive Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) Systems for Equitable and Transformative Impact to support selected Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) across Ethiopia. This initiative seeks to enhance MEL practices with a focus on gender inclusion, and the  use of gender specific indicators to track deliverables thereby empowering CSOs to drive equitable outcomes and transformative impacts.
In an effort to realize the broader objective of the project initiatives, Solidaridad Network, Ethiopia office is currently looking for a part time Monitoring and Evaluation expert to provide technical support, oversee MEL activities, and ensure the effective implementation of gender-inclusive MEL systems for the selected CSOs in the project.

Expected Project Outcomes

The consultancy is expected to achieve the following outcomes:

●    Strengthened gender-inclusive Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) systems for selected CSOs.
●    Increased capacity of CSOs in implementing gender-responsive MEL frameworks.
●    Development and successful piloting of a gender-inclusive MEL tool tailored to the needs of CSOs.
●    Enhanced documentation of best practices and lessons learned, fostering continuous improvement in gender-inclusive MEL systems.

Objectives of the project

The primary objectives of this consultancy are:

●    To assess the current MEL systems of selected CSOs and identify gaps in gender sensitivity.
●    To build the capacity of selected CSOs in developing and implementing gender-responsive MEL practices.
●    To design and pilot a user-friendly MEL tool that incorporates gender-specific indicators and addresses the needs of marginalized groups.
●    To facilitate knowledge sharing and learning to promote the adoption of gender-inclusive MEL systems.
●    To develop comprehensive documentation and tools that can support long-term capacity-building efforts in gender-inclusive MEL practices.

Methodology

The consultant will employ a participatory approach, beginning with an inception phase to align objectives and expectations with Solidaridad Ethiopia. A gap analysis will assess the current MEL systems of selected CSOs, identifying areas for improvement through stakeholder consultations, surveys, and workshops. Based on the findings, tailored capacity-building sessions will enhance CSOs’ skills in implementing gender-inclusive MEL practices. A user-friendly MEL tool with integrated gender-specific indicators will be developed, piloted, and refined based on feedback. The process will culminate in knowledge-sharing sessions to document lessons learned and best practices, alongside comprehensive reports and resources to support the long-term adoption and scalability of gender-inclusive MEL systems.

Responsibilities of Consultants/Scope of Work

The M&E Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:
●    Capacity Building
Design and deliver training programs for CSOs on gender-responsive MEL systems.
Provide ongoing mentorship and support to enhance understanding and application of gender-sensitive principles in MEL.

●    Tool Development
Develop a practical and user-friendly MEL tool, incorporating gender-sensitive indicators tailored to CSOs’ contexts.
Ensure the tool aligns with international best practices and organizational goals.
Ensure tools capture data on both men and women and are inclusive of marginalised groups

●    Piloting and Follow-Up
Oversee the piloting of the gender-inclusive MEL tool within selected CSOs to validate its effectiveness.
Provide technical support to address challenges and refine the tool during the piloting phase.

●    Lesson Learning and Knowledge Sharing
Organize and facilitate lesson-sharing sessions with piloted organizations to capture best practices and insights.
Document and disseminate findings to relevant stakeholders for continuous improvement.

●    Reporting
Prepare detailed progress reports at each stage of the scope of work.
Develop a comprehensive final report summarizing activities, outcomes, and recommendations.

Deliverables

●    Deliverable 1: Training Materials: Comprehensive modules for building CSOs’ capacity in gender-sensitive MEL practices.
●    Deliverable 2: Gender-Sensitive MEL Tool: A finalized tool with integrated gender-specific indicators tailored to CSOs’ needs.
●    Deliverable 3: one training sessions:provision of capacity building training for the selected local CSOs in Addis-Ababa and each training session takes three days.
●    Deliverable 4: Piloting Summary Report: Summary of the piloting process, feedback, challenges, and recommendations.
●    Deliverable 5: Follow-Up Report: Insights and updates from follow-up activities with piloted organizations.
●    Deliverable 6: Lessons Learned Document: Consolidated document on lessons, best practices, and outcomes from pilot and follow-up phases.
●    Deliverable 7: Final Comprehensive Report: Conclusive report with findings, outcomes, and recommendations for scaling.

Expert/Consultant’s Profile:

Consultancy Period: