Request for Expression of Interest For Monitoring and Evaluation Systems Strengthening For Federal Ministry of Water Resources at RTI International

Background
The USAID Effective Water Sanitation and Hygiene (E-WASH) is a 4-year program with the main objective of strengthening the governance, financial and technical viability of five (5) State Water Boards (SWBs) in Nigeria. The five SWBs are as follows: Imo State Water and Sewerage Corporation, Taraba State Water and Sewerage Corporation, Abia State Water and Sewerage Corporation, Niger State Water and Sewage Corporation, and Delta State Urban Water Corporation.
The project is working towards achieving the following four objectives:

• Create professionally managed and commercially oriented SWBs
• Improve the financial and operational viability of SWBs
• Strengthen policy, institutional, and regulatory frameworks for improved WASH services
• Build national and state WASH advocacy, coordination, and communications for reform.
• The project is being implemented by RTI International (www.rti.org), which is an independent organization dedicated to conducting innovative, multi-disciplinary research that improves the human conditions. USAID Effective Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (E-WASH) program, to this effect is seeking a qualified firm to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation systems for Federal Ministry of Water Resources, with the aim of establishing/strengthening a robust operational sector monitoring and benchmarking systems.

Specific tasks include:
1. Preparation and inception: Hold preparatory meeting to agree on protocols for the exercise.
2. Provide technical assistance on M&E Systems Strengthening for FMoWR: The following activities are outlined in the capacity building plan developed by the E-WASH program for implementation. They are merely illustrative; the consulting firm will propose and agree with E-WASH Program additional activities relevant to strengthening FMoWR M&E capacity and systems.
3. National and Subnational Databases: Establishment of operational sector monitoring and benchmarking system by developing and deploying an online real-time monitoring tool and supporting databases for electronically capturing and storing data generated for and by the M&E system, coordinated at the FMWR and all the SMWRs. The sector monitoring and benchmarking tools will be domiciled in the NAWIS existing hardware infrastructure, which should be interoperable with the existing WASHIMS.
4. Support Human Capacity for M&E

• Training for staff on M&E competencies.
• Support for the development of a human resource capacity building plan.
• Support for the development of a training curriculum.

5. Strengthen Governance, Partnership and Coordination

• Support for the review and updates of strategy or policies that support M&E performance.
• Support for the review and drafting of Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for activities
• Support for the establishment of an M&E technical working group (TWG).
• Support for the update of inventory of M&E stakeholders for the FMWR.
• Support for the development of communication mechanisms for the FMWR.

6. Organization M&E Plan

• Support for the development/review of the FMWR M&E work-plan and alignment with the National Framework.
• Support for the development of FMWR operational guidelines.
• Support for the development of a National Multi-sectoral M&E plan for FMWR.

7. Advocacy, Communication, and Cultural Behavior

• Constructive engagement for the identification and sensitization of pro-M&E reformation champions and coordinators for the FMWR.
• Constructive engagement for the development of a FMWR M&E focused communication strategy and the development of products.

8. Routine Monitoring: Support for the development of frameworks and mechanisms for routine monitoring.
9. Surveys and Surveillance: Support for the establishment of a survey and surveillance inventory, protocols for surveys and surveillance and a functioning surveillance system.
10. Supervision and Auditing: Support the establishment of a data quality assessment, audit and supportive supervision protocol.
11. Evaluation and Research: Support for the establishment of protocols, inventories and databases for institutions, organizations and bodies undertaking research and evaluations for Water Resources.
12. Data Demand and Use: Support for the development of an organizational data use plan, dissemination of information products protocol and data analysis and presentation guidelines for the FMWR.
This shall be implemented within 90 working days (Tentatively from November 23rd-14 th April 2020)
Eligibility/Criteria for Selection
Interested Consulting firm/Institute should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform this short technical assistance. The short-listing criteria will include:

• Have a staff/expert with at least 15 years’ experience in establishing Operational Sector Monitoring and Benchmarking systems with knowledge of the WASH sector, especially in urban water, sanitation and hygiene service delivery in Nigeria; A Water Engr with WASH sector and M&E experience is highly desirable.
• Have a staff/expert with at least 10 years’ in developing human resource capacity building and providing capacity building and training for public and private institutions in monitoring, evaluation and learning in WASH context. Additional experience in establishing knowledge management and communication systems is highly desirable
• Have a staff/expert with at least 7 years’ experience in software development (Backend and Frontend) with experience in the development and deployment of real-time reporting monitoring tools. Proven practical experience with all stages of developing M&E systems and MIS system with GIS functionality in the water sector, data interoperability and interactive dashboards would be an advantage.
• Have a staff/expert with at least 7 years’ experience in designing Managing Information System including data collection, data analysis, data representation/visualization tools and development of SoPs. WASH sector experience and the use of GIS in data analysis and representation would be an advantage.
• The consulting firm must have proven ability to render services of high quality in due time;
• Track record of good communication, facilitation, presentation, and coordination skills.

Submit an expression of interest with acceptable methodology for carrying out the assignment as defined in the statement of work. The EOI should contain details of similar assignment performed;
Only shortlisted Consultants/firm shall be given a Request for Proposal that contains the detailed Statement of Work.