Monitoring & Evaluation/Management Information System Consultant at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD)

The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) received a loan from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) towards the cost of the Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), and intends to use part of the proceed towards carrying out various consultancy and non consultancy service activities.

The VCDP hereby invites eligible/qualified individual consultants to express interest in offering the services below:

Job Title: Monitoring & Evaluation/Management Information System Consultant

Locations: Abuja, Enugu, Nasarrawa or Kogi

Programme Summary

• The VCDP is an investment programme presently being implemented in the six states of Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Ogun, Niger and Taraba. Three additional states of Kogi, Nasarrawa and Enugu are to further participate in the programme.

The programme includes the following components:

• Agricultural Market Development which includes Support to value addition and market linkages, Support to market infrastructure):
• Small Holders Production Enhancement which includes (Support to farmers organization and Support to small holders production) and
• Programme Management and Coordination.

The VCDP intends to expand/ update her data base of individual consultants. Eligible individual consultants are invited to indicate interest in working for the programme at any off:

• National Programme Management Unit, Abuja
• Enugu State Programme Management Unit, Enugu
• Nasarrawa State Programme Management Unit, Keffi.
• Kogi State Programme Management Unit, Lokoja

Programme Objective and Target
The Programme’s objective is that the incomes and food security of poor rural households engaged in production, processing and marketing of rice and cassava in the Programme Area are enhanced on a sustainable basis.

The primary target groups are:

• Poor rural households engaged in the cassava and rice value chains (VCs) who cultivate not more than 5 hectares of land under rice/cassava); and
• Small-scale processors (processing capacity of an average of 2 MT/day for cassava and 4 MT/day for rice) and traders, with emphasis on women and youth.

The secondary target groups include:

• Downstream stakeholders, particularly processors Linked to a large number of the primary target groups;
• Local government councils (LGAs) and communities strengthened to sustainably manage the marketing infrastructures supported by the Programme; and
• Private sector operators strengthened to provide quality services demanded by smallholder farmers and processors.

Specific task for M&E/MIS services

• Develop the Programme M&E/ MIS System on the basis of the programme’s Logical Framework.
• Conduct of baseline surveys. Render capacity building services.
• Prepare an M&E Plan, including the programmes monitoring formats;
• Establish indicators for outputs, outcomes and impact, monitor implementation processes and performance, and assess outputs and outcomes;
• Foster participatory planning and M&E by training and involving stakeholder groups;
• Oversee design of a field-based system for the programme monitoring that incorporates the logical framework approach;
• Undertake project thematic evaluations and studies. Carry out capacity building services.
• Integrate the M&E system into the overall programme coordination and organization function and with other information and knowledge systems;
• Support annual review and planning workshops and preparation of annual work plans and budgets;
• Carry out data quality, assessment and validation tests.
• Support advocacy efforts through providing evidence of impact gathered through the M&E system, closely linked to knowledge management activities;

Qualification and Experience
The requisite qualifications of the Individual Consultant shall include the following:

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience working in M&E and/or project management in areas such as agriculture, marketing, rural finance arid policy matters.
• A Master's or higher-level University degree in Agricultural Economics, Economics, Statistics or another relevant field.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing successful M&E systems:
• Solid understanding of use of modem information and communication technology (ICT) in development and excellent knowledge of computer-based communications tools, in particular web-based technology.

Criteria for Evaluation
The Following criteria will be used in evaluating the individual consultants:

• General-Education, Qualification, Membership of Professional bodies
• Specific Experience related to assignment
• Participation in similar assignments in IFAD and other donor projects
• Adequate knowledge of the terrain/environment.
• Eligible Individual Consultants should submit their detailed Curriculum Vitae with covering letter indicating area of interest.

Application Closing Date
12pm; 18th September, 2019.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should submit two hard copies (by hand or post) of their Expression of Interest (EOI) in sealed envelopes with the interested area of specialization clearly marked on the top left-hand corner of the envelope. This submission should be addressed to the undersigned at the stipulated addresses below:
The National Programme Coordinator,
FGNIIFAD Value Chain Development Programme,
4, Batna Close, Off Agadez Street, Wuse 2, Abuja.
OR
Office of the Permanent Secretary,
Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture, Enugu.
OR
Office of the Permanent Secretary,
Nassarrawa State Ministry of Agriculture, Nassarrawa
OR
Office of the Permanent Secretary,
Kogi State Ministry of Agriculture, Lokoja.