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Midterm review (MTR) consultancy for the Programme “Unlocking a Sustainable Blue Economy in the South West Indian Ocean”

TERMS OF REFERENCE



Title                       : Midterm review (MTR) of the Programme “Unlocking a Sustainable Blue Economy in the South West Indian Ocean”
Department          : Conservation
Project                  : MG 205000
Supervisor           : Sustainable Blue Economy Programme Coordinator
Type of contract  : Consultancy
Date                      : March to May 2023 (35 working days at maximum)
Reference            : AO – 003/TNR/23 - Relaunch
 

1.Background


The overall purpose of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation’s (NORAD) support of international organisations and networks is to strengthen Civil Society Organisations (CSO) in developing countries, and their ability to promote democracy, human rights and poverty reduction.  Through this Norad grant, WWF-Norway supports the implementation of five programmes on fisheries, climate & energy and infrastructure in six countries to strengthen the capacity of local civil society organisations to influence and address the problems of weak governance, lack of corporate standards and unsustainable investments.
 

2. Programme “Unlocking a Sustainable Blue Economy in the South West Indian Ocean”


The Programme “Unlocking a Sustainable Blue Economy in the South West Indian Ocean” or SWIO SBE in short, is implemented in 05 African countries (South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya and Madagascar). The Programme is coordinated by WWF Madagascar and its duration is 05 years (starting from May 1st 2021 to December 31st 2025).
 
The programme overall budget is   NOK 81,570,018 and each WWF country office’s budget has been clearly set. WWF Madagascar has established grant agreements with each of the WWF offices (South South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya) involved in the programme implementation. Each office has sub-grant agreement with identified implementing CSOs partners (Abalobi in South Africa, FOSCAMC in Mozambique, TuNA Alliance in Tanzania, TuFAK in Kenya and CNPE in Madagascar).
 
The programme is addressing the following issues in the SWIO region:  i) overfishing; ii) Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing; iii) fisheries Social and Environmental Impacts and iv) climate change. Furthermore the programme is tackling the limited meaningful adoption of Sustainable Development imperatives in the rolling out of the Blue Economy by financial institutions and national governments. Few barriers related to these issues are also addressed by the programme:
  • Absence of effective policies and plans for guiding sustainable use and management of the marine environment at the national level;
  • Absence of clear business cases for financial investments in Sustainable Blue Economy
  • Inadequate frameworks for the governance of shared fish stocks; and
  • Weak or inadequate monitoring, control and surveillance systems
 
The programme has four outcomes:
 
  1. By 2025, at least 3 out of 5 SWIO Governments have developed and adopted Sustainable Blue Economy (SBE) policies and plans
  2. By 2025, the African Development Bank and other major International Financial Institutions investing in the region adopt the SBE principles and catalyse an increased flow of investments and initiatives.
  3. By 2025, fair and equitable access to sustainable fisheries resources in the SWIO region is facilitated through a collective approach, united and influential voice in negotiations and decision making by the SWIO governments.
  4. By 2025, at least 3 out of 5 SWIO countries adopt innovative and robust management measures to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing including implementation of the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA).
 

3.Purpose and objective


A review is required at mid-term of the programme period (Unlocking a Sustainable Blue Economy in the South West Indian Ocean) as per WWF reporting requirements for Norad programmes and WWF standards. The main objective of the mid-term review is to provide WWF and stakeholders with an independent assessment of the programme against the set targets and the OECD DAC criteria for evaluation to improve its performance and effectiveness. The OECD DAC criteria for the Evaluation of Development Assistance provide a normative framework used to determine the merit or worth of an intervention (policy, strategy, programme, project or activity).
 
The specific objectives of the MTR are to:
  1. assess and make recommendations to enhance programme performance and delivery using the six OECD DAC criteria for evaluation which include 1) relevance, 2) coherence, 3) effectiveness (i.e. progress towards objectives), 4) efficiency, 5) impact, and 6) sustainability;
  2. review WWF’s ability to work with and influence private companies and financial institutions in establishing sustainable standards, principles and practices.
  3. examine the continued effects of the covid-19 pandemic on the programme will also need to be addressed, rather than a focus on known delays the pandemic has caused.
  4. review the opportunities and challenges for synergies with the other three programmes i.e. two Africa Regional programmes under this grant i.e. Africa Energy Transition (AET), Africa Sustainable Investment and Infrastructure programme (ASI), and One China fisheries programme
  5. draw key lessons learned and recommend ways to promote continuous learning.
 
The key users and target audiences for this mid-term review report is the programme advisors, managers, Norad, WWF Norway, and a portfolio midterm review consultant. The final report will be included as a basis for analysis in WWF Norway’s Civil Society Grant portfolio review, and it will feed into the thematic focus on WWF-Norway’s effectiveness in impacting private companies and financial institutions of the portfolio review.
 

4.Methodology and process


The methodology will be tailored by the consultant in the inception phase to address the specific objectives in the MTR as above mentioned. Methodology may include but not limited to, review of relevant documents i.e. programme proposal, result framework, risk assessment, budget, technical and financial reports, and other documents and reports reviewed and produced by the programme, as well as site visits and interviews and discussions with key stakeholders, WWF staff and others.
 
During these site visits, discussions and surveys for programme participants (members/employees of CSOs targeted by WWF-Norway under the SIVSA grant) and focus group discussions can be used to inform the MTR.  Participation of stakeholders in the review should be maintained at all times, reflecting opinions, expectations, and vision about the contribution of the programme towards the achievement of its objectives.
 

5.Outputs and deliverables


The consultant shall provide WWF Madagascar Country Office with the following:
 
  1. A brief inception report highlighting the key questions, methodology, timeline, and stakeholder engagement plan (07 days after contract starting date)
  2. Draft mid-term review (main text excluding summary and annexe not to exceed 25 pages) as per the report template provided by WWF Office for review by programme stakeholders; (60 days after contract starting date)
  3. PowerPoint presentation summarising the methodology and approach taken, the evaluation findings, conclusion, recommendations and lessons learned. (75 days after contract starting date) 
  4. Final mid-term review (main text excluding summary and annexe not to exceed 25 pages) as per the report template provided by WWF Office. (80 days after contract starting date)
 

6.Requirements of the reviewer


Could be individuals, consortium or institutions that qualifications & experience include:
 
  • Degree in social sciences, environmental sciences, or similar
  • 5 Years of experience in relevant field, with particular experience in working with Civil Society Organisations and capacity building
  • Experience with mid-term or end-term reviews or evaluations
  • Proficient in programme design, monitoring and evaluation
  • Excellent communication skills in English. Other regional languages are an asset
  • Good knowledge of the SWIO area and the thematic on Sustainable Blue Economy and regional fisheries management
  • Computer literate (Microsoft: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher)
 

7.Implementation arrangements


The consultant will either work alone (independent review). The consultant will be contracted by WWF Madagascar country office who shall arrange for the consultant all necessary site visits and meetings in the programme sites according to the TOR. 
 

8.Time frame and duration


 The mid-term review will be carried out between March to May 2023. The total duration will be 35 working days with the following breakdown:
  • 3 working days for literature review (reading relevant documents) and produce brief inception presentation planning the MTR;
  • 25 working days on the field (field trips included) to undertake interviews, site visit; review evidence, etc.
  • 5 working days at home base for drafting the MTR and presentation
  • 2 working days finalizing the report after receiving comments from WWF.

 

9.Coordination and supervision


The consultant will carry out the assignment under the Sustainable Blue Economy Programme Coordinator technical supervision.
 

10.Application


Those interested, either as individuals, consortium or institutions, are required to submit the following by email to procurement@wwf.mg and copy Emmanuel Molua emolua@wwf.no with the reference “AO–003/TNR/2023 Midterm review (MTR) of the Programme “Unlocking a Sustainable Blue Economy in the South West Indian Ocean”- Relaunch in subject line delivered not later than 24 March 2023 at 17.00 of EAT time with:
 
  1. A technical proposal outlining:
  • Profile and CVs of the consultant(s) undertaking the work indicating relevant experience and contribution of each one of them in this assignment (a template is available from the link https://bit.ly/2H2M8Ed, or request to be sent to procurement@wwf.mg)
  • Methodologies as per the tasks assigned,
  • Necessary relevant information showing past experience in related field (cases of relevant prior work),
 
  1. A financial proposal in US Dollars (for non-resident) or Ariary (for resident): the budget should give details of consultancy days as well as daily rates, along with management secretariat costs. Daily rates and expenditures should be shown separately. The offer should also show tax-except and taxable costs. Where costs are tax-exempt, explanations should be provided.  (Please note that any costs for developing proposals in response to this assignment are not reimbursable).
 
WWF will directly pay for all expenses related to travels, so those expenses should not appear in the consultant offer. The rate of Per diem and Accommodation should not exceed WWF’s rate and the airfare is based on Economic class.
 

11.Evaluation of Applications


An evaluation committee will review and rank the received offers.  The evaluation of the technical proposal being completed prior to any price proposal being opened and compared.
Applications will be evaluated as follows:
  • Understanding and technical soundness and merit of methodology to execute the assignment (40 points);
  • Organizational capacity and expertise to execute the assignment (25 points);
  • Past experience and performance relevant to the assignment (25 points)
 
The adjudication returns to the technical best offer (among those higher than 50/90) whose financial offer does not exceed the budget available. The possibility of negotiation is not excluded in conditions that the technical best offer makes a financial offer exceeding available budget.
 

12.Notes on cancelling the current tender


The current offer may be cancelled under the following conditions:
  • Competitiveness is not adequate;
  • No offers meet the requirements ;
  • Received offers significantly overreach the proposed budget.


13.Conditions of the tender


The proposed work will be carried out under contract attached as an annex to the present TORs. The contact will be drawn up after the offer has been confirmed. The consultant will assume all fiscal responsibilities relative to his/her tax status. As an independent employee, the consultant is responsible for the payment of any tax that might be demanded within the framework of this agreement, assuming that he is able to justify he is in good standing and up to date vis-à-vis administrative and tax authorities; otherwise, and in accordance with the law, WWF is obliged to withhold at source on the amount of its services or fees / bills, the percentage to be paid to the taxes authorities. For the particular case of non-resident consultants, the consultant is subject to the payment of the Tax on Income from Non-Resident (under Article 01.01.14.'s Tax Code CGI) up to 10% (or 5 % if based in Mauritius). A remark on this tax should appear in the financial offer.
 
The consultant will be subject to WWF management procedures at all times.
 

14.Payment of fees


Payments will be made in two installments as follows:
 
  1. 40% of the total amount of fees, upon submission of deliverables a)-b), and their acceptance by the Supervisor; and submission and approval of an invoice detailing services rendered;
  2. 60% of the total amount of fees, upon submission of deliverables c)-d), and their acceptance by the Supervisor; and submission and approval of an invoice detailing services rendered;
 
The invoice must contain the following information: name and address of the consultant, invoice date, unique invoice number, amount of fees free of charges, amount of taxes, service rendered, deliverable and/or number of hours charged, period in which service was provided, bank details.
 
WWF cannot grant in advance honorary fees. Though, field trip expenses, in accordance with WWF procedures, are payable in advance once the consultancy contract established.


15.Fraud, corruption and conflict of interest declaration


Candidates have read entirely the WWF Policy for interests and the WWF Policy Conflicts for Prevention and the Survey of Fraud and Corruption. He understands his responsibilities to comply, and fully commit to it. He acknowledges he has no conflicts, as described in the WWF's Policy on Conflicts of Interest: https://bit.ly/2H2M8Ed 
 

16.Ethics


Candidates must respect the professional rules of conduct without any reproach in the conduct of its mandate. Furthermore, the contractor will ensure not to tarnish the image of the WWF execution of its mandate. WWF gives the right to terminate the agreement in proven cases of misconduct that can harm the WWF.

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Midterm review (MTR) consultancy for the Programme “Unlocking a Sustainable Blue Economy in the South West Indian Ocean”