Consultant(s) on Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning System and Baseline Study

Terms of Reference (TOR)

Consultant(s) on Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning System and Baseline study

The project "Enhancing the Export Competitiveness of Vietnamese Small and Medium Enterprises in Spice, Fruit and Vegetable Sub-Sectors" (short title: SFV-Export)

1. About Oxfam:

Oxfam is a global movement of people who are fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. Our global confederation includes 21 member organizations working in 70 countries. We have a vision of a just and sustainable world. A world where people and the planet are at the center of our economy. Where women and girls live free from violence and discrimination. Where the climate crisis is contained. And where governance systems are inclusive and allow for those in power to be held to account.

Oxfam in Vietnam believes that a reduction in poverty, injustice, and inequality will occur through the interaction between active citizens, accountable states and the private sector and that it is fundamental to Vietnam’s development. Oxfam in Vietnam aims to influence the current growth-based development model to shift to a Human Economy Development Model built around nine core concepts, (1) measure what matters with multi-dimensional poverty and inequality, unpaid care work, environment, (2) manage markets, not being managed by them; (3) end extreme concentration of wealth, (4) progressive taxation, (5) universal public services, (6) gender equality and women’s agency, (7) decent jobs with fair and living wages for employees, (8) responsible and inclusive business models, (9) citizens’ participation.

2. Backgrounds:

Spices, fruits and vegetables make up a large share of Vietnamese agri-food exports to EU. The export turnover in 2020 was EUR 855 million, up 8% against 2019. These exports are predicted to continue to grow due to the reduction and/or removal of tariffs under the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). However, various challenges prevent Vietnamese small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from accessing the EU market, including complying with food safety and sustainable business standards, lack of market information and industry-specific knowledge of the EVFTA’s benefits, ineffective marketing strategies, and poor linkages with EU buyers.

In such context, Oxfam in Vietnam and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) jointly implement the project "Enhancing the Export Competitiveness of Vietnamese Small and Medium Enterprises in Spice, Fruit and Vegetable Sub-Sectors" (short title: SFV-Export), which is funded by the European Union (EU), during 2022 – 2023.

SFV-Export aims to enhance the export competitiveness of Vietnamese SMEs, and increasing industrywide capacity and reputation of Vietnam’s agricultural product through:

• Providing technical assistance to achieve EU-recognized food safety standards (IFS, BRC, etc.) and sustainability practices (Fairtrade).
• Providing SMEs with regularly updated information on the EU market, capacity building on marketing, and support for business matchmaking with European buyers.
• Strengthening industrywide capacity and promotion of Vietnamese agri-products to the EU market.

Expected outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Spice, and fruit and vegetable SMEs achieve compliance with EU-recognized standards on food safety and sustainability
• Outcome 2: Spice, and fruit and vegetable SMEs have increased business opportunities to export their products to the EU due to improved market development strategies and market access.
• Outcome 3: Industrywide capacities and international reputation of Vietnam’s agri-products will be improved.

Oxfam in Vietnam will employ a comprehensive Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) system to track the project progress against the established indicators at impact, outcome, and output levels, assess its impacts, capture lessons learnt to publish and apply for relevant projects. This system is expected to meet EU’s MEL requirements, be consistent with other EU funded projects as well as in harmony with Oxfam’s monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) standards.

3. Objectives

This TOR is developed for the short-term mandate of MEL expert(s) to work with Oxfam MEL specialist to support the SFV-Export project in:

• Setting up an effective MEL system for the project which reflect all expected indicators in the log frame at impact, outcome, and output level.
• Developing comprehensive baseline survey protocol (methodology and tools) for the project team to collect baseline data in response to the designed MEL system.
• Providing technical training and coaching for Oxfam staff to conduct baseline study and run the designed MEL system if required.

4.  Tasks and Deliverables

Suggested activities to be conducted:

• Review of current logical framework and project documents.
• Reviewofcurrentdata sources and related reports/documents (baseline, gender analysis, log-frame, etc.) of other projects, particularly EU funded projects.
• Develop a comprehensive MEL system, including but is not limited to framework, templates, manual, tools for data collection, etc. for the project.
• Define the project (bi)annual targets, the exact terms and indicating the procedures for measurement during monitoring and evaluation.
• Develop baseline survey protocol (including sample size, the survey methodology, set of data collection tools, quality control plan) and detailed instructions/guidelines for the project team to conduct the baseline study.
• Providing training and coaching to project team (Oxfam, partners.) to conduct baseline study and run MEL system effectively.

Expected deliverables

• The MEL system and related guidelines/instructions are completed.
• A baseline survey protocol (including sample size, the survey methodology, set of data collection tools, quality control plan) and detailed instructions/guidelines for conducting the baseline study are completed.
• Training and coaching for the project team are conducted.

5.   Tentative work plan

6.  Skills and competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (agriculture, food industry, business capacity building, economics, etc.) Master’s degree preferred.
• Thorough understanding of result-based MEL systems and tools.
• At least 5 years of proven experience in MEL work for NGO’s development projects, preferably including on issues of SMEs development, value chain development, rural economic development, social issues in agri-food sectors. Proven experience in development/ management of MEL system, conducting baseline survey, conducting MEL training and coaching.
• Priority is given to consultants with experience in EU funded projects and/or experience in similar projects.
• Strong skill set in both quantitative and qualitative, participatory methods.
• Commitment to equal opportunity and gender equality with demonstrated experience in integrating gender and diversity issues into program MEL system.
• Be committed to and able to meet the deadline.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Excellent English and Vietnamese writing skills.

7.   Proposal submission

The Proposal should be specified in terms of:

• Introduction of the Consultants’ profile and related experience (CVs).
• Technical proposal achieving all expected objectives within the mentioned timeframe (including methodology, framework, implementation plan…).
• Financial proposal that specifies the number of working days required and consultancy rate.

How to Apply: The Proposal should be submitted in English by email with subject mentioning “SFV Export – Designing MEL system/Baseline study” to [email protected].

The closing date for application: 19^th June 2022.

We regret that only short-listed applicants will be contacted for an interview.