Back Consultant - PREPARADU Project Review - Timor-Leste

*Application deadline - January 25, 2022

Background:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

Since establishing operations in Timor-Leste in 2007, we have earned a reputation for innovative and high-quality programming. We promote a community-led, market-based approach to addressing key challenges to improved wellbeing through greater resilience, resolved root causes of poverty, and inclusive economic growth so that Timor-Leste is able to thrive beyond oil.

Strengthening Critical Resilience Capacities to Climate Change and Natural Disasters in Timor-Leste (PREPARADU) project funded by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) aims to strengthen and reinforce Timor-Leste’s environmental resilience and response capacities to natural disasters and climate change for a more stable future through three specific objectives, which are:

• Objective 1. Reduce consumption and improper disposal of plastic waste that contributes to natural disaster and climate change risks;
• Objective 2. Increase Government of Timor Leste and other key stakeholder capacity to respond to flooding and tsunamis; and
• Objective 3. Strengthen Government of Timor Leste capacity to apply for international DRR or climate change funding.

Consultant Objectives:

PREPARADU is entering its last year of implementation. This review shall provide strategic guidance to Mercy Corps and KOICA for the remaining period of the current phase.

• Objective 1: Provide an external opinion on project implementation in order to support project management by KOICA and Mercy Corps
• Objective 2: Formulate advice and recommendations for the remaining period of the project

The scope of the review comprises the following core questions related to above objectives:

Objective 1:

Effectiveness

1. Are the activities implemented in accordance with the project plans? If not, why?
2. What outputs have been achieved? To what extent do they contribute to the objectives?
3. How effective are the approaches and structures in delivering the desired outputs? How can they be improved?

Efficiency

1. Are the available technical and financial resources adequate to fulfill the project plans?
2. Have there been any unforeseen problems? How well were they dealt with?
3. Is there an effective process, built into the management structure for self monitoring and assessment, reporting and reflection?

Relevance

1. Establish whether or not the design and approach are relevant in addressing the identified needs, issues and challenges
2. To what extent is the project contributing to the strategic priorities of GoTL and other stakeholders.

Sustainability

1. Is the approach used likely to ensure a continued benefit after the end of the project?
2. Are all key stakeholders sufficiently and effectively involved? Are their expectations met and are they satisfied with their level of participation?
3. Are alternative or additional measures needed and, if so, what is required to ensure continued sustainability and positive impact?

Impact

1. Is the project bringing about desired changes in the behaviour of people and institutions?
2. Have there been any unintended positive or negative impacts arising from particular outcomes?
3. What could have been the likely situation (of the environment and its management) without the project?

Objective 2:

Which key adjustments in terms of processes, strategies and approaches need to be taken during the current project phase in order to increase relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact or sustainability of the intervention?

Consultant Activities:

1. A desktop review of all relevant documentation, including (but not limited to):

   • The project document, contracts and related agreements
   • Annual workplans and budgets
   • Bi-annual/Annual Reports

2. Face to face interviews and discussions with key stakeholders involved in the project

   📚 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝗝𝗼𝗯 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯! 🌍🤝 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗡𝗛𝗖𝗥, 𝗪𝗙𝗣, 𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗙, 𝗨𝗡𝗗𝗦𝗦, 𝗨𝗡𝗙𝗣𝗔, 𝗜𝗢𝗠 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🌐

   ⚠️ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰: 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝐣𝐨𝐛 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐍𝐎𝐖!

   • A list of key partners and stakeholders will be identified at an early stage and a consultation process developed. All stakeholders consulted should be in a position to present their views in confidence to the team and to identify issues, opportunities, constraints and options for the future.
3. Electronic interviews through teleconference or written comments - e.g. emails; where partners cannot be reached for face to face interview.

Note: The methodology for the review is to be developed through consultation with the Mercy Corps team taking into account the budget and the ToRs. The methodology adopted should update the preliminary issues and questions outlined within the ToRs, specifying the specific review issues, questions, methods of data collection and analysis that experts will undertake.

Consultant Deliverables:

1. A briefing note outlining the proposed methodology and detailed responsibilities of each team member to be submitted prior to the onset of the assessment process.

2. A findings report (in Korean and English), which should include the following:

   • An assessment of the performance of the project, based on the project document and stakeholder meetings
   • Identification of the main lessons learned and adjustment strategies

Timeframe / Schedule:

The review is scheduled to take place in the month of February and March 2022 (subject to change: based on 1) La Nina driven disasters; 2) further COVID restrictions) for an estimated 20 working days broken down as follows:

1. Review of background documentation and preparation of methodology – 2 days
2. Discussion and agreement on proposed methodology with project partners – 1 day
3. Assessment of project progress and performance – including field visits and interviews with project partners and key stakeholders – 10 days
4. Analysis of findings and production of draft report – 4 days
5. Debriefing - presentation and discussion of findings to project partners – 1 day
6. Finalization/revisions of the report and submission – 2 days

In the case of COVID-19 travel restrictions, the review period may be extended and the assignment can be changed to remote assignment.

The Consultant will report to:

Director of Programs, Mercy Corps, Timor Leste

The Consultant will work closely with:

Program Managers and relevant staff

Required Experience & Skills:

Mercy Corps is looking for a total of 3 Key Experts. All experts must be fluent in both Korean and English. A Team Leader will head a team of key experts, who will organize and supervise the implementation of the contract, carry out reviews, be in charge of the internal quality control, and draft the final report. The team will consist of three people (Project Strategic Planning Expert (Team Leader), DRR Expert and Circular Economy Expert). Detailed responsibilities of each team member should be determined at the beginning of the mission and outlined in the methodology.

• Project Strategic Planning Expert (Team Leader)

  • Minimum 10 years of experience in the field of development cooperation; and have a master's degree in development cooperation
  • Fluency in both Korean and English
  • Experience in development cooperation portfolio strategy establishment/planning/evaluation
  • Experience in research/planning/implementation/ evaluation of similar projects by KOICA and/or international organizations

• DRR Expert

  • Minimum 7 years of field experience in disaster risk reduction related projects or programming
  • Fluency in both Korean and English
  • Familiarity with disaster risk reduction and climate change frameworks, practices and programs
• Circular Economy Expert
• Minimum 7 years of demonstrated work experience in sustainable development, green technologies, economic and market systems development, or other relevant areas
• Fluency in both Korean and English
• Knowledge of the circular economy, including experience with inclusive recycling initiatives in low- and middle-income countries, ocean plastics prevention, social and behavior change reduction strategies, and green policy reform advocacy
• Demonstrable understanding of the plastics industry and global markets

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.