CATALYZE ETHIOPIA: MS4G Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) Consultancy
| Employer: | Palladium |
Description | |
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CATALYZE ETHIOPIA: MS4G Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting (CLA) Consultancy Project Overview and Role: MS4G isdesigned to benefit the Ethiopian people, build community resilience, andstrengthen rural-urban linkages in the areas of food security and WASH. MS4Ginvests in developing strong relationships with private sector players, co-investingin inclusive business models, advisory services, digital solutions, andmarket-based initiatives that increase the resilience and sustainability ofEthiopian enterprises and employment for women and youth. MS4G uses a marketsystems approach to address key food security and WASH sub-systems, and theimpact of economic shocks, including COVID-19 and political instability bystimulating adoption, adaptation, broad expansion, responsiveinstitutionalization, and scaling of approaches and business models totransform the lives of Ethiopians. The project supports activities in AddisAbaba and the secondary cities of Ethiopia. Through implementation of this TOR, MS4G willutilize a robust CLA approach that integrates processes, resources, and cultureto ensure that all project activities promote continuous learning and appliesadaptive management to intentionally adjust responses to new information andcontext. As learning is a critical focus of CATALYZE, it is our approachto put into place from the start of implementation, processes that provideregular opportunities for knowledge-sharing and dialogue among staff, collaborationwith Mission and other USAID activities and engaged market actors. PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENTThe purpose of the assignment will be toconduct all-inclusive CLA activities including operationalizing the learningagenda, conducting Pause and Reflect (P&R) sessions with the project teams andmanagement by developing appropriate tools and to train and enable the teams toconduct regular ongoing CLA activities. Through this assignment, the CLAconsultant is therefore expected to work to enhance the capacity of the projectstaff to be able to regularly conduct P&R sessions and other learningsessions as part of regular activity monitoring in order to adapt lessons learned. Theevidence generated from the learning agenda assessment and P&R sessions willbe used to refine the project implementation approach and contribute to improveresults and overall project performance. The lessons and experiences gainedfrom such CLA activities will help to build the capacity of project staff to conductthe assessments regularly. Primary Duties and Responsibilities: Support the CLA implementation: The consultant will conduct all the CLA componentsand adapt and enhance a base set of tools necessary for the project teams toimplement CLA. This includes: a) Adapt and enhance tools from the AMELP that are necessary for teams to operationalize CLA regularly - Review the tools and templates available for the project AMELP, and determine what is applicable for MS4G programming, adapting and enhancing the tools appropriately. This entails reviewing the components of the learning plan including the learning agenda that incorporate gender and youth, the activity reflection guide, the after-action reviews, the P&R and other tools. Based on this review, update the CLA framework to capture what kinds of activities have or will contribute to the CLA strategy - Hold introductory meetings with the project staff to ascertain what activities have already contributed to the CLA strategy b) Build the Capacity of CATALYZE MS4G staff and implementing partners - Work with technical teams, project management and other stakeholders to strengthen their evidence base and evidence utilization, - Work with technical teams to generate and help answer emerging learning questions for the Project, as part of Learning Agenda. - Conduct at least two training sessions to train staff on how to capture learning on the developed tools. Develop operational guidelines on how to use the tools to capture CLA Learning Support: CATALYZE Ethiopia aims to mainstream a 'learningapproach' into program execution from the start of implementation processes. Thisprovides opportunities for learning, knowledge sharing and dialogue among theproject staff, implementing partners, and engaged stakeholders. Under this, theconsultant will contribute to the following: a) Operationalize Learning Agenda - Operationalize the Learning Agendas by adapting the tools for the learning questions and developing guidance for teams to operationalize these tools for future similar learning assessments. - Implement explicit learning processes guided by the system map and results chains, and the formal AMELP. b) Operationalize CATALYZE Ethiopia; MS4G Project - Work with the CATALYZE Ethiopia: MS4G team to develop a CLA strategy that builds on current strengths and fills any gaps from weaknesses in understanding and application of CLA. This leverages the implementation approach and supports a designated CLA champion from each team. - Support teams in operationalizing CLA processes articulated in the CLA strategy of the CATALYZE Ethiopia: MS4G AMELP. c) Establish the framework and conduct Pause and Reflect Sessions with the Teams and Management Specifically, the consultant will berequired to: - Establish the framework for conducting P&R sessions highlighting the following: - What has worked, what has not worked well? What are the major reasons for not working well? - Tools to identify major successes - What are the challenges, potential risks, and possible mitigation measures? And identify areas that need management attention - What changes are needed to improve the program and strategies and activities to be integrated in the coming workplans? - Implications for the WASH and food security sectors - Facilitate 2-3 P&R activities for staff and relevant stakeholders for selected technical areas (4 core, and 1 cross cutting technical areas) and at least 2 for operations (finance, human resources, procurement) using a variety of participatory approaches to encourage truthful conversation, - Hold P&R activities to feed into design and implementation schedules so learning is generated when most usable. - Prepare Produce the Pause and Reflect Activity Report and Action Plan a) Knowledge Management The consultant will developknowledge management system to facilitate learning, including procedures on documentingand disseminating the information. Thefollowing will be key areas of the consultancy tasks: - Develop various types of information and knowledge: MS4G will apply formal and recognized processes and principles to seek out and gather alternative information, especially knowledge that emerges from the project implementation processes. - Facilitate information flows: ensure effective flows of information by developing platforms that push information to team members automatically to limit unintended stove piping of information flows. - Use information and knowledge: ensure effective knowledge management by not only ensuring information flows, but by ensuring staff are able to regularly apply tools and processes to filter and prioritize information for decision-making. ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS DURATION OF THE TASK CONTRACT The total performance period of this assignmentwill be for three months starting from mid-June to mid-October 2022 with LoE of30 days that will be considered from the effective date of this assignment tothe delivery and acceptance of the report. THE CONSULTANCY FEE The Price proposal should include all costs including applicable taxes that could possibly be incurred by the service provider. Company Overview: About Palladium - Palladium is a global leader in the design, development and delivery of Positive Impact - the intentional creation of enduring social and economic value. We work with governments, businesses, and investors to solve the world's most pressing challenges. With a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 90 plus countries and a global network of over 35,000 experts, we help improve economies, societies and, most importantly, people's lives. Equity, Diversity & Inclusion - Palladium is committed to embedding equity, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do. We welcome applications from all sections of society and actively encourage diversity to drive innovation, creativity, success and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce; and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment regardless of their background or personal characteristics. These include: (but are not limited to) socio-economic background, age, race, gender identity and expression, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, nationality, veteran, marital or Indigenous status. Should you require any adjustments or accommodations to be made due to a disability or you are a neurodivergent individual or for any other circumstance, please email our team at accessibility@thepalladiumgroup.com and we will be in touch to discuss. Safeguarding - We define Safeguarding as "the preventative action taken by Palladium to protect our people, clients and the communities we work with from harm". We are committed to ensuring that all children and adults who come into contact with Palladium are treated with respect and are free from abuse. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced selection process including safeguarding-focused interviews and a rigorous due diligence process. | |