Request For Aga Khan Foundation - Afghanistan
Request For Short Term Assignment for Conducting a Training on MEAL DPro
1. Rationale
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF-A), Health & Nutrition Department, is planning to conduct a training session on Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning for Development Professionals (MEAL DPro) for its relevant staff at AKF Afghanistan in Kabul. To achieve this, we seek to contract a consultancy or firm to facilitate this assignment in Kabul NPO during February 2025.
The F4HE project is a complex initiative implemented across various service delivery points, including health facilities (maternity waiting houses, play corners, and eHealth sites), early childhood development centers, community libraries, health rooms, and community councils. It involves multiple agencies such as AKF, AKHS-A, AKES, AKU, FMIC, and DHRS, operating in five provinces: Badakhshan, Baghlan, Bamiyan, Kabul, and Kandahar. The project data needs to be recorded and reported in different levels like input, process, output, and outcome (immediate outcome, intermediate outcome, and ultimate outcome) through different tools like narrative, PMF and reach. In the other hand we need to conduct annual outcome assessments, baseline and endline survey, analyze, visualize, and interpret and disseminate their data for donor, internal and external stakeholders, communities, and government.
To ensure from accurate recording and reporting of the project data in the different level, transforming data to the information, analyzing, interpreting, visualizing and disseminating of the project data and ensure that the project activities are implementing according to the project goals and objectives, we need to have qualified and skillful MIS/M&E tam, because of that we planned to provide the MEAL DPro training facilities for them.
Given the current situation, there is a critical need for local accredited consultancy expertise to enhance our team's capacity. Therefore, hiring an individual with the right skills and experience is vital for facilitating the necessary MEAL DPro training. By investing in this training, we will empower our MIS/M&E team to perform their roles effectively, ultimately leading to improved project outcomes and adherence to our goals.
2. Project Background
Approximately 25 MIS/M&E staff from the national program office, regional offices, and other sister agencies which are engaged in F4HE implementation will participate in this 5-day training. The training is funded by the F4HE project under the MERL budget.
The overall objective is to enhance the knowledge and skills of the AKF MIS/M&E team in MEAL principles, designing MEAL frameworks, setting up MEAL systems, conducting evaluations, ensuring accountability mechanisms, and promoting adaptive learning in projects.
Participants will be introduced to MEAL DPro principles, practical tools for data collection and analysis, feedback mechanisms, and reporting structures to enhance project effectiveness and impact measurement.
3. Scope of work / Overall objective
The specific objective of the training is to carry out the concepts in theoretical and practical ways as below:
I. MEAL in Project
- MEAL phase model.
- Ethical standards in MEAL.
- Crosscutting themes in MEAL.
II. Designing Logical Module
- Theory of change.
- Result Framework.
- Logical framework.
- Objective statement.
- Assumptions.
- Indicators.
- Measurement Methode.
III. MEAL planning Tools
- Performance management plan.
- Indicator performance tracking.
- Feedback and Response mechanism flowchart.
- Planning tools for MEAL communication.
- Evaluation Planning.
IV. MEAL in Project Management
- MEAL in the project calendar.
- MEAL in the project budget.
V. MEAL data
- Data quality.
- Creating Samples.
- Managing Data.
- Basic Quantitative data analysis.
- Basic Qualitative data analysis.
- Interpretating Quantitative and Qualitative Data.
- Adaptive Management.
- Progress Reporting.
4. Work Location
Kabul, Afghanistan.
5. Main duties and responsibilities
- Developing structured and comprehensive training materials, including training modules, plans, and instructional materials tailored to MEAL expertise levels.
- Conducting engaging and participatory sessions using lectures, demonstrations, hands-on exercises, and real-world examples of Health projects.
- Conducting pre-training assessment to assess trainees' needs and skill levels to customize the curriculum accordingly.
- Evaluating trainees' performance, providing constructive feedback, and guiding participants to enhance their MEAL skills.
- Conducting pre- and post-training assessments to measure overall training and each participant’s progress.
- Providing necessary training facilities such as MEAL DPro guidebooks’ hard copies and other handouts.
- Conducting daily evaluations from training and arranging the training on consequent days based on participants feedback to improve training effectiveness.
- Compiling and distributing training reference materials (textbooks, presentations, videos, and group work materials) in both soft and hard copies.
- Providing and submitting a detailed training report to AKF related department.
- Providing post-training support and guidance to participants for two weeks after the training.
- Booking one MEAL DPro certification exam for each participant and covering the cost of the certification exam as part of the consultancy package.
6. Methodology
The training should incorporate adult learning methodologies with practical and interacting sessions to ensure effective knowledge transfer. Various teaching techniques, including problem-based learning, brainstorming, presentations, discussions, exercises, displays, Q&A sessions, and evaluations, should be used. Follow-up mechanisms should be implemented to ensure learning retention.
7. Deliverables
- 5-day training with follow-up sessions for two months (at least one session per week).
- Pre-training assessment document.
- Documentation of overall and individual progress against the pre-test.
- Hard and soft copies of training materials (textbooks, presentations, videos, and exercises) for each participant.
- Certificates for participants.
- Booking and covering the cost of the MEAL DPro certification exam for each participant.
- Comprehensive training report aligned with the training plan and schedule.
8. Qualifications Required
- Extensive experience in MEAL DPro training for NGOs.
- In-depth knowledge of MEAL DPro methodologies and tools.
- Expertise in monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning frameworks.
- Ability to meet tight deadlines and deliver high-quality training.
- Strong skills in developing analyses, presentations, and reports in English.
- The consultant must have legal membership of PM4NGOs with updated documents.
9. Consultant/ individual profile
Where the Consultant is a team of individuals, the members of the Project Management Team should possess a mix of evaluative skills and thematic knowledge. In particular, the consultancy team must ensure that the training is well-developed to meet the organization's needs.
10. Terms of Payment
- 20% upon signing the contract.
- 80% upon completion of the task and approval of the final report.
11. Timeline / Work Plan
The training is expected to be conducted in February 2025. The consultant must submit a detailed work plan specifying start and end dates for each activity.
12. Ethical Protocols and Required Documents
The consultant must submit:
- Technical and financial proposals.
- Methodology and ethical considerations.
- Confidentiality agreements.
- Identification documents and relevant work history.