Role: Senior Strategic Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation (SPME) Advisor
Location: Abuja, Nigeria (Up to 25 days per quarter and 100 days per year – travel costs covered by the CREATES Activity, if necessary)
Dates: October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025, with an additional option year: October 1, 2025 – September 30, 2026)
Level of Effort: 5 weeks per quarter (25 business days)
NOTE: This consultancy is contingent upon availability of funds.
Introduction
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) West Africa Regional Mission prioritizes innovative and adaptive economic growth programming to promote inclusive development in the West Africa region. By collaborating with regional institutions like the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), USAID/West Africa aims to develop a cohesive approach to support democratic, peaceful and stable states, inclusive broad-based economic growth, strengthened health systems, and increased resilience of the targeted populations.
The Collaborative Regional Evidence-based Adaptation for Transformative Economic Solutions (CREATES) Activity implemented by Bixal Solution Inc. (Bixal), supports USAID/West Africa Regional Economic Growth Office (REGO) in aligning learning priorities and adaptive management practices through a responsive, evidence-based support system, learning, capacity building, and strategic communications that will help drive the successful implementation of USAID/West Africa REGO programming goals.
Under the CREATES Activity, USAID/West Africa intends to provide support to ECOWAS in the form of Short-Term Technical Assistance (STTA). The support involves the recruitment of a Senior Strategic Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (SPME) Advisor who will work within ECOWAS in Abuja to provide technical assistance to the Commission. The Senior SPME Advisor will provide expert advice and technical support to the Office of the Vice President and will implement functions to ensure the ECOWAS Directorate of Strategic Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (SPME) is well positioned to respond to on-going reforms at the Commission as it relates to policies, tools and processes that support the delivery of its mandate. To this end, the CREATES Activity is soliciting applications from qualified experts for the Senior SPME Advisor consultancy.
Background
The ECOWAS Directorate of Strategic Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (SPME) is responsible for the preparation of the long-term development plan of the ECOWAS Community (the Community) and the strategic framework that guides the design and implementation of the medium-term objectives and programs of the Community. The Directorate is also responsible for monitoring and evaluating the programs, projects, and results outlined in both the long-term (Vision 2050) and medium-term strategic frameworks (Community Strategic Framework). In line with its mandate, the Directorate in collaboration with other Community institutions, agencies, and member states has developed and operationalized:
1. The ECOWAS Vision 2050 – the development plan that envisions “the ECOWAS we all want to see in the next 30 years”.
2. The Community Strategic Framework (CSF) 2023 -2027 – this is the medium-term plan that highlights the objectives and results the Community intends to achieve over the next 5 years and guidelines for the design of appropriate programs and projects to ensure the realization of the objectives and results.
3. The current management of the ECOWAS Commission formulated the 4X4 Strategic Objectives for the four (4) years of their tenure. The Directorate developed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) with Baseline, and Targets to monitor and report on the achievements of the Community in line with the Strategies Objectives, Strategic Orientation, and Priority Actions set out in the 4X4 Strategic Objectives.
4. Hitherto, the Directorate had also developed and operationalized a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Policy and a Manual as the guiding principles for planning, monitoring and evaluation of programs and projects in the Community.
Currently, the Directorate under the supervision of the Vice President has the following responsibilities:
· Strategic planning and strategy implementation
· Coordination of development programs and projects
· Monitoring
· Evaluation
· Enterprise risk management
· Institutional reform process
· Implementation of regional programs on stabilization and community development, and
· Human capital development strategy
The Scope of the Senior SPME Advisor’s Role
Role Overview
Under the supervision of the ECOWAS Vice- President, the Senior SPME Advisor will provide expert advice and technical support to the Office of the Vice President. This role is critical in ensuring the Directorate positions itself in response to on-going reforms at the Commission as it relates to policies, tools, and processes that support the delivery of its mandate.
The support is expected to include, but not limited to, review of existing policies, tools, processes, building and accompanying capabilities that promote enterprise risk management (ERM) and providing high-level technical support in the delivery of the Directorate’s mandate.
The Senior SPME Advisor will work closely with the Director of SPME, various departments, institutions, agencies, and stakeholders to enhance the Commission's performance, accountability, results, and impact.
Roles and Responsibilities
1. Strategic Planning:
· Review existing policies and processes on strategic planning for the ECOWAS Commission, institutions, and agencies
· Advise accordingly and support the review/development of policies and manuals if needed
· Support the mid-term review of ECOWAS’ 4X4 Strategic Objectives in consultation with ECOWAS member states, institutions, agencies, and stakeholders
· Provide technical advice and support in promoting results-based planning within ECOWAS Commission, institutions and agencies
· Ensure the use of software tools for tracking progress in the implementation of the ECOWAS Vision 2050.
· Ensure tools and processes for strategic alignment of annual workplans with ECOWAS Vision 2050.
2. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E):
· Support the finalization of key performance indicators of the ECOWAS CSF and Strategic Objectives
· Advise on and provide technical support in data collection to support indicator tracking
· Collaborate with ongoing processes to automate data collection, population, and analysis and advice accordingly
· Support the production of mid-year and end-of-year M&E results-based reports using automated software like Aid Management Platform
· Support the evaluation of ECOWAS programs and projects in line with the ECOWAS Vision 2050
3. Enterprise Risk Management (ERM):
· Advise on better approaches and tools to be employed by ECOWAS to promote an ERM culture
· Support the updating of risk registers of Directorates within the ECOWAS Commission
· Facilitate capacity building on ERM for focal persons within the Commission
· Advise and support the automation of ERM within ECOWAS Commission through Systems Applications and Products (SAP)
4. Implementation of Development Programs and Project:
· Facilitate communication and collaboration across departments to enhance program coherence and synergy
5. Capacity reinforcement:
· Conduct needs assessment on planning and M&E for staff of the Directorate
· Collaborate with the CREATES Activity to implement capacity reinforcement activities on planning and M&E for staff of the Directorate
Qualifications and Experience
1. Education:
· Advanced degree (master’s or Ph.D.) in Strategic Planning, Economics, Development Studies, Public Administration, or a related field
2. Experience:
· At least 15 years of relevant experience in strategic planning, monitoring, and evaluation, preferably within an international or regional organization
· Proven track record of developing and implementing strategic plans and M&E frameworks
3. Skills and Competencies:
· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
· Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders
· Proficiency in M&E software and tools
· Fluency in English or French; proficiency in one or more additional ECOWAS official languages is a plus.
4. Knowledge of ECOWAS
· Understanding of the ECOWAS organizational structure, workplace culture and dynamics
· Ability to apply knowledge of the ECOWAS legal framework, strategic priorities and operational standards to develop/modernize policies and programs and/or to implement policies and programs in a sustainable and effective manner
· Well-developed business, social and political acumen, demonstrating a strong commitment to the vision and mandate of ECOWAS coupled with a broad knowledge of the economic, political and social situations and trends in member states
· Sound judgment and decision-making skills on matters relating to policy and strategy development important to the realization of the ECOWAS mandate and the improvement of outcomes for member states
5. Analytical & Critical Thinking
· Ability to analyze reports as well as socio-economic and institutional dynamics and recognize areas of potential obstacles or challenges and develop innovative solutions or alternatives to address barriers and achieve strategic/operational priorities
· Ability to anticipate and interpret the effects of environmental changes (social, economic and political) and its impact, and make recommendations
· Ability to identify/address strengths and weaknesses, stimulate creativity, reduce resistance to change, and improve the achievement of strategic objectives
· Ability to make prudent decisions relating to the management of human, financial, and material resources
· Ability to actively listen and understand perspectives of others to make informed assertions, decisions, or recommendations
· Ability to build multiple external collaborative relationships to support strategic and operational objectives; identify the key issues and accommodate the key players with well thought out communication and stakeholder management plans
6. Communication
· Ability to communicate with clarity and conviction, make compelling presentations which promotes new insights, ideas, and perspectives and a better understanding of issues and challenges
· Exhibit active listening skills to encourage stronger communication amongst team members, to show care and make them feel valued and to drive employee engagement in all institutions and agencies
· Excellent negotiation and conflict management skills focusing on building and nurturing effective and collaborative relationships
· Proficiency in information communication technologies (ICT)
· Fluency in oral and written expressions in English or French. Additional working proficiency in one or more additional ECOWAS official languages is a plus.
7. Planning & Implementation
· Ability to prepare plans, consistently set clear objectives and have effective oversight of performance management practices to ensure that goals and standards are met
· Ability to set effective goals/results and manage change in a manner that demonstrates resilience, composure, and a positive outlook in an environment of uncertainty and ambiguity
· Ability to enable the development of organizational and individual talent throughout the implementation of strategic, operational, program, project and individual plans
· Ability to implement plans, mobilize/engage people, identify critical success factors, mitigate risks, monitor indicators and feedback, initiate corrective measure and build capacities for sustainability
· Ability to institute rigorous monitoring, and evaluation practices and to learn from setbacks and mistakes to ensure continuous improvement
Period of Performance
The Senior SPME Advisor is a senior consultant position for one year, with one additional year renewable based on performance and availability of funds. The position is expected to start on October 1, 2024 with the first year ending on September 30, 2026, subject to performance and availability of funds. The Senior SPME Advisor will be required to provide the support for a five-weeks period in each quarter, with a level of effort of approximately 100 days per year, for a total of 200 days in two years if the option year is selected.
Place of Performance
The Senior SPME Advisor will perform the essential of the duty in Abuja, Nigeria at the ECOWAS Headquarters. This is not a full-time position and does not require the consultant to relocate. Provision will however be made for international consultants to cover travel, lodging, and incidental costs during the agreed period of performance. The SPME Advisor will be in Abuja on average up to 25 days per quarter during the period of performance.
Application Process
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, CV, and three professional references to [email protected], olive.swan@bixal.com, and [email protected] by 17:00 GMT, September 25, 2024. Please, include “CREATES Activity- ECOWAS Senior SPME Advisor” in the subject line of the email. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and candidates who meet the requirements under the evaluation criteria presented below may be interviewed before the deadline.
Evaluation Criteria
Candidates will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
· Demonstrated experience and expertise in strategic planning, monitoring, and evaluation
· Ability to provide strategic advice and leadership
· Relevant education qualifications
· Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills
