Background: The Kenya North and North-Eastern Development Initiative
In the North and North Eastern regions of Kenya, nearly 70% of residents live in poverty and have poor access to basic services. Frequent droughts pose a significant threat to livestock, the main source of food and income for nearly all of the people who live in this area. Socio-economic indicators fall significantly below the national average; for example, the female literacy rate is 41%, well below the national average of 89%. These regions are also characterized by profound infrastructure deficits, including lack of access to roads, electricity, water, and to social services.
The North and Northeastern Development Initiative (NEDI) aims to improve some of these challenges. The Government of Kenya, with the support of the World Bank, launched a $1 billion to increase investments in transformative and integrated infrastructure and sustainable livelihoods to the region. NEDI will be spearheaded by both the national and county governments. Its success will depend largely on strong collaboration between the stakeholders: the two levels of government, the private sector, civil society organizations and development partners. NEDI will benefit 10 counties: Garissa, Isiolo, Lamu, Mandera, Marsabit, Samburu, Tana River, Turkana, Wajir and West Pokot. It has six new projects in energy, road transport, water and sanitation, agriculture, social protection, and a program that will support communities hosting refugees.
To supervise NEDI implementation and enhance coordination, we need to get eyes on the ground where we cannot always have boots on the ground. NEDI will be partly be implemented in remote regions and areas facing logistical challenges as well as Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV). This implies significant constraints to physical access for supervision and coordination purposes. Therefore, NEDI implementation will be supported by the Word Bank’s FCV Group via its Geo-Enabling initiative for Monitoring and Supervision (GEMS). The implementation of GEMS provides clients, as well as the World Bank Group (WBG)’s Country Management Unit (CMU) and Global Practices (GPs) with simple methods and tools to enhance transparency, efficiency, and effectiveness of interventions, in the NEDI counties and beyond.
Simple ICT for Operational Effectiveness: Aims and implementation of the GEMS method
The GEMS method enables project teams to use open source tools for in-field collection of structured digital data that automatically feeds into a centralized M&E system. The integrated data can include any kind of indicators, based on tailor-made forms; photos, audio, videos; time and date stamps; and GPS coordinates that allow for automated geo-mapping of the information. Using these tools systematically allows operations to enhance the transparency and accuracy of M&E and increase the accountability of third-party monitoring (TPM). Moreover, the GEMS method provides WBG GPs and CMUs with a platform for remote supervision, real-time safeguards monitoring, and portfolio mapping for coordination across projects and partners.
Focus of the GEMS method: The core of the GEMS methodology is a 3-days hands-on training with 2 main aims:
Building M&E capacity among government agencies, WBG Task Teams, and Country Teams to use the GEMS methodology independently and sustainably, customized to their specific project needs.
Implementing the method systematically across the portfolio, to allow for real-time supervision and coordination of operations via a centralized platform that puts all field data on an interactive map.
After the training, each participant should have acquired the necessary skills to use the tools and methods independently for the benefit of the portfolio’s M&E system and supervision needs. Moreover, the Country Teams will have access to a central digital platform for monitoring the portfolio in near real-time.
Scope of Work: Leveraging GEMS, and Geospatial Analysis to Enhance M&E, Supervision
The FCV Group and the Country Management Unit (CMU) for Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda (AFCE2) are looking to hire a short-term consultant (STC). The consultant will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, and embedded in the AFCE2 CMU as well as the GEMS team within the World Bank’s FCV Group.
The consultant will provide direct operational support to the AFCE2 CMU as well as project Task Team Leaders (TTLs) and client representatives. A major task will be to oversee the GEMS supervision system and implement the method across the NEDU portfolio in Kenya. In this regard, the STC will be responsible for managing the CMU’s accounts of the digital data collection and analysis platform, KoBo Toolbox and conduct customized geospatial analysis, according to the CMU’s needs. The focus will be to support operational Monitoring and Evaluation, Project Supervision, Safeguards Monitoring and continuous Mapping of the Operational Portfolio of NEDI and across the CMU’s 3 countries. This will require the consultant to be based in Nairobi to guarantee a close collaboration with the Program Leader and CMU colleagues.
A complementary focus will be on developing training guidelines, protocols and technical platforms, for systematizing and scaling the GEMS support across projects and clients. The consultant will support the GEMS team in (1) rolling out a standard learning package on the GEMS methodology; (2) developing and managing cost-effective spatial monitoring platforms on which project data can be geo-mapped and related to contextual insight; and (3) establishing internal standards and guidelines for the sustainable implementation of the GEMS method and its gradual scaling across client countries. In this regard, the consultant will closely work with the GEMS team, as well as other units and partners, in particular the World Bank’s ITS Innovations Lab, Geospatial Operations Support Team (GOST), and the European Space Agency (ESA).
The consultant will also support the wider ICT4FCV agenda. In this regard, the consultant will work with the GEMS team and CMU to explore and apply complementary field-appropriate ICT tools and procedures to increase effectiveness and accountability of operational engagement. ICT-based approaches that will be explored include inter alia (a) the use of mobile networks and SMS-based systems for citizen engagement, beneficiary feedback, and grievance redress mechanisms; (b) leveraging ‘big data’, call detail records, and other data sources for complementary monitoring tasks; and (c) satellite-based earth observation and remote sensing through drones and sensor technology for supervision activities. The above list is not exhaustive and may be extended during implementation of the activity.
Deliverables
The selected STC will be responsible for the following main deliverables:
Administrate the CMU’s project supervision system, based on a KoBo Toolbox platform.
Deliver GEMS capacity building trainings to project task teams, client Project Implementation Units, and select partners in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and potentially Somalia.
Train members of the CMU in the use of GIS and geospatial analysis.
Conduct geospatial analyses upon demand and prepare customized static and interactive maps.
Train World Bank staff in the GEMS method (train-the-trainers approach).
Oversee the sustainable application of the GEMS method across the CMU’s portfolio and ensure that gradually all projects are integrated in the system.
Support back-office tasks required for the systematic application of the GEMS method across the WBG portfolio.
Provide follow-up support to clients, the CMU and project teams to ensure that the system is leveraged sustainably.
Digitize data collection questionnaires for specific clients and projects.
Explore options for collaboration on data exchange and analysis with partners.
Produce practical guidance material and source books on complementary field-appropriate ICT tools and procedures for operational engagement in FCV contexts.
Selection Criteria
The ideal candidate will have a primary expertise in M&E, and ICT and digital data collection systems, as well as advanced GIS skills. S/he will be familiar with ways in which technology can be applied to monitor the outputs and outcomes of development projects and will meet the following selection criteria:
Master’s degree or PhD in either (i) engineering, geography, GIS, or computer science; or (ii) development studies, international relations, public policy or a related field. In both cases, specific experience in using ICT to boost development effectiveness will be crucial.
Advanced skills in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and geospatial analysis, and experience in the creation of both static maps and interactive mapping applications.
At least 5 years of experience in issues related to M&E, ICT, geospatial analysis or development/humanitarian work, with a clear demonstration of the ability to apply technologies to solve the challenges of development/humanitarian interventions.
Substantial experience in the administration of digital data collection and analysis tools (including platform administration, questionnaire creation, field data collection, data analysis), preferably through KoBo Toolbox.
Knowledge of M&E systems, especially as they apply to fragile contexts, demonstrated through field experience.
Excellent communication skills, with an ability to adapt to an audience that is operational, but not necessarily knowledgeable of ICT issues.
Fluent English language skills, enabling the consultant to conduct interactive technical trainings in English and to produce high-quality written outputs.
Advanced French language skills are a plus.
Advanced skills in MS office applications, in particular Excel and PowerPoint.
Excellent workflow management skills and a proactive attitude.
