REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

(INDIVIDUAL CONSULTING SERVICES)

INDEPENDENT STATE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA (PNG)

Department of Justice and Attorney General (DJAG)

Child Nutrition and Social Protection Project (CNSP)

Loan No./Credit No: 7072

Assignment Title: Individual Consultant to conduct a Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Child Nutrition Social Protection (CNSP) Project

Reference No.: PG-DJAG-464512-CS-INDV   

The Government of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea has received financing from the World Bank, in the amount of US$90 million for the Child Nutrition and Social Protection Project and intends to apply part of the proceeds for consulting services.

 

The consulting services (“the Services”) include the engagement of an Individual Consultant to conduct a Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Child Nutrition Social Protection (CNSP) Project  to which shall provide the PNG Government (GoPNG), the World Bank and other stakeholders with an assessment of CNSP’s operational performance up until the end of February 2025. The purpose of the MTR is to determine whether the project is generally on track and identify areas of improvement (or restructuring) within the current scope. 

The detailed Terms of Reference (TOR) for the assignment can be obtained at the address given below.

The Department of Justice and Attorney General now invites eligible individuals (“Consultants”) to indicate their interest in providing the Services. Interested Consultants should provide information demonstrating that they have the required qualifications and relevant experience to perform the Services (attach curriculum vitae with description of experience in similar assignments, similar conditions, etc.). Firms’ staff may express interest through the employing firm for the assignment and, under such situation, only the experience and qualifications of individuals shall be considered in the selection process.

The criteria for selecting the Consultant are:

1. At least 10 years of experience in monitoring and evaluating development projects, particularly in the sectors of social protection, nutrition, and early childhood development.
2. Demonstrated experience in conducting mid-term reviews, evaluations, and assessments of large, multi-stakeholder projects.
3. Strong understanding of gender issues, social inclusion, and community-based development programs.
4. Familiarity with monitoring systems, data collection, and analysis tools.
5. Proven ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and manage diverse stakeholder relationships.
6. Knowledge of the local context in Papua New Guinea or similar Pacific Island nations is desirable.
7. Fluency in English (written and spoken).

 

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to Section III, paragraphs, 3.14, 3.16, and 3.17 of the World Bank’s “Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers” (5th Edition) September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.

 

Further information, including a copy of the TOR, can be obtained at the address below (or by email) during office hours 08:00 to 16:00 hours PNG Time.

 

Expressions of interest must be delivered in a written form to the address below (by e-mail) by January 03, 2025, at 16:00 hours PNG Time.

 

Department of Justice & Attorney General

Attn: Project Manager

Waigani, Port Moresby

Papua New Guinea

Phone: +675 7653 0607/+675 7478 8974

E-mail: ken.siminji@gmail.com with a copy to: pkalumba@kisaassociates.com and moses.sigally@justice.gov.pg

 

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Terms of Reference

PROJECT:  Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Child Nutrition Social Protection (CNSP) Project

1. Introduction

The Child Nutrition Social Protection (CNSP) Project is an initiative aimed at reducing malnutrition and improving child stunting and other health outcomes across four provinces, with pilot projects currently underway. The CNSP Project involves several implementing agencies, including the National Department of Health (NDOH), Department for Community Development and Religion (DfCDR), and Department of Justice and Attorney General (DJAG). As part of the project’s monitoring and evaluation framework, a Mid-Term Review is scheduled for May 2025.

The Government of Papua New Guinea’s part of preparation for the MTR, is seeking a consultant to provide an evaluation of the project’s operations and performance against project development objectives and intermediate outcome indicators based on existing reporting, surveys and consultations conducted prior to the MTR. The report that the consultant will prepare, will also inform the Mid Term Review mission.

This Terms of Reference describes the scope and extent of the assignment.

2. Mid-term Review (MTR) of the CNSP project

The objective of the MTR is to provide the PNG Government (GoPNG), the World Bank and other stakeholders with an assessment of CNSP’s operational performance up until the end of February 2025. The purpose is to determine whether the project is generally on track and identify areas of improvement (or restructuring) within the current scope.  The MTR would provide a basic framework for assessing the project’s relevance, efficacy with respect to its project development objectives (PDOs) and efficiency and highlight specific gender dimensions/outcomes to be considered; and recommend options to be considered by the Government and the World Bank for the remainder of the project to enhance the project’s impact and development outcomes

In particular, the MTR shall include an assessment of the following:

(i) overall progress in implementation of the CNSP project, including of activities financed under the project’s Grant Agreement between the Government of Papua New Guinea (GoPNG) and the International Development Association (IDA);

(ii) results of monitoring and evaluation activities;

(iii) progress on procurement and disbursement.

 (iv) progress on implementation of environmental and social measures;

(v) implementation arrangements and Project staffing; and

(vi) the need to make any adjustments to the Project to improve performance.

Through the abovementioned assessment, the MTR report shall provide an examination, in scope and detail satisfactory to the IDA and integrating the results of the monitoring and evaluation activities performed under the project Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, of the progress achieved in the implementation of the Project during the period preceding the date of the report.

The report shall also recommend actionable measures to ensure efficient carrying out of the Project, achievement of the project’s development objectives, as well as alignment between the project and PNGs national priorities related to nutrition and social protection during the project’s remaining duration.

The MTR report will be reviewed jointly by the GoPNG and the IDA.

3. Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for preparing and producing a MTR report for the CNSP project, in accordance with the scope of the MTR and its report described in Section 2 above. Specifically, key areas to be covered in the MRT report include:

1. 1. Implementation progress and key issues
      1. Efficacy: Provide an analysis of the project’s implementation and performance progress against the project’s PDO and intermediate result indicators, and the likelihood of achievement during the remaining implementation period. Review if each of the component activities are being implemented according to the PAD and Project Operations Manual, including underlying assumptions[1].
      2. Efficiency: Review actual project costs against those projected at the design stage to assess project’s current cost efficiency.
      3. Key implementation issues: Review key implementation issues; as well as constraints and opportunities that have arisen during implementation:

 

1. 1. Project management: Review the adequacy and key constraints of arrangements in terms of staff, effectiveness in use of existing systems (fiduciary, safeguards, M&E), office set up, contract management capacity, capacity building and reporting, etc.
      1. Safeguards: Assess the degree of compliance with the project’s safeguards aspects (e.g. Occupational Health and Safety of trainees on UWS; Grievance Redress Mechanism).
      2. Fiduciary: Assess the implementation of procurement activities and disbursements, and identify any further support required.
      3. Sustainability: Review the institutional and partnership arrangements in view of sustainability beyond project closing (e.g. program, institutional, financial sustainability) and scalability to other provinces in PNG.

Particular tasks include:

• Reviewing project documentation, including but not limited to:
  • Project Implementation Plan (PIP)
  • Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) reports
  • Annual Work Plans and Budgets
  • Reports from implementing partners.
  • Previous review and audit reports
• Conducting field visits to selected project sites in East New Britain, Madang, Simbu, and Western Provinces to collect data through qualitative interviews, focus group discussions, and/or quantitative surveys with key stakeholders, including:
  • Project beneficiaries (women and children)
  • Provincial Health Authorities (PHAs)
  • Department of Community Development and Religion (DfCDR)
  • Payment Service Providers (PSPs)
  • Subgrantees and implementing partners (CCHS, UNICEF, etc)
  • Other stakeholders involved in the project (e.g., local government officials, NGOs)
• Assessing the implementation of the CNSP project, including:
  • Beneficiary enrollment and registration processes
  • Distribution and effectiveness of the child grant
  • Use of grants and nutrition support by beneficiaries
  • Provision of health and nutrition services under the project
  • Financial management and procurement processes
  • Monitoring and Evaluation system
• Reviewing the progress towards the Project Development Objectives (PDOs) and immediate result indicators
• Assessing the capacity of the Project Management Unit (PMU) and its coordination with implementing agencies and other key partners.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of stakeholder engagement, including subgrantees, government ministries, and local communities.

4. Methodology

The MTR consultant will use a combination of:

• Document review: Review all relevant project documents and project data.
• Primary data collection through qualitative interviews and/or quantitative surveys with key stakeholders, including government officials, community members, beneficiaries, and project staff.
• Field visits to selected project areas for direct observation and engagement with stakeholders on the ground.
• Data analysis: Analyze quantitative and qualitative data from the project’s monitoring systems to assess progress toward outcomes.
• Comparative analysis: Benchmark the project’s progress against similar national and international programs.

5.Duration and Schedule of deliverables

It is estimated that the assignment will require 50 days of consultant inputs over three months.

The expected key milestones schedule of deliverables to this assignment are:

Deliverable	Due
Inception Report	Week 2
Draft MTR Report	Week 8
Final MTR Report	Week 12

 

• Inception Report: Within 10 days of contract signing, detailing the methodological approach, information needs, workplan and timeline for the MTR report.
• Draft MTR Report: A comprehensive draft report covering all analysis, findings, and recommendations that cover the expected content described in Section 2 above. The draft will be submitted within 4 weeks of the last field visit or due by 28 March 2025.
• Final MTR Report: A final report incorporating feedback from stakeholders, including the GoPNG, the Project Management Unit, and the Bank task team. The final report is due by 18 April 2025. The report should include an Executive Summary that concisely summarize key findings and recommendations of the MTR.

 

7. Qualifications and Experience of the Consultant

The consultant’s qualifications and experience requirements include: :

Mandatory requirements

• At least 10 years of experience in monitoring and evaluating development projects, particularly in the sectors of social protection, nutrition, and early childhood development.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting mid-term reviews, evaluations, and assessments of large, multi-stakeholder projects.
• Strong understanding of gender issues, social inclusion, and community-based development programs.

Desirable requirements

• Familiarity with monitoring systems, data collection, and analysis tools.
• Proven ability to work in multidisciplinary teams and manage diverse stakeholder relationships.
• Knowledge of the local context in Papua New Guinea or similar Pacific Island nations is desirable.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken).

8. Reporting and Supervision

The consultant will report to the Project Component Manager – DJAG  and will work closely with the NDOH, DfCDR, UNICEF, and World Bank. Regular updates on the progress of the review will be expected.

 

[1] Review underlying assumptions or conditions that informed project design and activities to assess to what extent those are still valid and where not (or where others are now present) what this may mean for project revisions/restructuring