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Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC)
TERMS OF REFERENCE
M&E Specialist

 

1. Background

The Blue Economy is defined as an approach to promote sustainable and integrated use of marine resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and job generation while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems.  It covers a range of interdependent sectors, including fisheries, coastal tourism, and waste management.  Fisheries, for example, provide the hospitality industry with quality and affordable seafood, while the tourism sector supports fisher livelihoods and generates employment. Waste management, meanwhile, is crucial to the health of fisheries and other marine resources and ecosystems which are, in turn, critical for the beaches and other natural assets that attract holiday makers. Going forward, anticipating and adapting to the impacts of climate change will be an essential component of the blue economy, ensuring that low-carbon and climate-resilient measures are incorporated across sectors to ensure sustainability of marine resources and continued generation of their benefits.

The Government of Saint Lucia recognizes that the sustainable management and protection of its extensive ocean space and associated marine and coastal resources, particularly in the face of increasing climate change, are crucial to economic growth, job creation, and diversification. On its pathway towards blue growth, Saint Lucia has embarked on several projects and strategic plans that helped advance protection of its blue space and grow the island’s blue economy.

 

1. Project Description

The Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean (UBEC) will be implemented as a Series of Projects (SOP) in three distinct five-year phases over a fifteen-year period (each project will have a life cycle of five years) involving multi-sectoral blue economy investments to support Caribbean countries to strengthen their climate resilience and accelerate economic recovery from the impacts of COVID-19. Phase 1 of UBEC, to be implemented between fiscal years 2022 and 2028, involves Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and the OECS Commission and focuses on three interrelated blue economy sectors: tourism, fisheries, and waste management.

The project development objective of the SOP and Phase I is to strengthen the enabling environment for the blue economy, economic recovery, and resilience of selected coastal assets in participating countries and provide immediate and effective response to an eligible emergency. Phase I of the SOP is designed to foster economic recovery and support marine and coastal resilience in Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines by strengthening the sustainability and competitiveness of two critical, interconnected sectors – tourism and fisheries – and one underlying enabling infrastructure service, waste management. The SOP will achieve its objectives by: 1) strengthening regional and national policies and institutional frameworks to bring back business and attract new investments, (2) scaling up innovative financing mechanisms aimed at enhancing employment and productivity in the tourism, fisheries, and waste management value chains through establishment of a regional MSME matching grant program  and a regional climate-risk fisheries insurance scheme, (3) supporting investment in coastal infrastructure to reduce risk and leverage private investment in blue economy activities and strengthen climate resilience, and (4) adopting a contingency emergency response mechanism to respond to future extreme weather events.  

The SOP consists of four components: (i) Strengthening Governance, Policies, and Capacity Building; (ii) Scale Up Access to Finance and Infrastructure Investment; (iii) Contingent Emergency Response Component (CERC); and (iv) Project Management, Monitoring & Evaluation, and Communication.

 

1. The Project Implementation Unit

The Government of Saint Lucia (GoSLU) is establishing a Project Implementation Unit (PIU) in the Department of Finance at the Ministry of Finance (MoF) responsible for implementing the UBEC project national-level activities and coordinating with relevant ministries, including but not limited to Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Enterprise Development, and Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority. The PIU will have the following positions: Project Manager, Financial Management Specialist, Procurement Officer, Environment Safeguards Specialist, Social Safeguards Specialist, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, and Communications Specialist.

The PIU will be a fully integrated part of the MoF structure, relying on UBEC resources to deliver UBEC Project activities, including project planning, financial management, procurement, monitoring and evaluation, environmental and social safeguards, and reporting in accordance with both Government and World Bank requirements.

 

1. Objectives of the assignment

The Government of Saint Lucia is seeking consultancy services for a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer to join the PIU and enhance the project’s implementation and management arrangements.

 

1. Key tasks and responsibilities

 

Duties/responsibilities of the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist include, but are not limited to:

 

Project establishment

• Support the establishment of the Project during its initial stages specifically with respect to M&E matters.

• Identify the most appropriate M&E software for the project to support efficient and effective implementation of program activities, including the design of a custom project database.

 

Planning and Management

• Contribute to the development of the project’s annual planning processes.
• Lead the development of the M&E components of the project.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Responsible for developing and maintaining M&E systems necessary to track, analyse, and report on project activities.
• Ensure the project complies with the M&E requirements of both the Government and the World Bank.
• Develop, review and implement the project’s M&E framework.
• Ensure effective day to day administration of the M&E framework, including ensuring accuracy and timeliness of M&E reports, maintaining comprehensive M&E records, ensuring project files and records are established and maintained in both electronic and paper form.

M&E Reporting

• Continuous development of the project M&E system and results framework, ensuring sufficient detail whilst at the same being straightforward and realistic;
  • to enable reporting by component, sub-component, and activity;
  • including survey design, implementation and review; and
  • ensuring the compilation, analysis and presentation of M&E results data.
• Ensure timely and accurate monthly reports to the Project Coordinator
• Ensure timely and accurate quarterly reports to the World Bank.
• Contribute to the delivery of quarterly project reports.
• Contribute to the preparation of the six-monthly progress reports, for submission to the World Bank and the Project Steering Committee.
• Provide M&E details for the PIU’s Annual Report.

 

Communications

• Work closely with the responsible staff on communication in terms of development of Information products, Information dissemination and use of data and information

Leading and supporting

• Regular liaison with the three implementing agencies:
  • Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development.
  • Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational
  • Ministry of Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information
• to ensure project activities complement established M& E practices.
• Represent the PIU at inter-governmental meetings relevant to project M&E.
• Support the development of the project risk management plan.

Organizing

• Ensure project staff receive appropriate training in M&E.
• Manage internal and external communications with respect to project M&E.
• Mentor staff on M&E related aspects

Advice

• Provide strategic and operational level M&E advice.

Technical

• Maintain the necessary level of technical and operational skills to fulfil the duties outlined.

Reporting

The M&E Specialist reports to the Project Manager.

 

 Outputs/deliverables

Activity	Timing
Develop and implement project M&E framework, systems, and procedures	Upon commencement
Develop and implement M&E training program	Upon commencement
Project Monitoring and Evaluation Report to Project Manager	Monthly
Monitoring and Evaluation Report to Project Manager / Coordinator	Quarterly
Contribute to project documentation	Upon commencement
Contribute to Work Plan, Procurement Plan and Budget	Upon commencement and annually
Contribute to Project Progress Reports	Every six months

 

1. Duration, location, coordination and reporting arrangements

 

• Duration. The M&E Officer is a full-time position required for five (5) years, renewable annually based on performance and availability.
• The contract is subject to a probationary period of six (6) months and may be subject to satisfactory achievement of key deliverables.
• Performance will initially be reviewed after six (6) months, and thereafter subject to annual reviews.
• This is a full-time position based in Castries, Saint Lucia and may involve travel to other communities.
• The M&E Officer will work from the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) of the UBEC where he/she will be assigned a workstation and will participate in face-to-face or virtual meetings, as is the case. He/she will also be required to visit subproject work sites to monitor and evaluate project implementation.

 

• M&E Officer will frequently and adequately coordinate with all PIU staff and sectoral agency project officers as relevant.

 

• Reporting arrangements. The M&E Officer will report directly to the Project Manager.

 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in project management, project management and evaluation, project risk management, economics, public administration, or other relevant qualification, plus three (3) years’ experience in similar setting.

 

Essential and desirable criteria:

• Skills and experience in project M&E.by donors or government, preferably within the blue sector(s).
• Ability to prepare and present  M&E reports including data analysis, interpretation, and reporting.
• Extensive experience with computer operations, databases, and relevant software packages.
• Integrity and accountability.

 

• Strong ethics, personal organizational skills, and ability to manage own workload.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to make presentations to a broad range of audiences.
• Good writing skills with the ability to prepare accurate reports; fluency (oral and written) in English is essential.

• Oral and written language skills in English

• Experience with donor-funded projects, especially involving international financial institutions such as the World Bank.

• Experience with relevant legislation, policies, procedures, and processes of government.
• Relevant post-graduate qualifications.

 

Applying for this post

Applications for the post should be made to:

Permanent Secretary

Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and the Youth Economy

4^th Floor Finance Administrative Center

Pointe Seraphine

Castries

Saint Lucia

Tel: 1 (758) 468- 5503

Email: Olivia.alfred@govt.lc

 

 

Applications must include 2 parts with the following format and content:

1. A brief covering letter introducing yourself, and explaining why you are interested in this post (maximum 1 page).
2. A resume (CV) showing personal details, work experience, and education, along with the names of three work related references (maximum 3 pages).

Note: unsuitable candidates will not be acknowledged. Applicants whose minimum qualifications and experience conform to the Terms of Reference will be short-listed and invited attend and interview for further consideration.