Myanmar: Impact Assessment of Business Advisory Services(Consultant)

SCOPE OF WORK

http://themimu.info/sites/themimu.info/files/jobs/SOW_BAS_Impact_Assessment_Jan2018_1.pdf

Impact Assessment of Business Advisory Services(Consultant)

Myanmar Financial Inclusion Initiative Project

Intervention No#MFII/02002 (A202)

TENDER MC YGN 019 – 17

Project to be made assessment

Myanmar Financial Inclusion Initiative (MFII) Project

Donor:

Mastercard

Location:

Myanmar – Southern Shan (Pinlaung, Pindaya, Nyaung Shwe, Kalaw and Taunggyi) and Rakhine (Sittwe and Mrauk Oo) States

Timeframefor SOW:

Approximately 40 days between Jan– Feb 2018

Application Deadline:

January 18,2018

Introduction

Mercy Corps is a secular, non-profit, non-governmental humanitarian organization that has worked amid disasters and poverty since 1979, providing humanitarian relief and development aid in 94 nations worldwide. Operational in Myanmar since 2008, Mercy Corps implements programs designed to promote food security and rural livelihoods, pro-poor market and economic development, sustainable environmental and natural resource management, and civil society strengthening in the Delta, Dry Zone, Tanitharyi, Rakhine, Southern Shan, and Kayah States.

Project Background and Summary

The Myanmar Financial Inclusion Initiative (MFII), funded by Mastercard, is a key component of the existing Making Vegetable Markets Work (MVMW) program, which is funded by the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT). MFII aims to increase the incomes of both entrepreneurs and farmers, primarily women. MFII improves the capacity of public and private sector actors to provide inclusive and sustainable financial and business advisory services (BAS).

Business Advisory Services are defined as advisory services, provided to clients by a reputable service provider, in the general areas of business management. Subjects include: entrepreneurship, accounting/bookkeeping, marketing and promotion, business and legal environment in Myanmar, operations management, credit/loan management (for creditors and debtors) and/or other relevant subjects. BAS may be delivered via structured training sessions, consulting sessions, or informal channels, and may be delivered at a neutral location or even on-site at the business’ place of operations.

Mercy Corps has partnered with six BAS providers: two in Rakhine State and four in Shan State. With Mercy Corps support, partners have trained more than 2,000 individuals and small business owners in basic business skills.

Objectives of the Assessment

The objective of BAS impact assessment is to identify the impact of the BAS component of the MFII project and on its beneficiaries from the target areas in Southern Shan and Rakhine States. The assessment will find out the capacity of of public and private sector actors to provide inclusive and sustainable BAS and changes in beneficarices who received training from the project.

For the purposes of this impact assessment, BAS are defined as non-financial services that focus on improving business management and operations processes. BAS is delivered via structured training sessions, consulting sessions, or informal channels, and is delivered at a neutral location or even on-site at the business’ place of operations. Subject matter addressed via BAS includes, but is not limited to:

· Accounting, bookkeeping, cash-flow management;

· Management information systems and technology;

· Computer and computer software use for business management and operations processes;

· Operations and logistics (including inventory management);

· Business planning;

· Sales and marketing;

· Entrepreneurship and general business management;

· Credit management (both supply and demand);

· Contract management;

· Risk management;

· Industry or business-specific topics;

· Other similar subjects.

This consultancy will be a critical step in identifying the impact of the MFII project on the project beneficiaries from the program’s target regions of Southern Shan State and Rakhine State. The consultant will design the assessment methodology and tools, lead fieldwork in target areas; Southern Shan and the Rakhine States, and produce a high quality report that provided a detailed picture of the results/impacts of BAS activities of MFII project, including a detailed recommendations for future interventions that the project may pursue to improve both supply of and demand for business and farm advisory services in Myanmar, with a particular focus on the targeted geographies mentioned.

Key Focus Areas

The impact assessment will assess the BAS activities of MFII project according to standard evaluation criteria, as elaborated below.

Relevance

i. Assess the contribution of the project activities towards the achievement of the program impacts, outcomes, and outputs.

ii. Analyze whether the project’s implementation approach addresses the needs and demands of the beneficiaries in a disaggregated manner (for men and women).

iii. Evaluate to what extent the objectives of the project are still valid

iv. Examine whether activities and outputs of the project are consistent with the intended impacts and effects.

Effectiveness

i. Assess whether the objectives were achieved or not achieved.

ii. Identify the major factors influencing the achievements and non-achievement of the project.

Efficiency

i. Assess the performance of the project with particular reference to qualitative and quantitative achievements of outputs and targets as defined in the project documents.

ii. Examine the objectives are achieved on time in a cost-effective manner.

Impact

i. Analyze the impacts[1] of the project interventions on the beneficiaries[2] from the target are.

ii. Compare the difference between baseline results with this assessment to reflect real changes that contributed to the project in the target areas.

Sustainability

i. Assess indications of the degree to which the project results are likely to be sustainable beyond the project’s lifetime at the community level.

ii. Assess the sustainability of the project interventions in terms of their effect on target area.

iii. Analyze the emerging impact on the communities for both men and women in terms of receiving services from BAS provider

Activities and Deliverables

This assessment will be led by the Consultant. Assessment methodology should be developed by the consultant in consultation with the program team and the assessment methodology should include both quantitative and qualitative measures to ensure a more robust understanding of the impact of the project interventions on the targeted beneficiaires (both enterprises and farmers). Mercy Corps program team will provide the total population (total number of beneficiaries including service providers) to the consultant to draw a representative sample for the generalization of the impacts that attributed by the project. The consultant will have the ultimate responsibility to follow through and ensure that all relevant parties are interviewed and relevant project sites visited. Mercy Corps expects there will be a need for at least five data collectors and all of whom will be MVMW staff. The exact number can be discussed and finalized with the consultant.

Expected Activities

1. Finalize assessment methodology and assessment design; sampling method, sample sizes and questionnaries for both quantitative and qualitative surveys – Individual survey, KII, and FGD
2. Conduct a desk review of relevant data
3. Develop data collection tools (i.e., questionnaires)
4. Lead field work in Southern Shan and Rakhine States per agreed-upon assessment design, including interviews with BAS trainees, service providers and revlevant actors
5. Collect primary data by using quantitative and qualitative methodologies
6. Analyze data
7. Presentation to MC Management on initial findings.
8. Write-up assessment report (can be finalized remotely).

Deliverables

1. Assessment Methodology and Research Design Document (to be incorporated in final report)
2. Presentation of Initial finding (PowerPoint presentation)
3. Final Assessment Report

Reporting

The Consultant will report to L.Khaung Naw, Project Manager**

Qualifications

· University degree in business, economics or a related field, MBA preferred.

· Minimum 5 years experience conducting similar types of BAS assessments in developing countries (whether within a long-term post or as a consultant is not differentiated but and experience in such work within a long-term position should be called out specifically in the application). Experience in Myanmar highly desired.

· Demonstrated experience in designing and managing quantitative surveys in developing country contexts.

· Experience in capacity assessment of business advisory service providers

· Fluency in English with highly professional report writing capabilities.

· Experience working within and leading a larger research team structure consisting of national staff, international technical experts, and other key stakeholders.

· Flexibility and ability to work under time pressure are critical for success.

Level of Effort

As per the Contract [insert contract # here], total LOE distribution for this SOW is as follows:

Business Advisory Services Impact Assessment Team Lead Consultant: 30 working days including travel.

Indicative LOE distribution by Task (Negotiable):

1. Finalize assessment methodology and design –2 Days

2. Desk review of relevant secondary data – 2 Days

3. Lead field work in Southern Shan and Rakhine States per agreed-upon assessment design, including interviews with relevant actors as well primary data collection using quantitative and qualitative methodologies – 11 working days + 4 travel ( For field trip, consultant will submit travel Plan and negotiatiation meeting with PM and fiield team will be conducted to make sure the field visit plan)

4. Data Cleaning and Analysis – 5 days

5. Presentation to MC Management on initial findings – 1 day

6. Write-up assessment report (can be finalized remotely) – 5 days including revisions

Timing

The Business Advisory Services Market Assessment Team Lead Consultant should start not later than January 25, 2018 and should complete the Scope of Work by February 28, 2018.

Application Process:

Interested applicants must include the following documents in their application:

1.Current Curriculum Vitae

2.Summary of proposed approach and methodology to be employed for this assessment (2 pages maximum).

3.One writing sample: work chosen should be representative of the applicant’s ability to produce written work at a high level, in English, that is similar to the assessment proposed herein.

1. 3 professional references that can attest to the applicant’s ability to lead an assessment as described above.

5.Proposeddaily rate in Myanmar Kyats (MMK)for the work described herein.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply and submit the documents mentioned above, in a sealed envelope indicating apply position with vacancy announcement number to Human Resources Department by January 18, 2018 (before 5:00pm).

Human Resources Department

MercyCorps Myanmar

No. (97), 5^th and 6^th floor of Rangoun Business Center

West Shwe Gon Daing Road,

Bahan Township,Yangon, Myanmar.

Phone – 01 8603041

OR email to:ekhaing@mercycorps.org, cc: mm-hr@mercycorps.org**

[1] Impacts are the positive and negative changes produced by a development intervention, directly or indirectly, intended or unintended (DCED – DCA Evaluation Criteria)

[2] Suggest the consultant should look for impacts at the beneficiary and service provider level.

Application Process:

Interested applicants must include the following documents in their application:

1.Current Curriculum Vitae

2.Summary of proposed approach and methodology to be employed for this assessment (2 pages maximum).

3.One writing sample: work chosen should be representative of the applicant’s ability to produce written work at a high level, in English, that is similar to the assessment proposed herein.

1. 3 professional references that can attest to the applicant’s ability to lead an assessment as described above.

5.Proposeddaily rate in Myanmar Kyats (MMK)for the work described herein.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply and submit the documents mentioned above, in a sealed envelope indicating apply position with vacancy announcement number to Human Resources Department by January 18, 2018 (before 5:00pm).

Human Resources Department

MercyCorps Myanmar

No. (97), 5^th and 6^th floor of Rangoun Business Center

West Shwe Gon Daing Road,

Bahan Township,Yangon, Myanmar.

Phone – 01 8603041

OR email to: ekhaing@mercycorps.org, cc:mm-hr@mercycorps.org