1. Background

The Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG) is a coalition formed in 2004 to bring together CSOs at national and district levels to influence Government decisions on resource mobilization, allocation, and utilization for equitable and sustainable development. CSBAG’s Vision is “a Uganda with a people-centered budget that dignifies Humanity”. The Mission is “to work towards ensuring that resource mobilization, allocation, and utilization is inclusive for a transformed Uganda. 

CSBAG has a 5-year strategic plan (2024 -2028) with three strategic goals namely 1) To enhance fiscal policies and structures that promote sustainable and inclusive growth, 2) To Amplify Citizens’ and CSO Voices on Budget and Accountability Processes. And 3) To make CSBAG a Sustainable, Dynamic, and Thriving Organization. To deliver on these strategic goals, CSBAG has focused on three thematic areas i) Fiscal Policies ii) Citizen’s voice, and iii) Institutional development.

2. About the Assignment

To perform Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting efficiently and effectively, CSBAG has an M&E System (MIS) that needs to be reviewed and automated to improve the quality of planning, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting at CSBAG. This automated system should be more efficient and have the capacity to accommodate all the performance indicators of the CSBAG strategic plan as well as accommodate future enhancements. It is in this regard that CSBAG seeks technical services to undertake this assignment.

3. The Specific Terms of Reference for this assignment are:

1. Design an Automated user-friendly M&E System that is web-enabled containing key features/modules that will be agreed upon between the CSBAG and the selected firm/individual.
2. The systems should be upgradable and compatible with existing data analysis software for effective information management.
3. Work with CSBAG M&E team to identify the data and information required for the Automated M&E System and the sources
4. Working with the CSBAG M&E team, assist with the population of relevant data for the system, and provide user-based training for the M&E team and the CSBAG Team.

4. Key Deliverables and timeline

This assessment will be undertaken for 25 working days but not later than 15^th December 2024. The key deliverables of this assignment shall include.

• An inception report outlining the approach and methodology that will be used to deliver on the assignment.
• Database An Automated M&E system installed and functional and its User’s Manual.
• MEAL Staff orientation on the operationalization of the updated and automated MEL system.  

 5. Reporting

The consultant will be reporting directly to the Executive Director on this assignment and will have direct contact with the CSBAG M&E Specialist while undertaking this assignment.

6.  Required Skills and Qualification   

1. The Team/consultant/consultancy firm should have a minimum of a master’s degree in Monitoring and Evaluation, Economics, Computer Science, software engineering, IT or Statistics and any relevant qualification. 
   • Experience in M&E frameworks and systems development
   • At least five (5 years of relevant work experience in development planning and monitoring and evaluation. The consultant should have prior experience in designing, developing, and supporting the implementation of computerized and web-enabled MIS systems
   • Considerable experience in the design and operationalization of similar automated systems is an added advantage.

7.  Submission of applications for the task

CSBAG is inviting proposals as specified in this Terms of Reference. Interested consultants/firms are requested to submit technical and financial proposals:

• Only financial proposals quoted in UGX are permitted
• The technical proposal should contain:
• Description of the understanding of the tasks, including comments on the TORs.
• A brief critique or advice on, what the TOR ought to have included or considered, from your understanding of the task
• A description of the methodology to be followed, to achieve the desired objectives.
• Work plan and time scheduling of information gathering and other activities; and
• CVs of the consultants/firms

8. Application Process.

Interested candidates should electronically submit their application letter, updated CVs, technical and financial proposals, and references for similar work conducted previously. This should be sent to email: hr@csbag.org addressed to the Executive Director, Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group (CSBAG), by 5:00 pm on 11^th October 2024. Subject: Application to automate CSBAG M&E System.