Individual consultant for the mid-term review of project performance

Harmonizing and Improving Statistics in West and Central Africa (HISWACA) Project Implementation Unit (PIU), C/o Gambia Bureau of Statistics, Mansa Musa Faal Complex, Bijilo West Coast Region REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST TERMS OF REFERENCE Individual Consultant for the Mid-Term Review | Assignment title | Individual Consultant for the Mid-Term Review of the HISWACA Project - The Gambia | Project | Harmonizing and Improving Statistics in West and Central Africa - Series of Projects 1 (HISWACA-SOP1) | Project ID | P178497 | Country financing | The Gambia: IDA Grant E1750 - US$30 million | Client | Gambia Bureau of Statistics / HISWACA Project Implementation Team | Consultant category | Individual consultant | Primary output | A comprehensive, evidence-based and forward-looking Mid-Term Review Report, with proposed corrective measures, project changes where warranted, and an actionable implementation plan • Background and project context

The HISWACA-SOP1 project was approved by the World Bank Board of Executive Directors on 11 May 2023. The operation covers eight participating countries and three regional organisations. Following additional financing for Guinea-Bissau, total project financing is US$464 million. The Gambia participates through IDA Grant E1750 in the amount of US$30 million. The project seeks to enhance the quality, accessibility and production of regionally comparable statistics. It is intended to improve country statistical performance, regional harmonisation, data access and use, and modernisation of the statistical system. The regional approach supports coordination among National Statistics Offices and Ministries, Departments and Agencies responsible for statistics, while encouraging the use of harmonised methods, tools, modern technologies and new or alternative data sources. The Project Development Objective is to improve country statistical performance, regional harmonisation, data access and use, and to enhance modernisation of the statistical system in participating countries. • • The project is organised under four components: • Component 1: Harmonisation and Production of Core Statistics using International Data Quality Standards. Activities support regional and continental statistical harmonisation and production of quality core economic, social, demographic, agricultural, climate, sectoral and subnational statistics. • Component 2: Statistical Modernisation, Institutional Reform, Human Capital, Data Accessibility and Use. This supports modern methods and organisations, institutional reforms, improved access and dissemination, data use, human capital development and the use of new data sources and advanced technologies. • Component 3: Construction, Upgrading and Modernisation of Physical Infrastructure. This strengthens physical, ICT and statistical infrastructure, equipment, software and working environments for statistical institutions. • Component 4: Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation. This supports project management, monitoring of results and user satisfaction. • Rationale for the Mid-Term Review

The Mid-Term Review is a critical assessment conducted at the midpoint of project implementation. It provides an opportunity to take stock of implementation progress, assess achievements and emerging results, identify challenges and lessons learned, and determine whether the project remains on track to achieve its intended objectives. The overall Mid-Term Review process will be undertaken in two interrelated stages. The first stage will focus on preparatory work, evidence gathering, independent assessment, stakeholder consultations, identification of implementation challenges, and formulation of proposed corrective measures and project adjustments. The second stage will involve stakeholder validation and consideration of the findings, recommendations, and agreements arising from the preparatory stage. The independent consultancy constitutes a key technical input into this process. The consultant will provide the evidence, analysis, findings, and recommendations required to inform stakeholder discussions and decisions during the validation and endorsement stage. The review shall be forward-looking and shall identify practical measures required to improve project performance during the remaining implementation period. Where justified by evidence, the review may recommend adjustments to project design, implementation arrangements, the Results Framework, operational procedures, resource allocation, or other relevant project parameters. • Purpose of the Consultancy

The purpose of the consultancy is to independently assess the performance and implementation of the HISWACA Project in The Gambia at mid-term and produce a rigorous, evidence-based, forward-looking, and decision-oriented Mid-Term Review Report. The consultant shall lead the technical assessment during the preparatory stage of the Mid-Term Review process and provide technical support during the validation and finalisation stage. The assignment shall take stock of implementation progress, assess achievements and emerging results, identify lessons learned, diagnose constraints and risks, evaluate the continued relevance and adequacy of project arrangements, and recommend corrective measures and a prioritised action plan for the remaining implementation period. The consultant’s findings and recommendations shall provide an objective technical basis for stakeholder validation, agreement on corrective actions, and consideration of any necessary revisions to relevant project instruments or implementation arrangements. • Objectives of the Assignment

• Assess progress toward achievement of the PDO and determine whether the PDO remains relevant and achievable. • Assess the appropriateness, measurability and continued validity of PDO and intermediate results indicators. • Take stock of implementation progress against planned activities, milestones, deliverables and expected results. • Assess progress by component and determine how component activities are contributing to the PDO. • Identify implementation successes, lessons learned and factors that have contributed to positive results. • Document implementation challenges, including anticipated and unforeseen constraints, delays and their effects on progress. • Assess the adequacy of project design, implementation plan, costs, timing and viability in relation to the project closing date. • Assess project management and implementation arrangements and whether the available mix of skills remains appropriate. • Assess procurement, financial management, environmental and social framework implementation, results monitoring, legal covenant compliance and project risks. • Recommend practical corrective measures, any justified project adjustments, and a time-bound action plan for the remaining implementation period. • Provide independent evidence and analysis to support the preparatory stage of the Mid-Term Review process. • Facilitate validation of the review findings and recommendations and incorporate agreed stakeholder comments into the Final Mid-Term Review Report. • Scope of Work

The consultant shall undertake the assignment through two interrelated stages. Stage 1 shall comprise the preparatory, evidence-gathering, consultation, and analytical activities required to produce the Draft Mid-Term Review Report. Stage 2 shall comprise stakeholder validation, refinement of proposed corrective measures and project changes, incorporation of consolidated comments, and finalisation of the Mid-Term Review Report. All findings shall be supported by verifiable evidence obtained through document review, project monitoring information, stakeholder consultations, and other appropriate sources. The report shall distinguish clearly among confirmed findings, identified evidence gaps, proposed corrective measures, and recommendations requiring consideration or approval by the appropriate authorities. • • Project Development Objective and project description • Assess progress toward achievement of the PDO. • Determine whether the PDO remains relevant and achievable in the current context. • Review whether the PDO indicators remain appropriate for measuring the intended results.• Overall implementation status • Assess overall implementation progress against expected results, planned milestones and deliverables. • Examine progress on intermediate outcomes and the contribution of component activities to the PDO. • Identify constraints, issues and delays, including effectiveness or other implementation delays where applicable. • Assess actions already identified or implemented to address constraints and whether those actions are succeeding.• Progress by component • Assess performance under each of the four project components and relevant subcomponents implemented in The Gambia. • Identify completed, ongoing, delayed or pending activities and explain the evidence-based implications for results. • Assess the relationship between expenditures, outputs, intermediate outcomes and anticipated PDO-level results.• Adequacy of project design • Assess whether the project components and their content, scope and sequencing remain adequate to achieve the PDO. • Identify any design elements requiring adjustment and provide a detailed rationale for proposed changes, including expected outputs and results.• Adequacy of the implementation plan • Assess whether the implementation plan remains valid in terms of content, costs and timing. • Assess the viability of completing planned activities within the remaining implementation period and before the closing date. • Where required, propose updates to costs, procurement planning, disbursement scheduling and implementation sequencing.• Project management and implementation arrangements • Assess whether internal implementation and management arrangements are functioning and remain appropriate. • Assess coordination, decision-mak