Bulsho PIU Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning – MEAL Specialist.

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (REOI)

Individual Selection of Consultant

Country: Federal Government of Somalia

Project ID No. P508408

Name of the Project: Bulsho Project - Strengthening Community Institutions for Social Cohesion, Inclusion and Resilience

Consulting Service: Bulsho PIU Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning – MEAL Specialist.

Individual/Firm: Individual

Ref No: SO-MOIFAR-540763-CS-INDV

Duty Station: Jowhar, Hirshabelle Somalia (with potential travel to the target Districts and Cities of Bulsho Project)

Deadline: 2nd May, 2026

BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

The Bulsho Project – Strengthening Community Institutions for Social Cohesion, Inclusion and Resilience (P508408) is under the lead of the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation – MoIFAR of the Federal Government of Somalia and responsible for the national program called Bulsho, the Somali word for society. The Bulsho Program puts citizens and communities at the center of the government’s action.  The Bulsho Program is a Somali government-led initiative designed to strengthen community and local institutions, fostering social cohesion, inclusion, and resilience. As Somalia continues its recovery from two decades of civil war, the program places a strong emphasis on enhancing service delivery, rebuilding the social contract, and promoting community-centered governance. This uniquely Somali-owned and -driven initiative underscores government ownership and leadership at federal, member state, and district levels, ensuring institutional sustainability and the realization of key policy outcomes.

The Ministry of Interior and Local Government of Hirshabelle State of Somalia have established Project Implementation Units - PIUs, headed a State Project Managers, which have the responsibility for the activities that take place in Hirshabelle State.

The PIUs are responsible for managing project activities at state-level and to liaise with districts. Specifically, the PIUs are responsible for: (i) Verifying eligibility of districts, appraising districts’ request to participate – this includes allocation of Bulsho packages and conducting lottery for each package and verifying the fulfilment of district commitments. (ii) Preparing state-level procurement plans. (iii) Preparing annual project work plans and budgets for state-level activities. (iv) Carrying out procurement for state-level activities. (v) Managing the contract with the logistic firm. (vi) Delivering capacity building activities and providing quality assurance and technical backstopping to districts - this includes trainings of district officials and staff. as well as community entities that play a role in the project. (vii) Preparing requisitions for funds to be transferred to districts, as per the project workplan, and in accordance with the grant agreement/sub-agreements and this POM and its annexes. (viii) Preparing quarterly narrative and financial reports for project activities taking place in their states. (ix) Verifying technical and E&S appraisal of local investments (Component 3) as well as other E&S actions as per the Environment and Social Management Plan. (x) Verifying the soundness of sustainability plans for the local investment prepared by the districts, including Operations & Maintenance (O&M) plans and the Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for the management of local infrastructures; and (xi) Preparing security management plans and applying security protocols in partnership with the security firm.

The Ministry of Interior and Local Government of Hirshabelle State of Somalia is seeking to use a portion of the Bulsho Project to finance the recruitment of a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning - MEAL Specialist to support the Hirshabelle Project Implementation Unit - PIU.

Responsibilities: For the Bulsho Project activities, the main objective of the assignment is to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of the Bulsho Project at the state and district levels, through the collection, verification, and reporting of MIS data; close collaboration with district staff; and coordination with the Knowledge Management and Research Firm on survey-based data collection, in line with the Project Operations Manual (POM), the project Results Framework (RF), the project Monitoring and Evaluation Plan (MEP), World Bank requirements.

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning – MEAL Specialist will work in close coordination with, and provide support to, the PCU M&E Specialist, as well as collaborate with the PCU & PIUs Social Safeguarding, Environmental Specialist, the Local Government & Community Development Specialist, and also Third-Party Monitoring and Digital Innovation Firms to ensure that all M&E activities comply with the project’s Environmental and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP), ethical research standards, and SEA/SH prevention measures.

Selection Criteria: The selection shall be based on qualification, experience and skills of the candidate and followed by an interview. The qualifications, experience and competencies include:

1. Educational Background

-          University degree in Statistics, Data Science, Computer Technology/Science, Economics, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Political Science, Development Studies. Master’s degree in the above field is an asset.

1. Professional Experience

-          Minimum of 7 years of professional experience in M&E for donor-funded projects in fragile/conflict-affected contexts, preferably in Somalia or the East Africa region. Note: pre-university graduation experiences will be not counted).

-          Experience in community-level data collection, site verification, and stakeholder engagement.

-          Strong skills in data entry, validation, and basic analysis using MIS platforms, statistical software and data tools (e.g., STATA, SPSS, Excel, KoBoToolbox).

-          Experience supporting survey operations and working with contracted research firms.

-          Excellent communication skills in Somali and English, with proven ability to write clear and concise reports.

-          Knowledge of World Bank M&E requirements and results frameworks is an advantage.

1. Skills and competencies

-          Strong analytical and data interpretation skills.

-          Proficient in applying M&E frameworks and use M&E tools (e.g., logframes, indicators).

-          Skilled in both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

-          Experience with data collection, analysis, and visualization tools (e.g., Excel, SPSS, Power BI).

1. Knowledge

-          In-depth understanding of M&E principles, RBM, and Theory of Change.

-          Familiarity with donor M&E requirements (e.g., World Bank, UN, USAID).

-          Knowledge of Somalia’s socio-political and institutional context.

-          Understanding of cross-cutting themes: gender, inclusion, conflict sensitivity.

-          Experience with statistical software (e.g., STATA, SPSS, R) and digital data collection tools (e.g., KoboToolbox, ODK).

-          Knowledge of adaptive management and using M&E for decision-making.

1. Language skills/requirement.

-          Excellent command of Somali language, e.g., reading, writing and presenting is essential

-          Excellent command of English language, e.g., reading, writing and presenting is essential.

REPORTING

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning - MEAL Specialist will report to the Hirshabelle Bulsho PIU Project Manager.

TIMING Duration of Assignment:

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning - MEAL Specialist shall be contracted for up to 12 months and renewable upon satisfactory performance.

The Ministry of Interior and Local Government of Hirshabelle State of Somalia now invites eligible individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the above-mentioned services. Interested consultants must provide the following (i) Curriculum Vitae (CV) with 3 reference persons; (ii) copies of certificates of academic qualifications; and (iii) cover letter indicating that they are qualified to perform the services.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The attention of interested Consultants is drawn to section III, para 3.14,3.16 & 3.17 of the World Bank’s Procurement Regulations for IPF Borrowers: Procurement in Investment Projects Financing Goods, Works, Non -Consulting and Consulting Services, July 2016, revised November 2017, August 2018, November 2020 and September 2023 (“Procurement Regulations”), setting forth the World Bank’s policy on conflict of interest.  

A Consultant will be selected in accordance with the Individual Consultant method set out in the World Bank Procurement Regulations. 

Interested candidates should submit their applications, including a detailed updated CV and cover letter, outlining their experience and qualifications in relation to the role marked with the subject title of the position by the following email address: [email protected]  and copy to [email protected] and  [email protected] latest by 2nd May, 2026 at 04:00 PM Mogadishu time.

Attention:

Bulsho PIU Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning - MEAL Specialist

Ministry of Interior and Local Government

Hirshabelle State of Somalia

Jowhar, Hirshabelle, Somalia