Scope of Work of the MEL&D Agency

Scope of work of the MEL&D Agency is explained under the following heads 5.5.1: Concurrent Process Monitoring

5.5.2: Evaluation 5.5.3: Learning

5.5.4: Documentation 5.5.5: Others

5.5.1 Concurrent Process Monitoring

The agency will carry out concurrent process monitoring for all projects and collect the field data for different indicators at project level and present the observations in its Quarterly Process Monitoring Reports. Some of the important processes to be monitored are as follows:

1. Implementation of Entry Point Activity (EPA)

2. Functioning of Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) 3. Implementation of IEC Activities

5. Net planning and usage of technical inputs like GIS maps etc. 6. DPR preparation process

7. Review of Action plan preparation

8. Capacity building activities at different levels 9. Flow of funds from SLNA to VWC

10. Procurement processes &its Documentation including Registers, etc., 11. Implementation of the project as per approved annual action plans 12. Quality Assurance & Compliances

13. Functioning of WDTs and PIAs

14. Functioning of the Watershed Committees (WCs)

15. Collection of contribution and management of the Watershed Development Fund (WDF)

16. Assessment of Institutional and financial sustainability of Community Based Organizations (CBOs)

17. Assessment of Income Generating Activities (IGAs) and Micro Enterprises 18. Review of Transparency standards (dissemination and display of project related

information through website, community events, social auditing, wall writings, publicity materials, etc.)

19. CPR development & apportioning of usufructs in CPRs

All these process are to be measured with a set of relevant indicators. The indicators should be adequately adjusted to capture progress along the project cycle. The MEL&D agency would also focus on identifying challenges faced as well as positive and negative aspects of implementation.

The MEL&D agency will generate quarterly and annual process monitoring reports with the analysis of SWaRSys Data. The MEL&D agency will utilize the IWMP progress reports and/or MIS and data collected from various sources such as District Watershed Development Officers, PIA, Watershed Committees, etc. for generating these reports. The annual & quarterly reports should summarize the progress and performance project-wise and provide overall observations batch-wise for each district. The report will capture any information considered as necessary for sectoral analysis. The MEL&D agency will verify the MIS data integrity through periodic field verification.

5.5.2 Evaluation

d) Households (20% selected at Simple Random)

The data to be collected with respect to the indicators specified would be finalized in consultation with the GSWMA. However, data pertaining to both socio-economic and bio- physical indicators would need to be collected & analyzed for the baseline study.

5.5.2.2 Impact Assessment

The MEL&D agency is expected to undertake impact assessment surveys/studies to establish the net impact of the programme in terms of the identified indicators at different time frame. Data have to be collected from a variety of sources viz.; household surveys, focus group discussions, MIS etc. The relevant reference data shall be made available for ready reference as and when required.

MEL&D Agency has to solicit feedback and inputs from all stakeholders for assessing the impact.

i. Evaluation of the Preparatory phase (DPR, EPA, IB formation, IEC) of the project

preferably after one year of commencement of implementation.

ii. Mid-term evaluation to be carried out during 3rd year of implementation or after

achieving 50% of progress in implementation.

iii. Final Evaluation would be carried out after the completion of project works. The

purpose of Final Evaluation to assess overall effects of the project works.

5.5.3. Learning - Feedback & Dissemination Mechanism:

The MEL&D agency should help the GSWMA to evolve and establish itself as a Learning Organization and to document all the learnings. The learnings would be part of project implementation used to correct the shortcomings.

a) Quarterly feedback through specified modes (reports, participatory methods, discussions, presentations, etc.) would be provided by MEL&D agency at the state and district levels.

b) The MEL&D agency will assist GSWMA in reviewing the M&E observations/findings, evolve better compliance mechanisms which will provide for more effective decision- making.

c) The MEL&D agency will facilitate in disseminating the findings and best practices through state-level learning workshops annually for various stakeholders of GSWMA. d) In the course of project monitoring, the MEL&D agency will suggest improvements in

current implementation strategies. GSWMA may consider these suggestions for necessary modifications of operational guidelines.

5.5.4. Documentation

The MEL&D agency will provide documentary evidence of programme processes through good quality photographs, videos, slide shows, brochures, reports etc. as agreed with the GSWMA.

Reports listed in Annexure-II will be part of the documentations applicable. Pre & post status scenarios should be depicted with documentary evidence. Observations in the process monitoring reports must be specific as regards location (name of village, beneficiary, GPS readings, survey numbers etc.). Quarterly process monitoring reports should be supported with

photographs to substantiate the information provided. Photographs of works should have GPS readings

Case Studies/Success stories, Thematic studies and all Evaluation reports shall be compulsorily accompanied by photographs of activities undertaken in the project area and, opinions of all stakeholders such as beneficiaries, Govt. officials, GSWMA staff, public representatives relevant CBO representatives.

Video Documentation: The Agency will undertake video documentation depicting the pre- treated status and the changes that have accrued upon implementation as comprehensive proof of project progress and drawbacks. The final product should be of acceptable professional standards with English & Gujarati subtitles.

5.5.5 Other Scope of Works

In addition to the above the following activities will be a part of scope of work of the MEL&D Agency

5.5.5.1 Participatory Impact Pathway Analysis

The MEL&D agency shall carry out an annual impact pathway analysis with various project outputs of IWMP with various stakeholders of the project including project staff, key officers and ultimate beneficiaries to understand various outcomes and eventual impact on socio- economic & environmental indicators to measure the most expected changes and unexpected ones

5.5.2 Thematic / Special Studies:

The MEL&D agency will carry out thematic studies, a minimum of 5 thematic studies per batch of projects would need to be undertaken, annually on specific issues identified by GSWMA. An illustrative list of the themes is as follows:

a) Status of Water Table b) Cropping Pattern & Intensity c) Socio-economic status d) Gender issues

e) Negative impacts of the project interventions, if any

Annexure-I