SIDP Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, and Learning (MERL) Consultant

Terms of reference – Specialist Contractor

Consultancy role title: SIDP Project Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL) consultant.

Location:  Uganda

Apply by:   30 April 2026   

1. 1. Background and context about the project

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We create friendly knowledge and understanding between the people of the UK and other countries. We do this by making a positive contribution to the UK and the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections, and engendering trust.

We work with over 100 countries across the world in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education, and civil society. Each year we reach over 20 million people face-to-face and more than 500 million people online, via broadcasts and publications. Founded in 1934, we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body.

About the project and task

The Skills for Inclusive Digital Participation is a Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) funded project implemented by the British Council. It contributes to Pillar 1, Models & Enablers of UK Government’s Digital Access Programme, by building digital literacy and basic digital skills for underserved communities to make inclusive digital access locally relevant, meaningful and productive. Countries of implementation are Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Brazil and Uganda, with implementation starting in 2021 and running till March 2027.

The project seeks to build the capacity of digitally excluded individuals, specifically young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, women, and Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWD), to help them develop the digital competencies they need to take part in digital life and online activities safely. With this, it contributes to enhancing livelihoods through entrepreneurship that leverages online resources and markets.

The digital divide among low-income individuals in both urban and rural areas in Uganda is impacting their participation in the digital economy and online safety. Government and non-governmental stakeholders, including those funded by DAP, have made strides in developing policy, infrastructure, and skills; however, women, youth, and persons with disabilities in rural areas and low-income communities have minimal access to the same. The SIDP Project will contribute to addressing this gap by supporting the development of digital literacy skills content, building digital skills capacities of community digital champions and marginalised communities of Busia, Tororo, Namayingo and Bugiri and those that may be engage through the project, particularly, young people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, women and persons with disabilities and supporting local organisations to run digital literacy training programmes, building their capacity in driving growth in digital development. As a result, the project will enhance online participation, therefore increasing access to digital opportunities, resources and information.

Objective

The main objective of the consultancy role is to provide support on the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Reporting being the cross-cutting activity, ensuring quality data is available for continuous learning, decision-making and for stakeholder engagement.

1. 2. About the role of the specialist contractor

The following is a list of deliverables under this assignment:

• M & E systems design.

• Take lead in the development and/or customisation of data collection tools, data analysis and reporting, documenting of stories of change.
• Review the country-level Theory of Change (ToC), including its contribution to the SIDP project-level and overall M&E framework (log frame indicators and targets) against which data collected at the country level are aggregated.
• Ensure data collection for M&E on the curriculum development process, dialogue events, digital skills training and capacity strengthening initiatives.

• Organisational capacity strengthening.

• Conduct capacity assessment and contribute to the M&E planning and delivery of mentorship and support initiative to selected organisations.
• Support the ICT Consultant in a 5-month organisational capacity strengthening initiative of M&E.

• Development of the National MERL framework for the national digital literacy curriculum for Uganda.

• Provide technical support and facilitate engagements leading to the development and/or adaptation of a Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Reporting Framework for the national digital skills literacy curriculum while ensuring documentation and quality data is available for continuous learning, decision-making and stakeholder engagement

The contracted person is expected to be responsible for:

• Overall management of the monitoring and evaluation of the project in Uganda, leading specifically on observation, monitoring and evaluation of the trainings, CoP and other project activities that will be implemented. 
• Collection of qualitative and quantitative data, providing evidence and reporting against evaluation objectives
• Work with the SIDP implementing partners/grantees to achieve the MERL objectives of the project. 
• Liaise with the SIDP MERL Lead  (GC Insight) for data collection and reporting

Travel: The role is locally based in Uganda and Local travel to conduct interviews, collect data and field monitoring is required. The British Council will organise and pay for the travel costs for local transportation, accommodation and meals during the duration of the contract as per British Council policy.

1. 3. Outcomes and outputs

Expected output and deliverables for the task.

1. 4. Timeline

The assignment is expected to start and finish within a period of 12 months from the contract start date, with a possibility of extension depending on the availability of funding. Within this period, the Consultant will provide MERL technical skills and support for the design and implementation of the project activities.

Within this period allocated, the Consultant will support the delivery of the project based on a daily rate.

1. 5. Fee & expenses

Please indicate your daily rate and hourly rate in Uganda Shillings and the number of days needed to complete this task. (NB: Charges proposed will be subjected to statutory taxes, e.g., withholding tax, etc.)

This information must also be explicitly included in the proposal. Submissions that do not clearly specify these details may be considered incomplete.

1. 6. Reporting and communication

The consultant will update the British Council on progress as outlined in the timelines; exact timings are to be agreed between the parties. There will be a quality assurance and feedback process throughout. The consultant will be briefed at the start of the contract by the project management team

The consultant will closely work with the ICT Consultant, key stakeholders in the British Council, FCDO, Government agencies and line ministries, and local organisations involved in the assessment, development of content.

The consultant will work with the SIDP Project manager in Uganda to deliver the assignment and will submit their deliverables as per the agreed timeline to the SIDP programme manager and/or the project manager in Uganda.

1. 7. Reporting and communication

The consultant will be briefed at the start of the contract by the project management team, GC Insights and any other relevant stakeholders who will be available for any questions or concerns throughout the contract delivery.

1. 8. Qualifications and experience required

The British Council seeks an experienced independent consultant with the following skills and experience:

Education:

• Advanced Degree in the following disciplines: Social Sciences, Economics, Statistics, Development Studies, Monitoring and Evaluation or any other relevant field.
• A master’s degree is desirable.

Experience

Expert experience

1. Demonstrated experience producing high-quality M&E products on time, Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Reporting Frameworks, and tools for skills development and training programmes for national and organisational utilisation.
2. Proven experience in programme design and implementation.
3. Extensive experience in deploying efficient monitoring and evaluation systems
4. Extensive experience in conducting rapid situational assessment and evaluation of projects, organisational capacity assessment and strengthening.

• Extensive knowledge working with marginalised and underserved groups, specifically women, youth from low economic backgrounds and persons with disabilities in Uganda.
• Strong experience in conducting qualitative and quantitative data collection approaches.
• Extensive experience in evaluating international development programmes
• Experience in a range of analytical methods, including innovative qualitative approaches and undertaking case studies.

• • Proven ability to engage and work with a wide range of stakeholders from different parts of Uganda with an understanding of the social, religious, and cultural influences in these regions.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills
  • Understanding of safeguarding, equality, diversity, and inclusion policies.

Language proficiency

• Fluency in English is required, and good understanding and knowledge of Swahili and Luganda is an added advantage.

Knowledge

• Strong analytical skills and experience including analysis and triangulation of quantitative and qualitative data.
• Strong computer skills including excellent skills in MS Office, and other standard software packages.

1. 9. How to apply

Applicants are required to submit the following documents:

Interested individuals are required to submit their proposal to ug-procurement@britishcouncil.org  by 30 April 2026. Clarification questions should be sent to the above email address by 24 April 2026.

For any clarifications related to the application process, please contact: Joan.Apego@britishcoubcil.org

Provide a detailed narrative response to the following questions in the Expression of Interest in a pdf format to accompany the CV

1. Please describe how you will promote inclusion of marginalised young people, people living with disability (PWDs) women and men in the delivery of this contract? (Maximum word limit: 500)
2. Please describe how your experience and expertise meet the requirements of these Terms of Reference. Please provide sufficient evidence of relevant previous work, including links if any. (Maximum word limit: 500)
3. Please detail the approach and methodology you will take to deliver this assignment. Please include proposed milestones that detail key activities, timelines and time allocation to the expertise mentioned above. (Maximum word limit: 500)
4. Please provide a breakdown of your costs: professional fees, any other relevant costs, applicable taxes, and the total number of days. Remember to link your costs to the outcomes, key activities and timelines.

1. 10. Criteria for evaluation

The submissions/applications will be evaluated according to the weights below

• Social Value – 10%
• Expertise/ Track record – 20%
• Methodology and Approach to carrying out the consultancy - 30%
• Value for Money – 40%

10. Application timeline

Call posted: 17 April 2026

Deadline to send clarification questions: 24 April 2026

Deadline for submission of the application is 30 April 2026,