To achieve the first specific objective, the contractor will need to complete four interlinked results to ensure that the MLS in place efficiently measures overall progresses of migration related projects implemented in the Neighbourhood South.
Result 1
The first critical step is to develop a Monitoring and Learning System (MLS) methodology for the Migration Neighbourhood South portfolio - ensuring tailor made information provision and reporting services - according to corporate reporting requirements. The contractor will assess the needs and agree upon the MLS methodology with all relevant parties, including DG MENA HQ team, EU Delegations and a sensible sample of key Implementing Partners (IP) (Result 1). The main rationale is to build on the experience and knowledge from previous and ongoing MLS systems, in particular the MLS for the EUTF North of Africa window and MLS MADAD, and to foster harmonization with the current MLS approaches and methodology, ensuring continuity and comparability in MLS data and reporting.
Result 2
The second layer envisaged is developing a capacity-building strategy aimed at providing tailoredtechnical support to the EC Neighbourhood South Migration teams and Implementing Partners (IP) based on a need analysis (Result 2). This capacity-building component will be implemented over the whole duration of the contract and adjusted according to any emerging ad-hoc needs. To be noted that, if some adjustments of the MLS methodology are deemed necessary, it is critical to foresee a solid capacity-building session to foster knowledge transfer, mutual understanding and consensual agreement among all parties (MLS, EC and IP teams).
Result 3
Finally, yet importantly, the third key component is for the MLS contractor to regularly produce and disseminate monitoring reports, on one hand analysing overall progresses of the Neighbourhood South
Migration portfolio in function of the stakeholders’ needs and relevant EC results reporting exercises
(e.g. against the MIP priorities or other relevant principles of interventions as well as the Neighbourhood South intervention logic, and on the other hand summarizing, structuring and facilitating dissemination of relevant key migration facts (Result 3).
Result 4
To achieve the second specific objective and taking into account the recommendations from the of the
European Court of Auditors (ECA) Special Report 17/2024 on the EUTF for Africa and the European Commission’s replies, the contractor will develop a learning and communication strategy (Result 4), providing for cross-country analysis of MLS data, cross-regional analysis of Neighbourhood South Migration main thematic areas in the region and qualitative case studies of best practices. The reports produced will also put Neighbourhood South Migration activities into a broader contextual perspective assessing their coherence with other donor funded activities and identifying priorities and opportunities for extending current migration related activities into the next programming exercise. Particular attention should also be paid on creating a bridge between ongoing migration activities and future programming on migration to ensure that the knowledge and experience gained are integrated into policymaking and the next funding cycles, as well on assessing if and to which extent previous lessons learned have been implemented so far.