GIZ- Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) Consultant

The Avo Vision Foundation NPC is implementing the Agri-Regen programme in the Blouberg Municipality, Limpopo. The project aims to address environmental and socio-economic challenges through regenerative agricultural practices, ecological restoration and empowerment of local communities.

The programme is the second phase of restoration activities already in place and presents the practical unlocking of value chains offered by available land in the area.

Our mission is to utilise the skills and capabilities of the local ecosystem to mobile the community broadly towards environmental awareness and stewardship, strengthen restoration strategies, crop planting and animal husbandry on communal land. By leveraging the knowledge and skills of the community and MSMEs, the Agri-Regen project seeks to maximize sustainable benefits for all stakeholders.

Our approach prioritizes inclusivity and empowerment, with a specific focus on promoting opportunities for women and people with disabilities, wherever possible.

Methodology

1. Follow land currently being thinned by charcoal producer for restoration and improvement.

2. Develop and implement restoration strategies, crop planting, and animal husbandry programmes

4. Provide training and capacity-building programs for community members and MSMEs for restoration, regenerative agriculture – crop planting and animal husbandry.

5. Establish monitoring and evaluation systems to track project progress and impact.

Expected Outcomes

1. Creation of sustainable livelihoods and employment opportunities

2. Ecological recovery and environmental conservation

3. Empowerment of women and inclusion of people with disabilities

4. Development of agricultural value chains and MSMEs

5. Expansion of the offering of charcoal producers to include land restoration (to private farmers, lodges, game farms, etc.)

Performance Monitoring

1. Business Performance Monitoring - Regularly tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure MSMEs and farmersare meeting their goals.

2. Monthly Production Targets - Setting and working towards specific production goals each month to maintain momentum and growth.

3. Revenue and Profit Targets - Establishing and striving to achieve revenue and profit objectives to ensure financial sustainability.

Support for Viability and Profitability

To ensure MSMEs remain viable and profitable, we offer:

1. Technical Training and Mentorship - Providing expertise and guidance to enhance skills and knowledge in specific areas.

2. Business Advisory Services - Offering expert advice on business operations, strategy, and management to inform decision-making.

3. Access to Markets and Offtake Agreements - Facilitating connections to markets, customers, and partners, and negotiating offtake agreements to secure sales.

4. Ongoing Business Coaching - Providing continuous guidance and support to help MSMEs overcome challenges, adapt to changes, and achieve long-term success.

Objective

The objective of this MEAL assignment is to design and implement a monitoring and evaluation system to track project progress, outcomes, and impact.

Scope of Work

The MEAL consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

1. Developing a MEAL Framework

1. Review project documents, including the project proposal, log frame, and work plan.

2. Conduct stakeholder interviews with project staff, beneficiaries, and partners.

3. Develop a comprehensive MEAL framework, including:

• Logical framework (log frame) with clear objectives, outcomes, outputs, and indicators.
• MEAL matrix outlining data sources, collection methods, and analysis plans.
• Data management plan, including data storage, security, and sharing protocols.

2. Monitoring Project Progress

1. Develop and implement a data collection plan, including:

• Quarterly data collection from project staff and beneficiaries.
• Site visits to monitor project activities and progress.

2. Analyse and interpret data, identifying trends, patterns and areas for improvement.

3. Prepare and submit quarterly monitoring reports to project stakeholders.

3. Evaluating Project Impact

1. Conduct baseline, mid-term and end-term evaluations to assess project impact on:

• MSME and farmer development
• Sustainable livelihoods and employment opportunities.
• Ecological recovery and environmental conservation.
• Empowerment of women and inclusion of people with disabilities.

2. Develop and implement evaluation methodologies, including:

• Survey design and implementation.
• Focus group discussions and interviews.
• Data analysis and interpretation.
• Prepare and submit evaluation reports to project stakeholders.

4. Providing Feedback and Recommendations

1. Provide feedback and recommendations to project stakeholders on:

• Project progress and performance.
• Areas for improvement and corrective actions.
• Emerging issues and risks.

2. Facilitate reflection and learning sessions with project staff and stakeholders to:

• Discuss findings and recommendations.
• Identify lessons learned and best practices.
• Inform project decision-making and improvement.

Expected Deliverables

The MEAL consultant will deliver:

1. A MEAL framework document- including a Theory of Change

2. Quarterly monitoring reports- to accompany our quarterly report to the client

3. Baseline, mid-term, and end-term evaluation reports.

4. Regular feedback and recommendations to project stakeholders.

5. Set up Data collection and data tracking tools

Requirements

The Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) consultant should have:

1. A minimum of 5 years of experience in MEAL, preferably in natural resource management, agriculture, rural development, enterprise support, or related fields.

2. A strong understanding of MEAL principles, methods and tools.

3. Experience in designing and implementing MEAL frameworks, including data collection, analysis, and reporting.

4. Excellent analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Timeline

The MEAL assignment is expected to commence ASAP and will run for 12 months. The contract can be extended based on performance.

Contact Information

Please submit your proposal, including your CV, a brief description of your experience and approach, and a detailed budget, to engage@avovision.co.za

Avo Vision and IDC Strengthen Township Enterprises

Avo Vision, in partnership with the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), is driving change in township economies through the rollout of the Township Energy Fund. The programme has supported 45 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across Soweto, Vaal, and the Westrand with solar energy system solutions to help businesses mitigate the challenges of load-shedding and load reduction.

Ensuring Business Continuity and Growth with Alternative Energy

The project aims to ensure business continuity, spur growth, and fuel job creation in township areas. Alongside the solar energy installations, recipients have benefited from business acumen training and mentorship, equipping them with the tools to navigate future challenges.

Real Impacts on Township Businesses

During recent engagement sessions, many business owners shared their success stories. Most businesses noted significant savings on electricity bills and improved operations since the installation of solar energy systems on their premises.

Lungile Msele, co-owner of Lungy and Sandy Poultry, expressed her gratitude for the initiative:

“We never had electricity in our settlement, so we relied on a petrol generator, which was expensive. Since receiving the solar energy system, we have been able to save money, purchase a chicken plucking machine, and install a fridge. None of this would have been possible without Avo Vision and IDC,” said an elated Lungile.

Lungile also highlighted the value of the business acumen training:

“The training equipped me with networking skills and strategies to tackle future challenges.”

How Solar Energy Transformed TshepoMaps Trading

Nthabiseng Motsele of TshepoMaps Trading and Projects (Pty) LTD shared her experience: “Our business has seen an increase in profits after transitioning to solar energy. Encouraged by the growth, we hired an employee living with a disability, highlighting the inclusive opportunities the programme creates. People with disabilities are often overlooked. Hiring someone who deserved the opportunity to contribute their skills has taken our business to new heights.”

Uplifting the Next Generation of Solar Installers

As part of the programme, Solar Optimised Solutions (SOS), the technical partner, hired six interns from Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges to provide hands-on solar installation training.

Intern Tumelo Nchabeleng praised the practical experience:

“I learned to install solar systems, design them, and perform operations and maintenance. With this experience, I’m confident I’ll secure permanent employment soon.”

Strategic Partnerships and Sustainability

Avo Vision’s Programme Manager, Antoinette Mthetwa, emphasised the impact of strategic partnerships in supporting small businesses:

“This project demonstrates the power of collaboration in overcoming local energy challenges, fostering economic resilience, driving growth, and promoting environmental responsibility. Avo Vision is looking forward to partnering with more entities to assist more businesses and create employment in our townships,” Antoinette explained.

A Sustainable Future for Township Economies

This project underscores Avo Vision’s commitment to township economic sustainability by tackling energy challenges head-on. The programme not only ensures uninterrupted operations for local businesses but also promotes environmental responsibility and economic resilience.

How Financial Literacy Training Transformed Nkwana’s Small Business Success

Empowered with financial and business skills after attending the “Boost Your Income” training offered by Avo Vision, Mapaseka Mkwana from Cosmo City, North of Johannesburg, has successfully launched a confectionery business that now generates profits equivalent to her wages as an Early Childhood Development teacher in her community.
Avo Vision is a social Impact organisation that supports South Africans to live better lives through Community training, Livelihood creation and Enterprise and Supplier Development. As part of protecting sustainable income for the SEF participants, Avo Vision offered the ‘Boosting your Income’ training programme. SEF is the Social Employment Fund, one of the Presidential Employment Stimulus programmes that seeks to reduce unemployment while addressing key social, environmental and economic challenges in the country.

How Avo Vision’s Training Transformed Mapaseka Mkwana’s Business and Life

Mkwana says she heard about this module she grabbed the opportunity to attend this module with both hands because she was trying to find ways to gain financial knowledge before, she started her business. “I was unemployed for nine months and (I) was getting frustrated and slipping into depression. When I heard about ‘Boost Your Income’ training I decided to attend because I was determined to find ways to boost my current income with plans to further my studies,” she explained.
Mkwana is currently working under the Social Employment Fund (SEF) and used her monthly stipend to kick-start her entrepreneurship journey. SEF is one of the Presidential Stimulus Programmes, managed by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), and aims to address the challenge of unemployment through employment creation. Avo Vision has placed X people in green businesses and ECD centres across 5 provinces.

Mkwana’s confectionery business sells cupcakes andscones at the nearby primary school, her workplace and to private clients during special occasions such as parties, weddings and family gatherings. After passing matric in 2012, Mkwana studied Computer Literacy before going to TVET College and studying Welding. Soon after graduating, Mkwana says she started experiencing eye problems and had to quit her welder job.

From Early Childhood Teacher to Successful Entrepreneur: The Impact of Financial Literacy

Mkwana is currently furthering her studies towards Early Childhood Learning (Level 4 qualification), with the aim to one day start her own ECD centre. “I always knew that I love working with children, but being an ECD teacher under SEF has solidified that passion and it’s something that I would like to do for the rest of my life,” she said.
Although Mkwana’s business has been striving since it was launched, she says it comes with a lot of sacrifices and to this day she is still trying to get used to it.
"Running your own business takes a lot of sacrifices, especially if you’re a parent. Every morning from 06:30 to 08:30, I am at the school selling my baked goods. After that, I go straight to work. After work, I help my child with school homework, do household chores and then bake for the following day before going to bed. It takes passion and dedication to make the business successful," the mother of one added.

“My advice to a young person is to start with whatever amount that they have, and I encourage them to attend short courses such as Boost Your Income to empower themselves with skills such as financial literacy and how to run small businesses successfully,” Mkwana advised for anyone who wants to start a business.
‘Boost Your Income’ is one of the training modules offered by Avo Vision in person and through online platforms such as WhatsApp, Zoom and Microsoft Teams to reach individuals from every corner of the country. The participants are equipped with in-depth financial skills, offering them the opportunity to explore new business prospects and secure their financial future.

Breaking Barriers: Empowering Women Through Financial Education and Entrepreneurship

It has been exactly 68 years since women stood together and marched to Pretoria in 1956 to protest against the extension of the Pass Laws to women. Activists rebelled against a patriarchal system designed to control women and reduce them to submissive beings at the mercy of men. Despite nearly three decades of democracy, only 21.9% of all businesses are owned by women. Contributing factors include poor access to capital, insufficient support in entrepreneurial spaces, and a lack of understanding from the government, private sector, and financial institutions about the important role that female business owners can play in our country’s economy.

Crystal Tau is one of 45 of AvoVision’s training partners. As such, she and her training business have been instrumental in equipping communities with the skills they need to improve their lives. When COVID-19 affected most small businesses, some had to shut down due to lockdown restrictions. At the time Crystal had a business as a host and tour guide for international gospel singers and pastors. She had to close this business down due to the pandemic’s gathering and travel restrictions. She was worried and did not know how she was going to survive financially.
Then she heard about AvoVision's Kickstarz programme for young entrepreneurs which was being implemented in partnership with Momentum Metropolitan. This was the first entrepreneurship and financial skills programme to be implemented digitally. Due to the impact of the pandemic, AvoVision was inspired to design accessible online training solutions to reach every corner of the country, despite the restrictions.

Crystal’s parents were teachers in the rural area of Badplaas, Mpumalanga. Growing up with teachers ignited in her a passion for facilitation. After having to drop out of university and getting married, she was introduced to Joyous Celebration auditions and started her own business. She says: "My company, Gen 7, started from a Bible verse. What I am now, will help seven generations ahead. It is important to me that everyone who has worked with me must be able to go and change seven lives, who in turn will help seven others. AvoVision’s development programmes helped me to help my communities. My work with Avo aligns with my motto of community empowerment.”

From Struggle to Success: How Financial Education is Transforming Women’s Lives

Crystal highlighted that one of her favourite programmes to teach is "Boosting Your Income”. This AvoVision workshop encourages people to tap into their talents and channel their entrepreneurial skills. She also swears by the Budgeting Basics module, because it helped her so much. She used the ‘Snowball’ method to pay off all her debts. She explains: "The sessions are not just useful for my participants; I also apply everything I learn in the Avo programmes in my personal life. As a mother of five, because I have learnt good financial management practices, I have been able to pay for my two children's flight attendant courses.”

Crystal Tau’s Journey: Turning Adversity into Opportunity Through AvoVision’s Training Programs

Crystal co-opted two young girls into her training business to work as her assistants. This has exposed them not only to key financial skills and values, but also to seeing the workings of an entrepreneurial journey in practice. Once they got their own businesses up and running, they struck out on their own. Crystal then hired her own two matriculated daughters, something she had always done in different businesses. "I know exactly how it feels to be a woman and not have bread for my children. When you equip a woman, she'll take what you give her to learn and to move faster. Helping a woman means helping the whole community. It is so important for women to have their own source of income. If opportunities are limited, women must be taught how to use skills that can put bread on the table. My advice to young women out there is: Don't sit and wait. No one is coming to save you. You must make the change. We women need to look after ourselves and help each other to come up with solutions. That is why I only hire women," she emphasised.

One of Crystal’s financial skills participants told her a story she that she will never forget. The woman had attended a ‘Money Fo' Sho!’ workshop. Thinking about what she had learnt, she decided to save all her SASSA grant money. She used that money to eventually buy a piece of land to build a house on for her children. By now she has built two rooms and has started extending.
Avocado Vision plays a vital role in contributing towards the 2030 gender equality sustainability goals. Over the years, more than 60 percent of our financial skills participants and beneficiaries have been women. To contribute to this impact that supports women who are doing it for themselves, contact engage@avovision.co.za.