Consultancy: Audit of Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) System

This is an assignment for Strongim Bisnis, an initiative of the Australian Government in Solomon Islands.

Dates & duration: December - January

Location: Honiara, Guadalcanal (Solomon Islands)

Reports to: Dina Karic– Team Leader

Intervention/area of focus: All

Background to the Strongim Bisnis program

Solomon Islands Australia Partnership’s Strongim Bisnis program is an economic development initiative to increase economic opportunities and participation for people and businesses in Solomon Islands. 

Recognising that Solomon Islands has a small consumer market and economy, dispersed population, and high cost of doing business, Strongim Bisnis identifies and analyses specific sectors that have a high growth potential and can create new employment and income generation opportunities.  

We facilitate strategic partners (including businesses, government, civil society, and associations) in those sectors to address the root constraints to growth and inclusion (Women, Youth and People living with disabilities) through innovative solutions.  

Background to the Assignment

Strongim Bisnis has 26 indicators against which the program measures impact and progress.  Additionally, the Program collects data for six additional indicators to support DFAT Tier 2 and annual reporting.  The Strongim Bisnis program has an MRM plan and established methodologies to collect data. 

The key indicators are related to an increase in value-added sales, exports, jobs and household incomes.  There are several gender-related indicators.

While the Program reports against all indicators, there may be areas for improvement to capture the full impact of the program. 

Objective of the Assignment

The objective of this assignment is to assess the MRM process and its ability to capture systemic change, direct and indirect impact. The second objective is to propose targeted improvements to the MRM process, including KPI measurement methodology, where necessary.

The assignment also includes practical project work on aggregating annual results for the Annual Report, in collaboration with the MRM Director. The Consultant will support the aggregation process and propose tools and process improvements to strengthen annual aggregation in future reporting cycles.

Scope of Work

The Consultant will conduct a review of the MRM process, and tools and methodologies that are applied by the Strongim Bisnis team to capture the following indicators. The review will assess whether current practices enable the Program to capture, verify and utilise results effectively. The review will focus on the following areas:

• MRM process, structure and governance

1. Review of project documentation (MRM Plan, ToC, KPIs, measurement plan and  methodologies, data collection tools, partner agreements).

2. Assessment of how the team designs interventions and how decisions are made on which KPIs are monitored and why.

3. Evaluation of attribution logic and alignment of intervention objectives with indicators being measured.

• Support Aggregation of results for Annual report

1. Work with MRM Director to aggregate results for indicators.

2. Provide recommendations to improve the process of aggregating results.

• Data capture, quality and traceability

1. Review of indicator-level methodologies, data sources and evidence trails (“data traceability” from result → source → documentation).

2. Assessment of whether methodologies capture direct, indirect and systemic results (e.g., indirect jobs, market expansion, services/tourism).

3. Identification of gaps that may lead to under-reporting of results.

• Use of data for adaptive management and learning

1. Analysis of how collected data is used in decision-making (e.g., adapting interventions, reallocating resources, stopping/starting partnerships).

2. Review of learning loops: how insights are captured, shared and applied internally.

• Recommendations and improvements

1. Practical, prioritised recommendations for strengthening MRM processes, tools and reporting.

2. Identification of “quick wins” and longer-term improvements, including potential methodologies for capturing indirect/systemic impact.

Deliverables and schedule
The assignment will be completed from December 2025 to February 2026. Completion of the assignment is conditional upon approval of the deliverables by Strongim Bisnis.

Expected Deliverables

• MRM system review – assessment of how interventions are designed, how KPI decisions are made, and how data is used for adaptive management.

• KPI methodology audit – review of methodologies for priority KPIs (data sources, evidence traceability, attribution, and gaps).

• Recommendation to the annual aggregation process - practical recommendations on the annual aggregation process improvements.

• Recommendations & improved methodologies – practical recommendations and improved KPI methodologies, including approaches for capturing indirect and systemic results.

• Presentation to the team – presentation of key findings and agreed improvements.

Expected Number of Days

The expected number of days for this is expected to be: 15 days.

Skills and experience required

• Experience in conducting MRM system and the DCED Standard audits, including assessment of governance, decision-making and data quality.

• Demonstrated experience designing and managing MRM for DFAT funded projects for market systems or private sector development projects.

• Strong expertise in developing KPI methodologies, attribution logic, measurement plans and data collection tools.

• Proven ability to use MRM data for adaptive management and improving intervention design and portfolio decisions.

• Minimum 10 years in senior MRM roles on market systems development projects.

How to apply

Applications should be submitted before 4 December 2025.

Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis.

Any questions should be sent to dina.karic@strongimbisnis.com.sb Please use the following title: Strongim Bisnis –MRM System audit enquiry

Applications should include a one-page cover letter addressing the required qualifications and experience, a cost proposal, a CV of no more than four pages and the contact details of three professional referees.