**Position Title:** Value for Money (VfM) Assessment Expert (Consultant / Part-Time / As-Needed)
**Organization:** **STOOS Consulting (STOOS)**
**Reports to:** Team Leader / Project Director (STOOS)
**Contract Type:** Consultancy agreement (short-term, assignment-based)
**Duty Station:** Remote, with potential travel depending on assignment scope
**Duration:** Variable (typically **10–40 working days** per assignment), based on ToR and deliverables
**Start Date:** As agreed per assignment

**1) Introduction to STOOS Consulting**

**STOOS Consulting** is an international consulting firm established in **2019**, delivering high-quality **monitoring, evaluation, research, assessments, and learning** services for humanitarian and development actors across **MENA, Africa, and Europe**. STOOS supports donors, UN agencies, INGOs, and local organizations through **evidence-based analysis** that strengthens decision-making, accountability, and program performance. STOOS is recognized for rigorous methods, strong field implementation capacity, ethical research standards, and context-responsive delivery—particularly in complex and fragile settings.

**2) Role Summary**

The **Value for Money (VfM) Assessment Expert** will **lead and/or provide technical oversight** for VfM components within research, evaluation, feasibility, and assessment consultancies. The expert will ensure that VfM analysis is **methodologically sound, decision-oriented, and aligned with donor expectations**, generating practical insights on **economy, efficiency, effectiveness, equity, and cost-effectiveness** (as applicable). The role includes contributing to **research design, tool development, data analysis, interpretation, and reporting**, and ensuring VfM findings are integrated into clear recommendations.

**3) Key Tasks During Research and Assessment Consultancies**

**A. Assessment Design and Analytical Framing**

- Lead the **VfM framework** for each assignment, including the VfM questions, assumptions, and analytical approach.
- Contribute to the **evaluation/research design**, ensuring VfM is embedded in the methodology and linked to the ToC/results framework.
- Define the **data needs** (financial, operational, output/outcome) and feasibility of VfM analysis within time/budget constraints.

**B. Tool Development and Data Collection Readiness**

- Develop and refine **data collection tools** relevant to VfM (e.g., cost templates, unit-cost trackers, efficiency checklists, structured KII/FGD prompts).
- Support sampling and field planning to ensure **VfM-relevant evidence** is captured (including triangulation of financial/program data).
- Provide guidance/training to team members and enumerators on **VfM concepts, data requirements, and quality assurance**.

**C. Data Management and Quantitative/Qualitative Analysis**

- Lead analysis of **cost structures, unit costs, cost drivers, resource utilization**, and links to outputs/outcomes.
- Conduct VfM analyses as appropriate, such as: **unit cost analysis, cost-efficiency comparisons, cost-effectiveness narratives, economy checks, efficiency mapping, and sensitivity considerations**.
- Triangulate financial data with qualitative insights to explain **why** performance occurred (constraints, market factors, delivery modalities, operational bottlenecks).

**D. Interpretation, Reporting, and Recommendations**

- Draft VfM sections for **inception reports, analysis briefs, draft and final reports**, ensuring clarity and defensible conclusions.
- Translate findings into **actionable recommendations** (cost optimization, delivery model improvements, targeting and equity trade-offs, scalability implications).
- Participate in debriefs, validation workshops, and client presentations, communicating VfM insights in a **non-technical, decision-ready** manner.

**E. Quality Assurance and Compliance**

- Ensure VfM work meets **STOOS quality standards**, ethical commitments, and donor/client requirements.
- Maintain documentation of calculations, assumptions, and limitations to ensure **auditability and transparency**.

**4) Key Deliverables (Assignment-Dependent)**

- VfM **analysis plan** integrated into the inception report (questions, approach, data plan).
- VfM **tools and templates** (unit-cost sheets, cost capture formats, interview prompts, efficiency checklists).
- VfM **analysis outputs** (tables/graphs/unit cost metrics/narrative synthesis) as applicable.
- Draft and final **VfM report sections**, including conclusions and recommendations.
- Presentation/debrief **slides** summarizing VfM findings (if required).

**5) Required Qualifications and Experience**

**Education:**

- Minimum **Bachelor’s degree** in **Economics, Finance, Public Policy, Development Studies, Statistics**, or a related field (Master’s preferred).

**Experience:**

- Minimum **5 years** of relevant experience in **VfM, economic analysis, cost analysis, evaluation, or performance measurement** in humanitarian/development contexts.
- Demonstrated experience contributing to or leading **evaluations/assessments** where costs are linked to outputs/outcomes.
- Strong skills in **quantitative analysis** (unit cost, efficiency metrics, basic modeling) and ability to triangulate with qualitative evidence.

**Technical Skills:**

- Proficiency in **Excel** (advanced), and familiarity with analysis tools (e.g., Power BI, Stata, R, SPSS—advantage).
- Strong report-writing skills in **English** (Arabic and/or French is an advantage depending on assignment context).
- Ability to work under tight deadlines and produce **high-quality, client-ready outputs**.

**Core Competencies:**

- Strong analytical judgment, attention to detail, and ability to communicate complex VfM findings clearly.
- Teamwork and mentoring capacity for mixed-method teams.
- Understanding of donor expectations around **economy, efficiency, effectiveness, equity**, and responsible resource use.