Organization: Ibis
Country: South Sudan
Closing date:
07 Jul 2019Consultancy to review Adult Literacy and Numeracy training in Oxfam projects in South Sudan
Purpose and Background
The purpose of literacy and numeracy review is to document and learn from Oxfam’s work on literacy and numeracy training (non-formal education) in South Sudan in order to provide practical recommendations for Oxfam in South Sudan’s ongoing and future literacy work in particular when integrated into responses improving livelihoods, protection and/or empowering women affected by conflict.
Background
Oxfam is working in South Sudan to deliver timely and effective humanitarian aid to help people affected by the conflict as well as addressing development challenges.
Oxfam has been working in South Sudan for over 30 years. The latest more than 5 years of conflict has caused destruction, death and displacement for millions of people. The conflict has disrupted education, livelihoods and increased dependency on humanitarian aid. South Sudan still has one of the highest rates of illiteracy in the world and especially high for girls and women.
As with many other protracted crises, it is increasingly necessary for humanitarian response to include programing aiming at increasing people and particularly women’s resilience, voice and dignified lives and not only work on life-saving needs. Literacy activities have a strong focus on the most vulnerable and on women often with no or very minimal education. Existing literature and evidence point at literacy as an enabler for poor people to develop more productive livelihoods, protection, and peace and take on increasingly active roles in transforming their families, and communities.
Among the findings for livelihood are:
Many successful programmes are those that integrate literacy and numeracy as an enabler in livelihood programmes as they demonstrate an immediate reason for learning.
Livelihood-plus-literacy/numeracy programs can substantially reinforce their chances of success if they can start from or at least incorporate training in savings, credit, and business management, along with actual access to credit.
Chances of success are also heightened by working with established groups of people who share a common purpose (core interest), rather than with individual applicants. Time of training should be adapted to suits their schedule as adults with other responsibilities
Some studies on South Sudan mention the importance of taking an area approach as the contexts vary significantly in terms of language and job possibilities etc.
Our Theory of Change is that if functional literacy for women and youth is implemented with livelihoods and protection activities then greater collective outcomes can be achieved
During the past 5 years Oxfam IBIS has supported different literacy and numeracy activities in South Sudan including literacy for food, stand-alone literacy training and activities linked to cash grants and skill development. In 2018, due to delayed start up, literacy was taught for a period of three months although ideally it should have been taught for six months. In 2019 2,000 people mainly women are planned to benefit from literacy and numeracy training.
Adult literacy and numeracy we define as the ability to apply the skills of reading, writing and written calculations to the requirements of daily life.
Relevance of the review
This review is relevant because literacy and numeracy training is seen to be as an enabler for strengthening especially women’s livelihoods, agency and protection. However, although literacy has been part of Oxfam programming only limited documentation exists on achievement and challenges. Furthermore and in line with the current situation in South Sudan and Oxfam aiming at embracing the nexus and strengthening the integration between programs the literacy review should contribute to the development of models and guidance on how it can be effective in facilitating sustainable livelihoods, dignified lives, gender justice and peacebuilding.
Intended audience and use
The main audience for the review is Oxfam South Sudan staff and partners, Oxfam IBIS, and the Oxfam confederation. The review is to be shared with the NGO community working in the country, the UN, the Government of South Sudan, donors and other relevant stakeholders.
The review findings will be used to inform ongoing programming and is part of learning and documentation of what we do.
Description of the assignment
Review objective
The purpose of the literacy and numeracy review is to inform Oxfam’s ongoing and future literacy and numeracy work. The focus should particularly be on how young and adult women can gain from functional literacy/numeracy programming.
The review must address the two objectives and specific questions below.
To understand and document outcomes and learnings from the implementation of literacy and numeracy in Oxfam South Sudan programming in 2017-2018,
To come up with observations, models and recommendations building on findings and other best practices on how literacy most effectively work as an enabler for women’s increased livelihoods, agency and protection.
Specific questions
How flexible and effective have we been in reaching out to those most in need? Do we need to do it differently? How relevant and efficient has Oxfam been in training of trainers and capacity building of facilitators, including mentoring and monitoring of facilitators?
How does the curriculum fit with the real life and expectations of the participants?
Did Oxfam establish/support a creative, safe and secure learning environment? How?
Which safeguarding and accountability measures were taken to ensure the above mentioned learning environment?
Did Oxfam through the literacy project link to or intent to link to skills development or other activities (e.g. livelihoods, IGA, WASH)
Did Oxfam support or intend to support groups of learners e.g. PTAs with literacy/numeracy courses
The review should build on the following modalities:
Teaching literacy and numeracy as a stand-alone activity
In 2018: 485 (414 female and 71 men) youth and adult women/men enrolled for the Functional adult literacy and numeracy program. These learners were taught basic reading, writing in English language, numeracy and business skills (Juba)
In 2019: 399 (40M, 359F) youth and adult women/men including people living with disabilities enrolled for the Functional adult literacy and numeracy program in Juba. More participants will be included later in Juba, in Pibor by partner SALT and others from the Oxfam FSL projects.
Literacy and numeracy training integrating or linking to livelihoods or other occupation specific training
In 2018: Out of the above 485 people
89 (80 Female and 9 Male) youth and adult vulnerable women/men benefited from the small grant award to start individual small scale business to sustain their livelihoods (Juba)
50 youths and adult women/men supported through Resilience in South Sudan (HARRIS) Oxfam project also received literacy and numeracy training (Malakal)
61 ((51 female and 10 male) youth participating in the functional adult literacy and numeracy program were assessed and identified for skills development (waiting to start training) or supported to continue education (primary and secondary school, ALP training)
Methodology
The consultant is expected to conduct a mixed-method, conflict and gender-sensitive review including targeted populations in Juba and Malakal.
Furthermore, interviews should be carried out with staff members from Oxfam, international and national NGOs working with literacy, UN, local government representatives, community leaders, teachers/facilitators, and learners. The latter groups should be consulted through key informant and focus group discussions, combined with direct observation.
The review should also draw upon other learnings from reports, evaluations, studies and reviews inside and outside South Sudan with the aim of creating a full picture of options and models available that we can use.
A list of key documents is listed below:
Oxfam IBIS rapid South Sudan literacy review analysis: Literacy
Oxfam in South Sudan Monthly reports, PDM and other documents which document on literacy
Selection criteria for literacy training
Three monthly project development monitoring reports
UNESCO: Functional Adult Literacy curriculum (incl. training manual and handbook)
Review Report
The review report is intended for internal and external use, to inform programming and Oxfam strategies, and should be written in a clear and concise language. The length should be approximately 10,000 word equal to 20 pages.
Report outline
1 page executive summery
1 pages Introduction to the review methodology
9 pages analysis including brief description of literacy training, achievements and challenges
7 pages with observations and recommendations to how we might use literacy
2 pages with recommendations on way forward (1 page) and how we might use literacy (1 page)
The review report will be produced on the agreed format and will be updated in line with comments/ feedback of project team and its stakeholders.
Timeframe and duration
The review shall take place between 15th July and 25th August.
The time frame for the review is 21 days in total encompassing preparation, field visits, and report writing.
Desk study and preparation of data collection 3 days
Field visit (including 2 days in Juba and debriefing) 14 days
Analysis and report 4 days
Oxfam will facilitate logistics and support the consultant in the field. Accommodation will also be arranged by Oxfam.
Expected profile of the consultant
Oxfam IBIS is seeking a qualified consultant with expertise in literacy and with contextual understanding of South Sudan. The consultant will work closely with Oxfam staff.
The consultant (1) should have:
A relevant master’s degree, with at least 5 years of practical experience related to literacy
Experience in using mixed methods, conflict and gender sensitivity in a rural-urban context
Experience in facilitating groups’ discussion in urban-rural communities
Proven assessment and/or review experiences. Examples of reports will be asked for.
Excellent level of spoken and written English and the ability to write good reports.
A good knowledge of South Sudan (preferable)
How to apply:How to apply
Please submit your application via the ‘send application’ button and include your motivation letter, a brief proposal on how to accomplish the consultancy including budget in USD/EUR and availability, at least one example of previous relevant work and your CV.
Application deadline: July 7, 2019 23.59. Interviews are expected to take place July 11 and 12.
Please note that only applications received using the link provided can be taken into consideration.
Start date: As soon as possible.
For further information about the position, please contact Else Østergaard (eos@oxfamibis.dk)
Oxfam IBIS is committed to equal employment opportunity we therefore encourage everybody – irrespective of age, gender and of religious, sexual, national or ethnic affiliation – to apply for this position.
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