South Sudan: Enhancing Quality Education and Building Peace in South Sudan"

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Final Evaluation

Project Name: "Enhancing Quality Education and Building Peace in South Sudan"

Donor: NMFA

Country: South Sudan

Project locations: Rumbek and Bor

Project Background

Save the Children has been implementing a one-year NORAD funded education project from August 2016 through June 2017 on "Enhancing quality education & Peace Building in South Sudan" in Bor (former Jonglei state) and Rumbek (former Lakes state). The main objective of this project is to support children to learn by ensuring the provision of safe, quality education that equips them with essential skills needed to access future opportunities. This project was designed to provide support to 26 schools (12 in Bor and 14 in Rumbek) to reach a total of 19, 077 beneficiaries (97% children) through a variety of activities. Integrated within the project are also elements of peacebuilding to promote peaceful coexistence between people of various ethnic groups and clans, and also build resilience of communities to cope with conflict.

The specific objectives of this project are:

• To Increase access to protective learning environments
• To Increase access to quality teaching and learning opportunities for teachers and students
• To enhance community members and local authorities understanding of and increased participation in school management
• To increase awareness of protection issues in schools to promote peacebuilding.
• Final Evaluation Objectives
• As the project comes to a close in the middle of July 2017, there is need to conduct a final project evaluation to assess the accountability, quality, relevance, efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability, as well as evaluate the achievement of results both at outcome and impact level. Specifically, the evaluation objectives are:
• To assess the extent to which the project has achieved its objectives and results
• To determine the relevance, sustainability, impact, efficiency and effectiveness as per the OECD/DAC including coherence, coverage and co-ordination. criteria of achievements of the results in relation to stated objectives
• To identify and document key successes, what worked, what did not work, lessons learned and challenges that are attributable to the NMFA education project
• To underscore the county education department's readiness and plan for the sustainability and functionality of the schools
• To recommend improvements for longer-term strategies, focusing on program and management quality and accountability, and contribute to learning.

Scope of the Evaluation

While the evaluation will be focussed on the 26 primary schools and communities in Bor and Rumbek, the results will also be used to inform broader education programming across the country, especially in similar contexts. There will also be a deliberate focus on peace building and resilience activities and impact on promoting peace in the community.

Methodology

While the consultant will propose a methodology to suit the evaluation, a consultative and participatory approach will be a basic minimum requirement. In addition, quantitative and qualitative methods must be employed. A representative sample shall be used taking into consideration beneficiaries reached. The overall methodology including the sampling frame, sampling methodology, data collection tools, methods and analysis, and interpretation will be detailed in the consultancy proposal. Qualitative and quantitative data collection methods that include children's participation will be clearly stated by the consultant.

The data collection tools developed by the consultant will be reviewed and endorsed by Save the Children education and MEAL team.

1 All SCI standard evaluation criteria MUST be adhered to and will be shared with the consultant. 2 Data collection and data quality management 3 To ensure that accurate and reliable data is collected and analysed, the evaluation will adapt measures to assure quality control. The following will be kept in focus during the entire exercise: 4 Adherence to the evaluation focus to ensure that the data collected and analyzed is guided by the evaluation purpose, scope and objectives as provided for in the terms of reference. 5 A schedule of timelines, activity work plan and task responsibilities will be adapted and emphasized to guide scheduling of the exercise 6 All data collection tools and duly filled forms will be filed appropriately for reference in case of ambiguity of data or lack of clarity during analysis. 7 Triangulation will be used to check and establish validity of the findings from primary and secondary data sources 8 A participatory approach will be applied and key stakeholders including the project staff and key stakeholders will be fully involved during the process of data collection and analysis. 9 Evaluation Team 10 An evaluation team will be formed comprising of members from education and representatives from the MEAL team including the consultant. SCI staff will provide guidance, support and coordination and the consultant engaged should lead the process. 11 Adherence to the evaluation focus to ensure that the data collected and analysed is guided by the evaluation purpose, scope and objectives as provided for in the terms of reference.

Plan for communicating results

Apart from a detailed report (max 14 pages excluding annexes), a simplified version of the report (max 2 pages) using a reader-friendly format, preferably using infographics, shall be generated by the consultant. All reports shall be endorsed by the evaluation team and approved by the SCI South Sudan Senior Management Team. Dissemination of the findings of the evaluation will be done by the Education Technical Specialist and Education Program Manager. Considering that participation will be a core component of the process, the consultant will be required to facilitate a validation meeting to share preliminary findings, including key successes of the project, with involvement of the direct beneficiaries.

A Post Evaluation Learning Event will be organized to share key findings and recommendations of the evaluation.

Timeline and Deliverables

This assignment should be undertaken within 25 days. The consultant should propose a work plan within this time frame.

• Consultancy
• Specific Tasks

The activities specific to this consultancy are as follows:

• To be based in South Sudan for a period of 25 days to work with the country Education teams
• To work with the Save the Children team in South Sudan to get a deeper understanding and appreciation of the context in which the project is being implemented, review the proposed evaluation methodology and carry out a comprehensive final evaluation
• To facilitate any training or workshop related to the evaluation as appropriate
• To lead the evaluation, in cooperation with Education Technical Specialist, program managers and MEAL teams and determine the validity and reliability of the findings
• To produce reader-friendly report(s) detailing the outcome of the evaluation
• To develop innovative tools while at the same time adhering to SCI standards, which MEAL team will share
• The Consultant is required to produce clear, comprehensive documents with a view to ensuring relevance and applicability.

Deliverables

The consultant shall ensure the delivery of the following outputs:

• An inception report detailing the evaluation design (methodology, sampling plan, data collection tools, activity plan and a proposed report structure. The inception report will be approved by Save the Children before commencing the evaluation. As a minimum the report outline should follow the SCI evaluation report standards, which will be shared by the MEAL team
• A draft report and final report after incorporating all feedback from SCI team on the draft report. The final report should be no more than 14 pages excluding annexes and a max 2-page summary report using infographics.
• A summary power point presentation of findings, and soft copy of the final report detailing both qualitative and quantitative findings.
• A soft copy of cleaned raw data set in excel collected during the evaluation

Key selection criteria

• Post-graduate qualifications masters level in education or social science, particularly, Education, Sociology, Social Work, Psychology, Law or related fields. A master's degree in educational measurements and standards is desirable.
• Proven experience and demonstrated expertise in conducting quality project baselines, KAP studies mid-term reviews and evaluations, particularly in the field of education, child protection or related sectors
• Experience applying participatory methodologies and tools especially when interviewing/collecting information from children/youth
• Knowledge of Save the Children and its internal processes will be beneficial but is not essential
• Knowledge and understanding of the social and cultural context of South Sudan will be an asset
• Ethics, Safeguarding and Code of Conduct
• As the consultant(s) will be working on behalf of Save the Children they will be required to adhere to the Child Safeguarding Policy and ethical guidelines. The consultant will receive a briefing on and sign Save the Children's Child Safeguarding Policy. The consultant will make clear to all participating stakeholders especially children of all ages that they are under no obligation to participate in the evaluation. All participants will be assured that there will be no negative consequences if they choose not to participate. The consultant must obtain informed consent from all participants, including children and their caregiver if a child is to be The consultant must receive prior permission for taking and use of visual still/ moving images for specific purposes, i.e., 'for evaluation report and presentations. The consultant will assure the participants the anonymity, confidentiality and will assure the visual data is protected and used for agreed purpose only.

Submission of application

Interested candidates/institutions should submit a technical and financial proposal and two samples of similar previous assignments.

In the submission, candidates should consider that the budget will cover approximately 25 full consultant days starting as soon as possible. Enumerators that may be needed during data collection will be covered by Save the Children, as will training venue costs and consultant's travel to field sites. All other costs should be broken down clearly in applications, along with consultants' daily fee rate.

Application Email: Please apply with a covering letter and up-to-date CV to: 'MKogi.68523.3830@savethechildrenint.aplitrak.com'