New Career at Save the Children International

Terms of Reference
Title of the Input Visit: Support to Universal Basic Education Commission System Strengthening towards SBMC Replication in Nigeria.

Dates of the Input Visit: 01/07/15 – 30th July 2016 (45 days)

Background
The Education Sector Support Programme in Nigeria (ESSPIN) is a six year DFID programme of education development assistance and is a part of a suite of programmes aimed at improvements in governance and the delivery of basic services. ESSPIN’s aim is to have a sustainable impact upon the way in which government in Nigeria delivers education services and is directed at enabling institutions to bring about systemic change in the education system, leveraging Nigerian resources in support of State and Federal Education Sector Plans and building capacity for sustainability. As a support programme, it is attempting to work through existing government structures on the supply side of education and to effect change from within. It is also attempting to stimulate demand for higher quality education services. It is currently operating in six States (Kano, Kaduna, Kwara, Jigawa, Lagos and Enugu) and at the Federal level.

A critical component of the community demand component of ESSPIN will be partnerships federal agency – the Universal Basic Education Commission and Six states on the development of a functional SBMCs supporting school governance. Supported by the civil society and social mobilization officers at the state levels to activate, train, monitor and mentor SBMCs to mobilize demand for quality education services, and articulating demand for voice and accountability along with addressing issues of access and exclusion/equity. There are now over 10,000 SBMCs activated in addition to federal level replication nationwide. UBEC are now in the process of supporting states to undertake training and provide mentoring supports through it master trainers of which ESSPIN is providing technical assistance. This consultancy will technically support the UBEC and assigned states in replicating the SBMC model as well as states on roll out to more schools using government resources. It will also support UBEC in the development of a reporting framework for collation, analysis and reporting of its replication work nationwide.

Objective of the consultancy
The main thrust of this consultancy is to consolidate on SBM development supporting UBEC and ESSPIN supported states in consolidating and deepening work around community engagement and learner participation as government commit its resources to scale up the model.

Specific Tasks of Consultancy

The Consultant will:

• Develop and agree a Workplan for the assignment with ESSPIN Lead Specialist, Community Engagement and Learner Participation;
• Provide professional inputs and technical support to UBEC Social Mobilization Department and relevant departments to build the capacity of a cadre of UBEC mater trainers supporting states national replication;
• Support UBEC Social Mobilization Department to develop a framework for learning and evidence for documenting key progress and challenges on SBMC replication; looking at what works and why? And what is not working and why?;
• Provide technical support to states SUBEBs in Kano on SBM development supporting Social mobilization department and key master trainers;
• Work with other consultants to support UBEC mentoring and monitoring capacity development process;
• Write and submit progress report and a final report in ESSPIN format; and
• Participate in consultants meeting as appropriate.

Outputs

• End-of-Consultancy report in the standard ESSPIN consultancy report format.
• Agreed capacity development training materials on mentoring and monitoring training plan
• A framework for capturing learning and evidence on UBEC replication
• Consultancy report in ESSPIN format

Institutional Arrangements
The assignment is proposed to take place between 01/03/15 – July, 2016,this assumes a 45 contractual days. The lead consultant will take responsibility for coordinating and for finalizing the workshop report. S/he will report to the Lead Specialist Community Engagement and Learner Participation, and will receive technical support from the CSO Task Leader and Lead Specialist, UBEC Social Mobilization Department, ESSPIN Access and Equity and Community School Interaction Specialists at state levels.

The consultant will undertake this assignment in Abuja and assigned states and will require that S/he work with CSOs and ESSPIN State teams. The consultants will develop a programme for the work schedule upon agreement with LS. The report will be the responsibility of the consultant based on assigned task/responsibilities. The consultant will agree to travel to assigned ESSPIN supported states within the Nigeria.

Activities (including itinerary)

Reporting
A consultancy report is due immediately on completion of the assignment All reports must use the prescribed ESSPIN reporting template and formatting styles. (NB all ESSPIN reports are potentially public documents for wide circulation and should be written with due sensitivity).

Competencies

Qualifications/experience

• A postgraduate qualification in education, social development or its equivalent in research development.
• Extensive practical experience of community interactions and school development management structures in developing countries.
• Experience of providing professional and technical inputs in development assistance programmes/projects.

Knowledge

• Practical knowledge of educational development issues in Nigeria and other countries.
• In-depth knowledge and experience of current international literature on school Based management and governance.
• Knowledge of Nigerian Government and parastatal structures and systems.
• Experience of School Based Management Committees initiatives in resource poor environments in developing countries (essential), preferably in Nigeria (desirable)

Abilities

• Ability to communicate appropriately with clients and stakeholders and to elicit reliable information.
• Ability to inspire colleagues and to act as member of a team.
• Ability to design and facilitate/implement an investigation into the outcomes and effectiveness of school based management committees.
• Ability to design and facilitate participative and interactive workshops