Baseline Evaluation Consultant at Save The Children

Job ID: 190003QR
Location: Maiduguri
Employee Status: Fixed Term
Terms of Reference: Consultancy for Baseline Survey – NMFA Project

Background
Conflict has had a devastating impact on education in Nigeria with deliberate targeting of school children, teachers, and school infrastructure. Armed Opposition Groups (AOGs), insurgency and related military responses continue to leave widespread devastation in Northeast Nigeria, leading to large scale displacement. Over 2.2 million children and youth (aged 3-17) are in need of educational assistance due to attacks on the education system by insurgents. 80% of the IDP population, primarily displaced by insurgency, was located in Borno state.

Save the Children has been working in Nigeria since 2001, and is a strong, recognized and respected voice for children’s rights. The humanitarian response in Borno started in 2014 andSave the Children was among the first responders to the conflict, bringing relief to children and families affected by the humanitarian crisis. Save the Children is delivering life-saving programs at scale with a focus on providing high quality, integrated programming in Borno state in areas of education in emergencies, food assistance and livelihoods, nutrition, child protection, and water, sanitation and hygiene. Save the Children has long-standing expertise in education programming, with expertise in both development programming and humanitarian response. The ongoing conflict in the North East continues to increase population displacements, poor access to education and learning spaces and increase protection concerns as well as the need for life saving services.
 
Overall Objective/Purpose

• The main objective of this assignment is to establish benchmarks against defined project indicators for tracking project progress and measuring intervention results overtime in line with the project’s logical framework.
• The baseline will assess the level of access to uninterrupted, safe and protective basic education opportunities for children affected by conflict.

Specific objectives are:

• To map and assess the capacities of various actors, community engagement and service providers to provide equitable, safe, inclusive and quality education for children, adolescents and youth (girls & boys) in project locations.
• To determine the accessibility to safe inclusive and protective learning spaces for both boys and girls in particular in project locations.
• Conduct holistic risk mapping, develop response strategy and strengthen community and state structures to respond to emergencies in the communities and support the implementation of Safe School through increased skills and knowledge.

Scope of the Evaluation

• The Baseline assessment will Take place in 4 LGAs of the state, namely MMC, Jere, Biu and Konduga.

Methodology
The consultant will develop the detailed methodology in consultation with SC MEAL and Program team.

• Desk review. The consultant will review the pilot project (SZOP 2017). The study will also review relevant documents of the projects being implemented.
• Collection of secondary data: Comparable and available secondary data (where applicable and relevant) should be collected.
• Conducting the household and institutional survey: Household and institutional survey should be carried out in all planned implementing communities. The consultant can use Sampling methodology most appropriate in consultation with SC
• Validation and sharing workshop. The baseline findings should be validated through workshop among key staff of the State, local government, partner NGO staff, girls, boys, women and men in communities.

Key Deliverables
The following deliverables are expected from the consultant:

• Inception Report: The consultant shall submit an inception report after signing of the agreement detailing on the survey methods, tools and work plan. The ethical approval should be taken by the consultant from authentic institution if required. Further it should include following as well;
• Develop survey proposal (brief concept) includes problem statement, research questions, conceptual frame of the research;
• Develop final survey proposal which includes introduction, literature review and methodology including sample districts/communities;
• Prepare schedule for field work
• Presentation of the key findings to the SCI team.
• Draft report
• Final report

The consultant shall submit a final report in both hard copies and electronic copies along with all survey data (in Excel or SPSS compatible formats), transcripts of the FGDs, KIIs, photographs and ethical approval etc.

The draft report is expected from the consultant before final report. The report will be written in simple English language and must be comprehensive. Reference will be cited after each important facts and figures. The final report should incorporate all comments and corrections if any. Completed checklists, questionnaires, case stories, quotes, photos have to be submitted to SC.

Time Frame and Estimated Working Days
The assignment is estimated to be undertaken within 25 days:

Activities - No of days

• Desk reviews - 3
• Submission of inception report - 2
• Incorporate feedbacks of inception report from SCI - 2
• Development and deployment of data collection tools - 2
• Incorporate feedbacks of tools from SCI - 2
• Data collection 10 days ( this includes 4 days for training of field enumerators - 10
• Data analysis and submission of first draft report - 5
• Presentation and submission of the final report - 4
• Total number of days - 30 days Maximum

All reports should include the table of content, initial findings, methodology and process of collecting data, any difficulties encountered or expected in addition to the work. Inception report must include detailed methodologies (including sampling methods), data collection methods and analysis. Final report must contain recommendations on:

• How to improve and adapt program strategies and adequately measure progress
• Design / formulate new actions where relevant and possible.
• Ensure adequate monitoring and data tracking
• Identify resources where needed

Throughout the work, the Consultant is required to remain in close consultation with the MEAL Manager and provide regular feedback (at least once a week) on the progress of the Assignment.
 
Experts Profile

• The consultant should have expertise in carrying out baseline survey, have good experience on participatory research methods and tools.
• S/he should have competency in managing, organizing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data and information.

The consultant should have the following academic qualification and experiences:

Qualifications and Skills:

• Postgraduate university degree or equivalent with relevant work experience in development studies, social development, education or related fields.
• Strong writing and communication skills- working proficiency in English language mandatory; strong knowledge of local language preferred.

General Professional Experience:

• At least five years of hands on experience in conducting assessments and evaluations. Experience leading project evaluations and assessments is essential;
• Demonstrated experience in programs related to Education, Child care and Protection;
• Extensive experience working in developing countries;
• Experience of working in the Nigeria is essential, other field experience being desirable;
• Organizational development and capacity building experience;
• Computer literacy (minimum MS Word, Excel, MIS).7. Qualification and experience of the consultants