Consultancy - Opportunities to Learn (OTL)Baseline Survey at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Job Description

Project Description

USAID’s Opportunity to Learn (OTL) activity aims to address the immediate education needs of out of school children (OOSC) and youth in up to 12 Local Government Areas (LGAs), in Borno and Yobe states, through safer new and existing non-formal education, while laying the groundwork for sustainable improvement of education systems at the community and government levels. The OTL goal is to ensure OOSC and youth in Northeastern Nigeria are safely able to gain foundational skills, including literacy, numeracy, and social and emotional skills, to progress to higher levels of education, training and/or engagement in the workforce. This will be achieved through:

• Direct services provision of accelerated learning programs (ALP) for out of school children (OOSC) ages 10-15 (those aged nine will be referred for formal school enrollment),
• Training and capacity building for learning facilitators and administrators of ALP centers,
• Direct disbursement of furnishings and learning materials to ALP centers, and
• Advocacy at the state and community level for greater support to alternative education.

Purpose and Scope of the Baseline survey

The purpose of this survey is to gather the information that will serve as a baseline for literacy, numeracy, and social and emotional skills (via EGRA/EGMA) as proposed on the project design while also gathering information that will enable the OTL consortium partners to inform target setting.

The baseline is expected to start from 21st of March through 21st of April 2022 across Borno and Yobe selected centers.

The table below includes indicators to be assessed per result areas:

#

Indicator

IR 1: Children and youth have increased access to quality accelerated basic education

IR2.1: IR 1.1: 1,212 NFLCs are functional, supported, and responsive

1. Custom 1: Percentage of NFLCs who are positively perceived to have improved education services according to local CBOs

2. ES.1-55 Percent of primary grade learners targeted for USG assistance who have the appropriate variety of reading materials in the language of instruction with the inclusive representation of diverse populations

IR1.3: Out of school children and youth aged nine to 15 enroll in and attend safe, predictable, and caring accelerated basic education

3. Custom 6: Perception of caregivers on the value of education services provided in NFLCs

IR 3: Non-Formal Education (NFE) facilitators deliver approved curricula using age-appropriate pedagogy and instructional materials.

IR3.1. LFs track the literacy and numeracy learning needs and outcomes of children and youth and modify instruction accordingly

4. ES.1-1: Percent of learners targeted for USG assistance who attain a minimum grade-level proficiency in reading at the end of grade 2

5. Supp-5 Percent of learners targeted for USG assistance who attain minimum grade-level proficiency in math at the end of primary school

IR 5: State and local government education institutions (formal and non-formal) and community-based structures have increased capacity to manage, oversee and certify learning in non-formal learning centers

IR 5.1. State and local education representatives demonstrate the application of skills and knowledge from OTL capacity building measures

6. Custom 28: Percent of LGEAs with improved tools, guidance, assessments, and adapted processes to govern the ABEP system

7. Percentage of persons surveyed who are aware of existing feedback and complaints mechanisms

8. Percentage of people stating that they have used feedback and complaints mechanisms in the last six months

Methodology

The consortium recommends a mixed-methods approach that can quantify and qualify project results and achievements over time. Consultants are advised to recommend the most appropriate approaches and tools for the assignment. Nevertheless, the final methodology will be agreed upon with the IRC MEL team and will be contingent upon the listed tasks, recommendations, and tools. The baseline survey process will be carried out in accordance with USAID principles and guidelines. The survey team should propose their own methodology, which may include:

Document review of all relevant documentation. This would include a review of the project proposal and AMELP.
Semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders. This would include a representative sample of project beneficiaries (SUBEB/SAME representatives, LGEA representatives, LFs (both at formal schools and NFLCs), Headteachers, OOS girls and OOS boys, NFLC girls and boys, children with disabilities (and their caregivers), CBMCs and/or SBMCs, youth organization leaders
Survey with sample and sampling frame. This could include the sample size and characteristics; the sample selection criteria; the process for selecting the sample (e.g., random sampling, purposive); if applicable, the extent to which the sample is representative of the entire target population, gender representation, including discussion of the limitations of the sample for generalizing results

Data collection and management

The OTL expects a balanced use of both quantitative and qualitative methods to better understand and address school needs. Quantitative data should be rigorously analyzed and representative of project locations within reasonable limits. Qualitative data should also be carefully analyzed and should focus on developing a deeper understanding of the EGRA/EGMA

Expected Deliverables

This consultancy takes place the week of enrolment of pupils, starting from March 21, 2022. The final report is expected to be submitted not later than April 21, 2022. The following deliverables are expected:

Inception Report: To ensure the consultant understands the Term of Reference, the consultant will prepare and share an inception report which will be shared with OTL and MEL unit for reviews and comments. The inception report detailing his/her understanding of the evaluation and how the evaluation questions will be addressed. The inception report will include a simple evaluation matrix summarizing the baseline design, EGRA/EGMA and other identified indicator(s) questions, data sources and collection analysis tools for each data source, and the measure by which each question will be assessed. The inception report should also include the scope of work, work plan, and responsibilities for each task should be clearly outlined. The inception report will be discussed and agreed upon with all stakeholders (OTL and USAID).

Workshop with OTL team: The consultant will conduct a one-day workshop with OTL team to present and validate preliminary findings. And:

Highlights of field findings, lessons learned, and best practices that can guide future program implementation.
Recommendation to inform and/or improve OTL team programing in Borno and Yobe with clear action points.

The final report (Max 45 pages): Final report is expected to be shared on the 3rd week of the assessment period. The content and the structure of the final analytical report with findings, recommendations, and lessons learned covering the scope of the baseline should meet the requirements of the IRC MEAL Policy and should include the following:

Executive summary

• Introduction (Project background information)
• Description of the survey methodology
• Key findings, including best practices and lessons learned
• Conclusion and recommendations
• Appendices: charts, terms of reference, field visits pictures, people interviewed, documents reviewed

Ethics and Consideration

Informed consent

• IRC is committed to complying with privacy and data protection laws including the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The IRC’s Data Protection Policy sets out the principles that IRC applies when handling individuals’ personal information. Any consultants offered a contract with the IRC is expected to be GDPR compliant when handling individuals’ personal information.
• Consent is gathered for the purpose of gaining permission to capture someone’s story or image, and document how the image and story can and cannot be used. The IRC has Consent Guidelines and documentation that must be used when gathering any content which may later be used.

Safeguarding and code of conduct

• In addition, The IRC has a Safeguarding Framework that includes Staff Code of Conduct and a Child Protection Policy which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of program participants and to clarify the responsibilities of The IRC staff, visitors to the program, and partner organizations, and the standards of behavior expected of them. We have the responsibility to ensure that any persons hired or consulted during the process are made familiar with the policies and commit to abide by them during the execution of this work. Any consultants offered a contract with The IRC will be expected to sign the Code of Conduct and Child Protection Policy as an appendix to their contract. By doing so, consultants acknowledge that they have understood the contents of policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these two documents.

Duty station and general conditions

• The duty station of the work will be in Maiduguri, Borno state. However, the consultant will be required to travel to project sites in Yobe states (where security conditions allow).
• While in the field, the consultant will be required to abide by IRC security protocols and guidelines.
• While in the field, the consultant will be provided with security briefings by the field security focal person.
• The consultant will conduct his/her work using his/her own computer equipment.
• Terms of payment will be negotiated upon acceptance of the consultancy.
• The total budget for the consultancy will include VAT as/if required by national regulations.
• Final payment of consultant will be remitted upon satisfactory submission of agreed deliverables.

Payment Schedule

• 20% on submission of an inception report
• 40% on completion and sharing of all data collection and analysis findings
• 40% on submission and approval of the final report

Qualifications

• To the greatest extent possible, the survey team should consist of diverse backgrounds and experience in multi-sectoral programs. The consultants must have extensive experience in protection programming in active conflict and/or post-conflict settings. Preferably, the consultants also have substantial knowledge of the context dynamic of Northeast Nigeria.
• The OTL welcomes expressions of interest from seasoned consultants, individuals or firms in academia, social research, or humanitarian evaluation with a background in humanitarian aid, education in emergency, adult and non-formal education/learning setting, research methods, development economics, development studies, or other related fields.

The lead consultants should possess.

• Master’s degree or higher in education, Research Methods, development, international relations or humanitarian work.
• Extensive experience in conducting educational assessment-EGRA/EGMA, or SEGRA/SEGMA ideally leading an evaluation team and experience of designing baseline methodology/tools and data analysis.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible work experience in research and or evaluations of humanitarian assistance programmes, preferably those with protection programming elements.
• Demonstrable expertise in the applications of EiE study/evaluation protocols
• Experience in working or evaluating projects in an insecure humanitarian environment.
• In-depth knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Excellent analytical, presentation, and writing skills in English.