Terms of Reference for Recruiting a Consultant Tosupport Murekedusome Process Evaluation

Terms of Reference for Recruiting a Consultant tosupport MurekeDusome process evaluation activity

Background

Save the Children is thelargest independent child rights organization, underpinned by a vision in a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. Our mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and long lasting change in their lives. In this regard, Save the Children has for 90 years been striving to improve children's lives in more than 120 countries.

Under the funding from USAID, Save the Children is implementing a project, namely, MurekeDusome that aims at improving student-reading outcomes by supporting the Rwanda Education Board (REB) to create and roll-out a uniquely Rwandan comprehensive and replicable school-community partnership model. The model is based on a theory of change that posits children learn to read better when they are in supportive community and home learning environments (HLEs), with the necessary time and materials outside of school to practice reading. Focusing on reaching students in grades 1-3.MurekeDusome is working to create supportive community and home learning environments to achieve the purpose of improved literacy outcomes for children in primary grades through three interrelated core results:

Strengthening the capacity of school leadership to improve student literacy through school-community partnerships;
Increasing effective community and parental involvement to improve literacy skills; and
Fostering a culture of reading.

In order to generate evidence that will inform and refine the implementation of MurekeDusome project, Save the Children Rwanda is seeking to recruit a qualified consultant to support in conducting a process evaluation.

Objective of the Assessment

The aim of the process evaluation is to complement the findings from the 2016 MUREKE DUSOME KAP Survey by investigating and collecting qualitative information not only on variables that were not captured by the survey but also determine reasons for the counter-intuitive findings observed during the same survey. The process evaluation will also help to investigate how school-community partnerships (i.e. between parents and school leaders) have been strengthened and the extent to which parents support their children’s literacy learning and also assess how the SBCC strategy adopted by the project is runningin order to provide Save the Children with recommendations for corrective actions that can be taken over to improve ongoing implementation.

More specifically, this assessment intends to assess:

What factors motivate or demotivate parents and caregivers to support their children‘s literacy?

How do factors related to special needs (disabilities, communication barriers, etc.) in families influence literacy development?

What is the perception of how gender issues play a role in children‘s literacy?

How does the community setting (urban, peri-urban or rural areas) influence parent’s engagement in the literacy development of their children?

How have successful SGACs & HTs strengthened school-community partnerships?

To what extent do HTs have time and resources necessary to promote school community partnerships?

Who are the other key influencers (e.g. churches, government structures, etc.) affecting school community partnerships?

Which children are perceived as not worth teaching to read?

Expected deliverables

A review of the 2016 School-Community Partnerships for Education KAP Survey that proposes key areas to be looked at in the process evaluation;
An inception report describing the proposed methodology, tools to be used in the assessment (to be presented and approved by Save the Children prior to data collection) and a proposed work plan
Literature Review: Review existing documentation, including project design, monitoring and evaluation data, situation analysis reports, and other pertinent reports/documents
Collaborate with in-country staff as well as global supervisors to develop research plan and research instruments
A draft report (describing major findings);
Final report for MurekeDusomeprocess evaluation is produced
A presentation for key stakeholders with PowerPoint to be left with SC for future reference
4 page summary/briefer of recommendations for strengthening program (substantiated by the evidence collected in the field)

Duration of the assignment

The total number of days allocated to this assignment is estimated at 30 working days to be covered between Mid-October and early-December 2017.

Supervision arrangement

The successful consultant will work closely with the Save the Children Monitoring and Evaluation team under the supervision of the Head of MEAL and the Senior Research and Evaluation Specialist.

The content of the consultancy deliverables will be reviewed by Save the Children Rwanda and Save the Children USA technical team.

Profile of the consultant

At least a Master’s degree in education, social sciences, development studies, economics or other social sciences related field
Provenexperience in conducting research and evaluations, especially in the area of education, social science or any relevant development sector;
Proven experience and ability to lead focus group discussions in Kinyarwanda,especially with children,and key informant interviews
Proven experience in working with reputable NGO’s or research institutions
Ability to work independently with light or no direct supervision
Excellent writing and presentation skills as well as verbal communication skills (in English);
Knowledge of the Rwanda education system;
Knowledge of Save the Children and its internal processes will be beneficial but is not essential

Application specifications

Interested candidatesare expected to provide the following:

Detailed response to ToR, with specific focus addressing the scope of work, work plan, methodology to be used and key selection criteria (2-3 pages)

Company/individual profile or CV including a minimum of 3 references

Detailed budget breakdown based on expected daily rates and availability

Note: Proposals from both individuals and consultancy firms will be considered

CHILD SAFEGUARDING POLICY:

Any employee, consultant, contractor or the supplier undertaking an activity on behalf of SCI must sign the Child Safeguarding -Declaration of AcceptanceForm and comply with the SCIs Child Safeguarding Policy which is a statement of SCI’s commitment to preventing abuse and protecting children with whom it comes into contact.

This extends not only to children with whom SCI and its partners work directly, but also includes children whom staff are responsible for. SCI believes that the situation of children must be improved through the promotion of their rights supported and demonstrated by all members of staff. Save the Children International's Code of Conduct sets out the standards which all staff members must adhere to.

Interested candidates should send an application letter plus updated Curriculum Vitae in English, including 3 names of professional referees . The deadline for receiving applications is 24/10/ 2017.

Please mention“MurekeDusome process evaluation”as subject of your mail.

*Note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.