Individual Consultancy: To conduct a baseline and endline assessment (2 phases) of the Learning Passport pilot in Cabo Delgado (Open to Non-Mozambican Nationals Only)

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, education

How can you make a difference?

Assignment purpose, objectives, and scope

Given the above, the Mozambique Country Office is looking to carry out an overall assessment of the pilot project of the Learning Passport, which comprises of two phases:

• Phase 1: A baseline assessment (at the beginning of the pilot implementation)

• Phase 2: An endline assessment (towards the end of the pilot implementation)

The purpose of this two-phased approach is to document results and implementation modalities of the Learning Passport pilot, explore the process of adopting and use of this digital platform by students, teachers and parents/caregivers to establish what works, what doesn’t, and why. The TOC (figure 1 above) of the project will be reviewed during the endline assessment and validated with key stakeholders, which will inform the adaptation and potential scale-up of the Learning Passport and its implementation modalities to more target locations.

The specific objectives of the two phases together are:

• To provide a preliminary assessment of UNICEF’s Learning Passport pilot regarding its desirability and feasibility in the local context, its acceptability and adoption among target users, its effectiveness in reaching its expected results (i.e., learners’ motivation and learning results) and its viability for potential for scaling-up.

• To identify key lessons and key modalities of implementation that define the conditions necessary for the LP to work well

• To generate evidence and actionable recommendations that would enable the programme team at UNICEF and MINEDH to decide whether it is worth replicating and scaling-up

Scope of the assessment

The assessment will examine the desirability, feasibility, acceptability, adoption, effectiveness, and viability of the Learning Passport pilot in Namuno district of Cabo Delgado province.

In phase one, the baseline assessment will have a specific focus on:

• Establishing the alignment of the ToC and the pilot interventions

• Identifying preliminary gaps in pilot delivery (if any), emerging challenges, emerging best practices, and adaptations

• Collecting baseline data on targeted students and their level of motivation in learning:

• Level of learning motivation: assess a general level of motivation among students in G1 and G2 at baseline for tracking by endline, and triangulating with data from the LP platform (i.e., completion of units etc.)

• Learning levels: assess the learning level of students in G1 and G2, either using recognized learning assessment tools such as Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) and Early Grade Mathematics Assessment (EGMA), or using data generated by the Learning Passport platform through its integrated learning test. Documenting emerging acceptability factors of the LP among users

• Defining and assessing key factors/areas that will determine the potential for scaling the LP project at the end of the pilot phase

In phase two, the endline assessment will:

• Use quantitative and qualitative data from the baseline and endline to better understand progress and results in greater detail, with a focus on effectiveness (including learning progress and level of motivation), desirability, acceptability, and adoption of the LP

• Identify areas of the LP implementation modality that need adaptations to ensure its technical feasibility when scaling up

• Conduct a costing analysis to understand whether the LP will remain viable in the long term, to what extent the current model is valid and sustainable to run by schools and MINEDH

The geographical coverage will include the six schools selected for the LP pilot in 1 district (Namuno) in 1 province (Cabo Delgado).

The geographical coverage will include the six schools selected for the LP pilot in 1 district (Namuno) in 1 province (Cabo Delgado).

Deliverables and payments

Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant

Work Assignment Overview: for Baseline assessment

Tasks/Milestone:

1. Deliverables/Outputs: Draft inception report and instruments, including a detailed workplan; Presentation of the draft inception report; Submit ethical approval application and respond to all comments until final approval and Final inception report

Timeline: 13 days

2. Deliverables/Outputs: Debrief meeting at the end of data collection phase

Timeline: 12 days

3. Deliverables/Outputs: A complete first draft assessment report; Presentation of emerging findings, conclusions, and recommendations); A final assessment report (plus completed audit trail addressing all comments) in two languages: English and Portuguese; Final PowerPoint presentation summarizing the assessment findings, recommendations & conclusions in two languages: English and Portuguese

Timeline: 15 days

Work Assignment Overview: for Endline assessment

Tasks/Milestone:

1. Deliverables/Outputs: Draft inception report and instruments, including a detailed workplan; Presentation of the draft inception report; Final inception report

Timeline: 10 days

2. Deliverables/Outputs: Debrief meeting at the end of data collection phase

Timeline: 20 days

3. Deliverables/Outputs: A complete first draft assessment report; Presentation of emerging findings, conclusions, and recommendations); A final assessment report (plus completed audit trail addressing all comments) in two languages: English and Portuguese; Final PowerPoint presentation summarizing the assessment findings, recommendations & conclusions in two languages: English and Portuguese; A 2-3 pager leaflet summarizing the key findings of the assessment (e.g., use of infographics, charts, other data visualization)

Timeline: 20 days

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one or more of the relevant disciplines (evaluations, education, economics, service design, etc.)

• Min. of 7 years’ experience in conducting similar assessments, especially of pilot projects/products/services. Past experience in evaluating an innovative approach and small-scale projects an asset, especially with the UN or UNICEF

  • Demonstrated expertise and knowledge in innovations, EdTech, digital and remote learning, hybrid learning and education in emergencies.

  • A work record in South and Eastern Africa, and in Mozambique an asset.

  • Fluency in both English and Portuguese, with a proven ability to prepare high-quality reports in both languages and communicate with different audiences.

  • Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills.

  • Demonstration of capacity to carry out and complete deliverables of high quality within a set deadline.

  • The consultant must submit samples (at least two) of similar work they have conducted

For more information, the detailed TOR description is available via this link 2023.10.16 Learning passport baseline and endline TOR .pdf

Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.