Individual Consultancy: To conduct baseline survey for KOICA phase 2 programme

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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?

1. Purpose and Objective:

Mozambique has been struggling to improve the access to and quality of primary education for the last decade due to a few reasons, including an economic setback caused by misuse of funds and natural disasters. While no data is available for 2019 onwards, primary completion rate was improved by only 2% from 2011 to 2018 (MINEDH, 2020 RAR report). Learning achievement is already very low but still showcases a downward trend. According to a national learning assessment (Table 1), national reading competency for grade 3 in 2013 was 6.3% and the situation got even worse in 2016 to 4.9% (MINEDH, National Learning Assessment 2013 and 2016). Besides, the absenteeism is a huge issue as table 2 indicates (2015 WB SDI report).

To improve the current situation, the Education section of UNICEF will implement a project called “Improving Equity and Quality in Primary Education”, starting in 2021 with a duration of 3 years. The project will support education authorities in the Nampula and Zambezia provinces (Provincial and district education offices) on various areas by the generous funding from the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) – Project proposal and logframe attached.

The overarching objective of the proposal is to improve the equitable access and quality education of children and especially girls in target districts in the Zambezia (Milange, Molumbo and Pebane) and Nampula provinces (Lalaua, Liupo, Murrupula). To this aim, the project has the following three outcomes:

• Outcome 1: The first outcome is aimed to support the pre-service and in-service teacher training systems with the following expected outputs:
  • Capacity of teachers is strengthened through support to pre-service training system and in-service teacher distance learning system
  • Support is provided to the implementation of the Ministry’s reading and numeracy improvement strategy with focus on school-based activities
• Outcome 2: The second outcome aims to enhance inclusive education through promotion of access and retention and provision of improved learning environment.
  • Children and adolescents (especially girls) age 10-19 years are equipped with life skills to protect themselves against violence through using referral and reporting mechanism for VAC/ and benefiting from the using MHM approach
  • Capacity of school council in school management and in the use of tools to prevent drop out and absenteeism is strengthened.
  • Capacity building of IE MINEDH officials on the operationalization of the IE strategy is strengthened;
  • WASH facilities are constructed in targeted schools in accordance with the agreed designs;
  • Hygiene education is conducted in target schools and roster for maintenance and cleaning of sanitation facilities established at school level;
  • Water committees for operation and maintenance (O&M) of water supplies are established and supported by the communities;
  • Education opportunity is provided students through prevention measures against COVID-19
• Outcome 3: The third outcome aims to support the system and governance of the education sector to have a gender sensitive approach with the following outputs:
  • Government officials at decentralized level acquire knowledge on gender sensitive analysis to inform planning and budgeting processes;
  • District officials have increased capacity to implement District Supervision and online District Supervision data management;
  • School managers obtain capacity of implementing best school management practices;

It is expected that the project will benefit an estimated 220,000 students (47.6% are girls), 1,000 teachers, 400 school directors and over 500 school councils in 3 districts in Zambezia and 3 districts in Nampula through the regular programme with an additional 100,000 students in over 1,000 schools and 700 teachers being reached through the COVID-19 response.

For the project achievement to be measured after the project is completed, data/information on the pre-project implementation status for each activity must be collected as baseline before the actual implementation starts and means of verification for these must be clearly identified.

The education section of UNICEF, therefore, is seeking a Consultant to review proposed means of verification (MoVs) for each indicator in the project and collect baseline data for all indicators before the project implementation actually starts in the 2nd half of 2021.

1. Methodology and Technical Approach:

For this to take place, the consultant is expected to work with concerned parties such as the Ministry of Education and Human Development (MINEDH) at central level, Provincial education authorities (DPE) and District education authorities (SDEJT?) as well as UNICEF staff responsible for each output under the supervision of the UNICEF Education Manager. More concretely, the following objectives are to be completed after this consultancy is concluded:

• Review target and means of verification (MoVs) for each indicator in the logframe and propose new ones where deemed necessary;
• Develop proper MoV and collect baseline data for outcome indicator 3 (% of Districts with evidence-based plans);
• Collect baseline data for all other outcome and output indicators;

As a result, the education section of UNICEF expects that indicators and MoVs are identified and baseline data for these indicators are collected to be measured against achievement when the project is completed.

The Consultant would review target and MoV for each activity from the points whether they are realistic and propose new ones if they are not deemed adequate to collect data.

The work will consist of (i) Discussion with UNICEF staff responsible for each output (and concerned staff from MINEDH side as required) to verify whether targets are realistic and MoVs are adequate to measure indicators; (ii) Obtaining/verifying baseline data for each output; (iii) Developing outcome indicator 3 (% of Districts with evidence based plans) and collecting baseline data for this indicator in target districts (Milange, Molumbo and Pebane in Zambezia province and Lalaua, Liupo, Murrupula in Nampula province) ; and (iv) submission of baseline survey report

It is expected that the work (i) & (ii) are conducted through reviewing logframe, project output description and output description (attached) as well as (e-) meeting with relevant UNICEF staff, while the work (iii) requires consulting existing planning documents for outcome indicator 3 and discussion with UNICEF responsible staff and MINEDH concerned colleagues in both target provinces and districts for developing MoVs. These MoVs must be recognised/approved by MINEDH target provinces/districts. Lastly, the draft report (iv) will be shared with UNICEF for our comments before finalisation.

2. Activities and Tasks:

3. Submission of consultancy work plan

The Consultant would produce and submit to UNICEF a proposal for a work plan for this consultancy, including detailed information on the activities to be implemented, partners contacted and strategy for each work in order to achieve the planned results. 10%

2. Review of proposed targets and MoVs for each output and collection of baseline data:

In this phase, the Consultant is expected to review targets and means of verification (MoVs) for all indicators except outcome indicator 1 (% of students (by gender) in grade 3 that have basic competencies in reading and math of the 1st cycle (grade 1-2) of primary education in target districts) and 3 (% of Districts with evidence-based plans) through consulting logframe, project output description and output description (all attached) and propose new MoVs if proposed ones cannot serve as MoV. The Consultant would agree with UNICEF on these new MoVs after discussion with UNICEF relevant staff, after which the Consultant will collect baseline data. 20%

3. Drafting MoV for outcome indicator 3 (% of Districts with evidence-based plans)

For this to take place, the Consultant needs to analyse the existing planning documents from target districts and consult with their related planning officers to understand the degree of use of evidence for planning for outcome indicator 3. UNICEF Education section will provide necessary documents and contact information for relevant staff at MINEDH side to help the Consultant to draft MoVs. 35%

4. Finalizing MoV for outcome indicator 3 and baseline set

The Consultant will discuss with MINEDH to finalise the MoV for outcome indicator 3 and set baseline. Then, once all the above work are completed, the consultant will draft the baseline report responding to all activities requiring baseline data with useful information obtained and suggestion generated during the consultancy work. The draft will be reviewed by UNICEF before finalization. 35%

3. Deliverables and Payments:

The period of time determined for this consultancy is 60 days in a period of 3 months, distributed between July 12, 2021 until October 31st, 2021.

All payments will be processed upon acceptance of the corresponding deliverables by UNICEF and against an invoice that will refer to the contract and the planned result. Payment will be approved by UNICEF Head of Education.

Deliverable

Result

Number of days

1

Detailed work plan for the consultancy

5 days

2

A list of indicators and MoVs for all indicators expect outcome indicators 1 & 3 reviewed + baseline data

15 days

3

Draft MoVs for outcome indicator 3 (% of Districts with evidence-based plans) submitted

20 days

4

Final MoVs with baseline data for outcome indicator 3 and baseline report submitted

20 days

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

Academic qualifications:

• Minimum Master degree in M&E, programme management or relevant social discipline, preferably education

Work experience:

• Possess at least eight years of relevant work experience in M&E and programme management in developing countries;
• Have completed at least 1 project on comprehensive education programme as coordinator;
• Have an enough working experience (at least 5 years) and knowledge in the education sector in Mozambique in the supervision function

Language skills:

• English (Mandatory) – Level: Fluent
• Portuguese (Mandatory) – Level: Working Knowledge (Ability to communicate with Government counterpart)

Demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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.

Annex 3 - ToRs_Individual consultancy_KOICA Ph2_Baseline survey.docx

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.