Counterpart International is issuing this Request for Proposals for an external third party (“the consultant”) for its McGovern Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program (FFE) in Northern Senegal (Saint Louis region) funded by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The consultant will:
(1) Produce an evaluation plan outlining the project’s strategy for conducting a baseline study, a midterm evaluation, and a final evaluation; and
(2) Conduct the baseline study as outlined in the evaluation plan.
Through the FFE project, Counterpart will target 23,636 direct beneficiaries (20,006 school-aged children; 270 Parent Associations (PAs) or similar “school” governance structure; and 1,200 teachers and school administrators) and 165,452 indirect beneficiaries in Saint Louis, Podor and Dagana departments in the St. Louis region of Senegal over the life of the project (three years).
INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS OR COMPANIES MUST OBTAIN A COPY OF THE DETAILED TERMS OF REFERENCE BY SENDING AN EMAIL TOffecounterpartsenegal@counterpart.org.
1.Overview of Deliverables
(1)Evaluation Plan
The purpose of this deliverable is to further develop and, where necessary, amend the existing draft evaluation plan of the project with a focus on the methodologies for baseline study, midterm evaluation, and final evaluation. The selected consultant shall examine the draft evaluation plan, elaborate on it, propose modifications, and produce a final version of the evaluation plan to provide a comprehensive and coherent evaluation plan for assessing the entire project’s results and impacts.
(2)Baseline Study
The purpose of the baseline study is to a) provide baseline information for monitoring indicators according to the project’s PMP; and b) provide baseline for evaluation activities, and measuring impact. The baseline will also obtain information on specific contextual factors that may slow or accelerate the changes that the program expects to make, and to use that information to make recommendations to the project on its design. Counterpart expects that to complete the baseline study, the selected evaluation consultant will work together with a local consulting firm. Counterpart will provide its recommendations on the selection of the local consulting firm to the selected consultant.
Counterpart anticipates that the baseline study will use mixed methods of data collection and analysis and the approach will include the following:
a. Collect secondary data from: Counterpart Field Office in Senegal; Senegal Government Education Inspections at the regional and district levels and School Canteen Divisions; and the latest General Population and Habitat Survey.
b. Collect primary data from the following sources: Students; PA (Parents Association) members; headmasters and teachers; staff from Education Inspections at the regional and district levels. Primary data should be collected using surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions.
2.Evaluation Criteria
The proposal will be assessed using the following criteria:
· Understanding of the Terms of Reference;
· Clarity and style of the proposal;
· Soundness of the technical approach;
· Practicality of the methodologies proposed;
· Timeframe;
· Cost;
· Evaluation consultant qualifications:
o A minimum of 5 years of experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative impact and performance evaluations in similar complex international development programs.
o Experience in conducting research and evaluation of USG international development programs. Preference will be given to those who have experience in USDA McGovern-Dole Food for Education programs.
o Experience in designing or evaluating education, literacy and school feeding programs.
o Experience in designing, using and analyzing international literacy assessments such as EGRA, ASER.
o Experience in qualitative evaluation techniques such as key informant interviews, focus group discussions, observations, and case studies.
o Experience in quantitative data collection, statistics/econometrics such as randomized control trials, propensity score matching, regression discontinuity, sample size selection, design effects, questionnaire design, etc.
o Experience in West Africa, particularly Senegal.
o Ability to communicate, read, and write fluently in English and French and other languages as appropriate.
3.Application process
Interested individuals or companies are invited to submit a full technical and financial proposal outlining how each of the deliverables will be completed, resumes of the team members along with a description of past experiences outlined under Required Evaluation Consultant Qualifications above. The proposalsmust be submitted no later than August 28, 2015at 5:30 p.m. to****ffecounterpartsenegal@counterpart.org****.****INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS OR COMPANIES MUST OBTAIN A COPY OF THE DETAILED TERMS OF REFERENCE BY SENDING AN EMAIL TO****ffecounterpartsenegal@counterpart.org.
HOW TO APPLY:
INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS OR COMPANIES MUST OBTAIN A COPY OF THE DETAILED TERMS OF REFERENCE BY SENDING AN EMAIL TO:ffecounterpartsenegal@counterpart.org
