Background
The project ‘Achieving Education for All: Alternative Education in South Sudan’ is part of the broader national Alternative Education Systems (AES) programme of the Republic of South Sudan (RoSS) and is implemented by Save the Children International (SCI) (Lead Agency) and Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) with funding from the UK Department for International Development (DfID).
The four-year project (April 2011 – December 2015) is being implemented in five States in South Sudan, namely Jonglei, Lakes, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap and Central Equatorial. The programme aims to contribute significantly to the transformation of the lives of out of school children and youth in South Sudan by improving access, delivery, management and coordination of high quality alternative education programmes.
Both NRC and SCI work closely with the respective Ministry of Education, Science and Technology authorities at national, state and county levels. At the core of the programming approach are the following components that provide a framework for all activities: direct support, capacity building, community mobilization and participation, collaboration and partnership, advocacy and policy influence.
The monitoring and evaluation plan for the Achieving Education for All projects includes a teacher coaching, mentoring and observation exercise for ALP teachers. Following training on national professional standards and teachers’ code of conduct, regular school-level meetings about teaching techniques and classroom observations are conducted. Save the Children is seeking to recruit an independent consultant or a research group/firm to analyse this data and produce an evidence base for decisions about future ALP teacher development programmes in South Sudan.
Purpose of the Assignment
The exercise is intended to:
(i) Assess teacher performance following different levels of support
(ii) Ascertain outcomes of the teacher training and mentoring exercises
(iii) Contribute to an evidence base for decisions about teacher development programming within South Sudan
- Scope of the assignment
A teacher coaching initiative informing the learning activities for the programme was implemented targeting a total of 100 ALP teachers (about 9M, 6F) in Save the Children supported ALP schools in Jonglei and Lakes states. The initiative included both coaching and mentoring on professional standards and teachers’ code of conduct, guided by the Minimum Standards for National Professional Standards for Teachers in South Sudan. Each teacher was trained, observed and coached for 10 weeks using a MoEST enhanced observation tool. Random sampling was done from a total of 281 teachers in three locations to ensure it was representative. Data was entered in an excel spreadsheet / database developed for the exercise. The database will form the basis for analysis.
- Assessment Methodology
The analysis will draw on secondary data collection techniques that will be informed by:
- Excel database of teacher observations
- Desk review of relevant documents (teacher training reports, tracer study reports, other)
- Skype interviews with 4-8 colleagues in order to provide descriptive information of the approach within the report and to include user-feedback on replication
- The summary indicators that should be used when analysing data are:
- # and % teachers demonstrating improved instruction as measured against the South Sudan Professional Teaching Standards (findings presented by Standards and disaggregated by data and teacher qualification level)
- # and % teachers who improved on initially identified areas of weaknesses
- # and % head teachers reporting improved skills of teaching staff
- # and % teachers who understand what they must do to become a stronger teacher
- Expected Background and Experience
· Advanced University Degree in Statistics, Education or in a discipline relevant to this assignment.
- Strong understanding of teaching and teacher-support
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience, of progressive responsibility, in the education or development sector, with experience in research and monitoring and evaluation of education programmes.
- Excellent quantitative and qualitative research skills.
· Proven ability to interpret and analyze complex qualitative and quantitative data, and to present findings and recommendations in a clear and concise way.
· Good interpersonal skills and ability to work in a team with diverse backgrounds
· Excellent English writing skills
· Knowledge and sensitivity to political and social contexts of South Sudanese communities; familiarity with the South Sudan education system and labour market desirable.
- Deliverables and Timeframe
The consultant is responsible for undertaking the tasks outlined below and submitting the deliverables as per the agreed timeline. The overall task of conducting the analysis and submitting a report is expected to be completed in 12 working days. The study report should address all the objectives outlined above, be written in a clear and concise style, and contain an executive summary (detailed requirements will follow). All data analysis will be shared Save the Children. The starting date for this consultancy is September or October 2015, exact date yet to be confirmed.
- Tools / process for data analysis (1-page summary with attachments)
- Report (draft and final) containing methodology, results and recommendations (20 pages max. (excluding appendix)
- 10 slide PPT to communicate Final Report (with placeholders for South Sudan photos – sourced by Save the Children following submission)
- Management and Technical Guidance
The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the SCI DfID Snr Project Manager. The DfID MEAL Manager will be the direct contact person for the consultant and responsible for day-to-day supervision and link to any organizational support necessary. Key staff from Save the Children including DfID MEAL Manager, Senior Education Program Manager, MEAL and Education Technical Specialist will be responsible for reviewing and approving the data analysis methodology and draft reports (feedback to be collated by the DfID MEAL Manager).
Responsibilities of Save the Children in facilitating this analysis are the following:
§ Provide access to all necessary programme documents
§ Provide access to the database / spreadsheet
§ Provide administrative support, including venue for presentation of findings.
§ Coordinate the review and approval of the methodology and (draft) report.
- Terms and conditions
§ Professional fee: Though applicants are expected to provide a budget for the exercise, Save the Children will consider proposals that are within the approved rates as per its policy on professional fees. Willing to approve a junior- to mid-level consultant rate.
§ Tax and insurance: The consultant shall be responsible for his/her income tax and/or insurance during the assignment
§ Code of conduct: Because Save the Children's work is based on deeply held values and principles, it is essential that our commitment to children's rights and humanitarian principles is supported and demonstrated by all members of staff. Save the Children's Code of Conduct sets out the standards which all staff members must adhere to. The consultant is bound by the principles and conditions of Save the Children International’s Code of Conducts, Child Safeguarding policy, ethical standards and participation practice standards.
§ A contract will be signed by the consultant upon commencement of the assignment which will detail additional terms and conditions of service, aspects on inputs and deliverables.
HOW TO APPLY:
How to apply
Interested and eligible applicants are invited to send an expression of interest that should include:
- Cover letter (1 page max.) This letter should outline experience of the consultant in conducting similar assignments and offer a study design and methodology, including a timeline for implementation.
- Summary financial proposal(1 page max.)[1] Please provide a standard budget for your services.*
Curriculum Vitae* of the staff proposed to be involved in undertaking the study
[1] The financial proposal should provide cost estimates for services rendered including daily consultancy fees excluding: stationery, supplies needed for data analysis. Data processing costs are included in the account of the Consultant. The Consultant should also use his/her own computer.
Interested candidates are requested to send their applications to rehan.sajid@savethechildren.orgApplication closes at5.00pm on 3rd October 2015
