Consultancy to conduct Endline Evaluation for Support to Girls and other Vulnerable Children Education Project in Malawi

Consultancies

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Terms of Reference
Consultancy to conduct Endline Evaluation for Support to Girls and other Vulnerable Children Education Project in Malawi

1.0 Background

With financial support from the Medicor Foundation, a consortium of Oxfam (Lead and grant holder) and Center for Centre for Alternatives for Victimized Women and Children (CAVWOC) will be implementing ‘Support to Girls and other Vulnerable Children Education in Malawi Project’ and the project will be implemented in the districts of Balaka and Phalombe.

The overall objective of the project is to improve access, achievement, retention and completion rates among girls and boys and other vulnerable children in Balaka and Phalombe Districts.

The project has four specific objectives:

  1. Improve enrolment, retention, and completion of learners in targeted schools;
  2. Create a safe learning environment for learners by challenging negative socio norms that affect girls’ education;
  3. Increase performance (numeracy & literacy) of learners in the targeted schools; and
  4. Influence government on progressive education budget allocation to support infrastructure development, teacher recruitment and education material provision.

2.0 Context

Malawi has a population of adolescent girls (ages 10-19) and young women (ages 20-24) of about 3.2 million. Adolescent Girls and Young Women encounter complex physical and emotional changes. For those in remote rural areas negative socio norms in rural areas expose adolescents to vulnerability, abuse, exploitation and distress. These generally have implications including poor educational outcomes among adolescent girls such as high school drop-out rates, early marriages, unwanted pregnancies and the risk of HIV infection. In addition, with regards to education, the attrition rate for girls in Malawian schools is extremely high, and the consequences of girls leaving school early are very profound. Retention of girls is still a major problem as many girls drop out of school even before they attain basic literacy and numeracy skills; as such they are ill prepared for situations they face later in life. Malawi has attained gender parity in terms of access up to standard 4 but gender disparities persist in other upper classes of primary and post primary levels of education. Malawian children, particularly girls, do not master the required numeracy and literacy skills by the time they reach standard 6, a critical stage at which 14% of girls drop out of school. Data show that out of every 100 girls who begin Standard 1, only about three will enter secondary education. Of those three, only one will enter university .

Covid-19 humanitarian crisis has exacerbated the risks. For instance, schools in Malawi closed and almost 6 million school-going children were home from March 2020 to August 2020 and further closures during the second wave in January to February, 2021 due to the Government of Malawi’s Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) prevention measures to close schools with the aim to prevent the spread of the virus. Following the closure of schools there has been an increase in the number of teen pregnancies and child marriage across the country. A study by the Ministry of Gender showed a total of 44,874 teen pregnancies and 12,995 child marriages in selected districts under the study were registered from March to somewhere around August, 2020.

Major factors affecting girls’ education in Malawi are located at multiple levels; individual and the home, the community, the school and the system, the macro policy environment level and the wider social, economic and political environment. At individual level, girls are socialized to be subservient and complementary to males and to be docile. These attributes lead to girls having low self-esteem, with low aspirations for their careers and life in general, to easily succumb to peer pressure, early pregnancy, with little control over their lives.

2.0 Objectives of the End of Project Evaluation

The End of Project Evaluation is aimed at assessing the overall progress made in achieving the project objectives.

Specifically, the evaluation should meet the following specific objectives:

  1. To independently verify (and supplement where necessary) record of achievement as reported through semi-annual reports and defined in the project’s log frame.
  2. To assess the extent to which the project performed and the extent to which it was good value for money, which includes considering.
    • How well the project met its objectives.
    • How well the project applied value for money principles of effectiveness, economy, efficiency, and equity in relation to the delivery of its outcomes.
    • Examine the quantity and quality of hardware including change rooms which the project provided in the targeted areas
  3. Assess how the project has contributed to the achievement of project goal, objectives and result areas, and the national priorities as reflected in key national goals, policies, and other instruments.
  4. Assess the likelihood of the project and its activities to continue at national, district and community levels beyond the support received in the period of intervention. To what extent are the benefits of the project likely to be sustained after the completion of the project?
  5. Assess if there have been any unintended positive or negative changes so far,
  6. Draw lessons learnt – What lessons have been learnt so far which can be applied in similar interventions on governance?
  7. Appraise the project partnership approach (including management structures, communications, and relationships).

3.0 Overall approach to the Evaluation

The Evaluation is expected to make use of both quantitative and qualitative methods assessment. The evaluation should focus on assessing project relevance/appropriateness, impact on target group, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability.

3.1. Scope of the assignment

The consultants) will be expected to undertake the following tasks:

  1. Review various key documents related to the project: Project document, Project annual plans and bi-annual reports among others.
  2. Hold consultations with key stakeholders that should include Directorate of basic education and Directorate of Secondary Education, Civil Society Education Coalition, District Education Network, District Education Managers, District Community Development, District Social Welfare and the Police.
  3. Conduct consultations with various project beneficiaries, MDAs, Parliamentary Committees etc.
  4. Conduct an assessment, focusing on a representative sample of beneficiaries, collecting both quantitative and qualitative information on all indictors as outlined in the project Log frame.
  5. Document one success story from each District in Balaka and Phalombe
  6. Based on the findings, update the Logframe showing achievements made on all project indicators.
  7. Compile a narrative report (not more than 30 pages long) and power point presentation on findings which will be presented to Oxfam and partners.

3.2Key outputs of the assignment

  1. An inception report of the assignment, detailing approach, methodology and tools for undertaking the assignment.
  2. A high quality and focused report of not more than 30 pages (one bound hard copy and one electronic), presenting findings of End of Project Evaluation. The report should have a stand-alone executive summary (2-4 pages) and should have actionable and targeted recommendations.
  3. Key success stories from project target Districts of Balaka and Phalombe
  4. An updated Logframe (annexed to the main report), detailing level of achievement of all the indicators as outlined in the Logframe.
  5. Power point presentation to be presented in a meeting with Oxfam and partners
  6. Electronic copies of original and cleaned data sets including field notes and any other related materials.
  7. Draft evaluation report
  8. Final evaluation report

4.0 Responsibilities of Consultants

The consultants will be primarily responsible for:

  • Development/design of the study including tools and methodology
  • Share study design including process, methodology and tools with the Oxfam
  • Collect feedback and finalize study design
  • Pre-test tools, orient, train and supervise study team
  • Analyze data and prepare draft report.
  • Get feedback on draft and submit final report.
  • Present study findings to Oxfam and partners

5.0 Responsibilities of Oxfam and Consortium Partners

Within its policies and practices, Oxfam’s primary responsibility is to help the consultants achieve the objective of the TOR. Specifically, Oxfam and the project partners, CAVWOC will be responsible for:

  • Provide all the relevant documentation for the assignment
  • Provide an online 3-hour training on Oxfam safeguarding and ethics to the Lead Consultants and Research Assistants
  • Arrange meetings with concerned parties in the target areas.
    Giving inputs to study design and tools
    Monitoring, providing feedback and ensuring effectiveness of the study Giving inputs/feedback to draft and final reports
    Releasing the budget as per the agreed budget disbursement schedule

6.0 Deliverables

The following deliverables are expected under this TOR:

  • An inception report of the assignment, detailing approach, methodology and tools for undertaking the assignment.
  • A high quality and focused report of not more than 30 pages (one bound hard copy and one electronic), presenting findings of End of Project Evaluation. The report should have a stand-alone executive summary (2-4 pages) and should have actionable and targeted recommendations.
  • Key success stories from project target Districts of Salima, Dedza and Dowa
  • An updated Logframe (annexed to the main report), detailing level of achievement of all the indicators as outlined in the Logframe.
  • Power point presentation to be presented in a meeting with Oxfam and partners
  • Electronic copies of original and cleaned data sets including field notes and any other related materials.
  • Draft evaluation report
  • Final evaluation report

7.0 Eligibility criteria

The consultant team should have experience in qualitative and quantitative research, clear understanding of research methodology and experience in using different social research tools and techniques.

  • The team must include holders of advanced university degree in Social Sciences including Education, Development Studies and Gender
  • More than 10 years of Knowledge and practical experience in conducting similar studies and evaluations. Quantitative and qualitative statistical analysis skills are essential.

8.0 Work Schedule

Oxfam expects the consultant to finish the exercise in 21 days from the day of signing the contract. Failure to adhere to timelines is a violation of a contract and may lead to sanctions as guided by Oxfam policy on contracts.

9.0 Supervision and Management

Oxfam in Malawi will supervise the process. Specifically, the consultant will report to the MEAL Coordinator and Project Coordinator from Oxfam. The consultant will be expected to work closely with and interact on a continuous basis with Oxfam in Malawi and CAVWOC in the course of undertaking the assignment.

10. Submission of Proposals
Interested consultant (s) should submit technical and financial proposal (not more than 15 pages), detailing how they will undertake the assignment including up-to-date CVs of the candidates. Proposals should be submitted to the address below either in electronic or hard copy form and must be clearly indicated ‘Endline Survey For Support to Girls and other Vulnerable Children Education in Malawi’ by 17:00 hours local time on 9th September 2024.

All correspondence for the consultancy should be addressed to:

Internal Procurement Committee
Oxfam in Malawi
Green Heritage House (Area 13 Market)
P/Bag B331 Lilongwe 3, Tel: +265 1 770 489/525
Email: procurement.malawi@oxfam.org.uk

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