TERM OF REFERENCE EDUCATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT CONSULTANCY

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1 TERM OF REFERENCE EDUCATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT CONSULTANCY 1. BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE Inter communal conflict that erupted in June and October 2012 has resulted in protracted emergency and the displacement of approximately 140,000 persons (IDPs). In addition to the IDP population, there is a population of 280,000 persons characterized as directly affected, but not displaced. Both displaced and directly affected (non displaced) groups have experienced a reduction in access to basic services, movement and livelihoods as a result of the conflict. Of the mentioned populations it is estimated that 124,000 children have lost access to the formal education system. With support from the central government, INGOs and communities schools are currently the main providers of education services for this population. Current projects focus primarily on access to primary education via the provision of temporary learning spaces and training of volunteer teachers. The Education sector is looking to improve its interventions in Rakhine State. As such, there is a call for a comprehensive assessment and analysis of the extent to which children s education (at all levels) is being met in conflict and non conflict affected areas. As such, the Education Sector Partners, with Plan International as the coordinator, is looking for a consultant to lead an education needs assessment in 8 affected townships in Rakhine State. Once completed, the Education Needs Assessment will provide insight into education needs within targeted communities in the following townships: Sittwe, Pauktaw, Minbya, Mrauk Oo, Kyauk Taw, Maungdaw, Boutidaung, Rathedaung and Myebon, and will serve as an integral part of strategic decision making for the Education sector Education sector partners include, CFSI, LWF, Plan, SCI and UNICEF. Each partner will provide 2 staff members as support to the consultant to carry out and coordinate the assessment. The assessment will require collection of both quantitative (population data, school enrollment data ect.) and qualitative (key informant interviews, synthesis of community perceptions ect.). The analysis will incorporate both types of data to reach conclusions. Due to the unique and sensitive nature of the working environment it will be expected that all data collection and community interaction be done in accordance with Do No Harm standards and in close consultation with Sector Partners. 2. OBJECTIVES I. To design and conduct an education needs assessment that illuminates issues surrounding utilization of education services (primary, secondary, non formal) and identifies urgent/significant gaps in, and community attitudes towards, education service provision and utilization at village level in 8 townships affected by conflict. In addition to better understanding supply and demand barriers to utilization of education services at the community level, the assessment must also address the crosscutting issues of gender and inclusiveness in education systems. II. III. To meaningfully include government counterparts in the assessment process via initial consultation with State Government and incorporation of their suggestions into the assessment tool. Followed by regular consultation with Township Education Offices in all townships to inform and explain the process. Townships covered are: Sittwe, Pauktaw, Minbya, Mrauk Oo, Myebon, Kyauktaw, Rathedaung, Maungdaw, Boutidaung To design and deliver training workshop for sector partners to ensure that they can lead data collection at field level and increase sector capacity to conduct meaningful needs assessments.

2 IV. Provide a final report and presentation that includes practical programmatic recommendations for education service providers that would increase utilization of primary, secondary, formal and nonformal education services in Rakhine State. 3. CONSULTANT S TASKS AND ACTIVITIES I. Desk Review Synthesize previous assessments and research in Rakhine State with focus on education sector but with reference to other sectors where relevant. II. Tool Adaption Adapt existing survey tool in coordination with education sector partners. Partners will have translated and tested current tool prior to arrival of consultant. Once adapted, the updated tool will be piloted by consultant and team before fully rolled out. III. Design Assessment Write methodology, work plan and monitoring plan for survey process. This includes: identifying the number of villages (both displaced and nearby) necessary to gain comprehensive understanding of education needs, and identification of number of enumerators needed to effectively collect information within the given timeframe. IV. Coordination with State and Township Education officials facilitated by sector leads. V. Plan Training Workshop on needs assessment methodology with focus on successful data collection using sector approved tool. VI. Deliver Training Workshop to Education Sector support team staff such that trainees can effectively train local enumerators and oversee data collection process effectively. VII. Field visits to all townships to monitor data collection. VIII. Oversee data entry with initial trainees to IX. Final Report X. Final Presentation of results. a) Specification of training The training should be designed in consultation with the Education In Emergency sector partners in Rakhine, to build around working commitments and to make it as relevant and practical for the ongoing work of the team in respective villages. The locations of the training will be in Sittwe, Rakhine Satate. Participants will include: 1 2 staff from each education sector partner. Approximately 8 10 participants. No prior familiarity with survey enumeration should be assumed, though participants will have a very high level of local context knowledge. The training will be held in English with provision for translation. If deemed more pragmatic the consultant has the option to hire a Myanmar consultant to co lead the training in local language. Costs for national consultant would be covered by sector partners. The training should utilize participatory learning methodologies whenever possible. The training should also be built around the sector approved tool. Training should cover following subjects at minimum (additional subjects are left to training consultant s discretion). The consultant should determine how best to organize these subjects into sessions. 1. The background, scope and rationale for needs assessment 2. A full articulation of the needs assessment process 3. How to conduct assessment using sector approved tool 4. How to conduct assessment in the Do No Harm framework.

3 5. Practical exercises using various components of the Do No Harm framework in relation to the survey tool 6. The importance of monitoring changes in external contextual dynamics and being able to articulate, track and measure qualitative inputs. The consultant should provide any written materials needed to support this training including, at a minimum, detailed module handouts and copies of / links to best practice guides and tools / methodologies referred to. In addition, a tailored half day training package and materials for the participants to use in delivering training for other colleagues who cannot attend the training should also be provided. Education sector partners will retain ownership of training materials and reserves the right to use these for its own purposes (further training within the organization, incorporation into broader programme guidance, etc.) subsequent to the consultancy period. b) Management and Monitoring of Needs Assessment After the training workshop, trainees should be sufficiently skilled to undertake needs assessment of their target villages/camps with supervision of the consultant. This support should include: 1. Monitoring visits to ensure proper utilization of assessment tool and troubleshooting of any problems. 2. Participating in a one day workshop in each township to ensure messaging to enumerators is accurate/sufficient. A translator will be provided for this and all field work % of data collected daily should be checked for quality and completeness daily. 4. Provision of work plan and monitoring plan. 5. Collection and collation and analysis of data. c) Analysis and Final Report Provide a final report (English language, Pages in word format both in soft and hard copy to each sector partner). presentation that includes full presentation and initial analysis of data collected, practical programmatic recommendations for education service providers on programming that would increase utilization of primary, secondary formal and non formal education services in Rakhine State. 6. START DATE AND COMPLETION DATE The total number of working days for the consultancy will be 62 working days. Design of training package and finalization of survey tool to begin as soon as possible. Training events in Sittwe, to be delivered immediately after finalization of tool with assessment taking 5 working days in each township simultaneously. Days Activity Estimated No Of Days 1 2 Travel to Yangon Travel to Sittwe Desk Review in Sittwe Meeting with Sector and Government Counterparts in Sittwe Adaption of Assessment Tool Develop Training ToT on Assessment Tool and Data Collection Methods Data collection and monitoring Data entry monitoring in Sittwe Data Analysis 3

4 49 53 Report Writing Presentation of Results to Government and Sector Partners Any follow up necessary Travel to Yangon Travel to Home 1 Total No of Days DELIVERABLES OF CONSULTANCY 1. Updated assessment tool 2. Detail training module with hand outs and copies of / links to best practice guides and tools methodologies for needs assessment 3. A tailored half day training package and materials for the participants to use in delivering training for enumerators at village level. 4. Trainings/Workshops reports 5. Final report including products (context analysis and program options) and a set of recommendations 8. REPORTING LINE MANAGER Overall reporting to Blaire Davis, Humanitarian Program Unit Manager, Plan International, Program Unit Sittwe. 9. SUPPORT FROM PARTNERS TA shall be supported by UNICEF Translator shall be provided by SCI Each partner will be lead in chosen townships. The sector partner will be responsible for facilitating communication with authorities and transportation for the consultant when the consultant is in their respective township. Additionally, all partners will provide: - 2 trainers for the TOT, - Recruit and manage sufficient number of enumerators to cover villages identified by joint decision of sector partners, government officials and consultant in respective townships. - Provision of transport in respective township and villages 10. SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE CONSULTANT The Consultant should be an experienced evaluation professional with technical experience in education assessment and analysis.. The Consultant should have at least 5 years of experience in needs assessment with focus on education sector, very good familiarity with the Myanmar/Rakhine context and speak English. NB The training consultant must agree to follow Plan Myanmar s security protocols at all times in Rakhine. 11. TERMS OF PAYMENT It is Plan Myanmar s policy to pay for consultancy services in three tranches of payment.

5 The first tranche (40%) of overall fee will be paid upon completion of the training workshop. The second tranche (30%) will be paid upon completion of the program options workshop and the workshop report. The third tranche (30%) will be paid upon completion of the management review meeting. Local taxes shall apply according to Government of Myanmar taxation laws. Plan Myanmar will pay for accommodation and flights directly and reimburse visa fees with a valid receipt. 12. HOW TO APPLY Prospective Consultants should prepare a letter of interest which details: How their process would meet the outcomes outlined above Details their experience and expertise in developing and executing education needs assessments Gives details on the qualifications and experience of the proposed assessment manager Daily fee expected and projected travel costs to and from Myanmar. 13. CHILD PROTECTION CLAUSE Plan is a Child Centred Development Organization, committed to the wellbeing of children and to supporting the Convention of the Rights of the child. Plan has its own Child Protection Policy to ensure that Plan has procedures in place to prevent and deal with child abuse by any Plan associate. Plan does not tolerate child abuse. Consultant will need to sign and adhere to Plan s Child Protection Policy. Interested consultants who meet the above requirements are required to submit the above documents for the consultancy via e mail before 31 st May 2015 to Myanmar.CO@plan international.org.