TERMS OF REFERENCE. Impact Assessment for Disability Projects and Pre-Learnership Programme Implemented. In the

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1 TERMS OF REFERENCE Impact Assessment for Disability Projects and Pre-Learnership Programme Implemented In the Wholesale and Retail Sector for the period

2 1. INTRODUCTION W&RSETA is a statutory body established through the Skills Development Act of 1998 to enable its stakeholders to advance the national and global position of the Wholesale & Retail industry. As guided by its mandate the W&RSETA is as such an agent of transformation by promoting employment equity and broad-based BEE through skills development. In this context the W&RSETA is keen to form sustainable partnerships that will further promote its support for transformation. 2. OBJECTIVE OF THE BID The project aims to appoint a service provider to conduct an impact assessment for the W&RSETA Disability Projects and Pre-Learnership Programme. The purpose of the impact assessment is to assess the extent to which the objectives of these projects were attained, quantify outputs and determine the overall outcomes of the project. 3. BACKGROUND OF THE BID The W&RSETA Disability Projects and Pre-Learnership Programme consist of three projects earmarked at people with disabilities or people with special needs. The projects in this cluster were national projects. These are: 3.1. Thabo Mbeki Development Trust for Disabled People (Pilot and Phase 1) 3.2. edeaf Project 3.3. Grassroots Pilot Project The details of each project are summarized below: 2

3 3.1. THABO MBEKI DEVELOPMENT TRUST FOR DISABLED PEOPLE (PILOT and PHASE 1) Introduction The Thabo Mbeki Development Trust for Disabled People aimed at providing a bridging programme that would enable disabled learners acquire pre-requisite skills needed for entry into learnerships. The project consisted of various phases. The purpose of this tender is for the successful service provider to conduct impact studies for Pilot and Phase 1 projects. Aims and Objectives The aims and objectives of the Pilot Project was to: Design and develop bridging programmes aligned to unit standards Implementation of the programme to 25 learners The aims and objective of the Phase 1 Project was to: Identify 100 learners with disabilities who had successfully completed the pre- Learnership programme into a registered W&RSETA learnership programme Qualify a minimum of 60% of these learners in the registered qualification Place the minimum of 60% of the qualified learners in permanent employment Facilitate a career path for at least 60% of the qualified learners in W&RSETA Start and end dates The project started in 2008 and completed in 2010 Achievements Pilot Project: 25 learners successfully completed Phase 1: Project 100 learners successfully completed 3

4 3.2. edeaf Introduction The edeaf pilot project targeted 40 deaf learners within the Gauteng province. The learners were to be up-skilled in the selected scarce and critical skills programmes appropriate to the wholesale and retail environment and to their disability. Aims and objectives The objectives of the project were: To provide the deaf candidates with access to employment within the Wholesale and Retail sector, To up-skill potential unemployed deaf candidates with scarce and critical skills for suitable employment opportunities within the Wholesale and Retail Sector; To sensitise the workplace and Wholesale and Retail sector (staff and customers) to the needs of the deaf community; To develop a unique Project Branding proposition for Wholesale and Retail employers with respect to deaf employees internally and externally and; Start and end dates The project started in 2008 and completed in 2009 Achievements 38 learners completed the programme 4

5 3.3. GRASSROOTS PILOT PROJECT Introduction In September 2007 the W&RSETA Board approved a pre-learnership pilot for 30 learners. Grassroots acted as a host-employer for this project and so managed the implementation of the project. Aim and objectives The Pilot project aimed to test the Grassroots pre-learnership process model in the SETA context with two groups of 15 learners in Diepsloot and Alexandra Start and end dates The project started in 2008 and completed in 2009 Achievements 22 learners completed the programme and 20 were employed 5

6 4. SCOPE OF WORK The impact assessment will focus on: Determining the extent to which the project achieved the set aims, objectives and targets Determine the reason for the difference between the proposed targets and the actual achievements Identifying and quantifying the direct as well as indirect (spill-overs/ unintended/externalities) benefits of the project Identifying and quantifying the total direct and/or indirect cost of the entire project Ascertaining the strengths/weakness/opportunities/threats of the entire project. Determining the overall impact of the skills training on the beneficiary, employer and provider Reviewing the lessons learned from the process of project implementation and preparing a comprehensive summary of the results compared with the goals and objectives outlined in the project document A desktop research and literature review of the project A mixed methodological approach will be followed to determine the impact of this project on the relevant beneficiary (learner), employer, provider, sector and the W&RSETA Submit 2 hardcopies of the final research report as well as an electronic copy to the W&RSETA Identify from the sample how many people are within the sector, what are their current occupations, in which companies are they, what is there career path and career development The specifics per projects are as follows Thabo Mbeki Conduct a survey of at least 50% of 25 learners in the Pilot Project and 50% of the 100 disabled learners in Phase 1 Project Interviews with the host employers and the provider edeaf Conduct interviews with the 100% of learners that participated. Interviews with the employer and the provider Conduct Interviews with relevant W&RSETA management Grassroots Conduct interviews with 100% of the 22 learners that completed and the 8 drop-outs Conduct interviews with the employer and the provider Conduct interviews with relevant W&RSETA management 6

7 5. EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND DELIVERABLES a. A detailed research proposal for each project b. A desktop research to be conducted c. A research survey to be conducted d. Interviews to be conducted e. A draft and a final report submitted to the W&RSETA which should contain Literature review Methodology used Data gathering tools Data analysis Summary and conclusion f. Recommendations g. Necessary Annexures h. Conduct a presentation to management on the final impact report 6. PROPOSAL CONTENT 1. Detailed plan of work Project plan Research questions to be answered/hypothesis/problem statement 2. Detailed methodology (ies) for conducting the impact assessment Sample selection Identification of data collection tool Piloting of tools Data collection techniques Details of the methodology to be used for impact assessment Dealing with non responses and follow ups Data reliability and validity testing Data analysis and presentation Limitations of the research Statistical tools/packages for analysis Reporting of the research findings Referencing methodologies Ethical statements 7

8 7. PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND MENTORING Process Time Management Cost Management Quality Management Change Management Risk Management Issue Register Acceptance Management Report Management Description The project timelines will be regularly monitored W&RSETA will be supplied with regular progress reports in the agreed format Monthly progress reports will be submitted by the 7 th of each month The monthly report in a agreed format will record expenses on this project, for project disbursement portion Quality assurance will be maintained through regular meetings via the project steering committee Any changes within the project must be recorded using a prescribed Change Request Form and such approval would need to be authorised by the W&RSETA Board No changes will be effected / implemented / actioned without the relevant prior approval The details of each risk will be summarized in a Risk register to enable the Project Manager to monitor and control the status of the risks throughout the project An issue is an adverse event that has occurred and has the potential of jeopardizing the success of the project. All issues will be documented using prescribed Issue Forms The details of each issue will be summarized in an Issue Register to enable the Project Owner to monitor and control the status of the Issues throughout the project. The Project Owner will certify performance in terms of the contract The Project Steering Committee will meet once every month throughout the duration of the project to discuss: o Progress to date 8

9 Process Description o o Current risks and issues Any changes required to ensure project success 8. PRICING The abovementioned scope of work detailed in section 4 should be used when compiling the budget for this bid A detailed cost breakdown structure include All other costs are to be listed and included under other All pricing must be shown inclusive of any applicable VAT All pricing to be completed on the standard template as prescribed in the bidding documents under Evaluation Process and Criteria 9

10 9. TECHNICAL PROPOSAL CONTENT A. TECHNICAL PROPOSAL The technical proposal needs to be submitted in the format with the headings (A-D) as detailed below in the submission requirements B. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS Criteria Submission Requirement Technical Threshold at 75% A. Project Team Composition Proof of detailed team members CV s with contactable references B. Project Management Proof of project plan, Detailed methodology and approach Evidence of previous project management experience including total cost of projects Proof of project governance structure with clear role indication per office and location C. Experience in similar interventions Proof of three recommendation letters in similar interventions in social science impact assessments D. Knowledge and Expertise in National Skills Development Strategy landscape and Wholesale and Retail sector Proof of previous interventions within SETA environment including the value of the projects awarded and three recommendation letters 10