TERMS OF REFERENCE Prepare an assessment report based on the review of ACTED Afghanistan's current operations and processes applied in relation to the implementation of the Girls Education Challenge for Marginalized Girls in Afghanistan. (GEC 5224) 1. Background: The Girls Education Challenge Programme (GEC) is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and managed by the Fund Manager Pricewater House Coopers LLP (PWC) with the objective to support one million of the world s poorest girls improve their lives through education. Under this project in Afghanistan ACTED is working to ensure up to 3,725 marginalized girls across 8 districts in Faryab province enroll in primary school education. Among the targeted beneficiaries, 12,280 marginalized girls who have never been to school will attend a 9-month literacy course aimed at introducing basic literacy education to prepare students for future academia. Another 720 women will benefit from vocational training programs that focus on developing skills like embroidery, that women could apply to current job market. Additionally ACTED is constructing 10 4 classroom female primary schools in 7 districts and 7 YDC vocational training centres in 4 districts for females. 2. Purpose and Objective of review: The high level intention of the review is to identify ways through which the implementation of the project can be strengthened to increase its effectiveness including monitoring and verification of quarterly results. The review should make recommendations to improve and strengthen the performance of the project, find out gaps that exist in current system and processes and recommend mitigation actions for those identified gaps along with risks and sustainability approaches. This will help to develop actions to be included in the Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) providing future direction for the project. The length of duration for consultancy services will be 12 working days and the position will be predominantly based in Kabul. We strongly request that the consultant visit our program at the field level to understand the complexities and delivery of reports while operating in a high-risk area.
3. Scope of the review: This review assessment will: Review issue matrix to be shared with the consultant. Collect evidence and report findings for each issue in the matrix to determine status of the issue including any gaps in information. To identify gaps and causes of the issues in the matrix. To make recommendations on how to improve if applicable. 4. Methodology: Based on the purpose and objective described above, the methodology will be defined in detail by the Independent Consultant within the first 7 days after signing of the contract but should include a desk review as well as interviews with ACTED Staff based in Kabul and Faryab. The review is expected to study the project design, ACTED s Field Implementation Process and any related procedures in relation to the implementation, monitoring and verification of GEC 5224. Examples of documents to review are the Independent Review Process Issue Matrix, project proposal, contract extension proposal, milestones, logframe, baseline report, construction reports, ASER Tests, and quarterly progress reports submitted to the GEC Fund Manager along with ACTED s risk matrix. 5. Supports to conduct review: The project key staffs including ACTED Afghanistan, Engineering department, financial department, logistics department, GIS department, AMEU department will be responsible for providing the support to the consultant for reviewing the project under the scope of work. This will include providing documents (while understanding the time required for acquiring documents from Faryab) for review, make interview appointments with relative staff and organize field visits on behalf of the consultant as required.
6. Deliverables The consultant shall ensure the delivery of the following: 1. An inception report outlining: Review design and methodology (review tools, data collection, organization and data analysis etc.) A detailed plan activity (logframe, milestones and reporting procedures) Proposed Assessment Report Structure 2. Final Assessment Report Submission 7. Duration of role and deliverables This assignment is planned to be accomplished within 12 days working days and is expected to commence at the beginning of January 2015 and end by 28th February 2015, or as otherwise agreed. The following schedule and deliverables are suggested: Deliverables Review of program activities, implementation policies and reporting mechanisms Deliver and present Inception Report to all relative departments Collection of program data for analysis Analysis of gaps, priorities and program performance Deliver Final Assessment Report and presentation to all relative departments Schedule 2 Days 1 Day 8. Payment Payment of this review will be in accordance with the negotiations between ACTED Afghanistan and the consultant. No advance payment will be given. Payment will be based on the delivery of each milestone.
The following payment schedule is suggested: Deliverables Review of program activities, implementation policies and reporting mechanisms and submission of inception report. Payment 25% Collection of program data for analysis 25% Analysis of gaps, priorities and program performance 25% Report and presentation to all relative departments, upon approval of the final report 25% Delivery of each payment will follow ACTED Afghanistan s FLAT protocol and payment policy and will be reviewed and approved by both ACTED Afghanistan and PwC. 9. Expertise requirement The Independent Consultant for the review of the 5224 GEC Project in Afghanistan will require a mix of the following skills and experience. Experience in organizational governance. Experience in project Monitoring & Evaluation including planning and review implementation Strong analytical skills and ability to clearly synthesize and present findings. Expected travel to Faryab to review program planning and implementation Ability to draw practical conclusions and to prepare well-written report. Good understanding of cultural context of Afghanistan Proven consultancy experience with reputed research organization/s and INGO/s Good knowledge of education policy framework in Afghanistan. Post graduate qualifications in development studies, education or relevant area 10. Code of conduct The Consultant will be expected to treat all the information disclosed to her/him or with which s/he may come into contract during her/his service as private and confidential. The Consultant will not therefore disclose the same or any particulars thereof any third party or publish anything without prior
permission from ACTED. During his / her consultancy, the Consultant will abide to ACTED s code of conduct and security protocols in Afghanistan.