Baseline Consultant : Somalia (Somaliland, Puntland, and South-Central Somalia)

POSITION TITLE: Baseline Consultant

LOCATION: Somalia (Somaliland, Puntland, and South-Central Somalia)

DURATION: 30 working days with completion by end of March 2013

REPORTING TO: East Africa Regional Director

Background: Relief International (RI) is an international relief and development agency with cross-sectoral programmes bridging relief and development. During 2013, RI will lead a large scale programme throughout Somalia which aims to enroll more girls in school, inspire them to stay in school, and make sure they graduate from school with the knowledge that enables them to break the cycle of poverty. The programme will be implemented by 6 different organizations across the country (including RI along with two INGOs and four LNGOs) and will focus on girls aged between 6 to 19 who hail from urban poor, rural, and internally displaced (IDP) populations. Within these populations, the programme will pay special attention to vulnerable, orphaned, and disabled girls. The project will work within primary, secondary, vocational, and non-traditional schools, as well as family life education centres.

The Purpose of the baseline study: The purpose of the study is to provide a baseline to enable the ongoing measurement of programme results, impact and long lasting change in the lives of the beneficiaries at the end of the project. It will also provide a baseline to ascertain the cost effectiveness in the implementation of the programme (value for money), track key milestones and results, and also look at diverse aspects such as geographical spread (rural/urban), socio-economic factors ( gender, ethnicity and poverty levels) and food security/nutrition and their impact on education for children.

Specific objectives of the study: 1. Set out parameters for the measurement of programme results, quality delivery of education services, and community participation as per the project outputs disaggregated by gender, age and location. 2. Set out baseline data as per the specific output and outcome indicators of the project as stipulated in the logframe. 3. Set out parameters for the measurement of the project impact and long lasting changes in the lives of the beneficiaries. 4. Set out parameters for the measurement of the projects implementation on cost effectiveness (value for money), as well as key milestones and results related to the performance-related pay dimensions of the programme. 5. Set out parameters for measurement of diverse aspects such as geographical spread (rural/urban), socio-economic (gender, ethnicity and poverty levels) and food security/nutrition and their impact on education for children and especially over age children. 6. Set out parameters for the measurement of a quality learning environment.

Methodology: The study will be led by a consultant/s with experience in field research, experience in conducting participatory research and conversant with the education environment in Somalia, particularly that of girl’s access to education.

The consultant will be responsible for:

1. Carrying out a literature review of secondary data including MoE Development Plans and Education Management Information Systems (EMIS), sector specific plans covering girl’s education, development partners (NGO’s) documents on implementation of girl’s education etc.
2. The full development of the baseline study methodology, including child friendly methodologies.
3. The development of appropriate data collection tools, including web-based tools, to collect data from/with children, to be finalized in coordination with RI’s East Africa Regional team.
4. Test the tools and revise them accordingly before the start of data collection process.
5. Training enumerators on the use of the tools.
6. Completing a field baseline study including data collection through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with children, parents and community structures like PTA’s, school administrators, teachers and relevant national, state and local education authorities and data analysis.
7. Producing a draft report reviewed by RI’s East Africa Regional team.
8. Presenting findings from the draft report to the consortium partners and donor.
9. Completing a full report based on study findings, stipulating clear parameters for measuring results (output and outcome), impact, long lasting change and value for money as per the purpose of the study.

TIME FRAME OF THE ASSIGNMENT The Baseline is expected to be conducted between January and March 2013 with a total of 30 working days for completion of all tasks in the assignment including the draft and final report.

Expertise required: 1. Post-graduate degree in Social Sciences, Policy Studies, Education or Development Studies with proven experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis;

1. Experience in working with MoE Education Management Information Systems;
2. Experience of working in the Somalia context with emphasis on girls and education.
3. Proven experience in conducting research;
4. Strong command of the English language. Knowledge of Somali is an added advantage in data collection;
5. Strong English language writing skills. Writing samples will be required;
6. Commitment to and understanding of internationally recognized child protection values and principles;
7. Understanding of DFID VfM and payment by results strategies, VfM in education; EMIS in Somalia, experience of designing a baseline studies for an education programme worth over GBP 5 million;

Application:

All expressions of interest should include: • Cover letter: A short (maximum one page) letter addressing the baseline criteria • CV • Consultancy rate • Technical writing samples will be required

How to apply:

To apply, please click here: http://ch.tbe.taleo.net/CH07/ats/careers/requisition.jsp?org=RI&cws=4&ri...