ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
Adeso is an expanding and vibrant African based international development and humanitarian organization. At Adeso, we work with African communities who are yet to realize their full potential; working inside these communities to create environments in which Africans can thrive. Our belief that economic, social and environmental security is the bedrock of a healthy community drives the nature and intent of our programming. We work to prevent and overcome situations that adversely affect community well-being by: reinvigorating the economy, developing skills for life and work, providing humanitarian aid, and influencing policy.
For the past 20 years we have strengthened rural livelihoods through environmental awareness, training, technology transfer and innovative humanitarian projects in pursuit of a peaceful, self-reliant, and greener future. Currently, Adeso has programs in Somalia, Kenya and South Sudan.
Adeso is an exciting and dynamic organization experiencing managed rapid growth. It offers sound employment conditions with opportunities for personal growth and development.
PROJECT SUMMARY
The Mobile Non Formal Education (MNFE) is a two years project being implemented by Adeso
in Marsabit County of Kenya. The goal of the project is to contribute to improvement of life chances of marginalized girls in pastoral areas of Marsabit County through the provision of non – formal education and vocational skills training. The MNFE project will target 300 children aged 13- 18 years in Marsabit County who have never been to school or dropped out of school. Out of the 300 selected and educated by the project, 90 will be selected to join vocational training and given startup grants to initiate some income generating activities. The project target beneficiaries will come from the larger settlement of highly mobile practicing pastoralists and transhumance pastoralists. 6 MNFE Centers will be established across the county, with teachers being recruited, trained on Pedagogical skills and given the responsibilities to manage the Mobile Non Formal Education Centers (MNFEC). The project activities are aligned with the migratory patterns of pastoralists and their seasonal calendar to unsure their accessibility to an educational model that does not conflict with their livelihoods priorities and nomadic lifestyle. The two years MNFE project builds on the experience and lessons learned from the Pastoralist Youth Leadership (PYL) Project successfully implemented by Adeso in Somalia. The MNFE project, though aimed at reaching children who have never attended school and /or have dropped out, will target more girls (60% of the total beneficiaries) than boys, to increase the number of girls accessing education given their lower school enrollment to high school dropout rates. This is in order to address gender equality. Among others, the project seeks to address the following,
- Improved access for pastoralist’s children to quality mobile non – formal education.
- Improved delivery, management and coordination of high quality mobile non- formal education.
- Out of school nomadic children’s are enrolled in none formal education program and supported to transit into formal education and vocational training.
- Improved participation by children in the social and economic life of the community.
OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The purpose of the consultancy is to generate comprehensive baseline information on the current education services in the project’s implementation locations in Marsabit County. The information will inform education programming in these regions and support Adeso to understand and monitor the progress and results of the education interventions in the County. Information collected in the baseline will also be used to identify some of the project sites.
OVERALL OBJECTIVE
The overall objective of the baseline survey is to carry out a comprehensive baseline survey in the project areas to help generate firsthand information to be used for Project Planning Monitoring and Evaluation and generate data to be used as benchmarks for the project’s in providing an understanding of the of the present provision of education services in Marsabit County that will inform MNFE project implementation.
THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTANCY INCLUDE:
- Generate baseline data that will reveal the current situation of education service in the region and set benchmarks that will assist Adeso to better monitor and measure progress in achieving the project purpose.
- Produce contextually relevant set of education baseline tools for use by project staffs in the implementation of the project.
SCOPE OF WORK
Adeso is seeking a qualified consultant to conduct a baseline assessment on pastoralist education with specific reference to quality instruction and learning in formal and non- formal schooling (particularly in education sector relevant to pastoralists), retention of females in education and female inclusion in community leadership and decision making. The data generated will cover key sectors including: Basic Education and primary education, Secondary Education, Alternative Basic Education (ABE), Technical and Vocational Education and Training, Enterprise based Technical and Vocational Education and training, Non Formal Education and Higher education. The baseline data collected should include but not be limited to access/enrolment rate, quality of education, relevance of education, internal efficiency, equity, perception of parents and communities towards child education and girls' education (status, challenges, opportunities etc.).
Specific data on all project indicators will also be compiled. The consultant will be expected to undertake the following tasks:
· Participate in briefing and consultative meetings on the assignment at Nairobi and in the field with relevant project stakeholders including Adeso Senior program staffs and ministry of education officials.
· Familiarize with the local education context, the Country and County education Plans and the MNFE project documents.
· Review extensively all relevant reports, studies and surveys on the education sector in Kenya and in Marsabit County and synthesize the information to ensure that the survey focuses on areas not covered by current literature.
· Evaluate project indicators and targets and update the log frame indicators where necessary.
· Assess the overall design strategy and implementation approaches of the project and propose methods of ensuring that the project is implemented in a relevant, effective, efficient and achieves maximum impact and complementarity with other actions.
· Design the baseline survey tools based on the objectives of the baselines survey.
· Design and deliver one day training/ debrief meeting for the MNFE project staff on key aspects of the baseline survey.
· Prepare and submit comprehensive, well-structured report of the baseline survey.
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The consultant will be supported by Adeso staff in Nairobi and in the field with technical guidance and data collection.
DELIVERABLES
The following services and outputs are expected:
· An Inception Report prior to the commencement of the baseline survey, explaining the detailed baseline survey design and the implementation plan. The Inception Report shall be approved by the Adeso before the assignment commences.
· Detailed and comprehensive baseline survey tools to be used in capturing the information required. The tools should be discussed and agreed at the project level before utilization and thereafter be annexed to the baseline survey report.
· Debrief session and power point presentation to the Adeso programme team and MNFE Project implementation team.
· Comprehensive draft and final baseline survey reports. Data on the variables/indicators listed in the MNFE project M&E plan, among others identified by the consultant and the education project team should be covered and reported on.
METHODOLOGY
The methodology for the assessment will further be defined and reviewed by the consultant and will include both direct and indirect data collection, analysis and cross referencing and formulating recommendations. Data collection will be done through site visits in operational areas and meetings with key project stakeholders. The consultant will finalize the methodology to undertake this assignment that suits the scope of the baseline assessment. It is envisaged that the methodology used during this assessment will include, but not be limited to, the following:
· Review of existing secondary information and reports relevant to the baseline study topic
· Discussion with key project staff of Adeso and partners at field and at county level (Marsabit County) and other key informants
· Interviews with concerned government agencies, line ministries and stakeholders involved
· Field visits to the project implementation areas for data collection and observations
· Special emphasis should be given to ensure participation of women in the process to understand the issues of female education, leadership and decision making from a gender perspective
· Use of data from local institutions and/or organizations
· Data analysis and verification of analyzed data
QUALIFICATION PROFILE
The successful applicant should poses adequate experience to conduct the assessment and that meets the following requirements:
- Post-graduate degree in Education, economics or related field relevant for the baseline assignment study.
- Strong technical background in the field of pastoralist education and demonstrated experiences in conducting research studies in the sector. The proposed team shall provide CVs that jointly demonstrate a mix of pastoralist education experience, experience in carrying out studies in the ASAL context and experience in the collection and analysis of data for research
- At least five years of hands on experience in conducting assessments and studies in the development sector with specific reference to pastoralist education issues in the ASAL
- Familiarity with development programming related to education and gender opportunities
- Good knowledge and experience in survey design, implementation of surveys and statistical data analysis is required.
- Experience in the use of participatory appraisal techniques in data collection and analysis.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
All documentation related to the assignment shall remain the sole and exclusive property of Adeso
How to apply:
Applications should be submitted by 2nd April 2014. Submitted applications will be reviewed as they arrive. All applicants must meet the minimum requirements described above, and those who do not meet these requirements will not be considered. Adeso is an equal opportunity employer.
Each application package should include the following:
· An application letter explaining why you are interested in undertaking the assignment and addressing the selection criteria including how the firm’s/group’s previous experience matches the consultancy objectives as well as the interest for the position. It should also indicate the candidate’s availability. The letter should be no longer than two pages.
· A brief proposal for the baseline study with methodology, work plan and budget (not more than 10 pages).
· A sample or samples of recently written report for a similar assignment.
· Updated CVs for all consultant including relevant work experience and qualifications.
· Contact details of 3 references.
Applications not including all of the above information will not be reviewed.
All applications should be sent to Adeso at consultancy@adesoafrica.org with the subject line: Application for Baseline Survey – MNFE Project (Marsabit)
