1.Background
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) works in collaboration with partners to develop and promote innovative solutions that contribute to improving the quality of life in East Africa. AKF responds to national priorities by developing effective programming, measuring and documenting results, and sharing its lessons with government, donors and development actors to influence policy and practice.
AKF in collaboration with Dubai Cares and the Governments of Kenya and Uganda and locally based innovative ICT is testing and demonstrating the transformative potential of ICT to strengthen teaching and learning in formal primary education, using mobile phones and computers. The overall goal of the project is to transform students learning and teacher professional development through ICT. The project will reach over 202,000 boys and girls, 2130 teachers and 100 trainers and educators in 175 AKF supported primary schools in the Coast of Kenya and West Nile region of Uganda. In order to assess the impact of the project, AKF has scheduled research-based baseline and end-line assessments. The baseline results will provide scientific evidence on the current status of the teaching and learning in the primary schools as well as the challenges that schools are facing to improve learning outcomes and the potential of ICT in improving the teaching and learning. The baseline survey will also guide the program in setting targets for program indicators used for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of program implementation during subsequent phases.
2. Objectives of the baseline study
The project will be assessed in terms of technical feasibility, institutional management, impacts on teaching and learning and costs effectiveness. Therefore, the objectives of the baseline study is to:
· Establish pupils’ learning outcomes in literacy and numeracy for Standard 1 and 2 students
· Establish and document use ICT in monitoring and supporting education interventions at the classroom and school levels
· Establish the use of contextually relevant and age-appropriate ICT resources in classrooms
· Document access to both ICT hardware and software, including contextually relevant and scalable digital content for teachers and students and district officials
· Provide information for assessing the cost effectiveness and efficiency of using ICT in teachers, schools head teachers and educators professional development
· Provide the basis for selecting indicators and strategies to monitor school performance and progress through the use of ICT.
3. Scope of the Consultancy
The baseline survey will be conducted in Mombasa and Kwale Counties in Kenya and Arua, Yumbe and Koboko Districts in Uganda. This consultancy is expected to take place from June to August 2015. The consultant is expected to lead the design of the study, sampling, data tools development, training of the data collectors, data entry, analysis and report writing in close collaboration with AKF and Ministries of Education in Kenya and Uganda.
4.Deliverables
The consultant (s) will prepare and submit the following deliverables within an agreed timeline:
· An inception report with the proposed study design, samples, proposed tools, procedure for data collection & data collection plan
· Instruments for data collection and output tables
· A draft and final baseline report
· Datasets (MS Excel or MS Access or SPSS) and completed tools used in the data collection
5. Qualifications and Competencies
The consultant must demonstrate, experience of:
· Designing and conducting baseline and impact evaluations and studies on ICT in education; developing quantitative and qualitative tools and instruments; collecting and analysing data; and writing results-based reports;
· Quantitative and qualitative data and information analysis;
· Experience in database design and development; and
· Experience working in East Africa
AKF recognizes that all of these qualifications may not be found in one Consultant. It is possible to present a team of Consultants to meet these criteria.
HOW TO APPLY:
Expression of Interest
Interested consultant (s) meeting the above criteria should submit not more than 3 pages concept note describing the statement of previous relevant experience and accomplishments and proposed study design and methodology and indicative budget by 30th of April 2015 to:recruitment@akfea.org with the subject title: Baseline Evaluation Study for ICT in Education Project. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted to submit the full proposal.
