Jordan: External evaluation Consultant

1.Background

On December 2017, Lebanon and Jordan were hosting a total of 1,656,107 Syrian registered and 1,223,893 unregistered refugees, according to the UNHCR estimation, along with refugees from Palestine and Iraq living in the countries.

In Lebanon, 631,209 (3-18 age group) non-Lebanese children require education and currently a total number of 220,842 refugee children are enrolled in public schools, while 92,303 are enrolled in Non-Formal Education (NFE) programs. Within the framework of LCRP and RACE 2 under the leadership of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEHE), the access and enrolment in basic education has increased and the quality of the educational services, including non-formal education, has improved. Despite these results, there are still unmet needs and challenges to be tackled, concerning access, there is still scope to strengthen demand, increase enrolment in formal or regulated non-formal education, and improve infrastructure in the Education sector.

The out-of-school rate remains an issue also in Jordan: despite the efforts in increasing provision of adequate learning opportunities and in improving capacities, Syrian refugees have specific challenges related to access to formal education, which is often linked to the lack of recognition of prior learning and financial vulnerabilities that might lead to child labor and child marriage. Furthermore, distance from school, poor learning environments, insufficient and underqualified teachers, inadequate teacher training, and outdated curriculum and pedagogy also contribute to the risk of drop-out.

In this framework, the EU Madad-funded Consortium "Back to the Future" (BTF) has been set up among the three INGO AVSI Foundation (leading agency), TDH Italy, War Child Holland, both present and active in education in Lebanon and Jordan since years.

2.Project description

Full Project title: “Back to the Future: School readiness, inclusion and retention for children victims of the Syrian Crisis in Lebanon and Jordan" (TF-MADAD/2016/T04.22)

Funded by: MADAD Trust Fund, European Commission

Starting date: 23rd December 2016

Ending Date: 22nd June 2019

Length of the action: 30 months

Countries of coverage: Lebanon and Jordan

Overall objective: Contribute to address the continued lack of access to education and protection for the majority of Syrian refugee children in Lebanon and Jordan

Specific objective: To promote enrolment and improve retention in the formal education system for vulnerable children and adolescents in Lebanon and Jordan

Outputs and key activities:

Output 1: Awareness, Advocacy and Coordination: An increase in awareness and actions promoting the rights of vulnerable children to access education in the target countries and Europe In Lebanon and in Jordan

· Setting up of steering committees comprising the Consortium Members and the representatives of the Institutions at country level

· Multimedia campaigns in the two countries and Europe

· Organization of meetings, information sessions, campaigns, including outreach, in order to ensure that girls and boys and their families are fully aware of the options of access to Formal Education and of the available NFE programmes as pathway to Formal education (according to the NFE framework released by MEHE in August 2017, for Lebanon)

Output 2: Readiness/Preparedness: Preschool and out of school children targeted by the project activities adequately prepared to access the formal education system (In Lebanon only)

· Early Childhood Education (ECE) activities for preschool children aged 3 to 5

· Basic Literacy and Numeracy (BLN -Basic) activities for out of school children aged 6 and above

· Foreign Language support for out of school children

Output 3. Access: Access to formal education system of children improved

· Rehabilitation of public schools

· Support to the Back to School Campaigns in coordination with MEHE/MOE, UNICEF and UNHCR and other NGOs

Output 4: Retention rates of school-aged children and adolescents improved

· Learning support program featuring remedial classes and homework support

· Foreign language courses

· Recreational activities and Child protection referrals

Output 5: The capacity of the local actors and project staff in delivering quality educational and PSS services in within quality NFE is strengthened

· Training aimed to education practitioners on child protection policies and instruments in collaboration with the Ministries of Education

· Training and technical support for project staff regarding the implementation of monitoring system and related tools

3.Purpose of the evaluation

The consultancy aims to deliver a mid-term and final evaluation of the BTF project. The purpose of the evaluation is to assess the extent to which the project objectives have been met and its broader theory of change has been realized, both in Lebanon and in Jordan. It will assess the project against the OECD-DAC criteria (relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability) and the project log-frame. The evaluation should also provide recommendations and draw lesson that can inform current and future programming.

4.Methodology

The consultant is expected to propose rigorous and appropriate methods for both mid-term and final evaluation, which will include, but not necessarily limited to: desk review of key documents, data collection (including interview and focus group discussions), analysis, reporting and a finding sharing workshop.

5.Deliverables

The consultant is expected to provide the following deliverables as a minimum requirement: inception report, mid-term evaluation report, mid-term workshop, final evaluation report.

6.Timeframe

The mid-term evaluation will be delivered during September 2018 and the results should be shared in a finding sharing workshop by the end of October 2018.

The final evaluation is expected to be delivered during June 2019 and the final report should be completed by end of July 2019. In case of extension of the project implementation period, the schedule of the final evaluation could be postponed.

7.Skills and qualification required

University degree in Social Science, Education, Development or any area relevant to this assignment

A minimum of 5 years of experience leading and managing complex evaluation assignment

A minimum of 7 years of experience working in development and/or emergency interventions

Demonstrated experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis

Demonstrated experience in conducting evaluation of education projects, possible in crisis situations

Experience in the Middle East and/or on the Syrian crisis

Experience with EU funded project

Excellent analytical and reporting skills required

Fluency in written and spoken English required, Arabic is a plus

Both individuals and teams are allowed to apply.

Interested candidates are invited to send to hr.tdhit.lebanon@gmail.com their CV(s) and cover letter as expression of interest no later than July, 14th, 2018.

Please specify in the subject of the e-mail EE-Madad.

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to send a full technical proposal and financial offer.