Consultancy: CCE Model Evaluation and Validation || Local Organisation

Consultancy

 ECCE Model Evaluation and Validation 

INTER ECCE II – Consolidating, securing and institutionalising holistic models of early childhood care and education (ECCE) in underserved rural communities in Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

• Introduction

Nhaka Foundation (Nhaka) and Wona Sanana (WS) seek the services of a consultant to conduct a developmental evaluation and ECC model validation study.

• Background

Nhaka Foundation, a non-governmental organization is a lead partner organization operating in Zimbabwe in Mutare SouthDistrict, and Seke District. Nhaka Foundation is partnering with Wona Sanana operating in Mozambique in the districts and communities of Michangulene, Mafavuka and Mundavene in the Namaacha District along the border with Swaziland in the province of Maputoto implement inter-country projects funded by Terres Des Hommes Germany and the Federal Ministry for Economic Development (2018-2022) to “contribute to quality, holistic and lifelong Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) for children between 0 and 8 years of age in underserved rural areas in Zimbabwe and Mozambique”.

• Project main focus

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to high quality and holistic and early childhood care and education for children aged 0-8 years in underserved rural areas in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The project outcome is a validated and further scalable Early Childhood Development in Rural Areas (ECCE) model in 9 local communities (4 in Zimbabwe and 5 in Mozambique) has been successfully replicated and institutionalised, ensuring age-appropriate physical, socio-emotional and cognitive development of 3,292 children aged 0-8 years.

The projects seek to address ECCE policy level challenges in the Education and Social sectors in particular: Limited budget resources for ECCE, no standard curriculum amid poor supervisory mechanisms to assure quality standards and low staff capacity to implement policies. Supply side challenges in the public and private ECCE facilities include: poor ECCE infrastructure which is not inclusive, incompetent, untrained and poorly motivated ECCE staff, poor capacity of ECCE facilities to feed children, and poor ECCE facility connection to other services.

2. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES
   • Purpose:

The present consultancy will have one main purpose:

• To conduct a developmental evaluation and validate[1] for replication and scale-up, an Early Childhood Development in Rural Areas (ECCE) model in 9 local communities (4 in Zimbabwe and 5 in Mozambique). The evaluation aims to determine the results achieved in the design and implementation of the ECCE model, and to identify the critical factors that enable the target population to realise their ECCE needs, foster vulnerability structures and strengthen adaptation mechanisms.

Objectives:

The objectives of the consultancy are:

1. To evaluate the implementation of the emerging ECCE model in line with the selected relevant OECD evaluation criteria highlighting the changes and results realised by the beneficiaries and stakeholders.
2. To document and validate the emerging ECCE model using a validation criteria based on a qualitative and quantitative survey to identify factors that contribute to a successful ECCE strategy. This will include:
3. conducting a contextual analysis through integrated literature review of ECCE models, frameworks and practices in Mozambique and Zimbabwe and Africa in general.
4. conducting a case study documentation of the approach used to develop, implement and evaluate this ECCE project, aimed at other NGOs.
5. To identify community capacities required to effectively support ECCE in resource-limited contexts.
6. To identify policy and investment priorities for government and its stakeholders to effectively implement ECCE activities in resource-limited communities.

3. SCOPE AND USERS OF THE EVALUATION

3.1 Scope:

Geographically, the evaluation and validation cover 9 local communities (4 in Zimbabwe and 5 in Mozambique) in which the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) model was implemented; it will cover the project implementation period from 1 August 2018 to 31 July 2025.

The measurement parameters for the evaluation will include the OECD criteria of: Relevance, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Coherence, Impact, and Sustainability.

The measurement parameters for the validation will include the criteria of validity, reliability, replicability and scalability and adaptation The model validation framework will draw on the intervention parameters or focus areas of the project, measured against those of the UNICEF/WHO Nurturing Care Framework as a model benchmark with the 5 components of (a) Good Health and Wellbeing; (b) Adequate Nutrition; (c) Safety and Security; (d) Early Learning Opportunities; (e) Responsive Caregiving.  The framework also has strategic actions:

1) Lead and invest

2) Focus on families and their communities

3) Strengthen services

4) Monitor progress

5) Use data and innovate

3.2 Users:

The main users of the present evaluation and validation study will be the project managers and implementers (tdh, Nhaka and WS) as well as BMZ; lastly, communities and children and all other actors involved in the project, who will benefit through exchange of learnings and active participation in identifying needs, priorities and defining solutions. The study is also an opportunity for building the awareness and capacity of the project’s main stakeholders including policy decision makers and government officials.

4.     EVALUATION AND VALIDATION STUDY QUESTIONS 4.1 Evaluation Questions 4.1.1 Main question:

The extent of project of the project relevance and fulfilment of objectives, development efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability.

Specific evaluation questions are as follows:

Context, Partner Organization, Target Group and Stakeholders

Context/Situational/Problem Analysis

• Has the status and nature of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) for children between 0-8 years of age changed in the proposed project site in Mozambique and Zimbabwe because of the implementation of the current project? With reference to the baseline data]
• What are the remaining and emerging context specific factors that hinder access to Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) for children between 0 and 8 years of age in the proposed project site in Mozambique and Zimbabwe?

Analysis of the local partners’ capacities

• What were the local partners’ institutional, technical, staffing, and financial capacity gaps in implementing the project and the potential extension?
• What measures are needed to build the local partners’ organizational and general capacities?

Assessment of the target group

• What are the target groups for the project and their needs? What criteria are or should be used in the selection of the target group?
• What is the target group’s potential especially regarding ownership/initiative, self-help activities and local problem-solving capacity? What is the gender/age/cultural/legal/political and other barriers? How can this potential be strengthened?

Stakeholders

• What are the interests of the stakeholders? Are there any visible conflicts of interest? What interdependencies are to be expected between the project and other interventions/projects supported by the stakeholders? How will this be considered in the project concept?

• Deliverables

The consultancy will support the delivery of 7 publications in English, in particular:

• One evaluation report including two case studies as annexes
• A project validation report
• 3 journal articles, and
• 1 policy brief that will be used to engage with policy makers and stimulate policy level conversations on holistic ECEC.
• Support Nhaka and WS to develop an advocacy strategy document

The project will form an interdisciplinary team in cooperation with the University of Pretoria’s relevant faculty and department, which will be tasked with providing scientific guidance on the conduct of the study.

1. Audience and Dissemination

The main audiences for the evaluation and feasibility study will be: tdh (project manager, quality management officer), BMZ (donor), Nhaka and WS (Implementing partners) and key stakeholders who have been directly involved in the initiative.

Consultant Requirements and Level of Effort

Applicants may be individual consultant, a group of individual consultants (with sufficient gender balance) with a designated team lead, or consulting companies with relevant evaluation and feasibility study expertise. Applicants must have at a minimum of the following qualifications:

• Substantial experience in conducting both evaluations and feasibility studies to a high standard in the region that utilize mixed methods and participatory and gender sensitive approaches,
• Proven experience in the evaluations and feasibility studies of projects and programmes in the field of Early Childhood Care and Education, nutrition, community development; additionally, consultants should be familiar with project model development and documentation, community, and children participation,
• Experience in international development cooperation with a focus on child development and organisational development,
• University degree or comparable degree in the field on Child Development, Early Childhood Development, Community Development and Nutrition or another related field,
• Fluency in English and Portuguese (written and spoken). Knowledge of local languages in project
• sites in Zimbabwe (Shona) and Mozambique (Shangaan) is an advantage,
• Residence in Mozambique and/or Zimbabwe,
• Willingness to travel to communities where the project operates; and
• No conflict of interest with tdh, BMZ or Nhaka and Wona Sanana.

The expected level of effort for the evaluation is approximately 90 calendar days. This is an estimate – the level of effort proposed must be aligned with the proposed methodology.

TO APPLY
Applications, in English language, including CVs and cover letter outlining qualifications for the assignment and a proposal for the consultancy, together with a list of 2 professional references should be sent to garikai@nhakafoundation.org and copy flavio.liberato@wonasanana.org.mz

Proposals must include the following:

Technical Proposal

• A narrative proposal (no more than 10 pages excluding annexes) and including the following sections:

1. Evaluation Methodology: Describe your overall approach and evaluation methodology including, and not limited to, evaluation questions, evaluation design and methodology.
2. Specific Expertise: Describe your level of knowledge and expertise conducting evaluations with similar scope and thematic areas.
3. Key Personnel and Staffing: Describe the key personnel and clear division of tasks. Include CVs (no more than 2 pages each and attached as annex) of key personnel who would be part of the proposed plan.
4. Timeline: Include a detailed timeline of key activities and number of days per activity.
5. Sample report: one sample evaluation reports (published reports or unpublished reports approved by the respective clients) focusing on the same sector/theme.

1. Financial proposal

The financial proposal should include detailed line-item budget, with unit and total costs, and including transport and accommodation, in USD. Taxes and insurances shall not be included as this will be of the entire responsibility.