INVITATION TO BID FOR CONSULTANCY FOR SERVICE FOR ASSESSMENT ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN

Consultant
Hargeisa
01/30/2025
Full Time
Urgent
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Job Description

INVITATION TO BID FOR CONSULTANCY

Save the Children International (SCI) Somalia program hereby invites interested consultants to bid for the consultancy assignment detailed below

Title of Consultancy

CONSULTANCY SERVICE FOR ASSESSMENT ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN

SCI Contracting Office

Save the Children

Hargeisa Office

Period of Consultancy

30 calendar days starting from contracting date.

Consultant type required

Individual or Firm

Responsibility for Logistics arrangements and Costs

The consultant will be responsible for organizing logistical issues with no facilitation from SCI as per the consultancy agreement.

Taxation Provisions

Consultant shall be responsible for all Taxes arising from the consultancy in line with the Somaliland Tax regulations applicable at the SCI Hargeisa Office

Travel requirements

Consultant will manage any travel costs

Security requirements

If the consultant is foreigner, he/she will comply with standard Save the Children Security procedures, including the completion of SCI online security training prior to travel to Somaliland

Background

The Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) in Somaliland has developed a comprehensive Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) 2022-2026, guided by findings from the Education Sector Analysis (ESA) 2021. The ESSP identifies key policy priorities, programs, and strategies necessary to address the challenges hindering education growth and development in the Somaliland context. Aligned with the Global Partnership for Education’s (GPE) Operating Model 2025, MoES has collaborated with Education Sector Coordination (ESC) members to develop a GPE Partnership Compact. This Compact focuses on transformative levers to enhance access, gender equality, and quality learning outcomes while aligning partner activities with Somaliland’s education system transformation agenda.

The proposed initiative builds on these efforts to address critical barriers to access and quality in pre-primary and primary education in Somaliland. Rooted in the findings of the ESA 2021 and aligned with the ESSP 2022-2026, the program is designed to improve equitable access to quality foundational education, enhance learning outcomes, and strengthen the education system. Guided by the GPE Partnership Compact, the initiative reflects a collaborative commitment to transforming the education system, particularly by tackling challenges such as low enrolment, inequities in gender and geography, and limited resources for teacher training and school infrastructure. It further integrates national priorities with global goals such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4) on inclusive and equitable education.

Despite significant efforts, challenges persist, including inadequate school infrastructure, low teacher capacity, socio-economic barriers affecting girls’ education, and insufficient resources for marginalized groups, including pastoralist and nomadic children. With the support of the GPE System Transformation Grant, Girls’ Education Accelerator, and System Capacity Grant, the program seeks to address these barriers through targeted interventions, such as constructing new schools, providing teacher training, fostering gender equity, and implementing results-based management systems. This multi-pronged approach aims to create a sustainable and inclusive educational environment that empowers all children in Somaliland.

Introduction

Despite efforts to improve education in Somaliland, challenges persist, particularly the exclusion of Most Vulnerable Children due to factors like poverty, disabilities, displacement, and systemic inequalities. The Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) aims to enroll and retain 44,250 out-of-school children (50% girls) from disadvantaged groups, including pastoralists, IDPs, refugees, and children with disabilities. This assessment will identify and prioritize MVCs, focusing on those from marginalized backgrounds, and provide data to inform interventions such as scholarships, grants, and community mobilization to remove barriers to education. The goal is to ensure all vulnerable children have access to education, contributing to equity, quality, and inclusion in the system. The initiative supports the objectives of the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and MoES’s broader education transformation agenda.

Purpose

The primary purpose of this assessment is to:

1.            Identify Most Vulnerable Children, particularly those excluded from education due to socioeconomic, physical, or systemic barriers.

2.            Provide actionable data to inform MoES and its consortium partners on effective interventions for improving access, retention, and equity in education.

3.            Support the design and implementation of targeted programs such as scholarships, disability-inclusive practices, and education campaigns.

 

Overall Objective

The overall objective of the assessment is to identify and prioritize the MVCs in Somaliland, ensuring their inclusion in the education system. It aims to facilitate their enrollment and retention by addressing barriers such as poverty, disabilities, and displacement through targeted interventions like scholarships, grants, and community mobilization.

 

Specific Objectives

The assessment will pursue the following specific objectives:

–          Identify and prioritize the MVCs in Somaliland, including those from marginalized groups such as children with disabilities, IDPs, refugees, and orphans.

–          Assess the barriers preventing MVCs from accessing and staying in school.

–          Provide data and recommendations for targeted interventions to support the enrollment and retention of MVCs, including scholarships, grants, and community mobilization efforts.

–          Inform policy and programmatic decisions to improve access to education for vulnerable children in Somaliland.

–          Develop a comprehensive understanding of the vulnerabilities and barriers faced by out-of-school children across Somaliland.

–          Identify and prioritize children in need of immediate educational support, including those with disabilities, orphans, and children from marginalized communities.

–          Assess community perceptions and systemic factors contributing to low enrollment and retention.

–          Recommend strategies to enhance access, retention, and inclusivity in education, focusing on scholarships, community awareness, and systemic changes.

 

Outcome

The expected outcomes of the assessment are:

–          Identification of MVCs: The consultant should define and categorize MVCs in the schools based on established criteria, ensuring the inclusion of marginalized groups and producing a very comprehensive list of MVCs across Somaliland.

–          Barrier Analysis: A detailed understanding of the barriers preventing MVCs from accessing and remaining in school, including socio-economic, cultural, and systemic factors.

–          Data-Driven Recommendations: Actionable recommendations for targeted interventions, such as scholarships, grants, and community mobilization efforts, aimed at improving the enrollment and retention of MVCs in schools.

–          Informed Policy Decisions: Data and insights to inform MoES, stakeholders, and the GPE consortium partners in developing policies, strategies, and programs to improve educational access and inclusivity for vulnerable children.

–          Improved Educational Support: A clear understanding of immediate educational needs and support mechanisms for MVCs, particularly those in need of urgent assistance, such as children with disabilities and orphans.

–          Recommendations for Systemic Changes: Practical strategies to address systemic barriers in the education sector, leading to more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable educational opportunities for all children, especially MVCs.

 

Scope of Work

The assessment will include the following activities:

1.    Data Collection:

·         Conduct surveys, interviews, and focus groups with families, school staff, and community leaders.

·         Gather data on children with disabilities, IDPs, orphans, refugees, and other marginalized groups.

·         Review school records and government/NGO reports.

2.    Community Engagement:

·         Mobilize communities to participate in discussions about barriers to education and potential solutions.

·         Collaborate with CECs, REOs, DEOs, and head teachers.

3.    Analysis and Reporting:

·         Analyze data to identify patterns of exclusion and vulnerability.

·         Develop a detailed report with findings and actionable recommendations.

Methodology:

The assessment will adopt a participatory and inclusive approach:

1.    Mixed-methods data collection (quantitative and qualitative) (Questionnaire and FGDs )

2.    Collaboration with stakeholders, including government entities, community leaders, CECs, Parents, and NGOs.

3.    Use of culturally sensitive tools to ensure inclusivity and accuracy.

 

Stakeholders

–          Ministry of Education and Science (MoES)

–          Regional and District Education Officers (REOs/DEOs)

–          Community Education Committees (CECs)

–          Schools, teachers, parents, and community leaders.

 

Criteria on MVCs

The consultant should come up with the most vulnerable children’s group “Who is Most Vulnerable Children”

Skills and qualifications

Qualification and Experience

The applicant must have the following profiles:

•          Minimum Should have proven record/prior work of final evaluation with similar education programs in similar contexts

•          The applicant must have at least 5 years working experience in conducting assessments, evaluations, and monitoring projects in a fragile environment.

•          The applicant must have a deep understanding, knowledge and Strong experience in monitoring and evaluating education programs and providing data-driven recommendations for program improvement

•          Familiarity with local cultural practices and the challenges faced by marginalized communities in Somaliland.

•          The applicant must have at least 5 years of experience in education, child protection, or development projects, with a focus on vulnerable populations

•          Experience in identifying vulnerable children, including those with disabilities, orphans, children from pastoralist communities, refugees, IDPs, or marginalized groups

•          The applicant must have basic knowledge and experience in assessing the quality of the school infrastructure and the learning environment

•          Proven track record of designing and implementing education programs targeting vulnerable children, including scholarship programs, grant provision, and community mobilization

•          Experience in working with government bodies, local authorities, and community organizations (e.g., CECs, REOs, DEOs, schools)

•          Proven ability to collaborate with multiple stakeholders in education sectors to drive program goals

•          The consultant company must have legal valid registration proving its existence and presence.

Attachments

Consultancy Service for Assessment on the Identification of Most Vulnerable Children

.doc

How to apply

Application Procedure

Interested consultants should submit their applications via email to [somaliland.procurement@savethechildren.org ].

The applications should be submitted in PDF format as one document comprising Technical and Financial sections as detailed below.

a)    Technical proposal – including but not limited to :

·         Consultants understanding of the assignment and context

·         Approach to the assignment

·         Methodology

·         Tools

·         Deliverables

·         Workplan

·         Key staff biodata (Resume)

 

b)    Financial proposal – providing a breakdown of all charges related to the assignment.

c)    CV(s) of consultant(s) with minimum of 2 treceable and recent refrences and Company’s Profile & Lead consultant(s) CV(s) (for firms Only).

d)    Copies of similar service contracts/POs (fully signed & stamped) from international NGOs, Government and UN.

Applicants should also indicate the date they are available to start working on the consultancy

All applications MUST be submitted on or before the closing date below to be considered for the assignment.

Only shortlisted Candidates will be contacted.

Closing date for Applications

Interested candidates shall submit their applications through somaliland.procurement@savethechildren.org  no latter than  12nd February , 2025.

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Complete ToR with details appended below attached herewith as    Annex 1.

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