Request For Proposal (Consultant Services)

Job Description

Consultancy Service for Post-Project Endline Evaluation
Project: “Better Classrooms for Better Learning: Keeping Children Safe in School in Makwanpur, Nepal”

Background

Esther Benjamin Memorial Foundation (EBMF), in partnership with Child Rescue Nepal (CRN), implemented the project “Better Classrooms for Better Learning: Keeping Children Safe in School in Makwanpur, Nepal” from January 1, 2023 to January 1, 2025 in Bakaiya Rural Municipality, Makwanpur District.

• The project aimed to enhance the learning environment and strengthen child protection mechanisms in schools. Core objectives included:
• Increasing attendance and reducing dropout among 9,200 children
• Supporting 200 teachers across 40 schools with inclusive and child-friendly teaching approaches
• Mobilizing 3,600 parents to actively engage in education and safeguarding
• Establishing four model education centres
• Strengthening sustainability through capacity building of head teachers and School Management Committees (SMCs)

A baseline was conducted in early 2023, with an endline evaluation completed at project close. This post-project endline evaluation, six months after completion, aims to assess sustainability, behavioural change, and long-term outcomes.

Purpose of the Evaluation

The purpose of this evaluation is to assess the impact, relevance, sustainability, and continued effectiveness of project interventions in fostering safe, engaging, and resilient learning environments across Bakaiya Rural Municipality. The study will measure how well teachers, parents, and school governance bodies have maintained and institutionalized the practices introduced through the project.

Evaluation Objectives

The evaluation will aim to:

• Measure post-project outcomes and sustainability in alignment with the logframe, focusing on:
• Student attendance, dropout, retention, and learning outcomes
• Continued use of inclusive, safe, child-friendly, and low-cost learning materials
• Parental engagement, knowledge, and child protection practices
• Behavioural and institutional continuity after project completion
• Identify lessons learned, best practices, challenges, and recommendations for scale-up or replication.

Key Learning Questions

The evaluation will address:

• How have trained teachers influenced student motivation, participation, and retention?
• To what extent are child-friendly and inclusive teaching practices still in use?
• What behavioural changes exist among parents regarding home-based learning and child protection?
• What contextual factors support or hinder sustainability at school and community levels?

Scope of Work

• The evaluation will cover 15 schools in Bakaiya Rural Municipality and engage the following stakeholders:
• Students (sex and age disaggregated)
• Teachers and head teachers
• SMC members
• Parents (gender disaggregated)
• Local government representatives
• EBMF project staff

Methodology

A mixed-methods approach will be used.

Secondary Data Review

• Project proposal, logframe, baseline & endline reports, training materials, and relevant documentation.

Quantitative Methods

• Review and comparison of endline indicators with current school-level data.
• Surveys with teachers and head teachers.

Qualitative Methods

• Key Informant Interviews (KIIs)
• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs)
• Classroom observations
• Assessment of model education centre functionality
• Case studies capturing significant behavioural changes
• A detailed methodology including sampling, tools, and analysis framework must be provided in the Inception Report.

Deliverables

• Inception Report with methodology, sampling, tools, and work plan
• Draft Evaluation Report with preliminary analysis and recommendations
• Presentation & Validation Workshop with stakeholders
• Final Evaluation Report with annexes including raw and cleaned datasets

Reporting and Oversight

The consultant will report to the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, with guidance from the Programme Manager and District Programme Manager. EBMF will provide local coordination and field support. All data and outputs will remain EBMF property.

Tentative Timeline

• Activity    Duration
• Inception & tool development    1 week
• Field data collection                      2 weeks
• Data analysis & draft report        2 weeks
• Final report submission                1 week

Total consultancy duration: 6 weeks

Job Specification

• Minimum 3–5 years of evaluation experience in education, child protection, or anti-trafficking
• Proven expertise in mixed-methods research
• Experience evaluating donor-funded projects
• Strong understanding of Nepal’s education sector and rural contexts
• Excellent communication skills in English and Nepali
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and ethical research, especially with minors
• Consultancies with relevant experience in this field are encouraged to apply.

 Ethical Considerations

• The evaluation must adhere to:
• Informed consent
• Confidentiality and data protection
• Do-no-harm principles
• Safeguarding protocols for children and vulnerable groups

Submission Requirements

Interested applicants must submit:
a) Cover letter on official letterhead
b) Technical Proposal
c) Financial Proposal
d) PAN/VAT registration certificate
e) Company registration certificate (if applicable)
f) Evidence of at least two similar previous assignments

The contract will be awarded based on the best value for money (technical & financial scoring).