Call for Consultancy Service: Formulation of School Improvement Plan (SIP) in 11 Public Schools in Koshi Province (Re-advertised)

Call for Consultancy Service: 

Formulation of School Improvement Plan (SIP) in 11 Public Schools in Koshi Province

(Re-advertised)

1) About dZi Foundation

dZi Foundation is a US-based non-profit organization working with rural communities in Nepal to achieve prosperity by eliminating barriers to basic needs, fostering opportunities for sustainable livelihoods, and building their capacity to catalyze transformational change. dZi adopts a new five-year strategic objective (2024- 2029) guided by past learning, adaptation to the emerging policy and development contexts, and an improved focus on partnership, local ownership, and sustainability beyond external investment to realize the journey to shared prosperity.

2) Call for Consultancy:

dZi Foundation/ Nepal aims to improve the institutional capacity and performance of the targeted 11 (eleven) schools in the Kepilashgadhi and Aiselukharka rural municipalities of Khotang district in Koshi Province. The Call for Consultancy is to hire the expert service of individual/s or firm/organization with proven experience formulating the five-year School Improvement Plan (SIP).

3) Objective of the assignment:

This assignment aims to improve the institutional capacity and performance of the public schools by formulating a five-year School Improvement Plan (SIP) by adapting to the National SIP Formulation Guidelines 2024 of the Government of Nepal.

4) Scope of work:

The proposed assignment expects to undertake/perform the following actions, but not limited to:

• In coordination with the school management/ administration, review the current status of the school by adapting the School Self-Assessment (SSA) tool.
• Facilitation support to the formation and mobilization of the SIP Formulation Committees (SIP-FC) in the target schools.
• Provide expert advice and support to the assigned team to organize at least a two-day formulation workshop by ensuring wider participation of the relevant stakeholders. 
• Facilitate and provide expert support to the formation of the task force and drafting the plan. If required, provide support and guidance to the formation and delivery of the SIP Appraisal Committee.
• Provide technical support and guidance to the SIP-FC to discuss and get the endorsement of the School Management Committee (SMC) in order to finalize the SIP. 
• As required, provide coordination and technical support in having the local government’s buy-in in the SIP formulation process together with the school management/administration.

5) Deliverables

• Inception report including methodologies, timeline, stakeholder engagement, alignment with local government policy priorities, and equity considerations.
• Draft SIP including SSA finding, and meeting minutes. 
• Final approved version of the SIP from each target schools in addition to a brief process reflection and learning report (Project Completion Report).

6) Duration of the Consultancy

30 days from May 23- June 25, 2024.

7) Minimum Qualification of the Consultant/s

• Must have completed at least 3 (three) assignments of a similar nature in Nepal, preferably in Koshi Province. 
• In-depth knowledge of the federal, provincial, and local governments’ educational policies, programs, and priorities, preferably in Koshi Province.
• Good presentation skills, sound interpersonal communication, political sensitivity, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Good at assessing needs during the workshop, with sound analytical and problem-solving skills.

8) Evaluation Criteria for Selection

Preference would be given to those with a proven track record of completing the assignment within tight deadlines and ones who deliver without compromising the quality of the deliverables.

• Technical approach (45 points) – understanding of the approach and proposed methodologies to carry out the assignment in line with the described activities and deliverables. 
• Professional experience of the firm/individual (25 points) – educational and professional credentials of the firm/individual to be engaged in the assignment. Proven experience of the individual/organization in carrying out similar assignments in the past, client satisfaction, and physical and human resources to ensure smooth delivery of the assignment. Prior experience working in the remote areas in Koshi Province in general and the proposed district in particular will be preferred. 
• Costing  (30 points) – cost-effectiveness, relevancy, and alignment of the estimated cost with technical deliverables, as outlined in the Call, and in the proposal.

9) Submission of EOI 

Interested Nepalese individual or firms/organizations meeting the above qualifications can submit their EOI with (1) a cover page, (2) a brief technical and financial proposal, not more than 5 pages, (3) updated CVs of the consultant/s including PAN/VAT certificate, (4) evidence of similar assignment, at least three, and (5) company profile with latest tax clearance and certificate. Any question/s about the EOI must be submitted by May 20, 2024, to procurement.np@dzi.org.

Please submit your interest and required documents electronically to procurement.np@dzi.org by/before May 21, 2024, with  EOI for SIP Formulation in the subject line. Please ensure that the attachment should not be larger than 10 MB. Telephone inquiries shall not be entertained. Canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification. Only shortlisted applicants will be invited for further process. dZi will make one or more awards to carry out the whole or part of the assignment as deemed necessary.

dZi reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals without assigning any reason whatsoever.