Study on campaign effectiveness of STEM II Project

Project/Consultancy Title:  Study on the Impact of different community campaigns around Girl’s Education carried out by Supporting the Education of Marginalised Girls

Project Location(s):  Kailali District

Background:

Mercy Corps specializes in development in transitional areas. Mercy Corps has been operating in Nepal since 2005, implementing programs in food security, agriculture, market development, financial services, youth engagement, climate change adaptation, education and disaster risk reduction. We take a systems-based approach in our programming, with the aim of improving the lives and potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across Nepal.

The STEM II program is 3 years, FCDO funded program focused on supporting the education of marginalized girls in Kailali District of Nepal, which is part of a UK AID global initiative called the Girls Education Challenge (GEC). The GEC is supporting a growing portfolio of almost 40 programmes with around 18 countries being delivered by different I/NGOs, of which Mercy Corps Nepal is one. 

By the end of the program STEM II is expected to reach around 8,000 girls which includes In-School girls between grade 8–10 and Out-Of-School (OOS) girls who dropped out from school from grades 6 to 10 since 2066 B.S. from 30 STEM schools. The programme will target Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City; Gauriganga, Ghodaghodi and Tikapur Municipalities; and Kailari and Bardagoriya Rural Municipalities. The programme works with 30 secondary/higher secondary schools in Kailali district.

The major program activities include community campaigning, training to parents, teachers, school management; after school study clubs, learning centers and infrastructure support in STEM-II schools, and improving the overall school, home and community environment. Additionally, the project also supports school drop out girls and graduates on vocational training, financial literacy and other business start-up support to OOS Girls. The programme is jointly implemented by Mercy Corps and a partner organization Backward Society Education (BASE). 

Objective of the assignment

The project, in its closing phase seeks to conduct an impact assessment on the various campaigns and advocacy done by the project around girl’s education with the communities (radio, HH door-to-door visits, enrollment campaigns, fundraising campaigns, street dramas, posters, pamphlets, etc) on different issues ranging from social awareness campaign on early marriage, menstruation to government related scholarship available for the students, HH budget management, psycho social wellbeing and corona preventive measure. As per the project data - the reach of the campaigns are as follows -

The project wants to understand the users/viewers of these above-mentioned campaigns, effective medium for different campaigns, recall value of these work, effectiveness and long term impact. A short report (5-6 pages) prepared by the consultant in close coordination with the project team will be disseminated to wider project stakeholders.

Consultant Deliverables

To prepare this report the following actions will have to be conducted.  

Research Design: 

• Present plans to capture qualitative data from different project stakeholders
• Develop qualitative tools 
• The consultants are expected to propose the most appropriate sampling design and size
• Collect quantitative data from the project and use it to triangulate the report findings

Field Visit:

• Consultant should visit the project area for data collection

Data Cleaning and Analysis

• The consultant should run data analysis and also triangulate the result with available project data

Presentation: 

• The consultant should present the analysis before starting the report writing process. The identified data/information gap can be provided by the project which can be incorporated into the report. 

Report: 

• The consultant should present the analysis before starting the report writing process. The identified data/information gap can be provided by the project which can be incorporated into the report. 
• The consultants will then submit the concise draft report of 6-8 pages along with the raw data to MC. MC will provide input/comments on the report if needed. The consultants will then submit the final report incorporating the feedback from MC within the agreed time period with infographics, pictures, design and proper formatting - in a format ready to share with a wider audience.

Property Rights All documents related to the assignment shall remain the sole and exclusive property of Mercy Corps Nepal.

Timeframe/Schedule:  

The research study is to be undertaken within 1 month after the contract is awarded. 

The below is the tentative work schedule:

Note: The dates for subtask are subject to change in consultation with the project, but the final report must be completed on the agreed date.

Required Experience & Skills:

• An organization or individual with at least 5 years of experience in conducting assessments, research and/or evaluation 
• Experience leading mixed-methods evaluations, preferably with stakeholders of youth programmes
• Experience of tools design specifically on campaigns 
• Strong facilitation skills, particularly with regards to working with vulnerable groups 
• Organization/Individual must have child safeguarding policy and plans in place to ensure the safety of children during data collection, analysis and dissemination process 
• Demonstrated understanding and support of principles of equity and inclusion 
• Fluent spoken Nepali language (Western Tharu language would be a plus)
• Excellent writing skills

Required Documents for Submitting the Proposal:

Qualified firms/ Individuals  can send their application to np-procurement@mercycorps.org with the Title “Study on campaign effectiveness of STEM II Project” along with the following documents by 24 November 2020

• Financial proposal
• Technical proposal
• Company Profile/ CV
• Relevant Past Experience list 
• Firm Registration & Renewal certificate 
• Copy of PAN/VAT Registration Certificate 
• Latest Tax clearance certificate