Term of Reference (TOR) For ECD Management, Capacity Building on Basic Education, and Orienting Local Municipal Authority on GESI

Aasaman Nepal

Term of Reference (TOR)

For

ECD Management, Capacity Building on Basic Education, and Orienting Local Municipal Authority on GESI

Background and Context:

Aasaman Nepal (ASN) is a Terai-based leading (registered at Dhanusha district) and national NGO (affiliated with SWC). It was established in 1999 and has been working in different thematic areas like education, health, child protection, livelihood, nutrition, food security, good governance, and women empowerment in ten districts. Aasaman Nepal's vision is to envisage a society where all children are grown up in an enabling environment enjoying all of their rights so as to achieve their full potential. The organizational goal is to empower marginalized communities and key stakeholders towards creating inclusive, responsible, and accountable governance mechanisms to ensure the rights of all children as enshrined in the legal and policy frameworks are respected, protected, promoted, and fulfilled. 

Children have the right to receive quality education for their holistic development through the use of child-centred approaches right from the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Level. The crucial role of skilled ECD facilitators in guiding, teaching, and navigating ECD children towards a positive learning trajectory through the academic and social environments cannot be denied. Also, to contribute to center management/school capacity building on basic education and learning outcome of children, the municipal and ward level stakeholders have to be motivated and made aware so that children enjoy attending the teaching-learning activities conducted in the classes. 

Most importantly, the role of Local Government stakeholders (Municipal and Ward level) is very crucial in creating a favourable schooling environment as per the need of the context through education planning and governance. Also, the significance of incorporating the topic of ECD, ECD management, and basic education with GESI perspective in the annual planning of the Palika cannot be denied.  To support the creation of a just society where all individual regardless of their differences (gender, ethnicity, caste) have access to and control over resources with their equal participation in decision making; the local municipal authority has to be made aware of the significance of GESI. 

In this line, the consultancy will initiate consultation meetings, and dialogue with Municipal, Ward level government stakeholders and school stakeholders (Head Teachers, School Management Committee, Parent Teacher Association, Teachers). Therefore, the consultancy will support the overall planning and budgeting process of the Palika in concern with basic education focusing on ECD, ECD management, creation of a child-friendly learning environment with center management in schools; along with the enhanced knowledge of ECD facilitators on ECD curriculum; as per the early learning and development standards of the Government of Nepal; and on preparing ECD focused learning aids along with its effective use in the classroom at the ECD centers for quality learning and GESI. Further, the GESI orientation to the municipal authority (designated education member of Palika, education unit personnel, ward level elected chair/responsible education member) will support in creating a GESI friendly environment at the local level; and develop ‘Education Plan’ in 12 Wards of four municipalities of Dhanusha district; thereby supporting the Local Government stakeholders in the overall education planning & governance prioritizing inclusion (GESI). 

Target Location:

Province-2, Dhanusha (Ganeshman Charnaath Municipality, Laxminiya Rural Municipality, Sabaila Municipality, & Nagrain Municipality)

Objectives:

• Update the Education Plan of  the four Palikas (as mentioned above)
• Formulation of Ward Level Education Plan (in 12 wards of the 4 Palikas)
• Orient the Municipal Stakeholders on GESI

Scope of Work:

The scope of work for the consultant is to develop an education plan of 12 Wards (in four Palikas); update the Education Plan of the four Palikas; and orient the Municipal stakeholders on GESI; analyze existing problems and barriers concerning basic education, ECD, and education policies and services being provided from GESI perspective; identify the major hurdles in ensuring education planning and governance for inclusion which will help to advocate with local government and concerned stakeholders.  

Key roles and responsibilities of consultant:

• Conduct field visits to the concerned Palikas along with the assessment of the status of ECD in these Palikas. 
• Help assesses the understanding of the Municipal, Ward level stakeholders and school stakeholders on ECD, ECD management referring to the government’s guideline on ECD. 
• Analyze the gaps in ‘Education Planning & Governance’ at the local level through consultation and dialogue with concerned stakeholders (Local Government stakeholders and school stakeholders). 
• Conduct consultation meetings and dialogue with LG stakeholders, & School Stakeholders
• Support in education planning and governance as per the seven-step planning process of the government (Education Planning & Governance); and also help the stakeholders realize the significance of annual budget planning with GESI perspective at Palika level
• Conduct one and half days meeting with the staff of Aasaman Nepal team to get their reflection/perspectives/experiences on the ground level education scenario, along with school teachers. 
• Prepare and present the consultancy report to Aasaman Nepal within ten days after the completion of the consultancy.

Methodology:

The consultant will apply the relevant methodology to be performed by the consultant based on the explanations given in the scope of work. The consultant may use other methodologies and tools not limited to the following:

• Desk review of existing education/GESI plans, policies at the local level
• Consultation meetings, group discussion, and stakeholder dialogues
• Interactive workshop, Ppt. Presentations

Outputs/Deliverable: 

The following deliverables are expected from the consultant in due process of the assignment:

• Detail methodologies, work plan including process, and action plan
• Meetings with concerned municipal, ward stakeholders, along with the school stakeholders
• Updated version of the ‘Education Plan’ of four Palikas
• First draft of the Ward level ‘Education Plan’
• Consultation and Feedback 
• Final version of the ‘Education Plan’
• Consultancy report reflecting on ECD and basic education

Estimated Working Days: 

90 days from the date the agreement is signed. The consultancy timeline is expected to be of 3 months starting from December 2021 -  February 2022 (90 days). At least 90 days of engagement of team members is sought. 

Requirements: Qualifications and Experience:

The consultant (s) must have experience in relevant area ECD and GESI related work including the ability to communicate with the locales and Palika officials, and the ability to plan and manage the team. The consultant must have strong knowledge and understanding of the development sector. They should have analytical skills with regards to geographical location and culture and should have prior experience of team management and experience of working in the related sociocultural background.

• Minimum Master Degree in Education, Public Policy, Social Science, or equivalent.
• At least 5 years professional experience in related fields preferred worked with Government of Nepal.
• Having proven experience of working with Government officials. 
• Familiar with the ECD curriculum of the Government of Nepal, educational planning process, seven-step planning process of the government, and GESI
• Excellent in handling basic computer programs such as MS Word, Excel, Power-point
• Strong report writing skills in both English and Nepali.

Intellectual Property:

All information related to this workshop will remain the property of Aasaman Nepal. Except for purposes of this assignment, the information will not be disclosed to the public nor used in whatever without written permission from Aasaman Nepal. 

Ethical and Child Protection and Gender-Related Statements:

Aasaman Nepal’s Child Protection Policy framework to protect children and gender policy promotes the rights of men & women for equality who come into contact with Aasaman Nepal employees, volunteers, vendor, and individuals, including consultants, who are working on behalf of Aasaman Nepal. The consultant (s) must adhere to Aasaman Nepal's policies, internal procedures, protocols, and code of conduct with special attention to Child Protection, Safeguarding, Protection, and Do No Harm Policies. The consultant should include statements in the proposal on how he or she will ensure gender and child protection during the assignment. 

Application Procedure: 

Interested private firms and individuals, who meet the above requirements, should apply by submitting their Expression of Interest along with the Technical Proposal (not more than 5 pages excluding cover page and annexes) outlining methodology, work plan, similar work experiences, brief technical description, the capacity of team proposed and estimated budget to accomplish the aforementioned tasks with subject line “ECD Centre Management/Capacity Building on Basic Education and GESI orientation to the Municipal Authority” to the following email address. A hard copy can be submitted to the Aasaman Nepal address below.

The closing date for applications is one week starting from the date of vacancy publication. Application must be submitted within 26 November 2021  via email at asnvacancy@gmail.com. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for an interview. The short-listed applicant will be required to discuss their proposed methodology. Any decision for disqualification rests solely with ASN.

Aasaman Nepal, Mahalaxmisthan, Lalitpur

Website: www.aasamannepal.org.np

Email: asnvacancy@gmail.com

Annex 1

Technical proposal template

1. Cover page: Title, submitted to and submitted by and date
2. Table of contents
3. Introduction: Background, Objectives, Scope of work, Firms relevancy for this task in terms of the experience of consulting firm/individual (Max. 3 page)
4. Methodology
5. Team building (Brief of team composition)
6. An action plan
7. Output of assigned work (Max. 0.5 pages)

Annex 2

CV template (Max. 5 pages)

1. Personal Information
2. Education (Degree, Institution including address, passed year)
3. Training Relevant only (Duration, Name, Institution, date)
4. Experience (Most recent first): Duration, Position, organization, date (from DD.MM.YYYY to DD.MM.YYYY), the key responsibility
5. Publication and Research (Relevant only)
6. Skills
7. Languages
8. Reference
9. Certification