Terms of Reference for Impact Study of the Transformative Education Program (TEP)

Terms of Reference

Impact Study of the Transformative Education Program (TEP)

1. Background

For over two decades, RMHSF-N and other local partners, with technical and financial support from LWF Nepal, have been implementing the Transformative Education Program (TEP), a people-centered and life-oriented educational initiative rooted in the Reflect approach. Unlike conventional literacy programs, TEP emphasizes dialogue, critical thinking, and collective action, positioning education as a catalyst for empowerment and social transformation.

Grounded in LWF Nepal’s rights-based approach, TEP aims to empower marginalized and vulnerable communities to recognize their rights, challenge systemic inequalities, and take collective action for sustainable and inclusive community development.

Through participatory learning circles facilitated by trained community mobilizers, the program has fostered community ownership, strengthened local governance, advanced gender and social inclusion, and inspired civic engagement. Over the years, participants have formed self-help groups and cooperatives, gained confidence, advocated for rights, and demonstrated resilience against social and economic challenges.

Given the longevity and evolution of TEP, LWF Nepal and RMHSF-N seek to conduct an impact study to assess the program’s long-term outcomes, document good practices, and generate learning for future programming and policy engagement.

2. Purpose of the Impact Study

The primary purpose of this study is to assess the impact, effectiveness, and sustainability of the Transformative Education Program in empowering marginalized communities and fostering inclusive, resilient development.

The study will:

• Measure how and to what extent TEP has contributed to social, economic, and personal transformation among participants and their communities.
• Identify key success factors, challenges, and lessons learned over the program’s 20-year implementation.
• Provide evidence-based recommendations to strengthen and scale up transformative education initiatives within LWF Nepal’s future programming.

3. Specific Objectives

1. Assess Impact on Individuals and Communities

• Evaluate how TEP has influenced participants’ confidence, rights awareness, leadership, livelihoods, and civic engagement.
• Examine how learning circles have contributed to collective action, social cohesion, and gender and disability inclusion.

2. Analyze Program Processes and Approaches

• Review the relevance and effectiveness of the Reflect methodology in addressing local realities.
• Assess the role and capacity of facilitators, local ownership, and community-led learning mechanisms.

3. Examine Systemic and Policy-Level Influence

• Explore how TEP experiences have informed local governance, policy advocacy, and inter-agency collaboration.

4. Identify Sustainability and Scalability Factors

• Analyze the factors contributing to or hindering the sustainability of TEP impacts.
• Document best practices, innovations, and adaptive learning strategies that can guide replication or expansion.

4. Key Evaluation Questions

Relevance and Coherence

• How relevant has TEP been to the needs and aspirations of marginalized communities?
• How effectively does TEP integrate with LWF Nepal’s rights-based and community empowerment frameworks?

Effectiveness

• To what extent has TEP improved literacy, critical awareness, and community organization?
• How has the program empowered women, youth, and persons with disabilities to claim their rights and challenge harmful norms?

Impact

• What are the long-term outcomes of TEP at individual, household, and community levels (e.g., confidence, self-reliance, social inclusion)?
• How has TEP contributed to local governance, policy engagement, and collective action?

Sustainability

• What mechanisms ensure the continuity of learning circles and community initiatives beyond project cycles?
• How resilient are TEP outcomes to socio-economic and environmental changes?

Lessons and Good Practices

• What innovations and adaptive strategies have emerged from the TEP experience?
• What lessons can inform future transformative education and empowerment programming?

5. Scope of Work

The study will cover:

• Selected communities and districts where TEP has been implemented over different phases.
• Both long-term participants and new learning circles to capture evolution and comparative insights.
• Stakeholders including learners, facilitators, community leaders, cooperatives, local governments, and program staff.

The study will analyze qualitative and quantitative dimensions of impact, with a focus on gender, social inclusion, and disability equity.

6. Methodology

The study will employ a mixed-method approach grounded in participatory and rights-based evaluation principles.

Proposed methods include:

• Document Review: Analysis of project reports, monitoring data, previous evaluations, and training materials.
• Key Informant Interviews (KIIs): With LWF Nepal, RMHSF-N staff, local authorities, and community leaders.
• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs): With TEP participants (disaggregated by gender, age, and disability).
• Most Significant Change (MSC) Stories: To capture personal and collective transformation narratives.
• Case Studies: Documenting exemplary learning circles or community initiatives.
• Survey/Questionnaire: If appropriate, to quantify reach, participation, and impact indicators.
• Participatory Validation Workshops: To discuss findings and co-develop recommendations with stakeholders.

7. Deliverables

1. Inception Report (with methodology, tools, sampling, and timeline)

2. Draft Impact Study Report

3. Validation Workshop and Feedback Session

4. Final Impact Study Report, including:

• Executive Summary
• Methodology and Limitations
• Key Findings and Analysis
• Case Studies and Good Practices
• Conclusions and Recommendations
• Annexes (tools, data tables, list of respondents, etc.)

8. Duration and Timeline

The study is expected to be completed within 1 month, tentatively from 17 November 2025 to 17 December 2025, with key milestones as follows:

Activity                                  Timeline

Inception phase                   21 November

Data collection                     5 December

Analysis and draft report   12 December

Validation workshop           15 December

Final report submission     17 December

9. Required Qualifications of the Consultant/Team

• Advanced degree in Education, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or related field.
• Minimum 7–10 years of experience in impact evaluation, particularly in non-formal or transformative education.
• Proven experience with participatory and rights-based research approaches.
• Strong understanding of gender equality, social inclusion, and community empowerment frameworks.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills.
• Familiarity with Nepal’s socio-cultural and educational context preferred.

10. Management and Coordination

The study will be managed by RMHSF-N with technical oversight from LWF Nepal.

• RMHSF in collaboration with other IPs will facilitate field access, coordinate logistics, and ensure community participation.
• LWF Nepal will provide methodological guidance, review deliverables, and approve the final report.

Regular coordination meetings will be held throughout the assignment to ensure alignment with objectives and quality standards.

11. Budget and Payment Schedule

The consultant/team will submit a detailed financial proposal outlining professional fees, travel, logistics, and other costs.

Payment will be made in tranches linked to deliverables:

1. 30% upon submission and approval of the inception report.
2. 40% upon submission of the draft report.
3. 30% upon submission and acceptance of the final report.

12. Ethical Considerations

The study must adhere to ethical research standards, including:

• Informed consent and confidentiality of participants.
• Sensitivity to gender, caste, and disability issues.
• Non-discrimination and respect for local customs and values.
• Do No Harm principles throughout data collection and reporting.
• Adhering LWF Nepal’s safeguarding, code of conduct and PSEAH policy.

The proposals must be submitted to RMHSF-N at haliyamukti@gmail.com /freedhaliya@gmail.com by 12 November 2025 (26 Kartik 2082 BS) before 1700 hrs.