Terms of Reference: Rapid Assessment (RA) of the Civil Society Empowerment for Accountable Education (CSE) Project

Terms of Reference: Rapid Assessment (RA) of the Civil Society Empowerment for Accountable Education (CSE) Project

Project: Civil Society Empowerment for Accountable Education (CSE) Project

Organization: Karkhana Samuha

Project Partner: Dalit Society Service Organization (DSSO)

Designation: Consultant for Rapid Assessment of CSE Project Report to: Program Manager

Location: Kathmandu, Nepal and working area of CSE Project in Madhesh & Karnali Province

Duration: Mid of June 2026

Pay Range: Based on concept notes and financial proposal

Application Deadline: May 11, 2026

A. Background

Karkhana Samuha in partnership with Dalit Society Service Organization (DSSO), is implementing the “Civil Society Empowerment for Accountable Education (CSE) Project”. The project promotes civil society engagement to boost transparency, accountability, and inclusivity within Nepal’s education sector. As part of our engagement with stakeholders at the policy level, we are working towards bringing a diverse group of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and development partners to form an integrated education mechanism system (Learning Collaboratives) to promote transparency and accountability in the National Education Policy and its implementation. We want to collectively strengthen our capacity to advocate for educational policy change and to monitor its implementation. This initiative of Karkhana Samuha, supported by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) through the Education Out Loud (EOL) program, seeks to empower CSOs with the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to advocate for inclusive and innovative education policies.

The project has combined collaborative learning mechanisms, evidence generation, social accountability practices, and policy engagement to strengthen civil society voice and accountability in the education sector. As the project moves into its final implementation phase, Karkhana Samuha seeks to commission a Rapid Assessment (RA) that provides both an evidence-based assessment of progress and a practical roadmap for stronger project closure in 2026.

The RA is expected to build on the project’s baseline established in 2024 and to respond to implementation realities that emerged over time, including adaptive changes to indicators and activities, differences across Madhesh and Karnali, evolving civic-space conditions, and the strategic need to consolidate evidence, learning, and sustainability.

B. Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to conduct a high-quality rapid assessment that:

• Assesses progress against the project’s intended results using the baseline, PMF, adaptive PMF, and Results Framework (As per the means of verification).
• Explains how implementation has evolved in practice, including deviations, additions, and strategic adaptations.
• Generates quantitative and qualitative evidence of change, including seven case stories.
• Assesses sustainability and provides a sequenced, actionable close-out plan for the remainder of 2026.

C. Required Qualifications

The assignment may be awarded to an individual consultant or a small review team. The selected applicant(s) should demonstrate the following:

• Advanced academic background in education, public policy, governance, social sciences, development studies, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience conducting evaluations, mid-term reviews, or strategic assessments for development programmes.
• Strong understanding of results-based management, indicator frameworks, and mixed-methods research.
• Experience in civil society strengthening, social accountability, education governance, or related sectors.
• Proven ability to design surveys, conduct qualitative inquiry, and synthesize findings into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent writing and analytical skills in English; Nepali language capability will be a strong asset.
• Familiarity with Nepal’s governance and education context, including subnational dynamics, will be highly desirable.

D. Application Instructions & Requirements

Qualified and interested candidates/firms are requested to fill in this Google Form along with uploading their recent CV by 11th May 2026, 5:00 PM. (Applications received after this date and time will not be accepted).

Interested applicants should submit the following:

• A brief technical proposal describing your understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, workplan, and team composition.
• A financial proposal with a clear budget and level of effort.
• Updated CV(s) of the lead consultant and any team members.
• At least one relevant example of similar evaluation or review work.

Click on the link below for detailed TOR:

Rapid Assessment_Terms_of_Reference