Job: Oxfam IBIS is looking for a Consultancy – Evaluation of Oxfam Support to Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP) South Sudan 2015 – 2018

Context
South Sudan has been marred by conflict and failed development for many generations. Violent practices within and between communities, clans, and tribes across pastoralist areas, which comprise 7 of the 10 states in the country, are barriers to sustainable development, humanitarian access, and positive peaceful coexistence.

As the conflict in South Sudan enters its fifth year in 2018, the humanitarian crisis has continued to intensify and expand due to the compounding effects of widespread violence and the deteriorating economic situation. Ongoing fighting and surges of violence in new areas have forced people to flee their homes, many of them multiple times. The number of people uprooted since the start of the conflict in 2013 has reached more than 4 million, including 1.9 million internally displaced people (IDPs), with up to 85 per cent estimated to be children and women. More than 2 million people have departed to neighbouring countries— up 1.3 million since the violence in July 2016.
 
ALP is considered a particular strategy to provide an alternative way for adolescent girls (and boys) in South Sudan for not missing out on their education. Oxfam intended to contribute to targeting the interrelated challenges of access to relevant quality education, strengthened capacity of education actors and good educational governance in South Sudan.

Background
Oxfam IBIS has worked in South Sudan since 2007 promoting and supporting partners in education and implementing education projects. In 2016 IBIS joined the Oxfam Confederation. The country level transition into One Oxfam in South Sudan was fully completed by end of 2017 and all education activities are currently an integral part of the Oxfam country programme in South Sudan.

Oxfam and Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP)
In late 2007 IBIS commenced implementation of an ALP for adolescent students in South Sudan in former Central Equatoria State (CES). The programme was finalized in 2013. In 2015 ALP was started in former Unity State. This programme continued under Oxfam and was expanded from solely focusing on Ganyliel county to also include Nyal county. The programme will be finalised in former Unity State in 2018.The 4 year program has been funded through 6-12 months projects subjected to annual negotiations and approval from UNICEF South Sudan and co-funded by Oxfam IBIS/Danida.

The objective of the program is:
To support accelerated learning and empowering initiatives for over-aged, out-of-school children, adolescent and young people, with special focus on girls.
The programme focuses on the teaching, learning and empowerment of the targeted adolescent and youth (with focus on inclusion of girls/young women) as well as on improving the capacity of the communities and local educational authorities to administer and manage education programmes. It has taken place in a highly complex and volatile environment.
The program builds on the learning of a previous phase (2007-13) including an external evaluation (2013).

Objective of the assignment:
The objective is to evaluate the Oxfam ALP programme in Ganyliel. The evaluation should both document the results of the program, the learnings and provide recommendations for accelerated learning programing and learning opportunities for youth in South Sudan

2. Key issues to be addressed in the Review
2.1 Relevance and Strategic approach

• Assess the relevance of the project in light of the needs, priorities and rights of the target group and the educational policy framework in the country
• Assess the adequacy of the project methods and strategy according to the 10 principles and action points for Accelerated Education Program:
  • The programme is flexible and for over-age learners
  • Curriculum, materials and pedagogy are genuinely accelerated, ALP-suitable and use relevant language of instruction
  • ALP learning environment is inclusive, safe and learning-ready
  • Teachers are recruited, supervised and remunerated
  • Teachers participate in continuous professional development
  • Goals, monitoring and funding align
  • ALP centers are effectively managed
  • Communities are engaged and accountable
  • ALP is a legitimate, credible education option that results in learners certification in primary education
  • ALP is aligned with the national education system and relevant humanitarian architecture

 2.2 Outcome and Impact

• Assess the extent to which the project has reached the specific objectives
  • Increased literacy levels of targeted students
  • Number of students completing fully, partly and/or integrated into formal education
  • Students with improved coping mechanisms
  • Students report ALP centers as secure and safe learning environments
  • Strengthened local structures in particular Parents Teachers Associations (PTAs) for education/ALP interventions
  • Effective coordination and collaboration with education actors
• Assess any unexpected negative and positive outcomes of the programme  

The assessment should include gender segregated data and gender analysis of the findings including a specific focus on girls. 
 
2.3 Cost Efficiency

• Assess the intervention in terms of cost efficiency 

2.4 Sustainability

• Assess the sustainability of the project outcome.

2.5 Partnership and Participation

• Assess the contribution of the programme to the involvement and organisational development/capacity building of local community based and/or civil society partners, and government partners.

 2.6 Oxfam Accountability and Monitoring

• Assess the strengths and weaknesses of IBIS’ and later Oxfam’s programme management.
• Assess integration of and adherence to accountability (CAMSA/CHS) and safeguarding mechanisms.

 
2.7 Recommendations

• Based on the findings provide recommendations to future accelerated learning programs in South Sudan
• Based on the findings provide recommendations to increasing youth learning opportunities linked to Oxfam South Sudan country program. 

 3. Key Outputs and Obligations

The Evaluation team is expected to undertake the following tasks and deliver according to the timeline specified in paragraph 5:

1. Desk study of the relevant documents (documents will be identified and handed over in soft copy by Oxfam IBIS) and skype interviews with relevant Oxfam IBIS staff and others
2. Data collection in Ganyliel including
   1. A small quantitative survey
   2. FGD including discussions with students (also at least two groups with girls only), teachers (including at least one discussion with only female teachers), parents, community leaders, authorities, Oxfam staff
3. Debriefing session in Juba, where the preliminary analysis and recommendations is presented and discussed
4. Produce a draft report to be shared with Oxfam in South Sudan and Oxfam IBIS and incorporate relevant feedback into the final evaluation
5. Final evaluation report of max 30 pages (excluding summary and annexes).

 
4. Timeframe

The evaluation should take place no later than November 2018.
 
Desk study and preparation of data collection                                                       5 days
Field visit (including 2 days in Juba     and debriefing)                                       14 days
Analysis and report                                                                                               7 days
 
Oxfam will facilitate logistics and support the consultant in the field. Accommodation will also be arranged by Oxfam.
 
5. Qualification Requirements 

Education:

• Advanced university degree in one or more of following areas: International Development, Education, Social Science or other relevant discipline 

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years field experience in emergencies and humanitarian responses.
• Work experience from South Sudan/Horn of Africa
• Demonstration of previous involvement in evaluations in protracted crisis 

Technical Competencies:

• Excellent knowledge and skills in humanitarian programing and standards included Core Humanitarian Standards

• Knowledge of education in emergency programming and youth 
• Comprehensive knowledge about participatory data collection methodology and digital data collection
• Knowledge and understanding of community involvement in programming and planning

 6. Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

• CV
• Brief proposal on how to accomplish the consultancy including budget in USD/EUR  and availability
• At least one example of previous relevant work.

 
For further queries contact: Katja Levin, [email protected]
 
Application
Please submit your application via the ‘send application’ button and include your motivation letter and CV.
Application deadline: September 20th 2018. Interviews will be held shortly after the deadline.
 
Please note that only applications received using the link provided will be taken into consideration.
 
Oxfam IBIS is committed to equal employment opportunities and we therefore encourage everybody – irrespective of age, gender and of religious, sexual, national or ethnic affiliation – to apply for this position.