Call for Proposal: External Evaluation of the Impact of Early Childhood Education Program on Two Kindergartens

About the Early Childhood Education Program

Since 2016 and in collaboration with Unicef, Taawon has been implementing Early Childhood Education Program (ECE) adopting a comprehensive model for intervention.  The objective of the program is two-fold: 1) Contribute to improved quality of early childhood education and services across all Palestinian refugee camps; and 2) increase access to early childhood education among the Palestinian children.  To achieve those objectives, the model tackles seven key axis that govern the education management of early childhood education; those are: the physical space, leadership and management, personnel, evaluation, education program and methodology, health and nutrition and finally networking and relations.  

Sor far, Taawon has worked with 48 Kindergartens managed by several grassroot organizations.  This academic year, new KGs joined the program and will benefit from the different developmental aspects the program will provide towards improved education quality and services.  The interventions include:

1. Enhance capacity of KG teachers and supervisors through professional training covering education methodologies and ECE concepts followed by practical on-site coaching
2. Renovate and rehabilitate KGs to become safe and pleasant space that is conducive to learning
3. Provide the needed furniture, equipment and educational resources that assist the educational process
4. Develop education plans that follow ECE principles and children’s needs
5. Review policies, procedures and work operations and support the development of adequate tools for good governance and sound management
6. Establish inclusive KGs that are equipped and adapted to accommodate for children with special needs
7. Promote networking activities among KGs and between KGs and parents
8. Ensure uninterrupted delivery of education services by supporting the running cost of the KGs
9. Provide relief services as needed to KG children (distribution of stationery, installation of solar energy, etc.)

Within this framework, Taawon aims at assessing the impact of the ECE program on two KGs that have recently joined the program only this year.  The two KGs are located 1) in Ain el Helweh camp and 2) Rashidieh camp. The evaluation will look at the different aspects of interventions through a pre-post assessment model.  The assessment should involve a baseline data collection prior to any intervention by Taawon and/or partners to be followed during and after one academic year by an extensive re-assessment to measure and describe the change and/or impact the program was able to achieve.

Scope of Work

The consultant will lead the evaluation exercise in close coordination with relevant Taawon team, his/her tasks will include:

• Plan the evaluation’s design, methodology and work plan (including timeframe)
• Specify a set of clear measurable indicators that adequately and appropriately depict the situation before and after under each of the five areas of interventions:
  1. 1. The educational program and practice (including teaching program and education plans, practice and delivery of program in class, assessment and planning capacities, etc.)
     2. The physical environment (use of space, safety, available resources, arrangement and cleanliness, specialized rooms, etc.)
     3. Staffing and capacity (capacity of educators, level of knowledge, use of knowledge and resources, interaction with children, working methodologies, etc.)
     4. Relationships with children and parents (engagement of children in play and learning, quality of relationship, support and knowledge provided to parents, etc.)
     5. Governance and leadership (systems and procedures in place, roles and responsibilities, management effectiveness, etc.)
• Plan, design, and coordinate the data collection process
  • Identify the stakeholders associated with the program in the two KGs to be interviewed or observed including staff, teachers, children, and parents
  • Prepare and validate data collection tools (including direct observation)

• Collect data and monitor progress and change over a period of one full academic year. Provide in depth analysis of findings with scientific and objective evidence.
• Prepare first draft of the evaluation report and share with Taawon for review and feedback. 
• Deliver a final edited evaluation report (both hard and soft copy) based on final feedback of Taawon.

Expected Deliverables

• Evaluation methodology and plan including indicators for each line of intervention
• Data collection plan and tools to be coordinated and approved by Taawon
• Final narrative report in English language presenting the evaluation’s findings and recommendations in addition to an executive summary in Arabic and any relevant appendixes (interview questions, list of interviewees, etc.)
• A power point presentation in both English and Arabic summarizing the evaluation findings and report’s content.

All deliverables to be provided in both soft and hard copy.

Required competencies and qualifications

The selected consultant (or consultancy firm) should fulfil the following:

• Holder(s) of an advanced degree in social sciences or relevant fields
• Experienced in conducting similar evaluations and research with demonstrated capacity to develop clear indicators and analyse quantitative and qualitative findings
• Possess good knowledge of early childhood education principles and teaching environments and methodologies
• Has In-depth understanding of the situation of the Palestinian context in Lebanon
• Enjoys excellent communication skills and proficient in both Arabic and English languages
• Independent and neutral