Education Program Evaluator

Save the Children (SC) Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need The Education Program for Iraqi Children and Youth - Ta'leem in Lebanon is funded by the Bureau for Population and Refugee Migration (US State Government) targeting Iraqi children, youth, and parents as well as their Lebanese peers. The project “Education Program for Iraqi Children and Youth - Ta'leem” which goal is “Iraqi children and youth in Lebanon have access to developmentally appropriate education that is relevant to their present, as well as future circumstances” aims to: Meet the educational needs of the vulnerable Iraqi children group though access to education (scholarships) and education support (support education classes and extra-curricular activities). Improve child protection measures through preventing/addressing violence at the family level, and better integration in the local community to decrease discrimination. Increase the knowledge of Iraqi and Lebanese youth on leadership skills and on health and reproductive rights. Provide youth with Accelerated Vocational Trainings and Career Guidance. Background  Displaced Iraqis in Lebanon fear arrest and detention on a daily basis, making the burden of surviving in a foreign land even harder. The rising costs of living, education and an incompatible curriculum for children of school age only add to their challenges. Having no legitimate legal status, Iraqi children face discrimination in the community and at school; and their parents face exploitation in employment. In spite of these hardships, the numbers of Iraqi refugees continue to increase. Consequently, Iraqi families struggle to register their children at school. School fees have been reported as the main barrier to enrollment, along the fact that the Lebanese curriculum teaches basic subjects in foreign languages (mainly French and English) while the Iraqi curriculum is mainly Arabic-based. Moreover there is little interaction with host community population and noticeable discrimination against Iraqi children. Therefore equitable access to appropriate educational opportunities for, and protection of, Iraqi children are critical needs to be addressed.   Based on the above, SC has focused its response on access to quality education and protection of the children and youth refugees inside this new environment.  SC has been providing Iraqi children with scholarships complementing UNHCR intervention, remedial classes especially for basic subjects, and psychosocial support through community events. To achieve this goal, SC partners with local civil society organizations to outreach Iraqi refugee children, to improve integration in their local context and ensure sustainability.  For this project, partners have been selected based on an evaluation through the education cluster meetings. Partners submitted proposals based on SC’s strategy under the Ta’leem education project for Iraqi refugees and the project logframe. Proposals were selected on the basis of maximum coverage and outreach. Evaluation objectives: The aim of this evaluation is to assess the project achievements, strengths, areas of improvement, and implementation challenges, identifying any lessons that can be incorporated in the project in the future, on the basis of SC’s operating standards, and donor’s guidelines. The primary objective is to assess the degree to which the project activities accord with the objectives of the project as defined in the project logframe/ matrix. In consultation with SC, key partners and stakeholders, reflect on the project implementation; identify lessons learned; and recommendations for the future. Methodology The evaluator will be expected to perform the following tasks based on these main phases of the evaluation: Preparatory activities, review of all documents related to the project such as proposal, reports, files…and all documents related to Save the Children working methods and donors’ guidelines. Field work: Interviews/focus groups with the target groups (parents, children and youth), and implementing partners. Analysis Report drafting Presentation of evaluation draft to SC Editing Report finalization Responsibilities of SC SC will: Provide the evaluator with all reasonable assistance, including the arrangement of interviews and access to all relevant material and documents; Provide guidance on field visits; Arrange basic office facilities; Pay evaluation fees as per agreement; Coordinate information flow between SC and partners; Provide feedback and comment on the draft evaluation report. Expertise Required Good knowledge of NGOs management in general and familiarity with organizational development; Familiarity with the Bureau for Population and Refugee Migration (US State Government) requirement and regulations; Familiarity with the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child; Proven practical experience in project/program evaluation; Familiarity with the legal and socio-economic situation of the Iraqi refugees in Lebanon; Ability to commute to remote areas within Lebanon; Ability to analyze, synthesize and to write clear ENGLISH reports. Fluency in English and Arabic.