Final Evaluation – Early Learners Program

1. Background
Connect Children Now (CCN), in collaboration with local municipalities, has been implementing the "Early Learners" educational program since January 2021. The program aims to provide early childhood education (ECE), psychosocial support, and parental engagement activities to Syrian refugee children and vulnerable Lebanese children in the Southern Suburbs of Beirut (Ghobeiry and Bourj al Barajneh) and Baalchmay (Mount Lebanon).
With a focus on enrolling children into state schools and enhancing community and institutional capacities, the program has reached approximately 1,500 children, 750 parents, and multiple educational and social workers.
The Early Learners Program is a flagship initiative led by Connect Children Now (CCN), selected municipalities, and community-based organizations (CBOs) across Lebanon. It targets children aged 3–6 who are particularly vulnerable due to displacement, poverty, or marginalization.
The program focuses on inclusive and holistic early childhood education. Activities are designed to support the emotional, social, and cognitive development of young children through structured learning, psychosocial support, caregiver engagement, and community capacity building.
The broader aim is to support children's readiness for school, strengthen community-led care structures, and promote national dialogue on the importance of early childhood development (ECD).

2. Purpose of the Evaluation
This final evaluation will focus on one or two key learning areas where an external, fresh perspective can add genuine value to CCN’s future programming. Rather than trying to assess all components of the project, the evaluation will center on learning outcomes that are not already addressed through the program’s internal M&E systems. The primary goal is to generate actionable insights through interviews, field observations, and a review of existing documents, helping shape the next phase of programming with practical and strategic recommendations.
1. Learning – Generate lessons from the implementation experience to guide future early childhood programming, whether through scale-up or adaptation.
2. Accountability – Provide evidence of outcomes and impact to stakeholders, including donors, government partners, and the communities served.
3. Decision Support – Inform strategic decisions related to replication, funding proposals, and partnership development.
The evaluation is intended to be formative and forward-looking, providing clear and actionable recommendations to CCN and its partners.

3. Scope of the Evaluation
The evaluation will cover all components of the Early Learners Program implemented during the most recent project cycle. It will include the geographic areas of Baalchmay, Ghobeiry, and Bourj al Barajneh. It will:
• Assess activities in all geographic areas where the program was delivered.
• Review engagement with key stakeholders, including local municipalities, CBOs, and caregivers.
• Examine program delivery, learning outcomes, psychosocial support systems, educator training, inclusion practices, and community engagement.
• Reflect on how the program adapted to context-specific challenges such as economic instability, refugee dynamics, and COVID-19 disruptions.

4. Evaluation Criteria & Questions
The evaluation will be guided by the OECD-DAC criteria, which provide a comprehensive framework for assessing relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability, and coherence.
Relevance
• Did the program respond to the needs of the target population (children and families)?
• How well did the program align with national ECD priorities and community expectations?
Effectiveness
• Were the program objectives and intended results achieved?
• What changes (behavioral, cognitive, emotional) were observed among participating children?
• How effective were teacher training and psychosocial support components?
Impact
• What are the broader and/or unintended effects of the program on children, families, educators, and communities?
• How has the program influenced school readiness or caregiver attitudes toward ECD?
Sustainability
• What systems or capacities are in place to continue the work without external funding?
• Are municipalities or local partners positioned to take ownership of key components?
Coherence
• How does this program complement other national, regional, or donor-supported ECD initiatives?
• Were there synergies or missed opportunities for collaboration?

5. Methodology
The consultant is expected to propose a robust and participatory mixed-methods approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative techniques. The methodology must be child-sensitive and culturally appropriate.
Suggested tools and methods include:
• Document Review: Project proposal, training manuals, monitoring reports, curriculum materials, and partner agreements.
• Key Informant Interviews (KIIs): With program managers, MOSA representatives, municipal leaders, teachers, social workers, and CBO staff.
• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs): With caregivers, community members, and possibly children (using age-appropriate techniques).
• Direct Observation: Of classroom practices, play sessions, and educational activities.
• Surveys or Rapid Assessments: To gauge perceptions of quality and satisfaction among caregivers or educators.
Ethics and Safeguarding
• All activities must comply with child safeguarding standards.
• Informed consent must be obtained from all participants.
• No identifiable data of children should be shared in reports.

6. Deliverables
The consultant will be responsible for producing the following:
1. Action Plan (Week 1):
o Detailed methodology
o Data collection tools
o Work plan and timelines
2. Preliminary Findings Presentation (Week 6):
o Key trends, challenges, and early conclusions
o Presented to CCN and partners for validation
3. Draft Evaluation Report (Week 7):
o Detailed findings, analysis, and evidence-based recommendations
4. Final Evaluation Report (Week 8):
o Incorporating feedback from CCN
o Executive Summary (3 pages)
o Visual elements (charts, quotes, graphs)
o Annexes: Tools used, raw data summaries, stakeholder lists
All deliverables should be submitted in English, in both Word and PDF formats.

7. Management and Oversight
The evaluation will be supervised by the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) team at CCN, in coordination with project managers and partner focal points.
A CCN group will be established to:
• Review tools and outputs
• Provide context-specific insight
• Facilitate access to sites and stakeholders
Regular check-ins and updates will be expected throughout the evaluation period.

8. Timeframe
The consultancy is expected to last approximately 8 weeks from contract signature:
• Week 1: Kickoff meetings, document review, action plan
• Weeks 2–4: Fieldwork and data collection
• Weeks 5–6: Data analysis, validation meetings
• Week 7: Draft report
• Week 8: Final report and debrief

9. Budget : 5000 USD

10. Consultant Profile
We are seeking an experienced consultant with a strong background in international development and humanitarian programming. The ideal profile includes:
• At least 10 years of progressive experience in education, early childhood development, child protection, and strategic humanitarian leadership, particularly in the Middle East.
• Proven experience applying OECD-DAC evaluation criteria and delivering practical, actionable recommendations.
• Extensive expertise in facilitating learning processes, conducting stakeholder interviews, and synthesizing findings into usable guidance.
• Strong familiarity with the Lebanese context and broader regional dynamics affecting child-centered interventions.
• Excellent communication, writing, and analytical skills, with a track record of producing clear, strategic reports for donors and partners.
• A collaborative and participatory approach to consultancy, with an emphasis on building local capacity and fostering reflective learning.