Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies: Evaluation Consultant

Terms of Reference

The Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) is an open global network of over 5000 practitioners, students, teachers, and staff from UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, donors, governments and universities who work together within a humanitarian and development framework to ensure all persons the right to quality education and a safe learning environment in emergencies and post-crisis recovery. The INEE Minimum Standards for Education: Preparedness, Response, Recovery are the network’s foundation tool. They provide concrete guidance based on education rights and good practices to improve access to safe, relevant and quality education.

Since 2004, the INEE has made extensive efforts to establish the INEE Minimum Standards as a cornerstone in the field of education in emergencies. In order to continue promoting the INEE Minimum Standards as the foundational tool of the network and the broader field, it is critical to understand who is aware of the INEE Minimum Standards, how they are being used, how they are institutionalized in plans and policies. To do so, the INEE Working Group on Minimum Standards is embarking upon a large-scale evaluation of the value-added of the INEE Minimum Standards.

Thus, the INEE is hiring a consultant to assist with the facilitation of the INEE Minimum Standards evaluation process, who will work in close collaboration with the INEE Coordinator for Minimum standards and the INEE Working Group on Minimum Standards.

The evaluation will take place over four months and include a survey, interviews with a diverse range of stakeholders, focus group meetings with the reference group and case studies. The results from the evaluation will inform INEE’s future work.

Key research questions:

What is the value added of the INEE Minimum Standards Handbook to date as a tool for:

Advocacy

Coordination

Programme planning and response

Research

Institutional change

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

Based on the Scope of Work for the evaluation developed by the INEE Working Group on Minimum Standards, lead the overall evaluation process, collect and analyze all data, and produce written reports and case studies including recommendations for future work.

Develop the research methodology

Oversee the translation of surveys into Arabic, French, Spanish and Portuguese and ensure widespread dissemination; collect, record, consolidate and analyze results

Work in collaboration with INEE Coordinator for Minimum Standards and Minimum Standards Working Group to determine appropriate participants in focus groups, case studies, and interviews, covering a diverse range of stakeholders.

Undertake other tasks related to the evaluation as requested.

Disseminate evaluation findings.

Deliverables:

Evaluative survey circulated widely among EiE practitioners and policy makers

Report analyzing the findings of the survey results

4 print-ready case studies on the value-added of the INEE Minimum Standards as a tool for advocacy, program planning and response, research and institutional change.

A final report documenting the findings from surveys and case studies with list of recommendations

Requirements:

Minimum of five years relevant professional experience, working on issues related o humanitarian response and coordination, education programming and advocacy in emergencies and post crisis reconstruction, refugee or war-affected children, quality and accountability initiatives.

Minimum of 2 years of experience conducting evaluations, including writing surveys, and designing and conducting case studies, interviews, and focus groups

Familiar with the INEE Minimum Standards and participation in INEE MS activities such as training workshops, consultations, and policy-roundtables.

Excellent organizational skills, attention o detail, the ability to manage complex projects and deadlines

Excellent communications and interpersonal skills; proven leadership and evaluation facilitation skills working; ability to work with multiple and diverse stakeholders, including NGOs, UN agencies, governments, and donor agencies

Strong knowledge of Excel and strong writing skills.

Fluent in English. Strong command of additional language is desirable

Timeframe and Location:

This is a four-month consultancy, from September 1-December 31, 2011, with possible extension till end-February 2012 to evaluate the MS as a tool for coordination. The consultant will work from home 3 days a week. This consultancy may require travel overseas to conduct interviews.

Working Arrangements and Supervision

The consultant will report directly to the Coordinator for the Minimum Standards who will supervise him/her in the collaboration with the INEE Working Group on Minimum Standards.

To Apply:

To apply for this position, please send a cover letter and resume to aya@ineesite.org by Aug 8, 2011. In your cover letter, please list any previous evaluations that you have conducted as well as your consultancy rate per day.