Terms of Reference (ToR) to engage a consultant to undertake development of a Comprehensive Community Engagement and Social Mobilization Strategy for Education
Job Description
Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education (MOECHE)
Terms of Reference (ToR) to engage a consultant to undertake development of a Comprehensive Community Engagement and Social Mobilization Strategy for Education
1. Background and Context
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education (MOECHE) is currently implementing a multi-year Global Partnership for Education (GPE) funded System Transformation Grant (STG) to enhance equitable access to quality and inclusive education in rural and urban areas by addressing supply and demand barriers. The project has four components (outcomes) namely, Outcome 1: Equitably increased primary gross enrolment rate; Outcome 2: Equitably improved literacy and numeracy and completion rates and Outcome 3: Strong regulatory and financing framework.
One of the key outputs under Outcome 1 is to develop a comprehensive community engagement and social mobilization strategy in a bid to strengthen community engagement to increase local communities’ ownership and support for education. the strategy will serve as a road map for the STG program and guide community engagement efforts and working with local communities/CECs throughout the course of implementation. The program will focus on three major areas: (a) participation and accountability of the communities and parents; (b) capacity building with a focus on community, parents, and CECs partnership; and (3) social behavioural change aspects to guide awareness-raising efforts at various levels. The strategy will inform the revision and/or development of materials and targeted interventions where the gaps exist. The active participation of CECs, parents and communities in schools helps increase access, attendance, and retention of children.
The strategy will also help the DEOs and CECs to lead community forums and discussions with local businesses/private sector, traditional elders, politicians, women groups, and youth groups to explore ideas for long-term sustainability of education interventions at the district level. Community engagement activities will ensure a gender focus through targeted measures to promote girls’ participation, including awareness on girls’ education, prioritization of school attendance, and engagement of fathers, brothers, and male community leaders in supporting girls’ education. As part of community engagement activities, CECs and DEOs will be supported to conduct annual enrolment drives, awareness campaigns and door-to-door parental engagement, with a specific focus on enrolment of girls, children with disabilities and children from marginalized backgrounds. The STG program will coordinate with the GEA on the community awareness messaging content to ensure consistency across the STG and GEA community engagement activities.
Therefore, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education is seeking a qualified, experienced and competent consultant to support the development and endorsement of a Comprehensive Community Engagement and Social Mobilization Strategy for Education. The consultant will closely work with the Director General for Basic Education of the Federal Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education.
2. Objective of the Consultancy
The overall objective of the Consultancy is to support MOECHE in the development of a comprehensive community engagement and social mobilization strategy for education.
2.1 Specific objectives of the consultancy
Gather initial information about the existing strategies/guidelines used by the different education development partners.
· Conduct an extensive desk review of the existing community engagement and social mobilization strategies.
· Conduct consultations with education stakeholders about the assessment findings from the desk review and propose a framework for a consolidated comprehensive strategy.
· Develop and endorse a comprehensive community engagement and social mobilization strategy for education.
2.2 Expected deliverables of the consultancy
The consultant will be required to deliver the following:
· Submit an inception report with a detailed timeline for the deliverables/outputs, not exceeding 45 days.
· Produce a framework/outline of a comprehensive community engagement and social mobilization strategy.
· Conduct consultations with stakeholders on the draft framework/outline for inputs.
· Produce a draft comprehensive community engagement and social mobilization strategy.
· Conduct a consultation and validation workshop for the draft strategy and incorporate inputs from education stakeholders.
· Translate the final validated strategy in Somali language.
· Submit the final validated versions of the strategy both in English and Somali language.
Skills and Qualifications
1. Essential and Desirable Experience
· At least 20 years of progressively responsible professional work experience in education with proven experience in developing policies, strategies and guidelines.
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to present complex processes and issues clearly to a heterogeneous audience and in an actionable manner.
· Demonstrated experience in leading preview of policies, strategies and guidelines processes.
· Knowledge of governance framework and issues in the Somali context.
· Fluency in English and Somali.
· Excellent facilitation skills
· Advanced university degree in education or a related field.
· Availability at the preferred time/during time window
· Acceptability to all key stakeholders
2. Lines of Communication
The consultant will report to:
· The Director General for Basic Education of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Higher Education.
3. Duration and timeframe
· The duration of the assignment will be a total of 45 days, from the date of contract signing.
4. How to Submit the Expression of Interest
All interested consultants with the required experience and capacities can submit their expressions of interest and submit the following.
A technical proposal (Max. 5 pages).
Proposed methodology & approach
Work plan the activity schedule with the total number of days and earliest date of availability to undertake the assignment
Evidence for similar previous work done.
A financial proposal (quoted in USD) for the assignment based on the specified deliverables.
How to apply
All interested consultants should submit their Technical and Financial Proposals via email to the following Ministry’s procurement email address procurement@moe.gov.so before 28st of September 2024 with the subject of the email as ‘Consultancy- Develop a Comprehensive Community Engagement and Social Mobilization Strategy for Education”.
