TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR DATA ANALYSIS AND REPORTING FOR ZOOSC PROJECT BASELINE DATA

Kigali, July 2024

1. Table of Contents

2. Introduction

Rwanda has made notable progress in education, achieving near universal primary school enrolment at 98.3%. However, challenges persist, including high repetition rate (10%) and dropout rate (7%) and a low transition rate from primary to lower secondary education (72%). The estimated total number of out-of-school children stands at 177,119, based on the latest data from the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) and district officials. Save the Children, MINEDUC, and partners (Humanity & Inclusion and NUDOR) aim to address these issues with a comprehensive intervention to ensure universal primary education in Rwanda. The project will focus on improving identification, enrolment, attendance, and retention of children who have been reintegrated the school system, empowering communities, and enhancing data management systems. The consortium will tackle barriers such as financial burden, physical accessibility, and social attitudes towards education, leveraging extensive experience and best practices. The primary objective of this consultancy is to analyse the baseline data collected by the Zero Out Of School Children (ZOOSC) Project and produce a comprehensive, professional report summarizing the findings, insights, and recommendations.

3. Background

To address the gaps and needs relating to out-of-school children and high drop-out rates at the primary grade level, Save the Children, MINEDUC and their partners (Humanity & Inclusion and NUDOR) propose to deliver a comprehensive and coordinated intervention, contributing to the national vision that no child misses out on primary education in Rwanda.

ZOOSC Project goal is to improve access to and retention in equitable primary education for all Rwandan boys and girls, i.e., ensuring that no child misses out on primary school. It was launched on 08 September 2023 and is expected to close by 07 September 2028 and the project with the funding of Educate a Children (EAC). 

This goal will be achieved through three outcomes:

4. Strengthened strategies and practices for enrolment and retention of OOSC at school level,
5. Empowered communities and families to promote enrolment and retention of OOSC, and
6. Strengthened policies and data systems for identification, enrolment, and retention of OOSC.

4. Purpose of the study

For the project to be able to assess the achievement and success, it must conduct the baseline data to establish the current situation and to provide indicators for monitoring progress and impact assessment of the implementation. The project is conducting baseline assessment for understanding the situation of children out school, the root cause of the problem, and what can be done to resolve the problem. The baseline will go in hand with the identification of children out of school from the community as well as data collection for the children, communities, and education officials on out of school children. In addition, the findings from the survey will be shared to different concerned people for better implementation of project activities.

5. Description and Objectives

This study is hybrid of school-based and household-based survey targeting school officials, parents, teachers, children, community (local leaders, friends of families, community education workers) and other education officials like Sector Education Inspector, District Education Officers and district director of education. This survey aims to answer three fundamental questions pertained to children, factors driving the non-enrolment and dropout as well as practical child-cantered solutions to address this phenomenon. It will be the nationally representative undertaking across all 30 districts countrywide. These questions include:

• What are the factors exacerbating non-enrolment and school dropout at primary school grade level in Rwanda?
• What can be done to ensure Out of school children primary school-age children are enrolled and retained?
• How do coordinated efforts among different actors work to tackle the non-enrolment and school dropout in Rwanda?

Additionally, we will also analyse the association, if any, between behavioural, economic, and educational factors and the project outcomes over time (zero out of school children).

5.1. Objectives of the assignment

The Zero Out-of-School Children (ZOOSC) project aims to identify, analyse, and address the barriers preventing children from accessing education. As part of the baseline phase, extensive data collection has been conducted, and we require a skilled consultant to analyse this data and produce a good comprehensive report.

5.2. Main objective of the study

The main objective of the study is to know the status quo, contributing factors and possible labour/activities leading to out of school children in Rwanda.

5.3. Specific Objectives of the Study

This baseline assessment is expected to cover the following objectives:

1. To identify the out of school children in communities, including children with disabilities, and key barriers to enrolment.
2. To assess the factors linked to drop out in Rwanda and the best way to solve the problem.
3. To assess the most labour or activities that out of school children are engaged in or employed?

5.4. Research questions of the study.

1. How many children are identified as out of school children including children with disabilities and what are the barriers to enrolment?
2. What are the factors linked to drop out in Rwanda and what are the best way to solve it?
3. What the most labour or activities done by out of school children and which economic sector linked to it?

6. ZOOSC project indictors to be responded by baseline study.

Analysis Methods

Descriptive Statistics: Summarize the dataset's main features by calculating measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and variability (standard deviation, variance, range). Utilize frequency distributions, percentages, and create graphical representations such as bar charts, pie charts, and histograms to visualize the data.

Inferential Statistics: Apply confidence intervals to estimate population parameters and assess whether observed differences are statistically significant. Use statistical tests such as t-tests and chi-square tests to determine if the results are significant and generalizable to the population.

Regression Analysis and Comparative Analysis: Perform regression analyses (both linear and logistic) to explore relationships between variables and predict outcomes. Interpret the coefficients to understand the impact of independent variables on the dependent variable. Conduct comparative analysis using ANOVA or similar methods to compare means across multiple groups and use correlation coefficients to assess the strength and direction of relationships between variables.

Summary Table of study participants and the names of dataset

6. Scope of Work

6.1. Data Analysis

Review and clean the ZOOSC Baseline data.

• Conduct statistical analysis for quantitative and qualitative data to identify trends, patterns, and significant findings. (qualitative data are prepared to be analysed, and quantitative data requires some cleaning).
• Conduct literature review for selected documents.
• Preparation of inception report for the data analysis and report writing. The inception report will elaborate the data analysis process and timeline for the assignment.
• We have 6 quantitative datasets (Headteachers, Teachers, in school children, Out of school children, parents, identification which was responded by parents) and 2 qualitative dataset (Key Informant and Children Focus Group Discussion)
• Develop visualizations (graphs, charts, tables) to effectively communicate data insights.
• Thematic analysis on the transcripts of the qualitative interviews and FGDs and use that analysis to triangulate the results our indicators.
• Presentation of data and report to at least two separate audiences.
• Providing timely responses to questions asked by the country office staff regional office and global office.

6.2. Report Writing:

• Draft a professional report detailing the analysis process, findings, and interpretations.
• Include executive summary, methodology, detailed findings, discussions of results, recommendations and conclusion based on the data.
• Ensure the report is clear, well-structured, and suitable for stakeholders with varying levels of data expertise.
• Respond to the presented indicators and provide other actionable recommendation from data.
• Preparation of the report for the baseline which should contain frequency tables showing variables behaviour, cross tabulations between variables, other similar studies, and baseline results, among others.
• The report will go through three approval stages and the consultant will be required to respond to questions raised on the procedure and results of the baseline survey at all the three review stages:
  • Save the Children Country level,
  • Save the Children Regional office and
  • Save the Children global office.

• The 3 level reviews may take 1 to 2 weeks. A detailed obligation table will provide all the support required to execute these tasks.

6.3. Presentation:

• Prepare a summary presentation of the key findings and recommendations for a stakeholder meeting.
• Present the findings to the ZOOSC team and answer questions related to the analysis.

6.4. Deliverables:

• Clean and analyse datasets (both raw and processed).
• Comprehensive report (in Word/PDF format) including:

1. Executive Summary
2. Introduction
3. Methodology
4. Findings and Analysis
5. Conclusion
6. Recommendations
7. Appendices

• Presentation slides with infographics summarizing key findings and recommendations.
• Presentation to project team.
• Share the materials including Do files/transcript or excel.
• Share the dataset along with a well-designed dashboard.

6.5. Payment Terms:

6.6. Timeline

The whole process of data analysis and report writing of ZOOSC Project Baseline Study should be completed within 30 days in total of which the consultant will use no more than 10 days to do actual data cleaning, analysis and reporting. This includes responding to feedback at country, regional and global levels. The Consultant is required to provide a detailed timeline in days.

6.7. Qualifications And Obligations

6.7.1. Qualifications of the Consultant or consultancy firm

The consultant who will perform this work should possess a minimum of the following qualifications:

• PhD degree (equivalent) in the fields of Education, Statistics, Social Sciences, Project Management, International development, Development studies and any other related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively working experience in data analysis and report writing, designing, and coordinating surveys or assessments or research studies within Rwanda Education sector.
• Experience of undertaking similar assignments with International NGO’s and knowing how Rwanda Education sector operates is essential.
• Excellence in understanding qualitative and quantitative research methods, proficiency in statistical research software (such as SPSS and STATA), and exceptional analytical skills for providing substantive feedback
• Proven experience in data analysis and report writing, with strong analytical skills
• High proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, power point
• Experience in similar projects or with similar organizations is preferred.

EVALUATION METHOD

1. Essential Criteria:

• Company profile
• Registration Certificate
• Tax Clearance,
• VAT Clearence
• RSSB clearance

2. Capability Criteria

• References of the 3 similar projects performed
• Proof of 5 years’ experience
• 3 Good Completion certificates or you can attach past contracts
• PhD holder for main person if it is a company

3. Technical proposal

• Excellence in understanding qualitative and quantitative research methods, proficiency in statistical research software (such as SPSS and STATA), and exceptional analytical skills for providing substantive feedback
• Proven experience in data analysis and report writing, with strong analytical skills
• High proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel, power point
• Comprehensive and systematic methodology
• Quality of the proposed key personnel (consultant included)
• Quality of previous reports for similar work
• Well-resourced and realistic timeline (Work Plan)

6.7.2. Obligations of the consultant and SC Rwanda in Baseline Data Analysis and Report writing

6.8. HOW TO APPLY

Part 1: Technical Proposal

This should be in Times New Roman 12, normal page margin and 1.0 line spacing. It should have eight (8) pages maximum and should provide responses to the following questions:

• Which methodology will be adapted to accomplish the data analysis and report writing?
• Which data parameters will be used for Data analysis?
• Profile of the consultant or key personnel for these assignments?
• Experience in undertaking similar assignments?
• How will you undertake and accomplish the various tasks for these assignments?

The responses to these questions should not exceed eight pages as said above.

Part 2: Cost Proposal and Work plan (Attachments)

• Detailed budget or cost proposal (in excel). Include all costs associated with the assignments.
• Detailed timeline or work plan (in excel or word). This should be in days.
• Resume of the key personnel not exceeding 4 pages.
• Samples of the previous evaluation reports (at least two) from similar works (with permission).

ALL proposals that do not meet the above format will not be considered for evaluation.

6.8.1. How to submit application

Applications should be submitted via e-mail with relevant attachments to juliette.uwimana@savethechildren.org and copy rwanda.supplychain@savethechildren.org before August 26^th, 2024, by 23:59hrs. All documents should be zipped in one folder and ensure to note “ZOOSC Project Baseline Data Analysis and Report Writing Consultancy” as the subject of email during submission. Please note that only applications from competent Rwandan consultant(s) or firms/companies will be considered. Individual consultants are required to submit valid copies of their national identity cards or passports while the consulting firms/companies submit their valid copies of business registration certificates. Note that hard copies are not acceptable.

6.8.2. Applications Review Process

Each application will be assessed on the quality of technical proposals, previous work experience, and financial competitiveness. The technical proposal will be reviewed and scored prior to reviewing the financial proposal.

While all applications will be screened and reviewed by the SCI Team, only the top applicants will be invited for face-to-face interview at SC Rwanda Country Office.

Confidentiality: The consultant agrees to maintain the confidentiality of all data and information provided and to use it solely for the purposes of this consultancy.

Prepared by: Approved by: Authorized by:

Ernest Muhirwa Solange UMWIZERWA Maggie Korde

MEAL Manager Project Director Country Director

ZOOSC Project ZOOSC Project SCI Rwanda and Burundi.