TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToRs)

NAME OF ASSIGNMENT: DEVELOPMENT OF SERVICE DELIVERY CHARTERS FOR PROVISION OF QUALITY EDUCATION SERVICES.

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANTS’ SELECTION

1.     Background

The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) is an anti-poverty civil society network that has been building a voice for the poor in the fight against poverty. It was established in 2000, primarily to ensure that civil society effectively and meaningfully participates in the design, formulation, and implementation of the National Development Plans.  See our website for more information:  http://www.csprzambia.org.

CSPR Zambia, through the World Bank, has received a grant from the Japanese Social Development Fund (JSDF) to implement the Voice and Accountability: Community Empowerment for Improved Local Service Delivery project.  The grant is administered by the World Bank and follows all WB policies and procedures.

The project objective is to strengthen community awareness and participation with school management and local authorities for accountable primary and secondary education services in nine selected districts (Kalabo, Kaoma, Nalolo, Senanga and Sesheke in the Western Province and Katete, Mambwe and Sinda and Vubwi in the Eastern Province) of  Zambia. The project focuses on:

• Increasing community awareness and knowledge of their rights, and of education services
• Enhancing community engagement and participation in the delivery of education services through the use of social accountability tools.

Details of the Project can be accessed on the World Bank Website: www.worldbank.org .

2.     Objectives of the Assignment
CSPR is looking for a consultant to undertake development of service delivery charters for quality provision of education services in Zambia.

Zambia’s education sector faces serious issues such as delivering of quality educational services to communities. Despite several policy measures aimed at improving its performance, the sector continues to record low achievement, low transition rates to secondary, low completion rates, gender disparities at the secondary school level, lack of infrastructure, shortage of learning materials, low teacher motivation, and lack of sanitation facilities among others (MoE, 2022; MoFNP, 2022).

The above challenges have been further exacerbated by a lack of an accountability. mechanism through which community members can fully participate in the affairs of the schools effectively. Such a mechanism would empower communities to monitor education activities and service delivery while communicating their priorities for improving education services. The government’s policy responses to the negative educational outcomes have been articulated in several policy documents, the key among which is the Eighth national Development Plan (8NDP 2022 2026). Furthermore, in 2022, the government recruited more teachers and increased budgetary allocation for all grant aided schools to enhance education service delivery. The Zambia government has also in the last two years increased Constituency Development Fund (CDF) which will significantly improve education services delivery in Zambia especially rural areas. Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is a government budget allocation mechanism that channels a specific portion of the national budget to the constituencies to finance development projects such as school facilities, health clinics and water supply systems[1].

3.     Scope of Work
CSPR is looking for a consultant to undertake development of service delivery charters for quality provision of education services in Zambia.  Education has been widely acknowledged and promoted as a vehicle for delivering social and economic development. Citizens have, therefore, higher expectations of what education systems ought to do for them. It is based on the hope of what education can offer to citizens that governments make significant educational investments. While indeed education can offer many other benefits, such benefits can only be guaranteed if the standard of education is of adequate quality to allow real learning. Without real learning, any investment in education is an exercise in futility. On the basis of the work that will be carried out by the Consultant, it is expected that the consultant will;

i.        Conduct an analysis of current Service Delivery Charters (SDC) in the Ministry of Education and provide clear recommendation to strengthen them to enhance education service delivery. The SDC’s should be directly linked to education service delivery standards and planning, and budgets currently provided by the MoE.

ii.        Develop simplified guidelines on how to develop a Service delivery Charter for schools and local authorities.

iii.        Produce service delivery charters for the targeted schools and local authority.

iv.        Translate the developed service charters to Silozi and Nyanja.

v.        Conduct orientation on use and monitoring of the application of the Service delivery Charters for the PMU. This should include all stakeholders from MoE, Provincial headquarters and schools and communities.

vi.        Develop an implementation schedule for the roll out of the SDC to the selected districts and schools.

3.1  Methodology

The Consultant will devise the proposed methodology for the development, application and monitoring of the use of the service delivery charters in consultation with the Client.  However, the client envisions a co-creation approach which synergises the expertise and the technical experience of both the consultant and the Client. This should be included in the inception.

4.0  Capacity Building or Training Program

The consultant will orient the PMU on the development, application and monitoring of the use of the Service Charters to enable the PMU capacity build the schools, local government and DEBS on the Service Charters.

1.0  List of reports, schedule of deliveries, and period of performance

The period of the consultancy will be thirty (45) Working Days. The assignment is expected to tentatively start by Mid-October 2023. The Consultant will be expected to keep CSPR informed throughout the period of the assignment. The consultant will be expected to provide the following reports;

1.     Inception Report; clearly outlining the methodology to used for the entire assignment

2.     Progress Reports; clearly outlining the assessment of the current service delivery charters in the Ministry of Education.

3.     Final Report; clearly outlining the current service delivery charters in the Ministry of Education.

4.     Final Service Charters developed

• Deliverable 1
  Inception report clearly outlining the methodology to used for the entire assignment-7days from date of signing contract
• Deliverable 2
  Progress Report of assessment of the current service delivery charters in the Ministry of Education-7 days from date of approval of inception report
• Deliverable 3
  Develop guidelines on how to develop a Service delivery Charter for schools and local authorities-7 Days after conclusion of the current service charters in the Ministry of Education.
• Deliverable 4
  Draft service charters for the targeted schools and local authority for CSPR and partners to review and provide input-7 days after conclusion of guidelines on how to develop a Service Charter for schools and local authorities
• Deliverable 5
  Final Service Charters developed-7 days after feedback from Client.
• Deliverable 6
  Translate the Service Charters in Silozi and Nyanja-7 days after Final Service Charters developed
• Deliverable 7
  Conduct orientation on Service Charters for the PMU-7 days after Final Service Charters developed

The period of the consultancy will be thirty (45) Working Days. The assignment is expected to tentatively start by Mid-November 2023

6.0  Data, local services, personnel, and facilities to be provided by the Borrower.

The consultant will provide their own office space, vehicles, survey equipment, office and computer equipment, and telecommunication systems. However, the project PMU will be available to work closely with the consultant.

7.0  Institutional and organization arrangements
A Project Management Unit (PMU) has been established within the CSPR at national level. This Unit is responsible for managing and coordinating project activities. The key PMU staff are:

Project Coordinator
2.Finance and Administration Manger
3.Procurement Officer
4.M&E Specialist
5.Communications Specialist
6.Social Accountability in Education Specialist
7.Administrative Assistant
8.Provincial Coordinator – Western Province
9.Provincial Coordinator – Eastern Province
10.Provincial Assistant Coordinator – Western Province
11.Provincial Assistant Coordinator – Eastern Province

8.0  Required Minimum Individual Consultant Qualifications and Experience to require undertaking the assignment.
The ideal candidate must meet the following requirements:

1.     Should be a person with not less than 5 years of both policy and implementation experience in the education sector.

2.     Must have high fluency in English; some fluency in either Nyanja or Lozi would be beneficial.

3.     Demonstrated knowledge of Civic Participation & State Accountability, local governance and Social Accountability in Zambia

4.     Should have a master’s degree, in any related field of education and development, with at least five years field experience in Research and Policy Analysis.

5.     Knowledge of laws, policies and procedures governing decentralization and local governance in Zambia.

6.     Should have experience designing and utilizing surveys as well as data analysis.

7.     Should have excellent report-writing skills (consultant must provide a sample of previously work of a similar nature or scope).

8.1  Bid Requirements
Consultants who meet the requirements of this assignment should submit:

A Curriculum Vitae and their Quotation.
Contact details for three references (only people who are familiar with work experience).
Examples of applicable reports that demonstrate ability to undertake this assignment.
4.     Applications after the deadline will be automatically excluded.

5.     Applications not conforming to the conditions will not be considered.

6.     All Applications must be sent to cspr@csprzambia.org and cc: patrick.malekani@csprzambia.org . Deadline for submission of bids is 3rd November 2023 Close of Day.