TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)

FOR CONSULTANCY TO CONDUCT A CAPACITY ASSESSMENT OF SCHOOLS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES

1. Background

Zambia National Educational Coalition (ZANEC) is an umbrella body for 93 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that include Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Faith Based Organizations (FBOs), Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), Teacher Trade Unions (TTUs) and Students Unions. ZANEC envisages a quality national education system that is accessible, relevant, and equitable for human development in Zambia. The mission of ZANEC is to promote quality and inclusive education for all, through influencing of policy, building consensus, holding duty bearers accountable, and strengthening the capacities of stakeholders in the education sector. Over the years ZANEC has been campaigning and advocating for quality and equitable education through the attainment of national education aspirations and international Sustainable Development Goal number four through education policy engagement with the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ), Cooperating Partners (CPs), communities and other stakeholders.

One of the ways used by the Coalition to ensure that duty-bearers reinforce their commitments towards the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially SDG 4 on education: “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all” is through evidence-based advocacy. ZANEC with financial support from GIZ Zambia is, therefore, committed to ensuring the effective and efficient management of financial resources in schools. Proper financial management is critical for achieving educational goals and ensuring the sustainable use of resources. This consultancy seeks to assess the capacity of schools to manage their financial resources and identify areas for improvement.

2. Objective of the Assignment

The main objective of this consultancy is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the current capacity of schools in the management of financial resources. This will include evaluating the existing financial management systems, compliance with the Financial Management Act of 2018, practices, and skills, as well as identifying gaps and areas for capacity development.

3. Scope of Work

The consultancy will cover the following tasks:

• Review of Existing Documentation: Analyze existing policies (Financial Management Act of 2018 among others), guidelines, and reports related to financial management in schools.

3.2. Stakeholder Consultation: Engage with key stakeholders including school administrators, finance officers, teachers, and relevant government officials to gather insights on the current financial management practices.

• Capacity Assessment: Evaluate the financial management capacity of schools by:
• Assessing the number of surveyed schools with qualified and designated accounting officers;
• Assessing the skills and knowledge of school staff involved in financial management.
• Reviewing the adequacy, adherence to and effectiveness of existing financial management systems and processes (Financial Management Act of 2018).
• Identifying gaps in financial reporting, budgeting, procurement, and internal controls.
• Comparative Analysis: Compare the financial management capacity of schools against best practices and standards.
• Recommendations: Provide actionable recommendations for improving financial management capacity, including training and capacity-building initiatives.

4. Deliverables

The consultant(s) will be expected to deliver the following:

1. Inception Report: outline clear methodology, work plan, and data collection tools.
2. Draft Report: Detailed Report with capacity assessment findings and recommendations.
3. A PowerPoint presentation to be made at a meeting to be organised by ZANEC
4. A policy brief of not more than 3B pages
5. Final Report: Incorporating feedback, revisions, and finalised recommendations.

The consultancy is expected to take 7 days.

5. Qualifications

The consultant should possess the following qualifications:

a) A minimum of a master’s degree in education, finance, accounting, economics, or a related field

b) Demonstrated experience in budget analysis and tracking, particularly in the education sector is required.

c) Familiarity with budgeting and financial management systems in Zambia.

d) Excellent analytical and report-writing skills.

e) Excellent communication and report-writing abilities.

f) Understanding of the education landscape and challenges in Zambia is desirable.

6. Application Procedure

All expressions of interest (Proposals) should:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the assignment,
• Clear track record to show the capacity to undertake the assignment,
• Clear methodology to be used to conduct this assessment;
• Quality measures to be used;
• Clear and detailed budget for the assessment

The application should be submitted through email to the address below by 13:30hrs on Friday 30^th August 2024.

The Executive Director,

Zambia National Education Coalition,

Baptist Fellowship Building,

Plot 3061/2 Corner Makishi Road and Great East Road,

P.O. Box 30774,

Lusaka-Zambia,

Email: admin@zanec.org.zm