Consultancy to conduct GPE End of Project Evaluation in Cross River, Taraba, Akwa Ibom, Adamawa and Benue States

INTRODUCTION
Save the Children is an international organization that works globally to address issues that affect children promoting their rights to learning, survival and protection. SCI has been working in Nigeria since 2001 implementing both humanitarian and development programmes. Save the children envision a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection development and participation. Its mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. We have five core value which are Accountability, ambition, collaboration, creativity, and integrity.  
We are committed to ensuring our resources are used as efficiently as possible, to focus them on achieving maximum impact for children.
Save the Children (SC) Nigeria is the Grant Agent (GA) for Global Partnership for Education (GPE) funded Refugees and Host communities’ education project in Nigeria. The project is implemented in 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in five States of Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Benue, Cross River and Taraba for 22 months, which commenced from 1st March 2024. The project is focused on addressing three key areas – a.) Safe, inclusive and quality educational continuity, b.) Recovery in the medium-term, and c.) Preparedness for and prevention of future crisis (Resilience). 
The project is working with Education Stakeholders at the Federal level, which are Federal Ministry of Education, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI). At the State level, the project is implementing in collaboration with State Ministries of Education (SMoEs), State Universal Education Boards (SUBEBs), State Agencies for Mass Education (SAMEs), State Agencies for Nomadic Education (SANEs), Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs) and schools/learning centers in 16 target LGAs which are Kurmi and Sardauna LGA in Taraba state, Obanliku, Ogoja, Etung, Ikom, Akamkpa and Boki LGAs in Cross-River states, Kwande LGA in Benue states, Itu, Esit-Eket and Oron in Akwa Ibom State and Mubi North, Mubi south, Madagali and Michika LGA in Adamawa  State. 
The project targets approximately 31,460 refugees and host community girls and boys including children with disabilities (CwDs) in the aforementioned locations. The project is implemented through  local partners in some of the targeted states and LGAs along with technical support from the Project Technical Committees (PTCs) made up of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and relevant Government stakeholders and other partners working for refugees in target LGAs. In Adamawa state, (Michika and Madagali LGAs), the project is implemented by Restoration of Hope Initiatives (ROHI). In Cross-River (Ikom, Etung and Akamkpa LGAs), the project is implemented by Mediatrix Development Foundation while Heal the Land Initiative (HELIN) implements the project in Akwa Ibom state. SCI directly implements the project in Benue (Kwande LGA) and Cross River (Boki, Obanliku, and Ogoja LGAs).  
The focus of the project interventions is to improve learning outcomes and participation of refugee and host community girls and boys including girls and boys with disability in a safe and gender-inclusive learning environment.
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
The conflict in southern Cameroon has resulted in widespread displacement, abuse, and violation of human rights, destruction of livelihoods, and disruption of basic services. Most of these people are women and children, including unaccompanied and separated minors. Cameroonians arriving in Nigeria rely on scarce local resources including insufficient food and public services. Tensions between new arrivals and their host communities are high as Nigeria struggles with its own conflict, internal displacements, and widespread poverty.
According to UNHCR data portal for refugee and asylum seekers in June 2025, over 80,000 Cameroonians are seeking refuge in Nigeria in states that has boarder with Cameroon1 since the conflict and the influx has overwhelmed the social infrastructures in host communities which includes sharing and competing for the little income generating activities available in these communities.
Also, there is overcrowding of the schools available in the host communities as majority of the people forced to flee are children which include unaccompanied and separated minors. The presence of these children in schools reduced the quality of the learning environment because the facilities available in the schools were not able to accommodate the numbers. In addition, the school workforce and administration were not enough to manage the population as the result of the influx. Some of the teachers do not have the skill and capacity to work with conflict affected learners.
In addition, there are cases of abuse and Gender Based Violence (GBV), children who are traumatised and need psychosocial supports in these host communities due to lack of awareness of the forms of abuse and the knowledge about reporting (GBV) and also because of poverty among the people forced to flee.
Furthermore, findings from the out of school mapping conducted by UNHCR reveals that over 60% of the Cameroonian refugee are out of school and enrolment of refugee into formal schools are below average compared to the number of host community children enrolled.

Due to the challenges caused by the influx of refugees, SCI with funding from GPE implements interventions targeted to address the gaps the influx has created through implementing integrated refugee response that provides access to safe, quality and inclusive learning environment through Water and Sanitation and Hygiene programs in schools, construction/renovation of classrooms and establishment of Environmental Health Clubs, provision of teaching and learning kit, provision of hygiene and dignity kit, provision of psychosocial support and GBV services in the schools.
The GPE project also build the capacity of teachers on Teaching in Conflict Context (TiCC) and advocate for support for schools with refugee learners from the Government stakeholder in charge of education in Nigeria.
To reduce the Out of School Children (OOSC), SCI with funding from GPE implemented an Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) for OOSC to boost their learning development before mainstreaming them to formal schools. OOSC children identified with protection concerns were provided with case management and mental health and psychosocial support These interventions helped children cope with distress, stay engaged in learning and promoted overall safety and well-being. The project also supported pupils with technical vocation education and training in their various schools as informed by the Labour Market Assessment and pupils' interest. Additionally, the project empowered vulnerable caregivers of the OOSC in ALP with Cash Voucher Assistance to start a new business or expand their existing business, provided positive parenting education through Safe Families to promote non-violent parenting and strengthen child-caregiver relationship. Furthermore, they were formed into Village Savings and Loans Associations to enhance financial inclusivity and social cohesion.
The GPE project is being implemented in 138 formal schools and 35 ALP centres across the five states of implementation with proposed objectives and overall goal to be achieved hence the need to evaluate the outcome of the project.  
Purpose, Objectives and Scope
The End of project evaluation findings will provide evidence on the success of the interventions implemented by the GPE project. It aims at determining the relevance, impact, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of the interventions to targeted beneficiaries as measures of success. The lessons learnt from this evaluation, intended and unintended will be documented and integrated into future programs.
Findings from the assessment will be utilized to develop the end of project report to provide evidence on the project achievement and recommendations for future intervention.
General Objective:
•    To assess the level of progress the project has achieved during the intervention period, and to understand the changes it has contributed to within the community and in children's education.
Specific Objectives:
•    To identify current levels of access to and practices related to child protection and Gender-based Violence case management by the refugees and host community members.
•    To determine the outcome of behavioural change/communication interventions on beneficiary’s knowledge, attitude and practices towards Child education and Protection.
•    To ascertain achievement of program outcome indicators in the Log frame.
•    To compare the present status of the context with what was existing prior to project implementation.
•    To obtain from programme staff, children, community members and other stakeholders’ perception of Save the Children interventions and suggestions for improvement including lessons learnt.
•    To assess the effectiveness of vocational education, cash voucher assistance, and Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) in improving school re-enrollment, economic resilience, and social cohesion among Out-of-School Children (OOSC) and their caregivers following transition from the ALP.
•    Suggest priority areas of gaps and recommendation for future programming.
Outcome indicators to be measured
•    % of supported teachers that demonstrate improved knowledge on delivery of quality services to children, including children with disabilities using SEL activities in teaching and learning processes.
•    % of children perceiving a high level of safety in their school environment, in Save the Children or partner-supported schools
•    % of supported State & LGA authorities that demonstrate improved knowledge to support education and protection of children.
•    % of project participants who report positive change in attitudes towards equitable gender norms or roles.
•    % of individual children who report an improvement to their situation (e.g. safety and/or wellbeing) as a result of their needs being addressed through case management.
•    % of caregivers who report positive caregiver-child relationships.
•    % of beneficiary households who report being able to meet their basic needs, as they define and prioritize them.
Scope of work 
The endline evaluation will be conducted across the 16 target LGAs (which are Kurmi and Sardauna LGA in Taraba state, Obanliku, Ogoja, Etung, Ikom, Akamkpa and Boki LGAs in Cross-River state, Kwande LGA in Benue state, Itu, Esit-Eket and Oron LGAs in Akwa Ibom State and Mubi North, Mubi south, Madagali and Michika LGAs in Adamawa  State) where SCI implemented education, Child Protection and livelihood interventions.
Intended Audience and Use of the Study
The primary intended audience of the analysis include project participants, project team, implementing partners, government and community stakeholders.
The analysis will be used to develop the end of project report which will include recommendation for future refugee response.
Use of the study:
It is expected that the outcome of the evaluation will be used to develop the end of project report and prepare slides for the dissemination of findings with various stakeholders at different levels.
Key Study Questions
The evaluation will assess the immediate impact of the GPE project in the schools supported and examine all the activities and programs implemented to enhance learning to reveal how these activities contribute to the learning outcomes of the learners.
The evaluation study will explore the following key areas and questions based on the  OECD-DAC and CHS Criteria for evaluating Development and Humanitarian Assistance and some additional areas which SCI would like to explore in depth:
a.    Relevance/Appropriateness
•    To what extent did the interventions address the needs of children and refugee and the community?
•    Were the activities/outputs aligned with the needs of the affected community during the design phase of the project?
•    Were the interventions per sector (education, protection and livelihood) planned and implemented in an integrated manner?
•    Were the inputs and strategies identified realistic, appropriately, and adequate to achieve the results?
b.    Coverage, and non-discrimination
•    Did the project reach the most vulnerable children and their families affected by the crisis and with specific needs as targeted by the project? 
•    How sensitive were the programme interventions to address the inequalities due to gender, race, and disability?
c.    Effectiveness
•    Are there underlying factors influencing the achievement or non-achievement of specific objectives and overall goal of the project?
•    How effective was the project’s intervention in addressing key bottlenecks to ensure access to protection and education interventiion? 
•    How effective has the project  been in responding to the needs of the beneficiaries, and what results were achieved.
•    To what extent did the project achieve its overall objectives?
•    To what extent were the results (impact, outcomes, and outputs) achieved?
•    Document effective approaches which influence community behavior to improve child protection and education.
d.    Accountability
•    Did the project encourage the genuine and active participation of children and communities?
•    How accountable has the implementation been in terms of addressing the needs of children and their families?
e.    Impact
•    What are the key intermediate and lasting changes lead by the project interventions? 
•    Were there any unintended results of the intervention and how did it affect the outcomes?
f.    Sustainability
•    To what extent will the benefits of the projects continue after the funding ceases? 
•    How effective were the exit strategies and approaches to phase out assistance provided by the project, including contributing factors and constraints?
•    How were capacities strengthened at the individual and organizational levels (including contributing factors and constraints) able to ensure sustainability of some level of the program activities in the communities and schools?
•    How was the project’s collaboration with the relevant Government stakeholders, national institutions, development partners, and other key actors?
•    Describe key factors that will require attention in order to improve prospects of sustainability of Project outcomes and the potential for replication of the approach.
g.    Lessons Learned
•    What were the good practices and challenges in the project? How did it affect implementation and project delivery?
•    What are the recommendations for similar support in future?
•    What are future intervention strategies and issues?
Additionally,
•    To what extent did the distribution of learning and teaching materials contribute to the learning development of learners in both formal and non-formal learning spaces? 
•    How did accessing the psychosocial support (PSS) and case management services in schools and communities contribute to children’s safety and well-being as a result of their needs being addressed 
•    To determine what factors contributed to effective implementation of project objectives?
GPE Learning Agenda
•    How do the literacy and numeracy programmes for children in formal schools and non-formal learning centres contribute to reducing learning poverty in humanitarian and development settings.

STUDY METHODOLOGY
Study Design
The evaluation Consultant will be responsible for developing an evaluation strategy and methodology that includes a mix of qualitative and quantitative data collection. The quantitative data will be collected using questionnaires as deployed through Kobo Toolbox or any open-tool kit while qualitative data will be collected using dedicated assessment guide inclusive of persons with disabilities. The methodology will be presented as part of the inception report as outlined in the deliverables below and included in the final report. 
As this study is an endline and final project evaluation, there will be reviews of internal documents such as project proposal documents, progress reports and project data, including the MEAL plan and more. The following data analysis is expected for the consultant to deliver:
•    Evaluation Results vis-à-vis the ToR questions
•    Evaluation Results vis-à-vis the logframe
•    With gender and locale disaggregation
•    Development of mind maps and themes through the qualitative analysis
Sampling 
The sampling method to be used for the assessment will be proposed by the selected consultant that is best suited to address the assessment objectives. 
Data Sources and Data Collection Methods / Tools
All primary data collected during the study must facilitate disaggregation by gender, age, disability status, location and residency status. Save the Children will provide guidance on tools and classification schemes for this minimum dataset. 
Save the Children will provide enumerators to assist with primary data collection. It will be a requirement of the consultant to source additional external data sources to add value to the study, such as government administrative data. The consultant should also indicate how data triangulation will be realised. 
A range of project documentation will be made available to the consultant that provides information about the design, implementation and operation of the Program. Documents include project proposal, assessment reports, quarterly reports and the annual report.
The consultant is required to adhere to  Save the Children Child Safeguarding; Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse; Anti-Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying; and Data Protection and Privacy policies throughout all project activities.
Ethical Considerations
It is expected that in this assessment ethical considerations will be a joint responsibility between the consultant and technical leadership from SCI:
•    Risk Assessment: SCI MEAL will conduct a thorough risk assessment highlighting mitigation plans to address any risk related to the participation of children, adolescents, and adults especially for children with disabilities in the Analysis. The risk assessment will be approved by the Safeguarding team.
•    Ethical Approval: SCI will provide leadership and support with submission of the assessment protocols and tools to ensure ethical approval is secured. 
•    Informed Consent/assent: the assessment team is expected to obtain informed consent from all adult respondents participating in the study while informed assent will be obtained from children including their parents’ consent .
•    Confidentiality and Data Protection: Ensure adherence to all SCI data protection policies by ensuring the protection of data during all stages—collection, storage, transfer, analysis, and reporting. Consultant, should ensure measures are put in place to protect the identity of all participants and any other information that may put them or others at risk
•    Child Safeguarding and Protection: through SCI technical lead, establish a referral mechanism to handle any child safeguarding or protection issues that may arise during the study. The Consultant will be taken through the SCI Safeguarding policy.
•    Inclusive. Ensure that children from different ethnic, social and religious backgrounds have the chance to participate, as well as children with disabilities and children who may be excluded or discriminated against in their community.
Child participation
The consultant will ensure that appropriate child participatory tools/approach (e.g wheel of change, H-assessment, dot voting etc)  are used to engage children and get their feedback on the project achievements, successes, challenges and recommendations. Save the Children believes children’s participation is not solely an activity or an event, but rather a core principle that informs our organisational behaviour. Children’s participation is a crosscutting theme that permeates all aspects of the organisation and is central in our aim of strengthening the position of children and inspiring breakthroughs in the way the world treats children.
for the project should also be provided to Save the Children in editable digital format. 
Note: The duration of consultancy shall be for a maximum of 40 days.
CONSULTANT SELECTION CRITERIA
Interested consultants will be required to submit an CV, Cover Letter and explaining relevant experience and relevant reports of previous work which should demonstrate adherence to the following requirements.
Understanding of Requirements and Experience
Evaluation criteria
There will be two sets of evaluation criteria; one for individual consultants and another for consultancy firms. For each group, SCI will apply first the Essential criteria and then Capability criteria. 

Experience and skill set required
Individual consultants who respond to the tender must meet the following criteria To be considered, the study team members/Consultant together must have demonstrated skills, expertise and experience in:
Essential Criteria    
Agrees to comply with Save the Children standard policies and procedures as stated in the RFQ or Invitation to Tender (ITT) document    .
Successfully completed a bachelor's degree in a relevant area, such as social sciences, development studies, or in specific technical areas such as education, public health, nutrition, food security, etc.    
Provides a CV and cover letter, explaining relevant experience and relevant reports of previous work    
Provides brief description and evidence (attached copies) of up to 4 relevant services provided to other actors (either INGOs, International Organisations or donors), including the year of service and an official email address to contact as a reference    
Capability Criteria (technical)    
Evidence of minimum of three years’ experience designing and carrying out high-quality assessments, baseline, mid-terms and endline studies, and mid-term and final evaluations, for one or more of the following thematic areas:
•    Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI)
•    Child protection, 
•    Education, 
•    Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH),
•    Health and Nutrition, 
•    Food Security and Livelihoods, 
•    Child Rights Governance.    
Evidence of experience working in development and/or humanitarian settings     
Evidence shows strong training and experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection methods and analysis    
Evidence of knowledge and experience with a range of statistical and qualitative data managing software and approaches (such as SPSS, EPI Info, Stata, NVivo, Atlasti, KOBO Toolbox, ONA, CommCare, REDCap, ODK or other similar software)    
Evidence proves strong command of the English language, both written and verbal with strong report writing and documentation skills    
Evidence of working experience in Nigeria or similar contexts    
Evidence of specific expertise in one of the following (depending on the pieces for which has been applied for): 
•    Baselines, mid-lines and endline surveys
•    Mid-term and final evaluations
•    Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices surveys
•    Anthropometric (SMART) surveys 
•    (Multi-Sectoral) Needs Assessments
•    Labor market assessments
•    Gender assessments
•    Child participatory assessments or research
•    Social norms exploration 
•    Conflict sensitivity assessments
•    Political economy analysis
•    Semi-Quantitative Evaluation of Access and Coverage (SQUEAC)/Simplified Lot Quality Assurance Sampling Evaluation of Access and Coverage (SLEAC)
•    IYCF Barrier Analysis    
Provided brief description (200 words or less) of steps the consultant will take to ensure the quality of the services you would provide is of consistently high standards
    
Provided brief description (200 words or less) on experience in inclusive and ethical child participatory methods of data collection    
During the interview, the consultant demonstrates in-depth knowledge of assessments, studies and evaluations, in terms of their design and implementation, which will be assessed and scored by a panel of experts    

Consultancy firms that respond to the tender must meet criteria outlined below. Please note that the individual consultant criteria above will apply to those consultancy firm staff that will be available to undertake assignments.

• Essential Criteria    
• Agrees to comply with Save the Children standard policies and procedures as stated in the RFQ or Invitation to Tender (ITT) document    
• Evidence the company is legally registered with the relevant government authorities. For firms registered in Nigeria, this evidence should include a certified true copy of the following documents.
• •    CAC Certificate
• •C02 – If applicable
• •C07 – If applicable
• Evidence of Statutory Records (Attach photocopy)

Up to date Tax Record 
VAT Registration Certificate
Audited Account Statement     
Brief description with evidence (attached copies) of up to four (4) relevant services provided to other actors (either INGOs, International Organisations or donors), including the year of service and an official email address to contact as a reference    
Capability Criteria    
Evidence of firm/ consultants’ (as per CVs submitted) minimum of three years’ experience designing and carrying out high-quality assessments, baseline, mid-terms and endline studies, and mid-term and final evaluations, for one or more of the following thematic areas:
•    Child protection, 
•    Education, 
•    Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH),
•    Health and Nutrition, 
•    Food Security and Livelihoods, 
•    Child Rights Governance.    
Evidence of experience working in development and/or humanitarian settings    
Evidence of strong training and experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection methods and analysis    
Evidence of knowledge and experience with a range of statistical and qualitative data managing software and approaches (such as SPSS, EPI Info, Stata, NVivo, Atlasti, KOBO Toolbox, ONA, CommCare, REDCap, ODK or other similar software)    
Evidence proves strong command of the English language, both written and verbal with strong report writing and documentation skills    
Evidence of working experience in Nigeria or similar contexts    
Evidence of specific expertise in one of the following (depending on the pieces for which has been applied for): 
•    Baselines, mid-lines and endline surveys
•    Mid-term and final evaluations
•    Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices surveys
•    Anthropometric (SMART) surveys 
•    (Multi-Sectoral) Needs Assessments
•    Labor market assessments
•    Gender assessments
•    Child participatory assessments or research
•    Social norms exploration 
•    Conflict sensitivity assessments
•    Political economy analysis
•    Semi-Quantitative Evaluation of Access and Coverage (SQUEAC)/Simplified Lot Quality Assurance Sampling Evaluation of Access and Coverage (SLEAC)
•    IYCF Barrier Analysis    
Provided brief description (200 words or less) of steps the firm will take to ensure the quality of the services you would provide is of consistently high standards

Provided brief description (200 words or less) on experience in inclusive and ethical child participatory methods of data collection

 
During the interview, the consultant(s) of the firm demonstrates in-depth knowledge of assessments, studies and evaluations, in terms of their design and implementation, which will be assessed and scored by a panel of experts    

Financial Proposal
Save the Children seeks value for money in its work. This does not necessarily mean "lowest cost", but quality of the service and reasonableness of the proposed costs. Proposals shall include personnel allocation (role / number of days / daily rates / taxes), as well as any other applicable costs.
Note: The duration of consultancy shall be for a maximum of 40 days.

The Organization
We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realise the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard. We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

· No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday
· All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
· Violence against children is no longer tolerated

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive workplace where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued.

Application Information:
Please apply using a cover letter and up-to-date CV as a single document. Please also include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations. A copy of the full role profile can be found at www.savethechildren.net/jobs We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.