Terms of Reference - Rapid Assessments

1. Introduction

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of private not-for profit, non-denominational international development agencies, institutions and programmes that work primarily in the poorest parts of Africa and Asia to improve the quality of life of communities in remote and resource poor areas. In East Africa, AKF works with partners to improve the quality of life by promoting and developing innovative solutions to challenges of development in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Reflecting the complex and multi-faceted nature of development, AKF programmes in the region encompasses education, health, Early Childhood Development, Rural Development and Civil Society Strengthening. AKF is seeking a consultant work as part of a diverse team of ECD, Education, adult learning, and Civil Society specialists to design, pilot, iterate, and complete a capacity development package for Civil Society Organisations to integrate learning through play into their Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programming.

2. Background

To plan and respond to the significant emerging and future challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) has launched a global framework to guide our inter-agency coordinated response. AKDN is developing home learning materials and opportunities, supporting teachers to remain connected with students and parents, and supporting students’ gradual transition back to school safely. In East Africa, AKDN agencies are coordinating and collaborating with governments, foundations and development partners to pivot plans and programming to ensure activities are aligned to and in support of the remote education plans to continue to support children and young people learn and develop (ECD through secondary). These changes include:

i. Support for children to continue learning through the collaborative development and rapid review of approved, contextually relevant, fun and enjoyable, and curricula-aligned distance learning materials. Materials developed for diverse communication channels include digital materials, mass media (television and radio) and home, offline learning packages. AKF is engaging its sister agency Nation Media to support across three countries and also exploring a partnership with MTN in Uganda.

ii. Support for teachers to continue engaging and supporting students and parents through online and offline solutions using play-based pedagogies. This includes engaging teachers from AKDN institutions (AKU faculty, AKES and AKA teachers) and AKDN support programmes e.g. MECP) to develop teacher support packages, sharing best practices of new distance teaching and learning using play-based pedagogies, and enabling teachers through educators community of practice (using Facebook and WhatsApp groups) to navigate the many platforms available to identify those relevant to them and their students for learning in new ways.

iii. Support to schools, teachers, parents, and children to transition back into safe, healthy, and caring school environments by providing contextually relevant concrete solutions for educators to enact national health and hygiene minimum standards, develop relevant learning materials to address learning gaps, and support the psychosocial needs of all children when returning to school.

AKDN is working to:

i. Develop teacher support videos to demonstrate good practice by teachers on the Coast in delivering curriculum aligned, play-based, gender responsive home learning with the students.

ii. Create animations of contextually relevant materials to promote play-based solutions to home learning

iii. Conduct rapid assessments of the challenges, opportunities, and concerns of teachers, school leaders, parents, and county education officials.

3. Consultant scope of work

The consultant or organisation will be required to work remotely to:

i. Develop, and design digitally enabled rapid assessments with teachers, students, families, etc.

ii. Conduct 2 gender responsive rapid assessments in Mombasa and Lamu

iii. Develop engaging report with AKF to reflect findings. Ensure these are gender sensitive.

iv. Maintain all required COVID-19 health and safety measures throughout the process

4. Key deliverables

· Develop 3 prototypes of digitally-enabled rapid assessments

· Digitally enabled rapid assessments

· Findings from both rapid assessments

· Development of report with rapid assessment findings

5. Work Plan

Activity and Deadline

Submit draft of digitally enabled rapid assessment questions - 17^th July 2020

Conduct first rapid assessment - 14^th August 2020

Submit first rapid assessment findings to AKF - 28^th August 2020

Conduct second rapid assessment - 16^th October 2020

Submit second rapid assessment findings to AKF - 30^th October 2020

Present rapid assessment findings in engaging report - 6^th November 2020

How to apply

Consultants or organisations interested in this career opportunity with AKF should submit a proposal for work including workplan, CV and/or list of organizational experience and anticipated budget by 12 noon on Wednesday 8^th July 2020. E-mail these documents to recruitment@akfea.org with ‘Rapid Assessments’ in the subject line. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

AKF is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is Committed to Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children and Vulnerable Adults and Expects all Staff and Partners to Share this Commitment.

The Aga Khan Foundation is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org)