Deadline: 28 February 2020
UNESCO Islamabad seeks the services of organizations to explore factors contributing to girls low transition from primary to lower secondary education under Girls Right to Education Programme in Pakistan.
The purpose of the programme is to support the government’s efforts in increasing access, retention and improving the quality of education through capacity building and targeted interventions at both the institutional and community level.
The programme has two integrated components: (a) community mobilization and advocacy, and (b) improvement in school physical and learning environment through working with Parent Teacher Committees (PTCs) and School Management Committees (SMCs), providing missing facilities in schools (such as boundary walls, washrooms, drinking water and minor repairs), and teacher training in Activity Based Learning (ABL) and Multi-Grade Teaching (MGT).
Objectives
The purpose of the study is to hire services of Civil Society Organization(s) to explore the intricacies of supply and demand side factors acting as contributing factors to girls’ low transition from primary to lower secondary education and how have been sustained and varied in different parts of the country covered under the GREP. It is expected that the research finding may provide evidence based data to debate on and develop strategies/framework for reducing barriers to girls’ education in the country.
More specifically the study will help achieve the following objectives:
- Investigate the impacts of socio and cultural practices on girls education;
- Identify role of educational facilities for girls education;
- Explore the relationship between teachers’ capacities and girls attainment in education;
- Examine strategies for reducing barriers to girls education if any; and
- Compare and contrast the regional and provincial factors contributing to girls’ low transition.
Outputs
The selected organization is expected to deliver the following products/outputs:
- Inception report including theoretical framework of the study and action plan;
- Detailed research methodology including research design, data collection plan and analysis mechanism;
- Descriptive report with analysis of factors contributing to girls’ low transition from primary to lower secondary education; and
- Province specific abridged report with recommendation for policy formulation and programme intervention.
Activities
In consultation with UNESCO Islamabad education team the Civil Society Organization will be responsible to carry out the following activities:
- Undertake a literature review on contributing factors (in school and out of school factors) of girls low transition from primary to lower secondary education to develop theoretical framework of the study;
- Frame research methodology/theoretical framework to explore factors contributing to girls low transition from primary to lower secondary education including data collection tools, procedures and analysis mechanism and techniques;
- Conduct field missions to respective areas to carry out the research study;
- Carry out the research study ensuring all the necessary elements such as proper selection of the respondents, (parents, teachers, girls students, other important respondents), selection and use appropriate data collection procedures and tools (qualitative/quantitative) in accordance with research framework;
- Maintain appropriate research ethics and obtain informed consent while approaching the respondents and collecting data;
- Use appropriate data analysis procedures and techniques to prepare the evidence based report on factors contributing to girls’ low transition;
- Use appropriate data analysis procedures and tools to present analysis and findings of the collected data;
- Present provinces/areas and theme specific report on girls low transition from primary to secondary education; and
- Draft recommendations for equity based policy formulation and programme interventions to deal with girls low transition from primary to lower secondary education.
Input of UNESCO and the Offeror
UNESCO and the selected Civil Society Organization will work closely to complete the assigned task as per following guidelines.
UNESCO will:
- Provide technical support and facilitation to the organization on implementation of activities when needed;
- Facilitate a working relationship with the relevant education colleagues and local stakeholders in the field where necessary for activities implementation;
- Monitor project progress and provide timely support for implementation of the activities; and
- Review reports and documents submitted by the organization and will provide feedback and suggestion for improvement.
The organization will:
- Implement the project activities as per agreed work plan of the contract in regular consultation and coordination with UNESCO Islamabad Office and the concerned staff;
- Seek guidance from concerned UNESCO staff for effective implementation of the assigned task;
- Ensure successful and timely completion of all activities outlined under project outputs;
- Prepare reports and documents of quality standards; and
- Maintain professional standards and strictly follow the required policy measure shared by UNESCO.
Eligibility Criteria
Civil Society organizations working in the development sector specially working in education sector with sound understanding of social research can apply for the assignment. The organization must have following credentials to qualify for this assignment.
Qualification of the organization:
- Must have vast experience in programme/project implementation and management;
- Must have prior experience of working in education sector with particular focus on girls education;
- It is mandatory that the organization must have sound expertise and experience both in qualitative and quantitative research methodologies;
- Demonstrated organizational/professional capacity of implementing similar projects in the target areas; and
- Must have adequate physical and human resources to conduct the study.
Qualification and experience of the personnel:
- Senior team member (s):
- Must have an advanced university degree in social science and/or related areas;
- Must have at least five years of working experience in managing education sector programmes and projects;
- Have sound experience of conducting research studies with expert knowledge of both qualitative and quantitative research; and
- Good analytical and report writing skills.
All proposed team members should have:
- Strong technical skills of analysis, excellent written and oral communication and report writing skills in English.
- Proven multicultural experience, supported by at least one similar reference project.
How to Apply
The organization interested in responding to this request for proposal, depending on their skills and expertise, may submit their detailed proposals at the address given on the website.
For more information, visit http://unesco.org.pk/rfp.html