Terms of reference for the development of Accelerated Education Guidelines At ActionAid

Overall objective of the assignment
The overall objective of the assignment is to develop Guidelines on Accelerated Education (AE), in order to facilitate full attainment of the right to education for all learners in Kenya.

Specific objective of the assignment
The following are the specific objectives of the assignment:

1. Establish the situation of Accelerated Learning in Kenya.
2. Identify the populations that require Accelerated Learning as an intervention to realizing basic education in Kenya.
3. Outline the legal and policy framework that can be used to anchor Accelerated Learning in Kenya
4. Identify different scenarios where the Guidelines on Accelerated Learning would be applicable.
5. Develop Guidelines on Accelerated Learning using a thematic approach for Basic Education in Kenya.
6. Recommend how the Guidelines for Accelerated Learning can be appropriately applied and implemented in different situations in Kenya.

Proposed methodology and approach for the assignment

• This consultancy will focus on extracting and synthesizing various relevant policy provisions within the education sector in Kenya through desk research, participatory methods and focus group discussions with the Technical Working Group (TWG).
• The Consultant will refer to the study conducted on Policy gaps that recommended the development of Guidelines on Accelerated Learning.
• The consultant will refer to the workshop report on the conceptualization for the development of accelerated education programme guidelines.
• This will provide a conceptual model for analyses and a set of themes against which the Guidelines will be based. The methodology should as much as possible adhere to the guidelines provided below but consultants are encouraged to be as creative as possible in arriving at a suitable methodology that will ensure the objectives of the assignments are fully met in a timely, efficient and effective manner.
• The consultant’s methodology should consider the following guidelines:
• Information will be collected from secondary sources through literature review and primary sources through focused group discussions with the TWG.
• The assignment will prepare and use appropriately designed approaches to extract information from various stakeholders.
• The selected consultant must design their milestones, indicate costs and plan their activities.

Expected outputs

• Pre-assignment deliverables

Within two weeks of signing the contract, the selected consultant is expected to provide an inception report showing the methodology and conceptual framework against which the guidelines will be developed and structured.

• Mid-assignment deliverables

Submission of draft Guidelines for consideration by the TWG and incorporation of their feedback.

• Post-assignment deliverables

Presentation of the final detailed Guidelines for validation at National level and participation in the National forums for dissemination of the Guidelines.
The Consultant will finally produce a report summing up the entire process.

• Management

ActionAid will directly supervise the consultant with inputs and support provided by the TWG comprising of members of the Ministry of Education and its Agencies, and selected partner organizations.

Qualifications and experience
Given the highly technical nature of the assignment, the lead consultant should provide the following expertise:
• A basic degree in education and an advanced degree in any of the following areas: Educational Policy, Educational Management and Administration, Non-Formal Education, or Curriculum Development
• Demonstrated experience and familiarity with issues related to Non-formal Education, Safeguarding and Child Protection.
• Strong skills and proven track record in conducting quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
• Excellent report writing skills and ability to present information in a user-friendly manner.
• Ability to synthesize technical information into simple, understandable manner.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Applicants should provide:

• A technical proposal with an elaborate design and methodology, clear work plan on how the assignment will be conducted, including the proposed time schedules.
• An itemized budget for consultancy fees and administrative costs.
• Curriculum vitae for the consultants and proposed team members.
• List of related work undertaken in the recent past including full names, email address, telephone and physical address of the clients.