Cash for Education Assistance – Response Option Analysis, Recommendations, and Tools for responding to needs caused by the protracted Syrian refugee At CARE

TERMS OF REFERENCE **

Cash for Education Assistance – Response Option Analysis, Recommendations, and Tools for responding to needs caused by the protracted Syrian refugee crisis in Jordan

CARE Jordan

Background:

As of 2020 it is estimated that 112,000 children are out of school in Jordan and an additional 40,000 are at risk. Barriers to access and success in educational outcomes are gendered, multidimensional and exits both at supply and demand side. Refugee children are particularly affected with over a third OOS, and poverty is a key factor in determining risk. The impact of COVID-19 on an already precarious economic situation, and the fact that children have not been able to attend school in-person since March 2020 is predicted to exacerbate protection risks for children. There are several organizations in Jordan providing conditional cash assistance for education for refugees and vulnerable Jordanians, including CARE, and studies suggest that they have a positive impact on increasing access. Education partners in Jordan use different modalities of assistance, assistance amounts, and selection criteria. CARE has coordinated throughout with other Education sector partners through various working groups in Education and Cash for Education and its approach has been informed by joint learning.

This assignment will support the development of a critical component of CARE’s work Jordan, as CARE will be updating its programmatic strategy for Jordan for 2021-2025 and the use of CVA will be included across all sectors of operation, including education.

By commissioning this assignment, CARE seeks to improve the quality of its Education in Emergencies programming in a protracted crisis, so it can support resilience building, and better respond to the immediate and evolving needs of affected children. CARE anticipates that this analysis will also contribute to the Grand Bargain cash commitment to develop an evidence base for assessing costs, benefits, impacts and risks of CVA.

Objectives:

At the end of this assignment, CARE (and relevant education partners) will have an updated framework for the use of CVA for education programming which is flexible to meet the multidimensional needs of affected children, and provides multiple options for the use of CVA, most relevant non-CVA complementary services, and decision making tools to match needs with types assistance.

The assignment will primarily focus on access to Formal Education (basic and comprehensive secondary education) for children and adolescents but pathways from OOS to formal education which may include informal education programs (catch up, remedial, etc) must also be taken into account.

Scope of Work:

1. Analyse the different CVA assistance for education modalities (conditionality, amount, frequency, complementary services, etc.) in Jordan against best practices and lessons learned in Jordan and elsewhere.
2. Analyse to the extent possible the impact of those interventions on the four EiE outcomes as outlined by the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) Minimum Standards.
3. Analyse the current methods for assessing needs to ensure all relevant factors are taken into account and develop/adapt tools for future education needs assessments (quantitative and qualitative).
4. Develop a participatory approach to consult with stakeholders, including community members, affected children/caregivers, and school staff, on the most needed and impactful assistance options for achieving education outcomes for refugees and vulnerable communities. Coordinate with CARE staff for data collection as necessary. (quantitative and/or qualitative)

CARE will collect data based on above tools and the consultant will conduct data analysis.

1. Based on the above, develop a response options framework, which may include multiple CVA assistance methods (frequency, conditionality, etc.), relevant selection criteria, complementary/ancillary services, and SoPs as required.
2. Develop a measurement framework for the use of CVA in education programming (including process monitoring, outcome and impact)
3. Conduct a desk review to analyse the educational situation in Jordan. This review should include analysing opportunities, challenges, and barriers to this sector.
4. Analyse the root causes behind OOSC, develop the available solutions to fill the gaps, and create available chances for OOSC to be enrolled in education sector.
5. Develop and produce a comprehensive education strategic plan that compile with CARE’s mission and vision to serve the education component with focus on Conditional Cash Assistance “CCA” which is considered as the main service provided under this component.

Deliverables:

1. Jordan CVA for Education response analysis report.
2. Needs assessment tools (quantitative and qualitative)
3. Education Strategy including needs analysis, assistance types, selection criteria, and ancillary services.
4. M&E plan for CVA in education
5. All deliverables to be provided in English.

Timeline and Level of Effort:

The work will be carried out from September 1^st to October 31^st with a total of 30 working days maximum. The assignment may be conducted remotely.

Resources:

CARE Jordan will:

• Provide the consultant(s) with project information, any research already conducted, existing manuals and SoPs. The consultant will be responsible for sourcing other relevant research.
• Provide the list of contacts for internal interviews. CARE Jordan and the consultant will jointly agree on an external list.
• Facilitate in-country transportation for assignment-related tasks (in in country)
• Facilitate Arabic interpretation services if required for assignment-related tasks.
• Conduct primary data collection as required and agreed.

Deliverables Timeline (This may be rescheduled after selection)

• Award of Contract and Kick off meeting . 1st – 2nd September.2021 **
• Jordan CVA for Education response analysis report. 4th – 12th September.2021 (6 working days)
• Needs assessment tools (quantitative and qualitative). 13th – 20th September. 2021 (6 working days)
• Education Strategy including needs analysis, assistance types, selection criteria, and ancillary services. 21st September – 6th October.2021 (12 working days)
• M&E plan for CVA in education. 7th – 14h October 2021 (6 working days)

Company/consultant profile.

Payment Schedule:

The payment schedule will be as follows

• 25% payment after the submission and approval of the Jordan CVA for Education response analysis report, and the Needs assessment tools (quantitative and qualitative)

• 75% on delivery of the remaining approved deliverables of the assignment.

Payments will be proceeded after releasing the deliverables and having the final approval from the management team.