iSchool Zambia is Currently Recruiting: Local consultant

Local Consultant

Local Consultant to conduct Baseline & Knowledge Attitude Practice and Behavior (KAPB) Survey on Financial Education among out of school girls and young women in Chipata

1. Background

iSchool is an award-winning education business that uses technology to improve education outcomes, focused on Africa. iSchool combines curriculum-aligned content with ongoing teacher training and professional development. We use fit-for-purpose hardware and software to deliver world-class products to teachers, schools, parents, governments, donors and NGOs. Our vision is to build a world-leading brand by reaching and changing the lives of 100 million learners. iSchool Zambia Limited is part of the Mwabu Group Ltd.

iSchool in partnership with the Financial Sector Deepening Zambia (FSDZ) is implementing a project called “Reaching Out with Financial Education; A blended learning programme for youth/adolescent girls and women in rural Zambia”. The objective of this project is to develop a digitized Financial Education Curricula and deliver Financial Education to out of school girls and young vulnerable girls and women in target communities.

The Financial Education Curricula will be developed for the out of school girls and young women aged 15 to 25 years in Chipata district via the NetGirls Initiative in collaboration with Impact Network. The NetGirls Initiative is an organized group of girls and young women, many of whom are out of structured/formal education. The project intervention is designed to get to hard to reach girls and young women to offer education through a financial education curriculum and delivered through a blended learning and certification programme, which combines face-to-face and virtual education. This will leverage existing relationships in rural communities and together with cutting-edge technology with world-class content to reach a significant number of learners.

2. Purpose of the Baseline Survey & KABP Survey

The purpose is to collect baseline data, both qualitative and quantitative, which will be used to establish the current situation in relation to the indicators in the Project specific Results Frameworks and also relevant indicators in the Financial Education Log frame. The baseline survey will help to collect information which will enable iSchool and FSDZ to use as benchmarks against the project outputs, outcomes and impact.

3. The scope of the Assignment

The consultant is expected to draw and work with a representative sample based on mapping of the target areas. The consultant will establish baseline information on FE and determine the Knowledge, Attitude, Practice & Behavior (KAPB) on Financial Education among out of school girls and young women in target communities

The baseline survey will focus on the following;

• Inclusiveness and accountability among the Netgirls in relation to financial literacy
• Understand the income levels of the young vulnerable women in the Netgirls group
• Determine the NetGirls attitude and practice towards saving money and financial decision making.
• Determine how much the young women know about savings groups
• Determine levels of knowledge with regard to financial education/literacy
• Access to information with regard to financial education/literacy

4. Methodology

The Consultant is expected to employ both a qualitative and quantitative approach. The developed research methodology should be participatory to enable the Netgirls and other target groups to actively participate. Key activities will include but not limited to;

• Literature review of the proposals, project-specific results frameworks, and the iSchool/FSDZ Log frame
• Primary and Secondary data collection
• Carry out key informant interviews and Focus Group Discussions in sampled communities
• Case Study analysis to allow an in-depth understanding of the current situation. The Consultant will be expected to develop a systematic and detailed methodology for data collection and analysis for the baseline survey that includes a sampling strategy, data collection tools and data analysis and reports writing. The Consultant will also be expected to recommend mechanisms for tracking the progress of the project including sources of information and the means of verification.

5. Key Deliverables

The consultant will;

• Develop guidelines, baseline and survey tools based on agreed indicators
• Submit an inception report that includes detailed methodology, work plan, budget and data collection tools within 14 days of signing the contract;
• Recruit and train field research assistants on the guidelines, baseline and survey tools
• Seek ethical clearance on the survey tools
• Undertake field survey, data collection and data entry using statistical tools
• Draft report- a detailed report should include: Executive summary, acknowledgement, introduction, clear description of methodology, findings & discussion of main findings, limitations, recommendations and conclusion including bibliography of all cited literature. The report should have the survey instruments annexed and should be maximum 30 pages excluding annexes.
• At least 6 case studies providing an in-depth understanding of the baseline situation in relation to the objectives stated above;
• Submission of final report within four months after signing of contract incorporating comments from iSchool and FSDZ
• The report will be submitted in hard and electronic copies with a database of results (preferably in Excel), and any other documents referred to in the baseline report.

6. Reporting & Communication

The Consultant will be reporting to the iSchool Project Manager with dotted lines to the Program Manager and Monitoring and Evaluation Director. The Consultant will, from time to time, also be expected to interact with all the members of iSchool in a professional manner.

7. Profile and Competency of the Consultant

The Consultant should possess a University Degree or preferably Masters in either of the following disciplines:

• Development Studies, Economics (preferably with bias towards monitoring and evaluation). The consultant should have considerable practical experience in carrying out baseline surveys

Competencies

• Expert knowledge and practical experience on Financial Education/Literacy and related issues.
• Proven experience in qualitative and quantitative KAPB surveys.
• Knowledge of advanced research methods and practices.
• Proven experience in working with girls and young women and on gender issues in general.
• Excellent analytical skills.

8. Indication of Interest

Interested applicants are invited to submit a brief proposal (not more than 4 pages) which should include methodology, budget, proposed work plan and CV with references of previous work done not later than 05TH September, 2018 to the address below. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The Human Resources & Administration Officer
iSchool Zambia Limited, Plot 344 Independence Avenue, or through email to [email protected]