Right To Play- Evaluation Consultant- Lebanon

BACKGROUND:

Right To Play is a global organization using the transformative power of play to educate and empower children facing adversity. Through playing sports and games, Right To Play helps over one million children learn through play to create better futures, while driving lasting social change in more than 20 countries each week. Founded in 2000 by social entrepreneur and four-time Olympic gold medalist Johann Olav Koss, Right To Play is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and has national fundraising offices in Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Regional offices are in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. Our programs are facilitated by more than 600 international staff and 16,400 local volunteer Coaches.

The NORAD humanitarian 2015 Project in Lebanon entitled “Sport And Play For Children’s Education In Conflict Affected Settings” was implemented in both formal and informal learning settings. Activities focused on supporting marginalized children, especially girls, to engage in quality education. Work was done within local communities to provide quality education to in- and out-of-school children. Sport and play activities were aimed to promote participation, coping skills, concentration, problem-solving, critical thinking, positive self-esteem, self-efficacy, the capacity to have fun and manage stress, and the ability to envision a future - all of which are essential to reaching educational objectives. Finally, fundamental to the program approach was ensuring safe and protective environments for children through Right To Play’s child safeguarding model. To reach the goals and outcomes of the project, RTP trained and equipped coaches, teachers, and partner staff to protect children by ensuring their rights are being respected and upheld.

Program Goal:

Boys and girls aged 4-18 access relevant, quality education in secure learning environments in conflict-affected communities in Lebanon

Expected Outcome:

Improved learning environments that are safe and promote the protection and the psychosocial well-being of participating children and youth in Lebanon

JOB SUMMARY:

The primary objectives of the assessment study are as follows:

1. To determine progress to date by end of project towards positive outcomes (knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behaviors) included in the log frame

2. To facilitate learning about the project among beneficiaries and staff and strengthen staff capacity to carry out ongoing quality monitoring and evaluation processes;

I. Assessment locations

The current assessment study would be carried out in :

North Lebanon: Tripoli and the surrounding areas Central Lebanon: Greater Beirut (Beirut and the surrounding areas, and Mt. Lebanon) and Bekaa (mid and western areas, such as, Zahle, Rachaiya, Jobbe Jannine, and their surrounding areas) South Lebanon: Saida and Tyre (the main cities and the surrounding camps and gatherings)

II. ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY

The assessment will adopt a mixed method approach: quantitative tools will be combined with qualitative tools to yield rich information. Data collection, analysis and reporting is led by the consultant, with the support of the country office and field staff at RTP.

The evaluation study will be conducted by using tools developed by Right To Play. Currently, data collection is limited to:

Secondary data review: evaluation studies conducted Surveys with students and youth in schools and after-school programs: sample of 320 beneficiaries overall Key Informant Interviews with schools and local organizations directors: 3 Interviews Focus Group Discussions with students and youth: 4 groups (8-10 persons each) of children (m/f), ages 11-12 years old Focus Group Discussions with teachers and coaches in schools and local organizations: 8 groups (8-10 persons each) of school and kindergarten teachers and coordinators (3 groups of teachers not implementing RTP program, and 5 groups of program implementing teachers) Focus Group Discussion with Parents: 3 groups of Parents in north, south, and central Lebanon Focus Group Discussion with Right To Play Lebanon staff and head coaches in order to triangulate and analyze data

III. TIME FRAME

The assessment process will begin as soon as a contract with the evaluator is signed and must be completed with submission of final report by March 18th to the latest. The following table outlines approximate timelines for assessment activities.

Week 1 Document review Contacting partners for data collection appointments Finalizing data collection schedule Distribution of roles and responsibilities for the field work Week 2-3 Data Collection (qualitative and quantitative) Data entry and transcription Week 4 Data transcription Data analysis Week 5 Report write up Draft report shared with RTP Lebanon and Regional Office Week 6 Reviewed report shared with consultant Final report is submitted to RTP Lebanon and Regional Office

IV. CONSULTANCY DELIVERABLES

Outcome assessment logistical plans (e.g. data collection scheduling, etc...) Raw data collected Tables of the quantitative analyzed data and matrix of the qualitative data Weekly progress reports Outcome assessment report: The report will be in English, in Word format and submitted in electronic copy.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

Consultant (s) responsibilities will include the following:

Familiarization with RTP project, methodology and tool: through preliminary meetings or discussions regarding concept clarity and approach; in some cases via email, phone. Documents review: Review of secondary data/desk review. Data collection: The consultant will lead and supervise data collection from program beneficiaries and key informants (quantitative and qualitative data collection). RTP Lebanon staff will facilitate setting the meetings with the assessment participant and will assist the consultant in coordinating logistics for the data collection. Data entry: oversee the data entry process to ensure accuracy and minimize data entry errors by providing training and coaching to data entry clerks. Data analysis: The consultant will lead the data analysis process for the quantitative and qualitative data. The data analysis plan will be approved and supervised by RTP Lebanon office. The consultant will be expected to complete descriptive statistics and pivot tables. Report Writing: The consultant will prepare a draft and final report on the findings, inclusive of recommendations and lessons learned. The report will consist of, at minimum, an executive summary, an overview of the study (including the methodology, challenges and limitations, and successes), the findings, a discussion of key learnings from the findings, and the tools.
The consultant will directly report to the Program Manager at the Lebanon’s office, who will serve as the point person for this outcome assessment study process.

QUALIFICATIONS

The consultant should have the following qualifications:

Experience managing assessment study in a similar context Experience in leading mixed-method evaluations (i.e. both quantitative and qualitative techniques) Demonstrated understanding of child and/or youth development Strong analytical, research and writing skills Strong facilitation skills, particularly with regards to working with vulnerable groups Demonstrated understanding and support of principles of equity and inclusion Fluent spoken and written English Good understanding of the Lebanese host community

Preferably the evaluator will also have the following desirable qualifications:

Experience conducting studies in Lebanon Fluent spoken Arabic Understanding of the concepts of use of sport and play in development and humanitarian contexts

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES

Interested evaluators are asked to submit proposal package containing the following:

Budget outlining expenses by type and total (as specified in section 9- Budgets and payments) A cover letter highlighting the evaluator’s interest, relevant experience, a list of previous evaluations conducted and other qualifications A CV An example of a previous assessment/ evaluation report Indicate your available start date

Consultancy Start Date: February 1st, 2016

Contract Duration: 2 months

HOW TO APPLY:

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your resume and cover letter to:

[email protected] and kindly include “Evaluation consultant, Lebanon” and your name in the subject line.

Applications from candidates authorized to work in Lebanon will only be considered.

While we thank all applicants for their interest, only those selected for interviews will be contacted.

Right To Play is a child-centered organization. Our recruitment and selection procedures reflect our commitment to the safety and protection of children in our programs.

To learn more about who we are and what we do, please visit our website at www.righttoplay.com