Somalia: Feasibility Study for Establishment of Girls’ Boarding Schools in Somaliland/Puntland

Somali Girls Education Promotion Project (SOMGEP) - Kobcinta Waxbarashada Gabdhaha

Feasibility Study for Establishment of Girls’ Boarding Schools in Somaliland/Puntland 1. Introduction CARE Somalia is an International NGO working in Somalia since 1981. CARE and its partners work with vulnerable communities to address the underlying causes of poverty and promote peace and development, through its strategic goal to reduce poverty by empowering women, enhancing access to resources and services, and improving governance. CARE and its consortium partner, ADRA, has secured funds from DFID to implement The Somali Girls Education Promotion Project (SOMGEP) - Kobcinta Waxbarashada Gabdhaha in Somali – which is intended to support at increasing access to education for some of Somalia’s most educationally disadvantaged children: rural (sedentary and nomadic) girls. The strategic goal of SOMGEP project is to increase the number of girls in rural areas of Somalia who access, receive and complete a quality primary and secondary education. One of the expected outputs of SOMGEP focuses on improving the learning environment through increased access to culturally appropriate and girl friendly facilities and learning materials. In light of the above, the project aims to support the establishment of three boarding facilities to provide at least 300 rural girls with an opportunity to attend school in a safe environment outside their own villages or nomadic lifestyles. Furthermore, it is anticipated that establishment of boarding schools will address the problem of children who are forced to follow or accompany their families during the drought season. In view of the above, the project will pilot three secondary boarding facilities for girls to improve girls’ attendance and retention. It is expected that the boarding facilities will be developed in sites with already developed secondary schools so as to avoid setting up the educational facilities from scratch. This will be done in partnership with the MoEs, local communities, the diaspora and private sector. It will also consider complementarity with other CARE Education projects as well as other INGOs, local NGOs working in these areas. This Terms of Reference outlines the work that CARE requires from an external consultant in order to undertake feasibility study for the establishment and sustainable management of three boarding secondary schools for rural girls, linking to where there are existing local and diaspora plans and initiatives as much as possible.

1. Objectives The objective of this assignment is to undertake a feasibility study for establishment and sustainable management of three boarding secondary schools boarding facilities in Somaliland/Puntland that will build a more supportive environment for provision of quality education to rural girls at the design phase of the assignment. Additionally, this assignment includes the support in the development of implementation guidelines for the management of girls’ boarding facilities and a detailed plan of action.

2. Scope of Work The scope of this assignment is mainly around: Design and deliver a feasibility study to propose and appraise series of options to establish boarding facilities for rural girls followed by the implementation of the most suitable option(s). The Design Phase will also include creation of detailed business plan as part of a foundational strategic plan with short, medium and longer term goals for establishment and management of girls boarding facilities, looking at oversight, day-to-day management, financing, child protection issues and support structures from MoE and diaspora. Assessment of security situation and potential for conflict should be also considered as it may impact on sustainability and girls retention. This work will be informed by extensive consultations with the Ministries of Education, local civil society partners, and religious leaders. CARE will provide an overall coordination function and the consultant for this assignment will be expected to work cooperatively and collaboratively with other stakeholders such as the MoE, the regional education authorities, the diaspora network, the local NGOs and INGOs, the private sector as well as project partners.
   The phase will inform and enable development of a Business Case for the implementation phase. CARE in collaboration with various stakeholders will retain control of the content of the Business Case and the recommendation on the investment decision including feasibility of establishing the boarding facilities, management, finance, sustainability taking into consideration the sociocultural context of Somalia/Somaliland. Key activities under the design phase are as follows: • Produce a detailed report that enables consortium partners of SOMGEP and MOE to prepare a full Business Case for the establishment of girls boarding schools in rural areas and be ready to present the findings to the various stakeholders, capturing:

   • Appraisal and comparison of options
   • Assessment of security and potential for conflict in the areas
   • Evidence giving firm grounds to approve implementation of the preferred option, from social, economic, financial, institutional, political and conflict perspectives
   • A clear Theory of Change for the establishment of girls boarding secondary schools in rural areas that responds to the SOMGEP’s overall Theory of Change.
   • Clarity of expected results and how to ensure best value for money, taking into account DFID’s new VFM scoring methodology
   • Develop selection criteria for the establishing secondary school boarding facilities for girls in the rural areas of Somaliland and Puntland. This should be developed and agreed in conjunction with the MOE, regional education authorities and on the basis of discussions with other members of education sector coordination prior to submission to CARE.
   • Development of detailed plans for the establishment and sustainable management of boarding facilities looking at oversight, day-to-day management, financing, child protection, support structures and stakeholder engagement from MOE, private sector and the diaspora, etc.
   • Outline strategies of engaging the community and Somali in diaspora to support the girls boarding facilities.
   • Outline strategies to put in place a locally based fundraising approach for the sustainability of the infrastructures.

Develop Girls’ Boarding School Management Training Manual for CECs, national, regional and education authorities that will address the following pertinent topics among others:

• Minimum standards in the design of facilities in a girls’ boarding school • Support mechanisms in boarding schools such as: Guidance and counselling departments Hygiene and sanitation • Co-curricular activities • child protection issues, • financing, • dorm management, • Identify if there are any ‘quick start’/pilot project that can maintain the momentum of the establishment of the boarding facilities during the gap between design and implementation and/or provide early visible signs of programme activity in the first days of implementation by end of month this assignment. This is not a compulsory deliverable: if no viable quick start/pilot projects can genuinely be identified, this will not affect CARE’s assessment of the consultant’s performance.

1. Methodology Suggested features for inclusion in the methodology are below - this is not intended to be exhaustive or restrictive. The consultant is expected as a minimum: • Assess the current and emerging opportunities for establishment of viable secondary boarding facilities in Puntland/Somaliland, supplementing existing ones where appropriate. The consultant should consider on-site condition assessment, desktop research and analysis, as well as consultations with the government officials, private sectors, parents and CEC members across Somaliland and Puntland. • Assess impediments to establishment of rural girls’ boarding facilities in Sool, Sanaag and Togdheer Regions. • Appraise existing analysis and interventions made by the local communities, the private sectors, the diaspora, the local government authorities that aim to improve girls’ enrolment and retention in secondary schools through establishment of boarding facilities.
2. Deliverables A detailed feasibility study that addresses the following six questions: • What does the research suggest about rural girls boarding schools in Puntland and Somaliland? • What is the current state of girls in the existing boarding facilities in Somaliland and Puntland? • What are the student eligibility requirements for rural girls boarding secondary schools? • What are the projected operation costs for a girls boarding secondary school? • What is the sociocultural impact for girls-only boarding secondary schools? • What is the recommended enrolment for a girl boarding secondary school? Additionally, the study should: • A recommendation for the most effective governance model for a girl’s boarding facility. • A proposed 36 month budget for continued exploration and start-up implementation (pre-tuition revenue). • A timeline for implementation, resulting in the establishment of a boarding school in 1-2 years.
3. Timeline This consultancy will run for a period of 30 days. The design part of this assignment is expected to commence end of December 2013 and be completed towards the end January 2014.
4. Expertise Required This consultancy can be undertaken by a consultancy firm or independent consultant(s). The consultant should have expertise in the following areas: - • International experience in education program management in Horn of Africa Countries. Experience in research work, monitoring and evaluation consultancies, education assessments/evaluations, including previous working experience in Somalia/Somaliland; • A degree in education or other relevant fields. A post graduate degree in any of the main sub-sectors will be an added advantage. • An experience in education management and similar consultancies with example of business cases developed and approved. • Demonstrated experience in managing development, relief and emergency programs. • Have excellent analytical and writing skills • Previous working on nomadic education projects will be an added advantage as well as consultancy team composition of Somali speaker(s).

nterested consultancy firms or independent consultant (s) should apply. The application should be accompanied by: • Technical proposal not exceeding ten pages typed in New Times Roman size 11 single spaced. The attachments comprising of summarized firm profile, CVs of the lead and associate consultants should not exceed 15 pages in a technical proposal.
• Financial proposal.
Please send your complete application by email. The subject of the email should read: Feasibility Study for Establishment of Girls Boarding Schools in Somaliland/Puntland and addressed to consultants@som.care.org to reach not later than December 15th 2013. Successful applicants are expected to commence the consultancy on 2nd Jan 2014