ToRS for ZANEC End Term Evaluation for 2021 2025 Strategic Plan at Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC)

Job Description

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR END-TERM EVALUATION FOR 2021-2025 STRATEGIC PLAN (SP).

Deadline for submission is Saturday 2nd August 2025

1.0 INTRODUCTION/ BACKGROUND

The Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) is a coalition of 93 civil society organisations (CSOs) working in the education sector. The mandate of ZANEC is to conduct research and advocate for the provision of quality and inclusive education for all at the national level through various platforms, including the Local Education Groups (LEG), Africa Network Campaign on Education for All (ANCEFA), and the Global Campaign for Education (GCE). ZANEC has, since its establishment in 2002, been advocating for the provision of quality and inclusive education for all Zambians. ZANEC’s scope of work covers various aspects of education, including access to education, quality of teaching and learning, education financing, policy formulation, and implementation monitoring.

The coalition engages in advocacy campaigns, policy analysis, research, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at addressing systemic challenges within the education sector. ZANEC’s work is divided into five different education sub-sectors: The Early Childhood and Development sub-sector, the Basic Education Sub-sector, the Skills and Tertiary Sub-sector, the Youth and Adult Literacy sub-sector and the Gender and Equity sub-sector. ZANEC has the following vision and mission:-

Vision: “A sustainable and inclusive education system that responds to national aspirations and fosters an environment for self-fulfilment
Mission: “To promote quality and inclusive education for all, through influencing policy, building consensus, holding duty bearers accountable, and strengthening the capacities of stakeholders in the education sector”

a) ZANEC 2021-2025 Strategic Plan (SP)

In 2021, ZANEC embarked on the implementation of the new 2021-2025 Strategic Plan after successfully implementing the previous SP, which ended in 2020. The current SP, which started running from 2021-2025, focused on Promoting Quality Education for Every Zambian. The implementation of CSP is done through the development and implementation of Annual Work Plans and Budgets guided by the monitoring, evaluation and learning framework. The year 2025 is the final year of the 2021-2025 Strategic Plan implementation anchored on six Strategic Objectives, namely:

Strategic Outcome 1: By the end of 2025, ZANEC will have influenced the government to implement identified policy provisions with an impact on equitable access to quality education and training for all.
Strategic Outcome 2: By the end of 2025, selected ECE Centres deliver comprehensive early childhood development in line with the Nurturing Care Framework.
Strategic Outcome 3: By the end of 2025, the Coalition will base its responses and provision of advisory services to duty-bearers in the education sector on professionally researched and documented information.
Strategic Outcome 4: By the end of 2025, the Coalition will have promoted the integration of Social Accountability in the Education Sector at the Provincial, district and school levels.
Strategic Outcome 5: By the end of 2025, the Coalition, with its Secretariat, will be working collectively towards enhanced performance and achievement of the goal of this strategic plan
Strategic Outcome 6: By the end of 2025, ZANEC will have broadened its income base and increased general funding from 2% to 15% of total income.

b) ZANEC’s Main Focus of Work

1. Lobbying and Advocacy: ZANEC actively engages with government authorities and policymakers to advocate for policies that promote inclusive and quality education. This involves lobbying for increased budget allocations to education, reforms in curriculum development, teacher training, and infrastructure development. ZANEC is highly recognised in the education sector and is frequently called upon by the Ministry of Education as a CSO’s representation at important national forums. ZANEC also frequently makes submissions to parliament to advocate for policy changes or amendments.

2. Research and Policy Analysis: ZANEC conducts research and policy analysis to identify key issues affecting the education sector and to provide evidence-based recommendations for policy formulation and implementation. ZANEC’s flagship research is the annual status of education report, which researches emerging issues in the education sector to inform its evidence-based advocacy

3. Capacity Building: ZANEC provides training and capacity-building workshops for education stakeholders, including teachers, students, community leaders, and policymakers. These initiatives aim to enhance the skills and knowledge of stakeholders in areas such as advocacy, monitoring, and evaluation to promote grassroots-level advocacy.

4. Social Accountability and Transparency: Promoting transparency and accountability in the utilisation of public education resources through the social accountability initiative that utilises two social accountability tools: the child-friendly scorecard and notice board initiatives.

2.0 EVALUATION OVERVIEW

ZANEC is seeking the services of a qualified person(s) or firm to support the End-Term Evaluation aimed at assessing progress made towards the achievements of the SP outcomes and commitments in relation to indicators in the M&E Framework for SP.

a) Geographical Coverage/Scope
The evaluation will target the stakeholders of all categories (women, young people) in all geographical areas in which ZANEC work to ensure that each region is well represented. This includes Lusaka, Western, Central, and Copperbelt Provinces.

b) Overall Objective of the End-Term Evaluation of the SP
The overall purpose of the End-Term Evaluation is to assess impact and progress made in the achievement of the SP objectives and organisational efficiency. The findings of the End-Term Evaluation and recommendations will inform the next two years of the SP and the future of the ZANEC 2026-2030 Strategic Plan.

c) Specific Objectives of the End-Term Evaluation-

To assess the impact, relevance, efficiency and sustainability of the Programme
To assess the effectiveness towards the achievement of the SP objectives in relation to the indicators;
To identify key opportunities and constraints/challenges that may have accelerated or inhibited progress towards attainment of set objectives and targets;
To document good practices and lessons learnt (including learning from failures) for improvement in the new SP;
To recommend the possible focus areas for the new 2026-2030 Strategic Plan.

3. METHODOLOGY AND APPROACH

The Evaluation Team/Consultant need to propose an evaluation methodology to be used based on the understanding of TORs. The proposed methodology regarding evaluation design, sampling design, sample size, types of data collection tools, data collection methods, and the subsequent qualitative and quantitative data analysis should be clearly stated. The types of evaluation tools to be used for data collection should be clearly stated. The evaluation methodology will be refined at the inception stage in close collaboration with the ZANEC Team. The consultant will work with the ZANEC Team, as part of pre-evaluation planning and inception, review the organisational and project deliverables and indicators, identify and agree on specific indicators of reach and scale to be covered by the evaluation, and finalise evaluation guides and questionnaires.

4. APPLYING FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY

ZANEC is seeking consultancy services from a qualified and highly self-motivated, enthusiastic and innovative Consulting firm/Consultant to conduct an End-Term Evaluation for the SP.

a) Eligibility Criteria/ Requirements for Organisation/Consultancy
The applicant must be a firm or institution with working experience of 8-10 years in undertaking the scale and scope of similar evaluation processes for INGOs/NGOs programmes or projects.
The lead consultant must have at least a Master’s or PhD Degree in Education, Development Studies, Economics, Social Sciences, Human Rights, Public Administration, Business Management or Public Policy (education) or its equivalent. Postgraduate training in Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Knowledge Management will be an added advantage. Ensure that the actual team that will do the work meets the qualifications as specified. Other experiences required include, but are not limited to, the following:-
Work experience in the Education Sector in Zambia, programming with experience in designing, reviewing and evaluating education programmes.
Should have extensive knowledge of country-level and international development.
Undertaking policy analysis, advocacy and campaigning work across levels: Local, National and international.
Understanding of Education policies, plans and programs in Zambia and regional protocols on education.
Knowledge of monitoring and evaluation approaches/methods
Applying participatory methodologies to reviews or any other related processes.
Experience in Organisational Learning and Development Reviews

Field experience in Zambia, and networks within government, local and international NGOs.
Proven data analysis, report writing skills and communication skills.
Good research skills for interviewing a wide range of stakeholders at the National, Provincial, district and school levels.
Experience in the use of participatory and people-centred, quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
NB: The Lead Consultant may involve not more than three persons in the Evaluation. In such a case, the other member(s) of the team should be holder(s) of at least a first degree in any of the areas specified above CVs of related parties should be shared as part of the submission.

To download the full TORs see the link here .