Costs analysis of support mechanisms for children with disability in mainstream schools – Togo

Terms of Reference – Consultancy Costs analysis of support mechanisms for children with disability in mainstream schools
Title of the research: Costs Analysis of support mechanisms for children with disability in mainstream schools
Humanity & Inclusion Department : Innovation, Impact & Information Division & ACO Programme
Objective of the mission: Design, implement and report on cost analysis of interventions
Location of the mission: Remote (with field missions in Togo and Senegal)
ToR last updated: 07/12/2023
Table of Contents
1. The context ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1
2. The research ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 2
3. The consultancy …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
4. Requested profile ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 5
5. Application process ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6
1. The context
Children with disabilities stay on the margins of educative systems in many countries, and numerous reports show that once in school, the challenges remain significant to ensure their retention and success, both academically and socially. Humanity & Inclusion implements projects in the inclusive education sector in nearly 30 countries. HI applies the twin track approach at the heart of its work to remove barriers to access and retention of children with disability in education. This approach involves both mainstreaming inclusion in the education sector and focusing on targeted support for learners with disabilities. Children with disabilities have diverse needs, and each of them must be able to benefit from appropriate assistive devices, tailored personal support and accessible learning tools to enable them to achieve their learning potential. Suitable support systems include itinerant teachers and school life assistants.
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Projects relying on itinerant teachers have been implemented on various continents and in various countries (Cambodia, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Togo, Mali, Senegal, Nepal…) and on various scales (at the level of a single province or replicated in several). The itinerant teacher system is an approach for learners with specific educational needs requiring additional, specialized support (learners who are deaf or learners who are blind, for example). These teachers are mobile. They provide support to pupils in response to their identified needs, work alongside the titular teachers and establish links with their pupils’ families. In Togo, HI supports the Ministry of Education in implementing the itinerant teachers since 2010. They work under the direct supervision of the education authorities within a given school district and cover several schools. Initial lessons learned show promising effects.
The school life assistants are men or women who work in ordinary schools to help students with disabilities to participate in school life, and to support them in their learning and/or daily life at school (personal hygiene, meals, getting around, dressing, etc.). They are external actors, generally with a 2-year higher education diploma (students, employees, etc.), who work on a contractual basis for a school to help children with disabilities in the classroom and at home. This support mechanism is implemented in Senegal since 2016. However, there is still little documentation on this model.
While a range of solutions exist, scientific literature attesting to their benefits or analyzing their implementation costs is scarcer. And yet, if these support systems are to be scaled up to the national level, it is essential that state authorities support them, integrate them into national policies, provide them with dedicated resources and monitor their implementation. Economic evaluations are key as they produce concrete and detailed information on the costs involved in implementing and/or replicating an intervention. They are crucial to the planning and sustainability of these systems. The consultancy replies to the organization’s wish to produce reliable and useful data on the costs and effects of these support systems to guide future scaling strategies in the inclusive education sector. Impact evaluation and cost analysis can be powerful tools for convincing stakeholders (of all kinds: governments, donors, civil society organizations or others) to invest in a solution.
2. The research
2-1- Research objectives
The aim of this research is to propose cost analysis of each of the two support mechanisms (itinerant teachers in Togo, school life assistants in Senegal) for children with sensory disabilities at primary level and to produce and share reliable information to enable the replication and sustainability of these approaches.
2-2- Use of findings – Target audience
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The findings of this research will be used by the Humanity & Inclusion project teams to inform and support advocacy activities in favor of the inclusion and retention of children with disabilities in mainstream schools. The final recipients are representatives of the education authorities at the national level, to enable them to be aware of the costs and then to be able to support these strategies, by providing them with the necessary financial resources.
2-3- Location
This research will assess two support mechanisms endorsed and promoted by education authorities in two Sub-Saharan African countries: itinerant teachers in Togo and school life assistants in Senegal.
2-4- Methodology
The consultant will be responsible for designing the methodology for the economic evaluations of each of the support systems for disabled children in ordinary settings (Togo & Senegal). The focus is here on cost analysis. However, the possibility of adding the measurements of the benefits or outcomes of these interventions, to respectively carry out a cost benefit analysis or a cost-effectiveness analysis, can be included in the proposal.
The protocol will detail the research questions, the type of cost evaluation, the methods of data collection and cost evaluation, and which costs will be included. The methods to collect data can include for example project desk review, individual and collective interviews, workshops.
The methodology must be realistic, respecting the implementation timing of the two ongoing projects in West Africa, when relevant gender-sensitive and including a participatory approach involving partners and other stakeholders in the project.
The consultancy will involve working closely with several departments and programs: the Innovation, Impact & Information Division (research specialist), the Inclusive Education sector (Global inclusive education specialist), and teams in Togo and Senegal (project managers and field specialists in inclusive education, MEAL manager, other persons of interest).
4-5- Ethics
The research methodology must respect international ethics standards and be in line with the
Humanity & Inclusion guidance note “Studies and research at Handicap International: Promoting ethical data management”1. The protocol must clearly detail how the following recommendations will be implemented operationally:
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Guarantee the security of subjects, partners, and teams,
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Ensure a person or community-centered approach,
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Obtain subjects’ free and informed consent,
1 Humanity & Inclusion. 2015. Studies and research at Handicap International: Promoting ethical data management.
Available here: https://www.hi.org/sn_uploads/document/EthicalDataManagementGN-04.pdf
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Ensure referral mechanisms are in place,
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Ensure the security of personal and/or sensitive data at all stages of the activity,
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Ensure the expertise of the teams involved and the scientific validity of the activity,
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Obtain authorization from the relevant authorities.
3. The consultancy
3-1- Overall objective of the expert mission
The consultant will be responsible for design, planning, implementation, and reporting of cost analysis of the two identified support mechanisms for children with disability in ordinary schools (Togo and Senegal).
3-2- Expected results
(1)
A written protocol is finalized and shared with HI and relevant local authorities
Based upon the technical proposal, and in collaboration with Humanity & Inclusion reference persons, a protocol is drafted. This document provides the key elements of the study’s implementation (presentation of the methodological framework: study design, selection of participants, data collection, data processing, data analysis, quality monitoring mechanisms; ethical considerations and timeline).
(2)
Costs are calculated for both support mechanisms in Togo and Senegal
Data are collected in each country and costs calculated to support future scaling up advocacy activities and strategies.
(3)
Humanity & Inclusion team are included in the research process to ensure they understand the general process and are able to use correctly the information produced by the consultant
Once all data is collected, 1 workshop iq organized to present the research process and findings to HI teams and relevant partners to ensure consistent and relevant use of results
3-3- Deliverables
All deliverables must be produced in French.
Deliverables Recipients Dissemination Delivery deadlines Technical Documents relative to research implementation
1-
1 final Protocol
HI
Internal
Beginning of mission
2-
Final data collection tools (interview guides, questionnaires…)
HI
Internal
Beginning of mission
Research reports and matrices
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4-
1 Final scientific report
HI, Donors, Partners, Authorities
External
End of mission
5-
1 2-pages document with main findings per country
HI, Donors, Partners, Authorities
External
End of mission
6-
1 matrice of costs per country
HI, Donors, Partners, Authorities
External
End of mission
Workshops (for dissemination)
7-
1 Workshop to discuss findings formulate recommendations for use
HI
Internal
End of mission
8-
1 Meeting to present research findings (webinar)
HI, Donors, Partners, Authorities
External
End of mission
3-4- Timeline & location
The consultant(s) can start at the earliest opportunity. Findings should be available for September 2024 the latest.
The consultant(s) can be based anywhere, but it is essential to plan at least 1 mission in each country (Togo and Senegal) and to include the related costs in the budget proposal.
4. Requested profile
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-1- Requested expertise
This tender is open to individuals or team of consultants.
Required:
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Proficiency in written and oral institutional communication in French,
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Proven experience in conducting economic evaluations (cost analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-benefit analysis…) in the education sector (with share of major publications),
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Proven and recognized experience in methods of data collection, processing and analysis (quantitative and/or qualitative and/or secondary data),
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Used to produce evidence to support scaling up initiatives at national level,
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Excellent knowledge of ethical standards,
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Used to work with project teams in the humanitarian sector
Desired:
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Experience in project impact evaluation
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Experience in conducting studies that include children and people with disabilities (e.g., adapting communication tools or materials).
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Experience of working in the West African region,
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5. Application process
Applications must include:
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In relation to the consultant:
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A curriculum vitae (training, experience in the areas mentioned above, list of key publications related to the topic of this consultancy – meaning cost evaluations and education)
□ Proof of registration of firm or consultant
□ Copy of the consultant’s ID card or passport
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References
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In relation to the technical proposal:
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A methodological proposal to conduct this research, including, a minima: Understanding of the study’s issues and of the terms of reference; background of the research; presentation of the objectives; presentation of the methodological framework: study design, selection of participants, data collection, data processing, data analysis, quality monitoring mechanisms; ethical considerations
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A timeline, including research planning, implementation and reporting activities
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A financial proposal including, a minima, details of the /research’s consultancy fees and operational costs (travel, accommodation, investigator per diems, translator pay, software, etc.).
Please, send all required documents before 28/01/2024 to the following address: Cotation Hi [email protected]