Aga Khan Foundation
1. Introduction
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of private not-for profit, non-denominational international development agencies, institutions and programmes that work primarily in the poorest parts of Africa and Asia to improve the quality of life of communities in remote and resource poor areas. Globally, AKF seeks sustainable solutions to long-term problems of poverty, hunger, illiteracy, and ill-health, with special emphasis on the needs of rural communities in mountainous, coastal, and other resource-poor areas. In East Africa, AKF works with partners to improve the quality of life by promoting and developing innovative solutions to challenges of development in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Reflecting the complex and multi-faceted nature of development, AKF operates a multi-sectoral portfolio that includes programming in Education, Economic Inclusion, Civil Society, Health and Early Childhood Development.
2. Background
In 2020, AKF led a diverse consortium of partners to generate media content to elevate the importance of reading for enjoyment and learning through play. These included, but were not limited to, Night-Time Tales, Bena and Kena (both aired on NTV), and Playkits with videos and posters (See akflearninghub.org/). Based on the success and learning from these, AKF is looking to expand this partnership to increase the reach and impact of reading and play content across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. In 2022, AKF will be engaging in a research study on the overall relevance and impact of the distribution of Let’s Make a Toy Playboxes to households and support to Community Listening Libraries to understand: i) the relevance, use, and efficacy of the materials provided, and ii) the impact of these interventions on networks between children, parents, teachers, and the community as they relate to children’s learning.
The Playboxes and Community Listening Libraries are located in the following geographies:
- Kenya: Mombasa and Lamu Counties
- Tanzania: Lindi Rural and Lindi Urban Districts and Zanzibar
- Uganda: Arua and Yumbe Districts
3. Consultant scope of work
AKF is seeking to engage partner organisations to work as part of a diverse team to develop and implement a research project to investigate the relevance, use, and efficacy of the household playboxes and community listening libraries to promote reading for joy and learning through play. The research will need to: i) be formative and inform the further distribution of content to households and libraries, and, ii) assess the overall relevance, use, and efficacy of these interventions. The scope of work includes:
- In collaboration with AKF, finalise the research and learning framework
- Identify the critical assumptions to test and potential data sources
- Develop a research methodology to test the assumptions with a clear data collection plan
- Develop the necessary tools for data collection
- Develop an analytical framework, including dummy tables for cross analytics where needed
- Lead data collection and analysis in the appropriate geographies in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda
- Deliver formative presentation on the learning for AKF internal teams
- Deliver final report in agreed format
- Design communications assets to ensure learning is effectively communicated to diverse audiences including, but not limited to, parents, community-based librarians, teachers, government, internal AKF staff, and global community of education and donors.
4. Key deliverables
At minimum, the deliverables include:
- All frameworks and tools developed and data collected through the research process
- Finalised formative presentation to inform the ongoing project to the AKF internal team
- Finalised presentations/tables/graphics of findings and all differentiated communications assets
- Finalised written report evaluating overall relevance, use, and efficacy of the Playboxes and Community Listening Library interventions in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
5. Work plan
The applicant can recommend different ways to ensure how the deliverables are achieved. However, the below timelines for are non-negotiable:
Product
Date
Initial meeting on research proposal
1st August 2022
Presentation of finalized framework, methodology, and tools for data collection
End of August 2022
Data collection
October-November 2022
Presentation of formative findings to AKF internal teams
End of November 2022
Submission of draft report
Early January 2023
Submission of final report, presentation, and other materials
28th February 2023
How to apply
To Apply
1.Consultants or organizations interested in this opportunity with AKF should submit:
2.Technical proposal of no greater than seven pages
3.Proposed work plan
4.Proposed budget
5.CV of core team members
6.Examples of previous research experience
7.Proposed budget with a detailed breakdown of costs for the study (taking into account and additional 5% WHT for bidders based in Kenya, 15 %WHT East Africans and 20% WHT for bidders not based in Kenya) that is Itemized consultancy fees/costs and Itemized administrative expenses where applicable that will include operational and administration cost related to this consultancy including, travel, accommodation.
AKF will not reimburse any cost above the financial proposal submitted
Applications should be submitted by Midday EAT on **20th** July 2022.
Please note that applicants must include “Playbox and Community Library Research” in the email subject line and all attached documents must be under 10 MB for consideration.
Criteria for selection
All submissions will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Technical proposal 40%
- Technical experience 30%
- Value for Money 30%
AKF is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is Committed to Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children and Vulnerable Adults and Expects all Staff and Partners to Share this Commitment.
The Aga Khan Foundation is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org)