ChildFund is hiring a
ChildFund in Laos (CFL) is the representative office of ChildFund Australia – an independent international development organisation that works to reduce poverty for children in developing communities.
ChildFund Australia is a member of the ChildFund Alliance – a global network of 12 organisations which assists almost 23 million children and their families in 70 countries. ChildFund Australia is a registered charity, a member of the Australian Council for International Development, and fully accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which manages the Australian Government’s overseas aid program.
ChildFund began working in Laos in 2010 and works in partnership to create community and systems change which enables vulnerable children and young people, in all their diversity, to assert and realise their rights. Projects are implemented in the capital of Vientiane, as well as Huaphanh and Xiengkhouang Province, some of the country’s poorest regions with significantly high unexploded ordnance contamination.
With a focus on upholding child rights and improving access to quality education, ChildFund in Laos also prioritises projects which focus on child nutrition, sexual reproductive health and rights, media literacy and job readiness.
CFL, in partnership with Ministry of Education and Sport Services (MoES) have been working hard for a decade to improve the education accessibility and quality for Lao students and its community, especially in Huaphanh Province. Currently, ChildFund Laos receives the financial supports from Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) through ChildFund Korea to further support the Government of Laos (GoL) to achieve its vision as stated in the 2030 vison statement that “all Lao population equally and equitably have access to quality education”.
The 3-year KOICA funded project called “Gender and Language Education for Ethnic Students’ Empowerment (GLEESE)” started in April 2021 and will end by December 2023. The project goal aims for all girls and boys in Sopbao and Xamneua District, Huaphanh Provice to complete equitable lower secondary education. The project have targeted 10 schools and implemented partially in 20 villages of Xam Neua and Sopbao districts, Huaphanh Province at the Lower Secondary Education, in the field of gender, infrastructure improvement/renovation, and teaching-learning outcome improvement. The project has been working closely with MoES at the central level, Provincial Education Support Services and District Education and Sports Bureau at the ground level, with the technical supports from local Non-Profit Association.
The goals, the three outcomes and the performance indicators of the project are as follow:
Project Goal:
All girls and boys in Sopbao and Xamneua District, Huaphanh Province complete equitable lower secondary education.
Outcome 1:
Girls and boys have improved school facilities that are child-friendly and gender sensitive.
Outcome 2:
Girls and boys are empowered in making choices about their education through awareness of gender equality.
Outcome 3:
Girls and boys have improved learning outcomes in Lao language reading and writing.
2. Purpose & Objectives
CFL is looking to formally engage with consultant to complete the components below.
The purpose of the mid-term evaluation is to assess the current progress of the project towards the achievement of the intended project outcomes. CFL values consultant who has experience in evaluating school-based interventions, particularly around language improvement and child-friendly approaches. The project also focuses on improving gender equality among stakeholders, as well as improvements in education outcomes among ethnic minority children. Hence, any prior experience in evaluating projects related to gender and social inclusion should be highlighted by the consultant.
The consultant will take on the role in consolidating the assessment results to form of the mid-term evaluation report.
4. Scope of Work
The project requires an external and independent evaluator to support the following evaluation objectives:
Based on the findings of the evaluation objectives, the evaluator is expected to:
In completing the task, the consultant is expected to:
Report:
The report and relevant working documents must be written in English, provided in an electronic format (Microsoft Word and PDF).
The main report should be no longer than 30 pages, other narrative and evidence can be attached as annex to the report.
Sources for all data or information cited should be included in the report.
Report format:
Deliverable and Indicative Timetable
Note: this is subject for negotiation with the Consultant
Indicative dates Outputs and Activities Number of Days
February 2023 Consultant recruitment
Negotiation and signing the contract
Sign on code of conduct related to ChildFund internal policie
reference check
March 2023
Desk review: review relevant project documents, project proposal, previous phase evaluation report and 2
other documents provided by ChildFund
Inception report including clear and detail evaluation work plan, methodology and tools with agreement 4
between consultancy group/ consultant ChildFund staff
Submit the needs assessment tool, including the methodology and work plan. 1
Train enumerators for data collection 1
Data collection 10
XX school (TBC with consutant) 2
4 schools for needs analysis
Draft evaluation report for comments and inputs 4
Total number of days = 24 days
7. Management and Reporting Arrangements
The Consultant will report directly to Education Program Manager, while keeping the Senior MEL Coordinator and the Head of Program copied to the communication chain. The report must be written in English and provided in an electronic format (Microsoft Word). Additionally, Education Advisor based in Sydney will be involved to support reviewing of evaluation tools and reports. All tools created and data collected for this project is expected to be provided in an electronic format that allows future editing.
8. Confidentiality
All discussions and documents relating to this Terms of Reference will be treated as confidential by the parties.
9. Child Safeguarding
The Consultant will undertake the Services to a high standard; use its best endeavors to promote the best interests of ChildFund; protect the reputation of ChildFund and work in a manner consistent with the mission, vision and policies of ChildFund (see Child Safeguarding Policy/Child Safeguarding Code of Conduct PSEAH policy and Employee Code of Conduct). ChildFund Australia has a zero-tolerance policy to abuse, exploitation and harassment in all its forms.
10. Counter-Terrorism and Anti-Money Laundering
ChildFund Australia acknowledges its obligation under the Australian laws relating to counter-terrorism and anti-money laundering. In order to meet its obligation, the consultant is obligated to provide information required for ChildFund to undertake counter terrorism screening before engagement. The consultant’s name, date & place of birth and ID number will be checked against Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) consolidated list, National Security Australia list, World Banks listing and the Asian Development bank listing to ensure not engage with entities or individuals appearing on the lists.
11. Conflict of Interest
The Consultant must declare any financial, personal, family (or close intimate relationship) interest in matters of official business which may impact on the work of ChildFund
12. Fraud and Corruption prevention and awareness
ChildFund Australia has a zero approach to fraud and corruption act. The successful consultant will be required to comply with ChildFund Australia’s fraud and corruption prevention and awareness Policy and act against any form of fraud or corruption and not offer, promise, give or accept any bribes.
13. Insurance
The successful applicant will be required to have in place insurance arrangements appropriate to provision of the requirement in this TOR including (without limitation) travel insurance.
14. Acknowledgment and Disclaimer
ChildFund, its Board and staff make no express or implied representation or warranty as to the currency, reliability or completeness of the information contained in this ToR. Nothing in this ToR should be construed to give rise to any contractual obligations or rights, expressed or implied, by the issue of this ToR or the submission of Expression of Interest in response to it. No contract would be created until a formal written contract is executed between ChildFund and a selected consultant.
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Selection Criteria for Consultant
Core Competencies:
Essential Qualifications and Experience:
Submission Procedure:
Applications can be made by email to Bamboo HR (linked will be identified when the announcement is launched); all other applications will be rejected. In addition, ChildFund will ONLY accept applications that include a CV, a cover letter describing their suitability based on the above required qualifications and experiences and a brief concept note of this project baseline survey that address the criteria above including a financial report. Please upload as one document. Applicants should consider and explain the necessary adjustments to the mode and cost of delivery due to possible restrictions from Covid 19 in their application.
NOTE: The financial proposal should specify a total lump sum amount and a breakdown of a daily professional fee and communication costs etc. Applications without a financial proposal will be regarded as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.
APPLICATIONS SHOULD ONLY CONTAIN A CURRENT CV AND A COVER LETTER IN ENGLISH ADDRESSING THE CRITERIA OUTLINED FOR THE POST AND FINANCIAL PROPOSAL.
ChildFund in Laos does not require interested candidates to submit copies of certificates, ID cards or any other information.
ChildFund in Laos is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people from all backgrounds, abilities, and identities to apply for any vacancies. ChlidFund in Laos has a strict child protection policy and background checks will be undertaken prior to any offer of employment. All candidates should submit two professional referees including their current or most recent employer.
For enquiries, please contact https://teamchildfund.bamboohr.com/careers/339
Please submit your application via www.childfund.org.au/work-with-us or hr@childfund.org.la before 4:30 pm on 17 March 2023