ThaiNGO

~~Save the Children International is looking for a Consultant

JOB TITLE:  Consultant to conduct Data Quality Audit (DQA) for ACCESS Project

TEAM/PROGRAMME:  Thailand Programme  

Terms of Reference

Consultant to conduct Data Quality Audit (DQA) for ACCESS Project

1. Background
Save the Children’s three-year project, Assisting Conflict-affected Children Enrol and Stay in School (ACCESS), started on January 1, 2014 and will continue until December 31, 2016 with support from Educate A Child (EAC). It aims to address key barriers to education in three communities – eastern Myanmar, seven refugee camps in Thailand and migrant communities in Bangkok and Mae Sot, Thailand through partnerships and collaboration with four other organizations including Karen Teacher Working Group (KTWG), Right to Play (RTP), Foundation for Rural Youth (FRY) and Help without Frontiers (HWF) respectively.
The project has exerted great efforts in setting up the data management system to collect and track individual out-of-school students it aims to enroll and retain in schools. Between 2014 and 2015, the project has enrolled more than 55,000 OOSCs, a majority of which was enrolled into schools in Eastern Myanmar by KTWG. KTWG’s field monitoring teams are responsible for data collection in the field and the data is consolidated at the data center in KTWG’s office in Mae Sa Riang district, Thailand twice a year (see Annex 1 for more information on the KTWG data flowchart). The KTWG’s database is used to report on the enrollment of OOSCs as well as their retention as per the EAC’s required reporting. KTWG is committed to enrolling 80,000 OOSCs by the project end this year.
At this stage, Save the Children is undertaking a process of strengthening the quality management mechanism for the ACCESS project.  We aim to examine the current system at partner level (KTWG) as well as the actual data quality being collected through KTWG’s field teams and reported to Save the Children from data center (KTWG’s main office in Thailand). This will inform actions for Save the Children and KTWG to improve the data quality and ensure improved compliance to EAC required reporting (Annex 2 for EAC reporting guidelines).

2. Objectives of this consultancy:
The consultant will conduct two Data Quality Audits at one of the ACCESS partner organizations (KTWG) with the following objectives:
1. To assess and review the existing data quality mechanisms and their effectiveness which are put in place during data collection, recording, analysis, usage, data storage at field and center levels
2. To verify and check accuracy of the sample of existing OOSC data against source documents and cross-reference against various data sources (i.e. OOSC verification visit by field Save the Children staff)
3. To provide recommendations for improvement to Save the Children and partner
4. Assess awareness, understanding and capacity of staff and stakeholders about the processes, mechanisms and objectives of the data collection
5. Assess staff’s awareness and mechanism in place to ensure confidentiality of the data
6. To assess the change in data quality between the baseline data audit and end-line data audit

3. Approach and methods
The design for the audit will be separate sample pre-test and post-test study; whereby the consultant will conduct two Data Quality Audits in Q2 and Q4 of 2016. The sampling frame for the first audit will cover the OOSC data from 2014-2015 and the second audit will cover the OOSC data from 2016.
The consultant is encouraged to suggest methodologies, sampling frame and tools with appropriate justification in their proposal, which is subject to Save the Children’s approval.
Key processes:
- Desk review
- Drafting and pre-testing of DQA tool
- Kickoff meeting with Save the Children and KTWG team
- Data collection (interviews, focus group discussions and audit of OOSC data at partner level)
- Data analysis
- Discussion on preliminary findings with Save the Children
- Submission of first draft
- Dissemination of findings (to ACCESS stakeholders)
- Submission of final report with recommendations
Frequency:
- Baseline and End-line (Second quarter 2016 and last quarter 2016)

4. Deliverables:
Deliverables Timeframe for 1st Audit Timeframe for 2nd Audit
Proposal with details on methodology and budget for both baseline and end-line Along with application email N/A
Work plans (for two audits) Within 2 days after signing of contract N/A
Kickoff meeting  Within the first week of 1st audit N/A
Presentations of preliminary findings to Save the Children
 3 days after data collection 3 days after data collection
First draft of Comprehensive reports with recommendations in English 5 days after data collection 5 days after data collection
Final draft of reports 3 days after receiving feedback from Save the Children and partner
Due date to Save the Children by 19th May 3 days after receiving feedback from Save the Children and partner
Due date to Save the Children by 8th December
Presentations of the findings to ACCESS stakeholders
 3 days after submission of final report 3 days after submission of final report
Specific action points which will help Save the Children and KTWG improve the data system  Along with final report Along with final report

Timeframe
The consultant will be required to dedicate an estimated 30 days’ time to the audit during Q2 (15 days) and Q4 (15 days), subject to the requirements and agreements with Save the Children.

All materials collected in the undertaking of the DQA process should be lodged with the MEAL Coordinator prior to the termination of the contract.

5. Consultancy Fee

The consultant is asked to propose the budget. The financial competitiveness of the fee will be considered in the selection process. Costs involved in the audit, such as materials and travel, will be covered by Save the Children.

6. Submissions for the consultancy

The submission must address the terms of reference and include:

• Name and contact details of the candidate
• The resume of the candidate
• A cover letter explaining the candidate’s interest and suitability
• DQA proposal with details on proposed methodology and sampling frame
• A detailed fee in THB.

7. Close date for submissions:

28th April 2016

Submissions should be addressed to: hr.thailand@savethechildren.org and tui.suvannakul@savethechildren.org

Please indicate in the subject as “Apply for Consultant to conduct Data Quality Audit (DQA) for ACCESS Project
. (Name of candidate)”

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

“We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.”

Annex I
KTWG Data Flow: https://www.dropbox.com/s/f0deufzu8klcnmy/Flowchart-KTWG-FINAL.pdf?dl=0

Annex II
EAC’s M&E Reporting Guideline: https://www.dropbox.com/s/w844excklo2sk5g/EAC%20M%26E%20Report%20Detailed%20Instructions%20July2014.pdf?dl=0