Consultancy for Outcome Monitoring Exercise

Introduction World University Service of Canada (WUSC) is a leading Canadian international development organization that focuses on three programmatic areas: Economic Opportunities, Education, and Empowerment. Our vision is a world where every young person thrives and belongs. Our mission is to catalyze change by improving education and economic opportunities for young people. We support all young people, with a focus on women and people affected by displacement. Our organizational values are rooted in a commitment to collaboration and partnership, learning and adaptability, courageous leadership, youth voice and agency, and inclusion for all. WUSC currently works in 25 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, with an annual budget of approximately CAD $40 million. We have over 90 staff in our Ottawa office and over 200 people overseas implementing 16 development projects in collaboration with donors, including Global Affairs Canada; the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO); the MasterCard Foundation; World Bank; the Asian Development Bank; and the African Development Bank. The ACT Project background The Action for Paid Childcare Sector Transformation (ACT) project is a 4-year collaborative initiative that uses an innovative systems approach to drive gender-transformative, locally-owned, collaborative action to transform paid childcare from a job of last resort to a vocation of choice. The project also aspires for the paid childcare sector to become one of economic prosperity for women in Kenya and Malawi. ACT aligns with Canada’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 on gender equality and empowerment, SDG 8 on decent work for all, and Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy (FIAP) action area on growth that works for everyone. ACT responds to recognition within the global policy agenda that women are overrepresented within the largely informal paid care economy, where they face low pay, poor working conditions, limited social protection, and rights abuses. These are key barriers that contribute to significant poverty among women-paid childcare providers, and that limit potential for their economic empowerment. The barriers also severely limit women-paid childcare providers’ ability to deliver quality childcare services. Women are the primary participants in the paid childcare economies of Kenya and Malawi. This sector has a high economic opportunity for women due to the potential for sustainable demand for childcare services; however, this opportunity is unrealized. 2.1 ACT Project Theory of Change The Action for Paid Childcare Sector Transformation (ACT) project addresses the urgent need to build resilient, inclusive, and gender-transformative childcare ecosystems in Kenya and Malawi. Women dominate the childcare workforce, but the sector is marked by informality, low pay, poor working conditions, limited access to training/certification, and weak rights protection. ACT’s Theory of Change (ToC) is rooted in the premise that sustainable economic empowerment of women childcare providers requires systemic change across the ecosystem, improving the performance, coordination, and accountability of all actors and factors that influence the sector. ACT recognizes contextual differences: Kenya’s ecosystem is more developed with a variety of active actors (Kidogo, Tiny Totos, Uthabiti, DPAK, HMAA, etc.), while Malawi’s ecosystem is less developed, largely dominated by community-based childcare centers (CBCCs) with unpaid volunteers. The project therefore applies context-relevant strategies, while fostering cross-country learning and adaptation between Kenya and Malawi. Ultimate Outcome 1000 : Enhanced economic empowerment of women paid childcare providers in Kenya and Malawi. Women providers gain better income, improved working conditions, access to social protection, and recognition of childcare as decent, dignified work. Parents and communities’ benefit from improved quality childcare services, enabling women in other sectors to engage in productive work. Intermediate Outcomes: 1100: Improved gender-responsive performance of childcare ecosystem actors Building stronger coordination mechanisms across stakeholders (government, CSOs, training providers, placement agencies, financial institutions, parents). Enhancing the capacity of actors to provide gender- and disability-responsive training and certification, thereby professionalizing childcare work. Organizing women childcare providers into groups and collectives, enabling them to advocate collectively, increase visibility, and strengthen their representation in policy spaces. 1200: Enhanced protection and promotion of rights and needs of women childcare providers Addressing gender-based violence (GBV), harassment, and exploitation faced by childcare workers. Strengthening the policy and regulatory environment through reviews, advocacy, and targeted technical support to government bodies. Supporting ecosystem actors including Paid childcare providers groups and collectives to champion and uphold women’s rights within the sector. 1300 : Enhanced provision of gender-responsive financial and business services and models Building capacity of business development service providers (BDSPs) to tailor entrepreneurship training, mentorship, and support to women childcare providers. Supporting financial service providers (FSPs) to design and expand gender-responsive products (loans, savings, insurance) tailored to childcare microenterprises and domestic workers. Establishing matching grants and innovative business models to strengthen sustainability and growth of women-led childcare enterprises. Key Pathways of Change (Assumptions) : If women childcare providers are organized into groups/collectives, their visibility and bargaining power will increase, enabling them to advocate for rights and influence policy. If ecosystem actors coordinate effectively and adopt gender-responsive standards, curricula, and certification models, the sector will be more professionalized, dignified, and valued. If supportive policies and regulations are developed and enforced, women will experience fewer rights abuses and more secure working conditions. If business and financial services are adapted to the realities of childcare providers, women will access capital, improve service quality, and sustain viable enterprises If gender and social inclusion (GESI) principles are integrated across interventions, the sector will become more equitable, inclusive, and resilient to challenges such as climate change. Overall, Logic: By strengthening childcare ecosystem actors (1100), protecting rights and addressing gender-based constraints (1200), and expanding access to responsive financial and business services (1300), ACT will enable systemic, sustainable, and gender-transformative improvements in the childcare sector. These pathways collectively lead to women childcare providers gaining recognition, better pay, safer working conditions, and viable livelihoods, thereby contributing to enhanced women’s economic empowerment (Ultimate Outcome 1000) in Kenya and Malawi. 3.Purpose and Objectives of the study The purpose of the ACT project’s outcome monitoring exercise is to assess and document progress toward the project’s targets and the realization of its Theory of Change, while also examining changes in context and key assumptions. In line with this purpose, the outcome monitoring exercise will focus on the following objectives: Assess and measure progress at the outcome level Determine the value of outcome indicators at Year 2 of project implementation, reporting on all relevant disaggregation where possible, and recommend adjustments in their formulation if necessary. Finalize baseline values in cases where these are being determined on a rolling basis (as actors are engaged in project activities), and support the identification of end-of-project targets as appropriate. Validate project assumptions: Provide evidence to test the assumptions underpinning the project’s Theory of Change (ToC). Support a shared understanding of contextual changes in order to revise and update program design and/or set new targets as appropriate. Document system-level change: Capture early signs of changes within the childcare ecosystem. Gather insights on any unintended outcomes that may be emerging. Advance gender equality and social inclusion (GESI): Collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data on gender and power dynamics to inform the project’s GESI strategy. Strengthen MERL systems: Provide recommendations to update the results-based Monitoring, Evaluation, Research, and Learning (MERL) plan, including methodological adjustments for future data collection exercises. Identify opportunities for alignment of indicators with those from other relevant projects. 4. Outcome indicators and learning questions A preliminary list of ACT outcome indicators as well as learning questions can be found below. Please note that the final list will be discussed with the selected consultant/s and finalized during the inception phase. Quantitative and Qualitative Indicators % total of women paid childcare providers in the regions of project implementation reporting increased income (disaggregated by age, country) Empowerment progression index, including a domain related to ECC (disaggregated by country) Proportion of women paid childcare providers in the regions of project implementation whose income sufficiently covers their expenses (disaggregated by age, country)3. % of women paid childcare providers in the regions of project implementation with relevant professional qualifications (disaggregated by sex, age, country) .Level of satisfaction among parents of the quality of services received by women paid childcare providers in the regions of project implementation (disaggregated by sex, age, country) Introduced/revised policies and regulations that protect and promote the rights of women paid childcare providers including relevant rights related to ECC (disaggregated by country) Extent to which women paid childcare providers in the regions of project implementation feel their rights and needs are being met (disaggregated by sex, provider type, age, country) Extent to which women paid childcare providers in the regions of project implementation feel their rights and needs are being met (disaggregated by sex, provider type, age, country) # of ecosystem actors taking up or adopting financial and/or business services and models for women paid childcare providers in the regions of project implementation (disaggregated by sex, age, country) %/total of women paid childcare providers in the regions of project implementation reporting membership in a professional group/network/collective (disaggregated by sex, age, country) Level of coordination of collectives of women paid childcare providers in the regions of project implementation (disaggregated by sex, age, country) .Level of knowledge of ecosystem actors of best practices in the delivery of childcare training and certification (disaggregated by sex, age, type of actor, country) Level of confidence reported by ecosystem actors to deliver training and provide certification supporting women's advancement in the paid childcare sector (disaggregated by sex, age, type of actor, country) %/total of key ecosystem actors reporting knowledge of the policy and regulatory gaps affecting women childcare providers including those relevant to ECC (disaggregated by sex, age, type of actor, country) Perceptions among key ecosystem actors on their capacity to implement gender transformative regulations in support of paid childcare work (disaggregated by sex, age, type of actor, country) Level of knowledge of ecosystem actors of the rights of women paid childcare providers (disaggregated by sex, age, type of actor, country) Level of confidence reported by ecosystem actors to champion and uphold the rights of women paid childcare providers (disaggregated by sex, age, type of actor, country) Level of knowledge among business service providers of women paid childcare providers' service needs (disaggregated by country # of ecosystem actors applying a gender and ECC lens to finance/ business service offerings (disaggregated by type of actor, country .# of financial service providers with products that meet the needs of women-led childcare enterprises (disaggregated by type of service provider, country) .Level of knowledge among financial service providers of women paid childcare providers' investment needs (disaggregated by type of provider, country. Learning questions 1. How—and for whom—does professionalization (training/certification, standards, recognition) translate into improved agency, earnings, and working conditions among women childcare providers? Is there any significant difference across the various demographic groups? 2 To what extent do women providers' groups/collectives increase bargaining power, voice in policy spaces, and safety from GBV/harassment—and which design features (leadership pathways, safeguarding protocols, allies) make the most significant difference for the most vulnerable group? 3 What intended and unintended system-level effects are emerging (e.g., shifts in social norms around paid care, time-use and mobility, quality perceptions among parents) within Kenya's childcare ecosystem? 4. Where are policy and regulatory wins (by national/county/municipal actors) actually changing day-to-day practice for women providers, and what bottlenecks persist (e.g., inspections, licensing, social protection enrollment) for different subgroups? 5. Which financial and business services/models (credit, savings, insurance, BDSP offers, matching grants) are most usable and protective for lower-income women providers—and what adaptations (collateral, repayment schedules, care-aware products) close the inclusion gap? 6 As a key sign of early systemic change, is the market beginning to recognize the childcare sector as a profitable investment? 7 What is the evidence of innovation that is spreading beyond direct project partners? Are the project's interventions inspiring others to find solutions to market-level challenges like cost and access, which would not have happened otherwise? 8 Can any demonstration effect be observed at this point? In other words, are successful models promoted by the project being copied by competitors or other market actors? 9 How is the project influencing the core ‘rules of the game’ for the market? Are the project’s indirect partners (e.g. financial institutions, insurance providers, or training bodies) seeing the childcare sector as a new, viable market segment and are independently creating new products or services for it? 10 Is the project successfully shifting social norms and behaviors so that parents are increasingly valuing quality childcare, are willing to pay for it, and are demanding better working conditions for providers, thereby driving the professionalization of the sector from both the supply and demand sides? 5. Approach and methodology The preliminary draft of the methodology for the outcome monitoring exercise should be included in the submitted proposal. The consultant/firm is expected to propose an appropriate approach and methodology to achieve the objectives of this assignment, with the understanding that some adjustments may be discussed and introduced during the inception phase. This will help ensure consistency with the methodology adopted for the baseline assessment and comparability of indicator values over time. The methodology should combine quantitative and qualitative methods to provide a comprehensive analysis of progress against outcome indicators, while also capturing contextual factors that influence results. The design of the overall methodology should be guided by the following elements: Gender responsive: The study should consciously apply both qualitative and quantitative research methods that are gender and inclusion -sensitive. It should also, as much as possible, adopt participatory approaches, engaging stakeholders and participants at all stages, from the design of methodological details to the analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of collected data. The inclusion of approaches such as Outcome Harvesting will be considered an asset. Geographic scope: The study will cover the areas targeted by the program’s interventions, as outlined in the project description. Consistency with baseline: The tools applied at baseline should be used to ensure comparability across time periods, with revisions made as needed. Data disaggregation: Data should be collected and analyzed disaggregated by geographic area, sex, age, and other relevant variables to enable equity and inclusion analysis. In addition, the methodology section of the proposal should provide explicit details on: The criteria to be considered in selecting respondents for qualitative data collection. The key elements of the sampling strategy for quantitative data collection. How key ethical issues related to data collection, analysis, and dissemination will be addressed. 6. Key Activities and deliverables T he selected Consultant/firm will have overall responsibility for the design of the methodology and implementation of the assignment in accordance with the conducted baseline, and for ensuring quality and timeliness of all deliverables. The Consultant/ firm will be tasked with designing the methodological details of the assignment, including the choice of the appropriate sampling/selection strategy, as well as with the revision/update of the data collection tools; the enumerators’ recruitment, training and supervision; data entry and analysis; report writing and dissemination of findings for validation with stakeholders and participants. The key activities and deliverables expected from the Consultant/firm for this assignment are as follows: Review all project relevant documents, baseline study, existing monitoring data, GESI Analysis Report and Strategy, and available secondary data sources regarding women employment and ECCD sector in Kenya and related to the research questions as well as to the performance indicators included in the project PMF. Participate in an inception meeting with relevant project staff and key stakeholders (if necessary) to clarify expectations of the mandate and provide contextual information necessary to finalize the inception report, timeline and work plan. Submit a detailed inception report and work plan, including (but not limited to) the following elements: Detailed methodology to respond to each outcome indicators measurement as well as to the identified learning questions; Sampling strategy and proposed sample size for quantitative data collection tools; Selection criteria for qualitative data collection tools; Detailed work plan that includes all tasks by the Consultant/firm and team members and incorporating the overall assignment timelines Revised level of effort of each team member and detailed budget including professional fees, expected reimbursable, etc.; Revised/ updated quantitative and qualitative data collection tools and protocols. Review/update all data collection tools. These tools will be reviewed during the inception phase and must be included in the inception report/work plan. Develop Enumerator Guidelines and Protocols for Data Collection and Conduct Enumerators Training following a detailed agenda and outlining study protocols (this agenda should be included in the inception report). Coordinate/conduct/supervise data collection, as per the agreed methodology, and ensure the use of gender-responsive and inclusive data collection methods. Ensure that research, ethical considerations, and safeguarding protocols are in place to uphold the 'do no harm' principles for participants. This includes, but is not limited to, the identification of potential risks, including GESI risks, and mitigation strategies in the data collection process. Ensure Data Quality by supervising data collection and reviewing data entry, where applicable. Analyze all primary data collected, also triangulating with secondary data whenever available and appropriate. Draft the assignment Report (to be submitted in both Word and PDF versions with all annexes, data collection tools and raw data files included). The Table of Contents will be provided during the inception phase. Expected key deliverables are listed below: Inception report, containing detailed methodology and timeline, data collection tools and protocols, enumerators training tools, data analysis plan, informed consent forms, Research approvals, if applicable; Final report with key findings and recommendations; PMF with updated indicators values; All raw data, recordings and notes from both the quantitative and qualitative data collection processes 8.Time Frame and Level of Effort Task/ Output Level of Effort in days Document review and literature review 2 Inception Meeting 0.5 Develop draft inception Report and work plan (Targeted inception meeting for the week of 3rd - 5th Nov) 2 Integrate comments from WUSC and submit final inception report1 Preparation for county enumerator/data collectors training with country office 1 Enumerator training and pilot 1 Data collection 15 Data cleaning, entry and analysis 5 Draft study report (following report structure outlined provided) 3 Incorporate feedback and comments of organization and submit Final Report 1 Report validation meeting 0.5 Total 30 The period of the contract is expected to run between 1st November to 15th December 2025 with an expected contribution of approximately 23 working days. The consultant is expected to carry out all the preparation required to roll out the study as per the suggested time frame below. Dates will be reviewed and finalized during the inception meeting. 8.Qualifications of Consultant(s) Minimum of 5 years of experience in designing studies, particularly participatory outcome harvesting exercises; collecting data and producing quality reports, preferably for international non-profit organizations and/or multilateral agencies Experience in conducting studies on projects adopting a systems approach; Proven experience in Outcome Harvesting or other participatory evaluation methodologies. Strong understanding of the social norms, local context and gender dynamics in the region Excellent facilitation skills and experience with community engagement Knowledge and experience in gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) Demonstrated experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis Ability to produce high quality work under tight timeframes Knowledge of the paid childcare sector in Kenya an asset 9 Technical and financial proposal submission Interested consultants are invited to submit: Letter of interest Technical proposal (understanding of assignment, methodology, work plan) (8 to 9 pages maximum) clearly demonstrating a thorough understanding of this ToR and including the following: Description of the Capacity and qualifications of the consulting/consulting firm, including previous relevant experience (1.5 to 2 pages). Description of the proposed approach and methodology for the measurement of all mentioned indicators as well as the strategy to address the listed learning questions; this section will include details on data collection, sampling strategy, data analysis, integration of gender considerations and ethical standards, quality assurance (3.5 to 4 pages). A proposed timeframe detailing activities and a schedule/work plan (including a Gantt chart) (1 page) Team composition, qualifications and level of effort of each proposed team member Note that each proposal will be assessed based on a list of criteria, including but not limited to the following elements: Years of experience in the sector and the geographic context of the project, as well as with the key stakeholder groups participating in the project’s activities. Documented experience with participatory research methods, qualitative methods (like outcome harvesting), in the assessment of empowerment and in facilitation of consultations with different stakeholder’s groups. Team composition that includes local experts in key roles, from the design to the execution of the study to include women and youth. Methodological choices centered around inclusive participatory and consultative approaches, right from the design of the proposal, including elements of gender and inclusive evaluation approaches as much as possible. Financial proposal with detailed budget in (KES): with a detailed breakdown of costs for the assignment: Itemized consultancy fees/costs, detailing the level of effort of each team member Itemized field data collection expenses Itemized administrative expenses Validity period of quotations Expected payment plan and method CV(s) highlighting relevant experience of all proposed team members Two samples of similar assignments conducted

Interested candidates should send their applications [here](https://wusc.bamboohr.com/careers/196) by 12th October , clearly indicating "ACT outcome harvesting -Application " in the subject line. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.