Article
Zimbabwe - Call for proposals
Primary school sample survey on school leaders in Zimbabwe
UNESCO is inviting proposals from organizations/legal entities for the following work assignment.
I. Background
The Global Education Monitoring Report (or GEM Report) is an editorially independent, authoritative, and evidence-based annual report that monitors progress in education in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which have been adopted as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Report is funded by a group of governments, multilateral agencies and foundations and published annually by UNESCO to serve the international community. It has the mandate, established in the Incheon Declaration of the World Education Forum in May 2015, to monitor progress (i) on education in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and (ii) on the implementation of national and international strategies to achieve SDG 4.
In line with its strategy, the GEM Report has explored how its outputs can be put to good use to influence policy at national level, particularly in countries at risk far from achieving SDG 4, and regional level. The Africa Spotlight series aims to foster peer-learning and dialogue on policies at national and continental level to improve primary education completion and foundational learning in reading and mathematics, with the ultimate aim to support progress towards SDG target 4.1. It is a collaboration with the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) and the African Union (AU).
The Spotlight report series is implemented in a three-part cycle. Each cycle focuses on a dozen countries, of which five to six are analyzed in greater depth leading to a country report developed by a country research team and validated by high-level officials. The country reports, alongside other country case studies and background papers, lead to the continental report. The first continental report – Born to Learn – and associated country reports and case studies were launched in October 2022 at the ADEA Triennale. The second continental report – Learning Counts – and associated country reports and case studies were launched in May 2024 at the Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA) conference.
At national level, the country reports will build on existing education sector processes, where possible. They aim to provide education leaders with recommendations based on evidence and compelling diagnostics to contribute to a shared understanding of key challenges in primary education. Further, they will support coalitions and advocacy mechanisms to hold governments and partners to account for the achievement of universal basic education completion and foundational learning outcomes. Engagement with education leaders, civil society organizations and the media are therefore central for the effectiveness of the Spotlight series.
At continental level, the Spotlight series aims to work with three clusters of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa 2016-25 – curriculum, teacher development and planning – as part of the Leveraging Education Analysis for Results Network (LEARN). This peer-learning mechanism aims to act as a catalyst for cross-cluster collaboration to address foundational learning issues in Africa.
The series is based on an analytical framework that consists of seven factors which play key roles in improving foundational learning outcomes – vision on foundational learning; teaching and learning; teachers; school management; school support and monitoring; community and parental engagement; and learning assessment – and, by doing so, remove a major barrier to universal completion.
As part of the third Spotlight cycle in 2024/5, the research will focus on instructional leadership and it will explore selected aspects of three of these seven factors: school leaders as instructional leaders, district officers as instructional leaders and the role on parents and communities. The focus countries are Morocco, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Kenya, Zimbabwe and one state in Nigeria. In each country, there will be two levels of analysis, which will be connected and will inform each other.
- Quantitative analysis will be based on a school sample survey. Two questionnaires will be administered (to the school principal and to a parent or community representative) to gather information on how leaders focus on learning.
- Qualitative analysis (desk-based, institutional analysis; interviews with local officials in the sampled districts under the quantitative analysis; key findings of the quantitative analysis; and interviews and consultations with central officials) which will lead to a country report.
II. Objectives
The objective of this Work is to carry out a primary school survey of school leaders and school community representatives in Zimbabwe. The task will include the following:
- Review and provide feedback to the two draft survey questionnaires (school principal and parent or community representative) shared by the GEM Report team.
- Obtain necessary permissions to carry out the field research.
- Hold training for enumerators, including with technical support of the GEM Report team, to ensure consistency across countries
- Select a cluster sample of between 48 and 60 primary schools using the following stratification:
- Four districts/counties (two urban and two rural)
- Within each of these strata, 12 to 15 schools, if possible stratified in two further groups: between those known to do well and those known to struggle, using some measure of academic performance to be agreed with the GEM Report team
- Collect data by administering the survey questionnaire to:
- school principal/leader
- parent or community representative of the school management committee / parent-teacher association
- Review and analyze data, with the support of GEM Report team
- Produce a field report with findings and submit completed tools and data analysis files
This field report is expected to be an input to:
- the Spotlight country report, through which it is expected to stimulate informed and strategic policy dialogue, at national level on school leadership, especially instructional leadership, and foundational learning outcomes; and
- the Spotlight continental report on Africa
III. Timeline and deliverables
The following timeline and deliverables are envisaged:
Phase 1 activities (Weeks 1-3)
Review and provide feedback to survey questionnaires based on contextual knowledge, selected stratified sample, and obtain necessary permissions including from national review boards.
Deliverables
1a. Adapted research tools
1b. Representative stratified sample, and school replacement policy
1c. Data quality assurance plan
1d. Meeting with Ministry of Education contact point
1e. Fieldwork approvals obtained
Phase 2 (Week 4-8)
Hold training for enumerators, with technical support of GEM Report team to ensure consistency across countries and administer survey on the agreed sample of schools.
Deliverables
2a Trained enumerators
2b. Completed field on the sample of schools and community representatives
2c. Implementation of data quality assurance measures
Phase 3 (Week 8-10)
Review and analyze data, together with GEM Report team, produce a field report with tabulated findings, and submit completed tools and data analysis files.
Deliverables
3a. Draft field report for comments
3b. Final field report incorporating comments
3c. Completed tools and data analysis files submitted
To support the research, the GEM Report team will make available to the contractor:
- Survey tools
- Technical assistance to support training of enumerators
- Technical assistance to support analysis
In addition, the GEM Report team will facilitate the initial interactions with relevant national stakeholders, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education country focal point
The work should not be circulated or published in any form without prior approval from the GEM Report team. Once approved, the work must specify that it has been prepared for the Spotlight series 2025 - Global Education Monitoring Report. Once the work is published, and if required, the Contractor will notify the GEM Report team of any substantial errors in the form of a corrigendum.
The final field report and annexes shall follow the UNESCO Style Manual for English (https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000141812) or the UN manual for French (https://ls-fts.unog.ch/sites/default/files/2019-02/Manuel%20du%20traducteur-ONU.pdf).
The GEM Report team invites national statistical agencies, research firms, organizations or universities with focus on education and social policy statistical analysis and research.
i. Eligibility Requirements
The bidding entity must have:
- a track record of at least 3 school sample surveys designed and implemented;
- knowledge of education or a record of partnering with organizations specialized in education;
- experience and knowledge of interacting with the education ministry to:
- develop a representative school sample; and
obtaining research permits
The team leader for the assignment must have:
- at least a bachelor’s in statistics or social sciences;
- a track record in the design, implementation and/or analysis of school surveys
ii. Proposal Requirements
The proposal, presented on the organization’s letterhead, must include:
- a description of past research experience to this field and in the country;
- a detailed proposed methodology, including data collection techniques, and workplan;
- a financial proposal with a breakdown of costs.
- Full CVs of the expert(s) involved in the project, including academic records, lists of publications, research grants, projects, and copies of their degrees and certifications.
- Proof of the legal existence of the organization, including copies of the registration certificates or any other official document attesting to its legal formation.
iii. Selection criteria
Submissions will be evaluated based on the following:
- Proven research record in the design and implementation of at least 3 school surveys;
- Suitability and rigor of the proposed research methodology for primary data collection and analysis;
- Understanding of the education system in Zimbabwe and prior collaborations with education focused organizations;
- Experience working with education ministries to develop representative school samples and obtain research permits.
- Compliance with the outlined qualifications for the team leader, including academic background and survey expertise.
iv. Submission details
- Deadline: 20 January 2025.
- Submission format: Combine all documents into a single PDF file and send to gem.procurement@unesco.org with the subject line: 2025 Spotlight Country Review in Zimbabwe.
- Proposals may be submitted in French or English.
- Queries or requests for clarification should be addressed in writing to gem.procurement@unesco.org by 16 January 2025. All responses will be consolidated and shared on the GEM Report website via this link.
v. Timeline and notes
The contracting will take place in January 2025 and the assignment is expected to be completed by April 2025.
Participation in this call for proposals does not guarantee that the organization/entity will be ultimately selected.
