Project Description
While promising, the Blue Schools signature approach lacks a solid evidence base and proof of concept. Thus, Phase III focuses on evidence that the signature approach delivers results (documenting the VALUE) and on how it works best (documenting the PROCESS). An evidence building strategy has been developed by the SWSC for Phase III that is being rolled out in 2022-2023. As part of this strategy the CMU commissions in-depth external evaluation mandate for Blue Schools focused on three projects each in a different country that have demonstrated significant involvement and progress on implementing the Blue Schools approach.
The purpose of the consultancy is to examine the relevance and value of the Blue Schools approach for strengthening the education system and to highlight learning and good practices on the methodologies and processes to inform future phases of SWSC programming.
The following criteria are to be evaluated:
Effectiveness: The extent to which the signature approach achieved, or is expected to achieve, its objectives.
Efficiency: The extent to which the intervention delivers, or is likely to deliver, results in an economic and timely way.
Sustainability: The extent to which the net benefits of the intervention continue or are likely to continue.
Impact: The extent to which the intervention has generated or is expected to generate significant positive or negative, intended, or unintended, higher-level effects.
Relevance: The extent to which the intervention objectives and design respond to the needs of beneficiaries, and to the policies and priorities of national institutions and in-country partners; and continue to do so if circumstances change.
Coherence: The compatibility of the intervention with other interventions in a country, sector, or institution.
Provided Services
- Draft research methodology and accompanying tools for review
- Final research methodology and accompanying tools (submitted prior to field work)
- Draft Report answering the key questions under each criteria and synthesising any human interest stories
- Final Report addressing the research themes, answering the key questions under each criteria, and any relevant human interest stories / quotes
- The report features separate chapters for each of the three projects structured per the criteria and key questions and include a synthesis chapter of all three projects based on the research themes. The report should also include a chapter describing the evaluation methodologies used, a list of the sources consulted, both for desk review and field data collection (including the names and titles of key informants and dates of interviews/field visits).
- Concise human-interest stories and/or key quotes from stakeholders that illustrate the findings on the research themes above should be included
- Final Report presentation synthesising the key evidence (slide deck of maximum 30 slides)
- Exit meeting with CMU members and project team representatives
