Terms of Reference for a Service Provider/Consultant to Develop and Provide a Framework for the Implementation of an Outsourced, Revised School Feeding Programme for the Ministry of Education and Training, Lesotho Introduction The Ministry of Education and Training introduced Free Primary Education (FPE) in 2000 and committed itself to, among others, the provision of feeding for primary school pupils under this new policy. The major objective of school feeding was to provide a meal a day to ensure that children are able to concentrate in class and hence learn better. A second benefit was to be for communities served by primary schools and these were envisioned to include provision of employment for local personnel and the provision of a market for local agricultural food products. The feeding scheme is in two modes; one using caterers and the second using cooks. The first mode involves the engagement of caterers who are expected to source, store, deliver, cook, and serve a prescribed menu for a fixed payment per child per day of M3.50 in 2010, while the second involves the engagement of cooks who prepare meals in WFP supported schools for a fixed payment per child per day of M1.50 in 2010. WFP supplies maize meal, pulses and vegetable oil to the schools and the cooks provide salt, sugar and fuel for cooking two meals for children in these highland schools. The Catering scheme has the following menu: Hard maize porridge (papa) and green vegetables (moroho); bread and beans/pulse soup; hard maize porridge and green vegetables and a boiled egg; samp mixed with beans; and hard maize porridge and milk (processed/pasteurised). World Food Programme (WFP) Support The school feeding programme has been supported by WFP in Lesotho for over 40 years. At the beginning the assistance covered all primary schools in the country until the mid 90 s when the government and WFP decided that WFP should gradually phase out in the lowlands and foothills and focus more on schools in the highlands. 1
It is envisaged that WFP will terminate its support at the end of 2012. Beyond that the Government will roll-out a new improved feeding school programme. A number of studies have been conducted over the past two years to determine an optimal model for all primary schools. Challenges facing the Current Feeding Scheme The challenges facing the current feeding scheme programmes in place can be summarised as: Problems with payments to suppliers and transporters Warehouses do not have the capacity to manage the storage of food effectively Many schools do not have storage facilities for food Caterers do not always have working capital to purchase items required to prepare meals Sometimes learners do not get food on time It is not always practical to provide all the required food types per meal It is not easy to access certain schools A study is thus proposed to address the challenges identified and to propose a new improved school feeding programme, which takes aspects from both feeding methods. Purpose of the study To prepare a comprehensive strategy with an implementation plan for an improved, cost effective and sustainable feeding programme in Lesotho primary schools beyond 2012. The Objectives of the Assignment A consultant/service provider shall he appointed to Undertake a desk top review of all work and other documented evidence on school feeding in primary schools; 2
Study and document of the processes within the pilot school feeding for the 15,000 children that is being done by WFP on behalf of MOET, in Mokhotlong Produce a guiding document showing options for school feeding in various zones, costs and benefits, strengths and weaknesses and hence areas that need to be reinforced and/or changed and what needs to be in place for optimal operation of the scheme. Identify the roles of other players outside MOET, such as other ministries and the business community in Lesotho. Scope of Work The scope of work (SoW) for the study is to: Review existing research conducted on the WFP and MOET school feeding models Show the level of understanding of the current challenges facing the current school feeding models Clarify roles, capacities and capabilities of various stakeholders Develop a operational (process and tools/technology) and organisational construct for the new school feeding scheme Develop a comprehensive cost model for the proposed school feeding model Develop a costed implementation plan of the proposed model Develop a monitoring and evaluation plan of the proposed model Develop a Service Level Agreement (SLA) agreement between MOET and the implementing party(ies) Identify the steps, mechanisms and support structures that will ensure long-term sustainability of the proposed model Identify mechanisms that will improve the lives of school going children and also contribute to poverty reduction to people within school communities A pilot roll-out of the recommendation will be undertaken by the Ministry, with the support of the consultant. 3
Expected Deliverables The Team shall be expected to deliver the following to the Ministry of Education and Training: a. An inception report based on the Terms of Reference and the initial discussions with the MOET heads of department and WFP officials; b. A final report incorporating comments from the first draft from MOET Management. Expertise of the consultant/service provider Education and Experience The individual/s should hold a post graduate degree in the social sciences preferably in Education, Agriculture, Development Studies or a relevant field and at least five years experience in the relevant area/s. Team members must have the following qualifications: Professional experience in food security and development issues, programming, result-based management, gender and school feeding; Excellent knowledge of Education sectoral policies; Experience in logistics, transport and storage related to food; IT knowledge to be able to map schools in relation to identified activities/needs; Prior evaluation experience and familiarity with standard evaluation methods; Familiarity with the use and effects of food aid in development including financing issues. Other important competencies would include expertise on: Capacity development Evaluation expertise Exit strategies Team leader: Evaluation/School Feeding/ Capacity Development/ Hand over strategies 4
The team members report to the team leader during the evaluation process and are responsible for timely submission of individual inputs. The team leader is responsible to consolidate the inputs and for timely submissions to the evaluation manager of the various reports. Resources Required 1. The MOET shall provide the necessary resources for the Team to undertake the activities as stipulated in the scope of work and as shall be detailed in the work plan that will be part of the inception report approved by the Principal Secretary. 2. The overall budgetary requirement for the exercise shall be sought from the capacity building budget under WFP. 3. Roles and responsibilities: The Ministry of Education and Training through the office of the CEO-Primary will host the consultancy and this shall entail the following responsibilities: Provision to the consultant/service provider access to all necessary information to undertake the study; Provide logistic assistance to the consultant/service provider; Provide support in organizing meetings with relevant cooperating partners and government officials. 4. The following documents are some of the documents that shall be made available to the consultant/service provider: Development project 10582.0 document and the budget ( 2008 2010) Common Framework for the Development Project 10582.0 Action Plan (DPAP) Standardized school feeding follow-up survey report (2008) Standard project Report (2007) Dev. Project 10266. Midterm review of development project 10266 (2006) Standardised school feeding baseline survey report (2004) Evaluation of school feeding programmes in Lesotho ( 2002) Consolidated Education Sector policies (2007) Evaluation of Free Primary Education in Lesotho (2007) 5
Ministry of Education and Training Budget (2009 2010) Poverty Reduction and Growth Strategy ( 2008/09-2009/10) UNDAF (2008 2012) Education Sector Strategic Plan 2005 2015 hard copy Mid-Term Education Sector Plan 2009-2012 hard copy School Feeding Hand Book hard copy Mid Term Evaluation of Development Project 10582.0 (2009) Hard copy Time Frame The exercise should be completed within a 10-week period. Proposed Format for the proposal The proposal should cover the following: A clear methodology and/or approach to execute work as laid out in the scope of work Timelines to deliver the work Detailed expenses (professional and reimbursable costs) to conduct the study Experience and expertise of the bidding entity and consultants that will conduct the study 6