Terms of Reference: She Belongs in School (SBIS) Project 

Endline Evaluation

1.0 Project Summary

2.0 Project Background

Save the Children’s “She Belongs in School” (SBIS) project is a 5-year initiative (August 2021 to July 2026) to enhance the empowerment and learning outcomes of adolescent girls (10-19 years) in the provinces of Nampula and Niassa in Mozambique. This ultimate outcome will be achieved by working across the socio-ecological model with rights-holders (adolescent girls), responsibility-holders (their families and communities), and duty-bearers (school administrators, teachers, and education authorities), to tackle the root causes of gender inequality, specifically the underlying harmful social norms, practices, and behaviours that contribute to girls’ low rates of education access and achievement. The project’s primary beneficiaries will be adolescent girls (aged 10-19), both in and out-of-school, who are at risk of not realizing their right to education. Particular attention will be paid to girls who face intersectional discrimination, including girls (and boys) with disabilities, and girls living in remote, hard-to-reach areas. The project will achieve this ultimate outcome by improving behaviours and practices amongst families, husbands, and communities to promote and support adolescent girls’ rights, particularly the right to education (1100); increasing self-belief, decision-making power and leadership exercised by adolescent girls to pursue education (1200); and enhancing the provision of safe and supportive learning environments that build the skills and competencies of adolescent girls (1300). 

She Belongs in School (SBIS) will be delivered by Save the Children (SC) along with 222222partners who each bring unique geographic and operational footprints and technical specialities in disability inclusion (AJODEMO), girls’ empowerment approaches (Girl Move Academy), and youth engagement (UATAF, Progresso). The project will be delivered in Mecanhelas, Mandimba and Cuamba districts in Niassa Province, and Muecate, Membe, Erati and Nacaroa districts in Nampula Province. 

The project employs an integrated, multi-sectoral, cross-cutting and gender-transformative approach to address the root causes of gender inequality for highly marginalized groups. To achieve its goal of enhancing the empowerment and learning outcomes of adolescent girls in Nampula and Niassa, the project is employing the socio-ecological model and SC’ Girls’ Empowerment Model and has defined intersectionality as a core approach. These approaches are considered essential for gender transformative programming. The project will undertake different strategies at interpersonal, community and school/institutional levels to enable a positive environment and transform unequal power dynamics and harmful social norms so that girls are able to develop agency and advance in education. 

The tables below provide a detailed breakdown of the direct and indirect reach of the SBIS project that includes 72,440 direct beneficiaries (32,506 girls, 20,116 boys, 11,380 women, 8,438 men) in the target regions, in addition to 154,975 indirect beneficiaries (53,379 girls, 43,592 boys, 29,245 women, 28,759 men). 

3.0 Overall Scope of the Endline Evaluation

The primary objective of the endline evaluation is to assess the extent to which the project has achieved its intended outcomes—ultimate, intermediate, and immediate—as well as its overall goal, as articulated in the project results framework. The evaluation will measure progress against established baseline values and targets and identify key factors that have facilitated or constrained the achievement of results.

The evaluation will generate robust evidence on changes attributable to the project, including both intended and unintended effects, and will provide a comparative analysis against baseline findings. In addition, the endline evaluation will document actionable lessons learned and develop strategic, evidence-based recommendations to inform future programming, support organizational learning, and guide decision-making.

3.1 Specific Scope of the Terms of Reference

Save the Children seeks to engage an evaluation Consultant to produce the endline evaluation for the She Belongs in School (SBIS) project. The Consultant’s scope of work will be limited to data analysis and the preparation of the endline evaluation report.

The Consultant will be provided with finalized data collection tools, an indicator analysis plan, cleaned quantitative datasets, pre-tabulated analysis tables, qualitative transcripts, and relevant project documentation. These materials will be produced and compiled by a separate consultant responsible for data collection. The evaluation Consultant will use these inputs to conduct rigorous analysis and develop a high-quality endline evaluation report in line with the objectives outlined in this Terms of Reference.

3.2 Performance Measurement Review Indicators

Data will be collected for the following 14 project indicators: 

4.0 EVALUATION METHODOLOGY

The endline evaluation will be a summative evaluation applying a non‑experimental, pre–post design and a mixed‑methods approach. To address the stated evaluation objectives and assess overall project performance, the methodology will integrate rigorous quantitative and qualitative analyses. Quantitative analysis will compare baseline (pre‑test) and endline (post‑test) indicator values using appropriate statistical techniques to assess changes over time. Qualitative analysis will be used to contextualize, complement, and triangulate quantitative findings, providing deeper insight into the project’s contribution to observed outcomes and the factors influencing results. 

4.1 Data Collection Methods

The endline evaluation will utilize the baseline data collection tools, with data collected from the following respondent groups: 

* Sample must include children with disabilities – 5% of the sample. 

4.2.2 Focus Group Discussions

FGDs will be conducted with the following groups to provide more in-depth information on several themes. 

5.0 Roles and Responsibilities

5.1 Consultant

The Consultant will be responsible for the technical execution and timely completion of the endline evaluation analysis and reporting. Specific responsibilities include:

• Reviewing all relevant project documentation to inform the evaluation analysis, including but not limited to the Project Implementation Plan (PIP), Logic Model, Performance Measurement Framework, Baseline Study, annual and semi‑annual narrative and financial reports, work plans, annual budgets and expenditures, data collection tools, and the endline indicator analysis plan.
• Using the baseline study as the primary reference framework for endline indicator analysis to ensure methodological consistency and comparability over time, with findings systematically disaggregated by gender, age group, school status, and geographic region.
• Conducting rigorous quantitative and qualitative data analysis based on datasets and materials provided by Save the Children, applying appropriate analytical techniques in line with the approved analysis plan.
• Preparing and delivering high‑quality endline evaluation outputs in accordance with agreed timelines, incorporating feedback from Save the Children, and ensuring that all deliverables meet professional evaluation and reporting standards.

The Consultant is accountable for the quality, completeness, and timeliness of all deliverables outlined in Section 5.3.

5.2 Save the Children 

Save the Children will be responsible for providing technical oversight, coordination, and the necessary inputs to enable the Consultant to carry out the assignment effectively. Save the Children will provide the Consultant with the following data and materials:

• Cleaned quantitative datasets in SPSS and Excel formats
• Pre‑tabulated analysis tables for all surveys
• A detailed indicator analysis plan outlining calculation methodologies
• English-language transcripts from focus group discussions (FGDs)

In addition, Save the Children will provide access to key project documentation, including:

• Baseline Study
• Project Implementation Plan (PIP)
• Logic Model
• Performance Measurement Framework (including indicators)
• Annual and semi‑annual narrative and financial reports

Save the Children will also be responsible for reviewing draft deliverables, consolidating feedback, and providing timely comments to support the Consultant in meeting agreed deadlines.

5.3 Consultant Deliverables 

The Consultant will be responsible for producing and submitting the following deliverables to Save the Children:

• A detailed inception work plan outlining the proposed analytical approach, timeline, and a preliminary table of contents for the endline evaluation report.
• An initial draft endline evaluation report in English, presenting analyzed findings aligned with the project results framework.
• A final endline evaluation master report that compares endline findings against baseline values and project targets, and that clearly articulates conclusions, lessons learned, and actionable recommendations to inform future program design and implementation.

All deliverables will be submitted in accordance with timelines agreed upon at the start of the consultancy and will be subject to review and approval by Save the Children.

5.4 Management and Reporting

The Consultant will report directly to the Senior MEAL Advisor at Save the Children Canada, who will hold overall responsibility for managing and overseeing the consultancy. Save the Children Canada will establish a schedule of regular (weekly) check‑in meetings with the Consultant to monitor progress, address emerging issues, and ensure alignment with expectations related to data analysis and report drafting.

5.5 Duration of Consultancy: 

The consultant is expected to initiate data analysis upon receipt of data no later than July 2026. The work is expected to be completed no later than end of August 2026. 

6.0 Payment Schedule

Payment to the consultant shall be done in accordance with normal procedures of Save the Children Canada. The payment schedule will be as follows:

7.0 Qualification and Experience

The consultant must possess strong technical expertise in mixed‑methods evaluation analysis and reporting, with demonstrated experience conducting endline evaluations for large‑scale, donor‑funded development projects. Given the analytical and reporting‑focused nature of this assignment, the consultant is expected to meet the following minimum qualifications:

8.0 Application Process

Applications for the consultancy must include the following:

Complete applications should be submitted electronically in English to the following address: gtimpl@savethechildren.ca with the header: SBIS Endline Evaluation

Closing date for submission of the application package is end of business day on: Monday, May 18, 2026.