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The Asian Development Bank Pacific Department invites expressions of interest from suitably
qualified and experienced consultant firms to: (i) provide capacity development training and (ii)
logistical management for Phase One of an Education Sector Planning project in the Federated States
of Micronesia (FSM) and the Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI). Firms are required to bid for both
FSM and RMI.
Context
This work is supported by grant funding from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) to conduct
a Phase One sector analysis, diagnosis and research activity so as to prepare a fully researched
baseline report that will inform future sector planning. Although each country will be working
independently, it is anticipated that there will be advantages in using a similar approach in both
countries to Phase One.
Interested firms should note that downstream work on Phase Two and Phase Three may be available
using GPE funds for further developing goals, objectives, outputs, outcomes and activities and
drafting the education sector plan.
ADB, through its National Education Planning and Management (NEPM) Technical Assistance (TA)
program in the FSM and RMI, will manage GPE funds. The NEPM TA is managed by an Education
Specialist based in Manila and implemented by a Pacific Technical Assistance Mechanism (PACTAM)
Education Adviser based in Pohnpei and working across both FSM and RMI.
BACKGROUND
FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA
In the FSM, the National Department of Education (NDOE) will lead the analytical (meaning detailed
examination) and diagnostic (meaning problem identification) phase in the development of an FSM-
wide Education Sector Plan resulting in research-based report that will inform future sector
planning activities. Current planning is conducted independently by the NDOE and each of the four
State Departments of Education (SDOEs).
The activity will involve the cooperation and collaboration of NDOE and SDOEs from Chuuk, Kosrae,
Pohnpei and Yap, in consultation with the College of Micronesia (COM-FSM), relevant government
departments, stakeholders, donors and others involved in the sector.
Development of the report will be coordinated by NDOE with TA support from the Consultant firm and
will provide opportunities for Strategic Planning Teams (SPTs) to engage in capacity development in
analysis, diagnosis and participatory research practices and techniques so that they can work with
their respective stakeholders and each other on preparing a fully researched, analytical and
diagnostic baseline report.
Ultimately, the outcomes of this research activity and future planning activities will include
reduced fragmentation and multiplicity of national and state sector plans and greater harmonization
and synchronization, resulting in improved effectiveness and efficiency across the sector.
REPUBLIC OF MARSHALL ISLANDS
In the RMI, the current Education Strategic Plan will expire in June 2016. This proposal is for the
Ministry of Education / Public School System (MOE/PSS) to conduct the first phase of developing a
new sector wide plan to build upon and expand the current strategic plan. Phase One will be an
analytical and diagnostic research training and activity resulting in the development of a sector
report that will provide a research base for the development of a new, wider-ranging sector plan
that includes post-secondary, non-formal and Technical and Vocational Education and Training
(TVET).
The activity will involve the cooperation and collaboration of MOE/PSS with other RMI Government
Ministries as well as the College of Marshall Islands (CMI), University of the South Pacific Majuro
Campus (USP), National Training Council (NTC), stakeholders, employers, donors and others involved
in the education sector.
The capacity development outcomes of this phase will include improved skills in analysis and
diagnosis of critical issues affecting education and will lead to more informed planning and
decision making, resulting in improved effectiveness and efficiency throughout the education sector.
SCOPE OF SERVICES -- FSM and RMI
The consultant firm will deliver Technical Assistance, Capacity Development and logistical support
to achieve the following three Objectives in the FSM and RMI.
The Consultant firm will manage travel and logistical arrangements for workshops, in collaboration
with NDOE/SDOEs and MOE/PSS across all Objectives. This may be done in collaboration with local
entities such as Non-Government Organizations, commercial travel agents, regional organizations or
other reputable bodies with sound financial management systems in place.
Objective 1
To develop capacity to conduct sector-wide analysis and diagnosis
The objective is to provide capacity development to Sector Planning Teams (SPTs) through training
in relevant quantitative and qualitative research methods, techniques and tools, equipping them
with the skills required to conduct a thorough analysis and diagnosis of the sector, including the
social, humanitarian and demographic as well as the macroeconomic and public finance contexts.
SPTs will develop skills in context, policy, finance, performance and system capacity analysis and
diagnosis so that they can identify and understand key issues including what information is
available, what lessons can be learned from previous plan implementation and what additional
considerations need to be included in a new sector plan.
Capacity development in analysis and diagnosis will enable SPTs to assess the quality, reliability
and relevance of data and provide practical tools for data processing EMIS data and additional
qualitative data collected using newly acquired participatory research capacity in order to
identify issues, conditions and problems.
Objective 2
To conduct sector-wide analysis and diagnosis
Having developed capacity to conduct sector analysis and diagnosis, SPTs will work with their
respective local State governments and key stakeholders to carry out studies, dialogue,
consultations and participatory research, (demographic, financial, performance and capacity) in
order to identify vulnerabilities, raise awareness, gain commitment and build consensus on the
future direction of the development of the sector. Depending on the presence and potential impact
of information gaps, it may be necessary to conduct some primary or secondary data collection,
including qualitative data using participatory methodologies.
Objective 3
To develop capacity to write analytical and diagnostic reports & draw conclusions
Objective Three is to develop the capacity of SPTs to collate, process, interpret and report the
empirical evidence and findings of the analytical and diagnostic research activities conducted in
Objective Two. A final Report will include key findings in, among others, the macroeconomic,
demographic and sociocultural contexts, as well as in policy, cost and financing. The report will
include sub-sector reports on ECCE, Higher Education, TVET, Special Education and Non-formal
Education. The final output will be a comprehensive analytical sector report.
SPTs will present their report and findings at a public forum with government decision-makers and
stakeholders on the final day of the first week of the workshop.
Activities
Activity 1 will be the development and delivery of a two-week training program (in both Pohnpei,
FSM and in Majuro, RMI) focused on developing capacity to conduct education sector analysis and
diagnosis. The training program will be based on Education Sector Analysis Methodological
Guidelines, Volumes 1 and 2 (2014) and adapted to meet the specific needs of the education sector
in each country. The NDOE/MOE/PSS, with support from PACTAM and ADB, will coordinate the training
program.
The program will be practical and participatory and will address the following three key questions.
• What can be learned from past experience?
• What additional work needs to be done?
• What information is available?
The training will include the development of skills and techniques to support detailed context,
policy, cost and finance, system performance and system capacity analysis. Training in the use of
relevant skills, tools and techniques will be provided, including data analysis, risk management
and cost-benefit analysis.
Activity 2
The Consultant firm will manage both countries’ available funding and make all payments for travel
arranged by the MOE and the NDOE (in collaboration with SDOEs) and other education agencies in
accordance with the agreed budget and travel plan, to provide transport and logistics to SPTs to
conduct participatory research and consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, including
facilitating travel to remote island/atoll communities as necessary, which in some cases have
infrequent and unreliable transportation services.
Activity 3
The consultant firm will develop and deliver a two-week workshop (in both Pohnpei, FSM and in
Majuro, RMI) focused on developing each country’s capacity to interpret, synthesize and report the
findings of earlier education sector analysis and diagnosis. With support from PACTAM, the
consultant firm will coordinate the workshop with MOE/PSS and NDOE/SDOE. The first week of the
workshop will engage SPTs in organizing, analyzing and interpreting findings from Output 2 and
preparing a report for a public forum to be conducted on the final day of the first week. The
second week of the workshop will engage a smaller, selected group of SPT representatives who will
concentrate on writing the final report.
The workshop will include the following components:
i) Developing and conducting training of SPTs in collating, processing, interpreting and reporting
the empirical evidence and findings of the analytical and diagnostic research activities conducted
in Objective Two.
ii) Coordinating the workshops in Pohnpei and Majuro, including facilitating all payments for
logistical arrangements put in place by NDOE and MOE for participants. The FSM and RMI can make all
the necessary bookings for workshops and travel, but consultant firm is responsible for monitoring
compliance with budget and making of payments.
iii) Facilitating a public forum to discuss the findings of the analytical and diagnostic research
activities conducted in Objective Two, including facilitating all payments for logistical
arrangements put in place by NDOE and MOE for stakeholder participation.
iv) Coordinating the writing of the final report, including support to selected members of the SPTs
in the preparation of a final report.
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