Early Numeracy Initiative (ENI) Evaluation Consultants

at  RTI International

Overview
ABC+, Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines, is a five-year, $38.5 million United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded project to improve early reading, math, and social and emotional skills for children in the early grades (kindergarten through grade 3 (K–3) in the Philippines. ABC+ pursues the goal of improving outcomes in early grades through work in three result areas. Intermediate Result 1 (IR1) aims to help improve early grade instruction and delivery systems, with a focus on research-based teacher professional development. IR2 helps increase access to quality, leveled locally developed supplementary reading materials to support early literacy. IR3 supports the enabling environment within which the two other IRs will operate, namely by improving education system capacity and commitment to manage and implement interventions supporting effective early grade instruction.
In May 2024, ABC+ in partnership with the Regional Offices and Schools Divisions will be conducting an evaluation study to gain perspectives on the use and effectiveness of the different components of ENI Program. In addition, the ENI schools involved will benefit from learning about the numeracy practices of the teachers and its possible impact on learners’ outcomes in numeracy. The study can be utilized as a lens and a reference for possible professional development topics for the Learning Action Cell of the schools. Further, the evaluation study can also set the direction for the scale-up of the program and can also be endorsed to DepEd as a potential reference for the future activities of the National Math Program. This study can also be a springboard for future research and initiatives on numeracy in DepEd Central and Field Offices.
The Early Numeracy Initiative is a small-scale model developed at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. ABC+ in collaboration with the University of the Philippines (UP) National Institute for Science and Mathematics Education Development (NISMED) designed the program with three phases of implementation to achieve its goal while battling the effects of the pandemic on the education sector.
To accomplish this, RTI seeks to outsource data collection support staff/consultants who will facilitate and document focus group discussions (FGDs) and transcribe the results of the FGDs as reports.
Responsibilities

ABC+ will engage ENI Focus Group Discussion Coordinators and Documenters (4 per region) who will lead the data collection and will be contracted to assist with the following specific tasks:

• Participate in the orientation on the use of the data collection tools and other meetings, debriefs and consultation sessions relevant to the role;
• Liaise with ABC+ Project staff on the overall coordination of data collection activities;
• Under the guidance of the Logistics Unit of ABC+, coordinate and facilitate logistical needs needed for data collection activities;
• Accompany the FGD facilitators and document the discussion with identified respondents in assigned areas;
• Ensure that guidelines and standards for the FGDs are properly observed;
• Prepare the initial draft (raw) report following standard rules of grammar and styling conventions in consultation with ABC+ team;
• Prepare and submit a draft and final copy of report/s on the data collection results following the template provided;
• Participate in document reviews and incorporate feedback given in documentation reports;
• Secure names of people interviewed using the attendance sheet provided;
• Take photographs of the FGDs and make sure that consent is given for the photos;
• Provide regular/timely feedback to ABC+ technical team, copying the Area Manager, on concerns and issues related to the conduct of the FGDs;
• Share insights, suggestions and recommendations on the overall process of data collection;
• Follow the templates/tools/Apps to be provided by RTI as applicable;
• Attend and participate in activities related to ENI study data collection and analysis, as needed.

Period of Performance: Mid-June to mid-August
Total LOE days: Maximum of 40 days

• Participate in the orientation on the use of the data collection tools and other meetings, debriefs and consultation sessions relevant to the role;
• Liaise with ABC+ Project staff on the overall coordination of data collection activities;
• Under the guidance of the Logistics Unit of ABC+, coordinate and facilitate logistical needs needed for data collection activities;
• Accompany the FGD facilitators and document the discussion with identified respondents in assigned areas;
• Ensure that guidelines and standards for the FGDs are properly observed;
• Prepare the initial draft (raw) report following standard rules of grammar and styling conventions in consultation with ABC+ team;
• Prepare and submit a draft and final copy of report/s on the data collection results following the template provided;
• Participate in document reviews and incorporate feedback given in documentation reports;
• Secure names of people interviewed using the attendance sheet provided;
• Take photographs of the FGDs and make sure that consent is given for the photos;
• Provide regular/timely feedback to ABC+ technical team, copying the Area Manager, on concerns and issues related to the conduct of the FGDs;
• Share insights, suggestions and recommendations on the overall process of data collection;
• Follow the templates/tools/Apps to be provided by RTI as applicable;
• Attend and participate in activities related to ENI study data collection and analysis, as needed