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Tenders are invited for MECPU Baseline Survey - Gender Equitable Early Learning and Development in Uganda Closing Date: 19 Jun 2026 Type: Consultancy Consultancy Terms of Reference Gender Equitable Early Learning and Development in Uganda - (GEELD Uganda) Project Summary Project Title- Gender Equitable Early Learning and Development in Uganda (GEELD Uganda) Project Type - Early Childhood Education (ECD) Project Duration - 3 years (2026-2029) Type of Study - Baseline Survey Study Location - Mukono & Luwero districts Number of target clients - 2 districts, 20 ECCE Centre communities, 2,400 children aged 0-6, 1,200 parents, 60 ECCE educators (40 for Continuous Professional Development (CPD), 20 for Community Childcare Course (CCC), 15 Teachers as Leaders of Learning (TaLLs), 20 ECCE centre proprietors, 100 Centre Management Committee (CMC) members, 40 primary schools, 20 district level actors, 16 sub-county level actors, 40 Village Health Teams (VHTs) & 80 lower primary teachers. Number of target service points - 20 ECCE Centres Donor - Echidna Giving Total Project Budget - USD 500,000 Duration of the Assignment - 60 working days from contract signing Expected start of assignment - 1st July 2026 Madrasa Early Childhood Programme (MECPU) Background The Madrasa Early Childhood Programme, an affiliate of the Aga Khan Foundation, was established in Mombasa in 1986 to improve access and quality of Early Childhood care and services in marginalized communities on the Coast of Kenya. Evidence-based success and growing interest across East Africa led to MECP being established in Zanzibar in 1990 and Uganda in 1993. Over the last 35 years, more than 8,000 teachers have graduated from MECP professional development courses and over 1 million children reached through the programming. MECP is seeking to better bring this experience, expertise, and learning and create impact and influence at scale. Evaluations have demonstrated the positive impact MECP has had on access and quality of pre-primary education and on the educational outcomes of boys and girls. The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), founded by His Highness the Aga Khan in 1967, is a member of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), one of the worlds leading poverty solutions networks. AKDNs integrated approach makes long-term investments, builds permanent institutions, and cultivates an active civil society, impacting tens of millions of people annually in 30 countries. Alongside its sister AKDN agencies, AKF implements innovative, community-driven solutions that are based in decades of experience, learning and evaluation. In Uganda, AKF is managing a robust and expanding portfolio of multi-sectorial initiatives that includes investments in education, early childhood development, sustainable economic development, and civil society strengthening. AKF and MECP have collaborated and worked in partnership with and through Partners to improve the wellbeing of boys and girls aged 0-8 in the districts of Kampala, Wakiso, Mukono, Luweero, and Butambala Districts. Project Background and Context The GEELD (Gender-Equitable Early Learning and Development) Uganda project, is a comprehensive initiative designed to strengthen the holistic and gender-responsive ECD ecosystem in selected districts of Mukono and Luweero. Grounded in the principles of community leadership, gender equity, and strong government coordination, the project promotes sustainable change by positioning families, local actors, and systems at the heart of nurturing care and holistic child development. The project will directly reach 1,200 caregivers (80% women/960, 20% men/240), 60 ECCE educators, 20 early learning centres, reaching over 51% girls and 49% boys while indirectly benefiting approximately 10,000 community members, including district officials, community leaders, and families. Aligned with Echidna Givings core mission, GEELD Uganda is intentionally gender transformative. It moves beyond mere access to directly address and dismantle harmful social norms, biased practices, and systemic barriers that prevent girls from thriving. The project embeds gender equity and inclusion across all its components: from classrooms and homes to community structures and government systems. Project scope The GEELD project aims at strengthening the ECD ecosystem to promote equitable access to nurturing care, early learning, and developmental opportunities for 2,400 children aged 06 years. The project targets 2 districts of Mukono and Luwero targeting 20 communities of ECCE centres. Key targets include: 1,200 parents, 60 ECCE educators (40 for continuous professional development/CPD, 20 for the Community Childcare Certificate/CCC), 15 Teachers as Leaders of Learning (TaLLs), 20 Proprietors, 100 Centre Management Committee (CMC) members, 40 primary schools, 20 district level actors, 16 sub county level actors, 80 lower primary teachers and 40 Village Health Teams (VHTs). GEELD Uganda aims to achieve a transformative shift in how ECD services are delivered, accessed, and governed, creating a reinforcing cycle of change from the household to the policy level. Key result areas GEELD project aims at achieving the following specific objectives Specific objective 1: Strengthen the capacity of caregivers, families, and communities to provide nurturing care, stimulation, and early learning and development through inclusive, gender-responsive, and safe practices. Specific objective 2: Improve the quality, safety, and inclusiveness of early learning centres to support the holistic development and school readiness of children. Specific objective 3: Influence and strengthen government policies, systems and practices to create an enabling environment that supports quality, inclusive, and gender-equitable ECD services. To achieve the above objectives, the project targets to implement the following main activities under the different project objectives: Specific objective 1: Deliver bi-annual parenting sessions for 1,200 parents (80% female, 20% male). Deliver bi-annual gender-focused community dialogues in all target sub counties, engaging local leaders to challenge norms limiting father involvement and girls education. Train 40 Village Health Teams (VHTs) on a contextualized version of the Care for Child Development (CCD) package. In collaboration with Health Centres, support VHTs to conduct monthly home visits to deliver contextualized version of the Care for Child Development (CCD) package. Specific objective 2: Deliver a continuous professional development course to ECCE teachers, Train ECCE Teachers as Leaders of learning (TaLL) to serve as peer mentors in gender responsive. Facilitate mentorship and coaching for ECCE teachers through TaLLs. Support informal ECD teachers to complete a government recognized Community Childcare Certificate. Co-develop Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs) for ECCE centres through design thinking workshops. Train Center Management Committees in governance and accountability. Train Primary One Teachers in gender responsive and play-based methodologies for Top class learners transition. Specific objective 3: Conduct institutional capacity assessments in target sub counties using the Government Performance Index (GPI). Convene district level dialogues annually with key ministries, district & sub county officials and civil society partners. The GEELD Uganda is grounded in the belief that early, gender-transformative interventions targeting children, parents, caregivers, teachers, and systems can significantly enhance holistic child development, particularly for the girls and other marginalized children. By fostering nurturing home environments, improving quality and inclusiveness in early learning centres, and strengthening sub-national institutional systems for ECD, the project aims to create a resilient and equitable ecosystem that supports every childs right to thrive. Purpose of the Assignment The major aim and purpose of the baseline survey is to generate evidence on the status of gender-equitable ECD practices, caregiver capacity, quality of early learning centres, and enabling policy environment in Mukono and Luweero districts. The survey will also guide project implementation, inform adaptive strategies, and provide benchmarks for monitoring and evaluation. The survey will also align the project Theory of Change with the planned project implementation approach. Specifically, the baseline will establish benchmarks for all key indicators, disaggregated by gender, disability status, and location (district - urban/rural), as required by the projects MERL framework. Specific objectives of the Baseline survey To examine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of caregivers (women and men) regarding nurturing care, stimulation, gender-responsive parenting, and early learning support in the project targeted communities. To assess the quality, safety, inclusiveness, and gender responsiveness of early learning centres, including infrastructure, teaching practices, and child outcomes in the project targeted ECCE centres. Document existing government policies, coordination mechanisms, and institutional practices that affect ECD service delivery and equity in the targeted project districts of Mukono & Luwero. To analyze sex-disaggregated data to understand disparities in access, participation, and developmental outcomes for girls and boys aged 06 years (further disaggregate data by disability status and location where possible) To highlight systemic, cultural, and resource-related challenges, as well as opportunities for strengthening the ECD ecosystem in the targeted project communities, ECCE centres and districts. To establish baseline benchmarks for all key project indicators as detailed in the Performance Measurement Table (PMT), to enable end-of-project comparison. Key Results Frame Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4215223/mecpu-baseline-survey-gender-equitable-early-learning-and-development-uganda
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