Terms of Reference for Consultancy to Conduct Education Sector Analysis (ESA) 2026 and Develop of Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) in 2027 to 2031 for Somaliland Ministry of Education and Science (MoES).

Save the Children is a leading humanitarian organization for children. We've changed the lives of over 1 billion children in the U.S. and around the world. WE BELIEVE EVERY CHILD DESERVES A FUTURE. Around the world, too many children start life at a disadvantage simply because of who they are and where they come from. Millions of children are dying from preventable causes, face poverty, violence, disease and hunger. They are caught up in war zones and disasters they did nothing to

Job description

Title of Consultancy

SCI Contracting Office

Save the Children in Somaliland

Period of Consultancy

6 months

Consultant type required

Experienced and relevant Consultancy Firms

Responsibility for Logistics arrangements and Costs

Save the children will pay the consultant fee in a lump sum and will not reimburse any incurred costs during the assignment. The consultant will cover their own Logistical arrangements, costs including food, accommodation, insurance, local transport and all cost associated with data collection work and whole activities.

Taxation Provisions

The consultancy firm shall be responsible for all applicable taxes related to the consultancy services, in accordance with local tax regulations at the SCI contracting office will apply and shall be withheld by SCI

Travel requirements

The consultancy firm will cover all travel costs (tickets) and arrange local travel movements to regions and districts.

Security requirements

The consultancy firm will comply with the standard of Save the Children Security procedures, including the completion of SCI online security training (applicable to international consultants) prior to travel to Somaliland.

Firm's Experience Requirement:

The consultancy firm must demonstrate institutional experience in conducting high-level education sector reviews, Analysis, evaluations and development of ESSPs.

The firm should provide documented evidence of successfully completed assignments of a similar nature, including contracts, completion certificates, or official letters of award. Experience working with government ministries, international development partners, and multi-stakeholder education coordination platforms will be considered a strong asset.

Skills and qualifications

Description

Minimum Qualifications and professional experience

Education Sector Analysis and Education Sector Strategic Plan

· Advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in education planning, educational economics, development studies or a closely related field;

· Minimum 10 years of relevant experience in education sector analysis, sector planning and strategic plan development in low-income or fragile/conflict-affected contexts;

· Demonstrated experience in developing or supporting the development of national Education Sector Strategic Plans, including in Sub-Saharan Africa or the Horn of Africa;

· Strong expertise in education financing, simulation modelling and cost analysis;

· Experience working with GPE-supported countries and familiarity with GPE guidelines for ESA and ESP preparation and appraisal;

· Excellent facilitation, stakeholder engagement and communication skills;

· Fluency in written and spoken English; knowledge of Somali language is an asset.

· Strong quantitative analytical skills and experience with education simulation models;

· Experience in learning assessment analysis (EGRA, EGMA or equivalent);

· Experience working with EMIS systems in Sub-Saharan Africa or similar contexts.

· Demonstrated experience in disability-inclusive education, nomadic/pastoralist education, and education for IDPs and marginalised groups;

· Experience integrating gender and equity dimensions into ESPs and M&E frameworks.

· Familiarity with the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE) Minimum Standards;

· Experience integrating EiE into sector-wide planning and M&E frameworks.

· The ability to work effectively in challenging environments, demonstrating resilience and adaptability.

· Computer literacy and proficiency with Microsoft Office.

· Commitment: Availability to complete the assignment within strict deadlines.

How to apply

Application Procedure

Interested consultants who meet the required qualifications are invited to submit their bids. Each application package must include all minimum requirements specified above.

Submission method:
Applications shall be submitted via the protected email tender box below:

Email: Somaliland.Tenders@savethechildren.org
Please note that the tender box email is a sealed submission inbox and will not be accessed until the tender closing date. Therefore, it should not be used for queries, as no responses will be provided from this address.
Bidder must send their applications to the above email, failing so may result disqualification from the process.

Clarifications:

Any requests for clarification should be sent to: Somaliland.procurement@savethechildren.org
Responses will be provided within a maximum of two (2) working days.

Email subject line:

The subject of the submission email must be: TOR of consultancy to conduct ESA and Development of ESSP (2027 – 2031) for Somaliland MoES

Submission requirements:

All attached documents must be clearly labelled to indicate their content.
Total email size must not exceed 15MB. Where necessary, submissions should be split into multiple emails.
Do not copy additional SCI staff email addresses when submitting your application, as this may invalidate your bid.

Important notice:
All applications must be submitted by the stated closing date to be eligible for consideration. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Early submission is strongly encouraged, as last-minute submissions may experience technical or network delays, which could result in late receipt and disqualification.

Bid Application Details:

Interested firms are invited to submit a single tender application package for the assignment. Applicant firms are required to submit the following documents:

· Technical Proposal: The technical proposal should provide a detailed response to the ToR, clearly demonstrating understanding of the respective assignment’s scope of work, objectives, methodology, approach, timelines, and expected deliverable.

· Financial Proposal: A detailed financial proposal is required—one for each assignment. The financial proposal must provide a complete and itemized breakdown of all expected costs, including consultancy fees and associated operational expenses (e.g., accommodation, transportation, communication, stationery, data collection, and research assistance). All costs must be stated in USD and inclusive of applicable taxes. No additional costs will be considered beyond what is submitted in the financial bid.

· Firm Profile: For consultancy firms, a company profile outlining relevant past experience, particularly in ESA and ESSP development.

· Curriculum Vitae (CVs): Each firm must propose at least two technical consultants (lead consultant and co-lead consultant).

· Each CV must be complete, specific to the assignment, and include at least three traceable references.

· CVs should clearly demonstrate the candidate’s experience and qualifications in relation to the assignment they are being proposed for.

Note: Bidders who do not submit the CVs for the lead individual consultants will be considered non-compliant and disqualified from further evaluation.

Closing date for Applications

Interested consultants shall submit their BID applications through the above procedures by Somaliland.Tenders@savethechildren.org on 22nd July 2026 at 12:00 AM.

Terms of Reference for Consultancy to Conduct Education Sector Analysis (ESA) 2026 and Develop of Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) in 2027 to 2031 for Somaliland Ministry of Education and Science (MoES).