TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) For Third Party Monitoring Consultancy Girls’ Education Accelerator Program Banadir, Galmudug, Southwest, Hirshabelle, and Jubaland

1.Background1.1 About CARE in SomaliaCARE International has worked in Somalia since 1981, delivering emergency assistance and expanding over time to address the root causes of poverty and vulnerability, with a strong focus on girls, women, and youth. CARE currently implements programs across humanitarian response, recovery, and development, structured around three mutually reinforcing pillars: Education and Gender Equity, Climate Justice and Food Water and Nutrition, and Humanitarian Assistance. This consultancy falls under the Education and Gender Equity pillar.1.2 About the Girls’ Education Accelerator ProgramThe Girls’ Education Accelerator Program is a three-year partnership between the Federal Ministry of Education Culture and Higher Education (MOECHE) and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). The program aims to enhance equitable access to quality and inclusive education in rural and urban areas by addressing supply and demand barriers, particularly those linked to gender and social inclusion. The program contributes to reducing the gender gap in primary education by improving girls’ access, learning, and retention, with special attention to children facing multiple barriers including displacement, conflict, disability, and social vulnerability. Implementation covers all Federal Member States (FMS) and Banadir Regional Administration (BRA).Given the scale of investments, geographic spread, and number of beneficiaries, CARE is commissioning an independent Third-Party Monitoring (TPM) exercise to provide objective verification of reported results, strengthen accountability, and inform adaptive program management.2.Program Objective/Components·Outcome 1:Equitably increased primary gross enrolment rate.·Outcome 2:Equitably improved literacy and numeracy and completion rates.·Outcome 3:Strong regulatory and financing framework.Program ParticipantsThe program supports five MoE Gender and Inclusion Units at Federal and State levels to strengthen the implementation of the Gender in Education Policy. The program’s direct beneficiaries include: 15,600 out-of-school girls enrolled through capitation grants; 10,000 vulnerable out-of-school girls and 1,200 children living with disabilities receiving special grants to enroll and remain in school; 10,000 female students provided with dignity kits per year; 270 female teachers recruited; 55 FMS MOEs coaches trained on the new guidelines and tools for gender transformative and inclusive teaching practices. During the life of the program, the GEA will support 100 public schools with capitation grants for girls’ enrolment; construct 20 public schools for girls in areas with a high concentration of out-of-school girls; and construct 296 gender-responsive WASH facilities. These targets are currently under revision.3.Program Reach to DateThis TPM assignment will provide independent verification of key results achieved to date and assess the accuracy of reported data across all states.

1.Background1.1 About CARE in SomaliaCARE International has worked in Somalia since 1981, delivering emergency assistance and expanding over time to address the root causes of poverty and vulnerability, with a strong focus on girls, women, and youth. CARE currently implements programs across humanitarian response, recovery, and development, structured around three mutually reinforcing pillars: Education and Gender Equity, Climate Justice and Food Water and Nutrition, and Humanitarian Assistance. This consultancy falls under the Education and Gender Equity pillar.1.2 About the Girls’ Education Accelerator ProgramThe Girls’ Education Accelerator Program is a three-year partnership between the Federal Ministry of Education Culture and Higher Education (MOECHE) and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). The program aims to enhance equitable access to quality and inclusive education in rural and urban areas by addressing supply and demand barriers, particularly those linked to gender and social inclusion. The program contributes to reducing the gender gap in primary education by improving girls’ access, learning, and retention, with special attention to children facing multiple barriers including displacement, conflict, disability, and social vulnerability. Implementation covers all Federal Member States (FMS) and Banadir Regional Administration (BRA).Given the scale of investments, geographic spread, and number of beneficiaries, CARE is commissioning an independent Third-Party Monitoring (TPM) exercise to provide objective verification of reported results, strengthen accountability, and inform adaptive program management.2.Program Objective/Components·Outcome 1:Equitably increased primary gross enrolment rate.·Outcome 2:Equitably improved literacy and numeracy and completion rates.·Outcome 3:Strong regulatory and financing framework.Program ParticipantsThe program supports five MoE Gender and Inclusion Units at Federal and State levels to strengthen the implementation of the Gender in Education Policy. The program’s direct beneficiaries include: 15,600 out-of-school girls enrolled through capitation grants; 10,000 vulnerable out-of-school girls and 1,200 children living with disabilities receiving special grants to enroll and remain in school; 10,000 female students provided with dignity kits per year; 270 female teachers recruited; 55 FMS MOEs coaches trained on the new guidelines and tools for gender transformative and inclusive teaching practices. During the life of the program, the GEA will support 100 public schools with capitation grants for girls’ enrolment; construct 20 public schools for girls in areas with a high concentration of out-of-school girls; and construct 296 gender-responsive WASH facilities. These targets are currently under revision.3.Program Reach to DateThis TPM assignment will provide independent verification of key results achieved to date and assess the accuracy of reported data across all states.