1. Background
Kakenya’s Dream (KD) is a nonprofit organization that invests in girls from rural communities through education, health and leadership initiatives. It is registered as a Trust under the Perpetual Succession Act and is domiciled in Kenya. It has two offices, one located in Nairobi and the other in Isampin, Transmara West Sub County, Narok County. Our programs operate in Transmara, one of Kenya’s remotest and most marginalized regions, where nearly 80% of girls continue to undergo female genital mutilation (FGM) at puberty, 50% are married before age 19, and only 17% complete primary education. Girls’ education is not a family or community investment priority, and social norms perpetuate low educational achievement. Investing in girls’ education yields profoundly positive outcomes not only for the girl but for her family and community as well.
Our interconnected programs provide educational opportunities for vulnerable girls and train youth on sexual and reproductive health and rights in marginalized communities.
a. Centers for Excellence: The Kakenya Centers for Excellence (KCE) all-girls boarding schools currently serve 352 girls in a safe, supportive environment and an additional 32 students in neighboring boarding primary schools. The program takes a holistic approach to educating marginalized, vulnerable girls, incorporating health and leadership elements, STEM, arts/culture, and critical thinking into the classroom curriculum.
b. Network for Excellence: We support girls who have graduated from our primary boarding school as they continue to peer high schools through our Network for Excellence program. The girls receive mentorship, tutoring, financial aid, and a variety of essential resources to help them thrive in their new environment. Currently, we support 199 girls in different secondary schools nationwide.
c. Gap Year and Tertiary: Upon secondary school completion, our students enter a 9-month gap year course designed to prepare them for successful experiences in university-level courses through hands-on training, professional development opportunities, and academic skills enhancement. We additionally support them through the college application and admission process and provide university and/or vocational school scholarships. Currently, we are supporting 98 girls in tertiary institutions, and 57 more are expected to join colleges and universities in September 2023.
d. Health and Leadership Training Program: In rural communities, access to education is not enough for the most vulnerable girls to overcome the deep-rooted challenges that prevent them from attending and succeeding in school. Girls also need training in life skills, sexual and reproductive health knowledge, leadership qualities, and an understanding of their legal rights. Our unique training program is designed to empower adolescents by providing critical information at a time when they are at risk of undergoing FGM and being forced into an early marriage. We partnered with 30 local schools this year, reaching 5,638 adolescents through our training. So far, through this program, we have trained over 24,000 adolescent girls and boys. In 2022, we implemented this training in 28 schools in Narok, Kisii and Migori County, reaching 4,786 adolescents in Grades 6 to Class 8.
2. Purpose of the assignment
To assess the impact of the Jijue Health and Leadership Training implemented in the selected schools in Transmara West and South Sub Counties in Narok and Kenyenya Sub County in Kisii County.
The evaluation will cover Phase 3 and Phase 4 of the Jijue Program implemented in 2022 and 2023, respectively in Narok and Kisii Counties. Within this period, the evaluation will assess project outcomes at all levels. The evaluation will in particular, seek to assess the impact and relevance of the project’s intervention on the participation of adolescent boys and girls in the Jijue Program. The evaluation will assess the project management and activity implementation to address the results achieved and the partnerships established. The evaluation will also dept into establishing best practices for future engagement.
3. Key areas of responsibility and deliverables
a. To evaluate the project in terms of its effectiveness, relevance, efficiency, sustainability, and impact, with a priority on assessing the project’s expected results, objectives and overall goal
b. To identify key lessons and potential practices for learning;
c. Develop a project Performance Monitoring Plan with relevant data collection systems.
d. Develop tools for data collections
e. Conduct key informant interviews and focus group discussions
f. Obtain relevant permits from authorities
Application’s requirements and considerations:
Please submit your technical and financial proposal detailing your interpretation of the terms of reference and methodology for carrying out the assignment, expression of interest, work plan including the proposed timeline, a brief capabilities statement, and three references; to Kakenya’s Dream via email to [email protected] on or before close of business on 15th September 2023
Timeframe and Considerations
a. All deliverables are to be met within two months.
b. Contract and award to be communicated once a suitable consultant has been identified.
c. The consultant will be required to travel to the field for an effective evaluation.
