TEFIQ Finnish Short-Term Expert - Conducting a Longitudinal Study on Transforming Inclusive Education Resource Centers (Activity 2.1.6.3)

Business area:
Development Consulting

Country:
Ethiopia , East Africa

Qualifications required:
MA/MEd, (PhD is an asset) in Education, Special Needs Education, or Inclusive Education, Educational research or related fields of study.

Professional experience required:
• Proven expertise in conducting longitudinal studies, baseline studies, impact assessment, educational research etc. • Understanding how IERCs get established, operate and their roles for the implementation of inclusive education. • Excellent writing and speaking skills in English • Understanding of the Finnish / Ethiopian education system. • Excellent teamwork and communication skills

Position length:
>Temporary

Position length:
Between March 2026, and January 2027 (Phase I)

Deadline:
Saturday, April 4, 2026

Apply for position

Terms of Reference (ToR) for Conducting a Longitudinal Study on Transforming Inclusive Education Resource Centers into Centers of Excellence Introduction The Technical Assistance for Teacher Education for Inclusion and Quality in Ethiopia (TEFIQ) is a bilateral project supported by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MoE), with Regional Education Bureaus (REBs) of Amhara, Oromia and Sidama, selected Colleges of Teacher Education (CTEs), Kotebe University of Education (KUE), and selected Inclusive Education Resource Centers (IERCs) and corresponding City Administration Education Departments (CAEDs). The project is implemented by NIRAS Finland Consulting Company. The intended outcome of the project is that teacher education institutions will have enhanced capacity to develop teacher education for inclusion. This will be achieved by providing technical support to the following three outputs: Output 1: Teacher educators integrate aspects of inclusive education in their courses and use inclusive pedagogy in practice. Output 2: Model Inclusive Education Resource Centers are developed to showcase child-friendly supportive environments with inclusive practice for learning of all. Output 3: Capacities are enhanced on inclusive curriculum development and related instructional materials across all levels of education administration and institutions. As part of Output 2 activities, one (1) Finnish STE and two (2) national STEs will be procured to examine and work on the transformation of IERCs into Centers of Excellence. Description of the Assignment This activity involves conducting a comprehensive longitudinal study to monitor and evaluate the transformation of selected IERCs into Centers of Excellence. The study will systematically track institutional processes, pedagogical practices, service delivery mechanisms, and learner outcomes across the two phases of the TEFIQ project and during TEFIQ project inputs. This assignment will be carried out in two phases: phase I from March 2026 to 15th of February 2027, and phase II from February 2027 to December 2028. This ToR is prepared for Phase I. By adopting a long-term perspective, the study will generate evidence on how IERCs evolve, adapt, and strengthen their role in promoting inclusive education during the TEFIQ project implementation. The findings will provide actionable insights to guide policy makers, education administrators, and practitioners in enhancing institutional capacity, improving service quality, and ensuring the sustainability of inclusive education practices. In addition, the study will serve as a learning tool, highlighting effective strategies and identifying challenges that need to be addressed for the successful transformation of IERCs. The assignment will be carried out by one Finnish STE and two national STEs, ensuring both international expertise and contextual relevance. The Finnish expert has a leading role in the assignment. Regional Advisers (RAs) will facilitate the process of the study such as linking the STEs with the stakeholders. The STEs are expected to ensure methodological rigor and use appropriate research instruments to guarantee consistency and reliability of the study findings. Regular monitoring, technical briefs, and a final longitudinal study report will be produced, offering evidence-based recommendations to strengthen the capacity, quality, and sustainability of IERCs as Centers of Excellence. The maximum consultancy days for the Finnish STE is 30 days and 45 consultancy days each for the two national STEs. These consultancy days are for Phase I only (March2026 -February 2027). Objective of the Assignment The objective of this assignment is to examine the processes, inputs and conditions, changes over time, and outcomes involved in transforming IERCs into Centers of Excellence (CoEs), in order to generate evidence-based guidance for strengthening institutional capacity, service delivery, functionality, and sustainability of quality service provision. Specific Objectives • Assess the changes in institutional readiness and capacity of IERCs in terms of human resources, infrastructure, governance, and financing at different points in time. • Analyze changes in service quality, pedagogical practices, service delivery, effectiveness, and outcomes for the transition through the TEFIQ project support. • Examine the impact of transformation on inclusive teaching practices, learner participation, and educational outcomes for students with diverse learning needs. • Identify enabling and constraining factors (eg. policy, leadership, partnerships, and community engagement) influencing successful transformation over time. • Identify factors contributing to effective transformation and sustainable implementation. • Provide technical guidance, methodological rigor, and support knowledge sharing throughout the study. Scope of the Work The longitudinal study will cover the systematic evaluation of the processes, inputs and conditions, changes over time, and outcomes involved in transforming IERCs into CoEs. The STEs will be responsible for examining institutional processes, pedagogical practices, service delivery mechanisms, and learner outcomes through TEFIQ project lifetime. This scope includes designing and applying rigorous research methodologies, ensuring accuracy, quality and consistency in data collection, and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative evidence to capture the progress and challenges of the transformation process. The work will also involve identifying best practices, gaps, and contextual factors and specific inputs by TEFIQ that influence the success of IERCs, thereby generating actionable insights for strengthening inclusive education service delivery. In addition, the STEs will ensure methodological rigor, facilitate knowledge sharing, and share findings with key stakeholders. Continuous monitoring, technical briefs, and a final study report will be produced, offering evidence-based recommendations for institutional strengthening, quality improvement, and sustainability. By embedding ongoing learning and refinement into the process, the study will serve not only as an evaluation tool but also as a mechanism for guiding future inclusive education strategies and policies. In this assignment, a Center of Excellence (CoE) refers to targeted IERCs being systematically upgraded and repositioned to: • Deliver high-quality and child-friendly services to learners, teachers, and communities. • Practices aligned with national inclusive education policies. • Build capacity by training educators, administrators, and education experts. • Generate evidence and innovation through research, piloting new approaches, and documenting best practices, and serve as models for replication across other IERCs Responsibilities The STEs are tasked with the following responsibilities: • Develop a detailed work plan with outlining methodology and division of tasks to conduct the longitudinal study. • Prepare appropriate data collection tools • Coordinate and conduct data collection process. • Ensure methodological rigor and consistency in the use of research techniques. • Analyze data and prepare regular monitoring reports and technical briefs. • Present the research progress to MoE and TEFIQ team for feedback. • Submit a final longitudinal study report with recommendations. • The Finnish STE has the leading role on the assignment and the national STEs are responsible for managing field level data collection. Methodology The study will adopt a longitudinal design combining quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Data collection tools may include, but are not limited to: • Desk review of existing IERC documentation and policies. • Field-level monitoring of institutional processes and practices. • Questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions, and other methods with IERC staff, teachers, and stakeholders. • Quantitative data collection on service delivery and learner outcomes. • Continuous feedback from stakeholders and TEFIQ team. Deliverables The following deliverables are expected from the STEs: • Inception report outlining understanding of the assignment, methodology, and detailed work plan. • Desk review report • Developed data collection tools. • Submitted raw data from the study (both qualitative and quantitative). • Present research progress to the TEFIQ team for feedback. • Longitudinal study report for phase I (Draft and Final), including tentative/preliminary conclusions and recommendations All deliverables shall be submitted according to the agreed timeline. Timeframe The deliverables must be submitted between March 2026, and January 2027 (Phase I). The specific timeline for each deliverable will be presented in the STEs detailed work plan and discussed with the TEFIQ team. The longitudinal study will extend into Phase II of TEFIQ to generate evidence-based guidance for strengthening institutional capacity, service delivery, functionality, and sustainability of IERCs. The Phase II inputs will be determined based on Phase I findings. Working and Reporting Arrangements • The Finnish STE will work under the overall supervision of the TEFIQ TA team. S/he will also work in close collaboration with the HoC. • Draft longitudinal study report will be submitted to the Chief Technical Advisor (CTA), Ms. Marja Matero ([email protected]) and copied to Dr. Ali Sani ([email protected]) and Dr. Ahmed Esmael ([email protected]) Application Process • Finnish STE: Send resume and necessary document to TEFIQ project Home Office Coordinator (HoC) Ms. Shalvi Sinha via email: [email protected] and copying to Marja Matero, CTA, [email protected] • National STEs: Send letter of interest and resume through email to Marja Matero, Chief technical Advisor, [email protected] • The deadline for application is Friday 3rd of April 2026, at 5:00 PM.