11049737 Impact evaluation for First Steps Big Step Project in Jordan (2020-2026)

Background

Early Childhood Development (ECD) is recognized globally as a critical foundation for children’s lifelong health, learning, and wellbeing. The first years of life are particularly important in shaping cognitive, emotional, and social development. However, many children in Jordan continue to grow up in environments where access to nurturing care, early stimulation, and inclusive early childhood services is limited.

Challenges affecting early childhood development in Jordan include limited access to quality early childhood services, fragmentation of ECD policies across sectors, insufficient coordination among stakeholders, and social norms that limit positive parenting practices and male engagement in caregiving. Evidence also indicates that many caregivers lack access to structured parenting programmes that promote nurturing care, non-violent discipline, and early learning stimulation.

To address these challenges, Plan International Jordan, in partnership with national stakeholders and with support from the Van Leer Foundation, implemented the First Steps, Big Step (FSBS) programme between 2020-2026.The programme aims to improve the developmental outcomes of young children in Jordan by strengthening parenting practices, promoting gender-transformative caregiving, and embedding comprehensive ECD services within national systems.

THE ORGANISATION

Plan International Jordan (PIJO), an International Non-Governmental Organization established in 2016, has been at the forefront of addressing critical issues related to children's rights and gender equality across Jordan. With a comprehensive portfolio of programs spanning education, youth empowerment, and protection—including Child Protection (CP), Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)—PIJO is dedicated to creating safer communities for both Syrian refugees and Jordanian host populations. Operating across various governorates, our initiatives are tailored to meet the specific needs of refugees and vulnerable groups within these communities. Central to our mission is the support of at-risk children, adolescents and youth, focusing on preventing and responding to child marriage, child labor, and broader CP and GBV issues, while promoting their decision-making, participation, and empowerment. Collaborating closely with parents, youth and communities, PI works to raise awareness about child protection issues and bolster the capacity of families and societies to address the needs of children and adolescents, aiming to safeguard them from violence, abuse, and other forms of sexual and gender-based violence. Embedded in our operations is Plan's Global Gender Equality and Inclusion Policy, which guides our commitment to achieving gender equality, promoting gender justice, realising girls' rights, and fostering an inclusive society. This policy underpins PI's five-year country strategy, our Values and Behaviours Framework, and our Theory of Change.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The First Steps, Big Step (FSBS) programme aims to strengthen early childhood development systems in Jordan by empowering parents and caregivers and integrating ECD services within national health structures.

The programme is implemented across six governorates: Amman, Zarqa, Irbid, Karak, Balqa, and Ajloun, targeting parents, caregivers, health workers, and national ECD stakeholders.

Phase 1 (2020–2022)

The first phase focused on empowering parents and caregivers to adopt positive, gender-responsive parenting practices and strengthening awareness of early childhood development. The project also worked to position ECD as a national priority through advocacy and coordination with government stakeholders.

Key pathways included:

• Parents practice gender- and age-appropriate positive parenting behaviours.
• Early childhood development becomes an integrated national priority supported by coordinated stakeholders.

Phase 2 (2023–2024)

The second phase aimed to deepen and expand the integration of ECD services within the health sector by embedding parenting programmes into routine health services, strengthening Ministry of Health staff capacity, and introducing more standardized and coordinated approaches to service delivery, laying the foundation for full institutionalizations.

Key outcomes included strengthening parenting services in health centres, promoting male engagement in caregiving, and improving coordination among ECD stakeholders and advancing the standardization of ECD services, including greater inclusion of children with disabilities within service delivery.

Phase 3 (2025–2026)

The third phase focuses on institutionalizing ECD services within the Ministry of Health and strengthening sustainability through national systems.

This phase aims to embed comprehensive ECD services within Jordan’s national health framework, ensuring equitable access, quality standards, and community engagement for children under five and their caregivers.

Purpose of the Study

As phase 3 of the FSBS programme approaches completion in August 2026, Plan International Jordan intends to conduct an external impact evaluation. The evaluation will assess the results and impact of the programme across all three phases and generate insights to inform future programming and policy engagement in early childhood development.

The specific objectives of the impact evaluation are to:

• Assess the relevance of the FSBS programme in addressing the needs and priorities of parents, caregivers, and children in Jordan.
• Evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of programme interventions across the three phases.
• Examine changes in parenting behaviours, gender norms, and male caregiver engagement resulting from programme activities.
• Assess improvements in the availability and quality of early childhood development services delivered through health facilities.
• Evaluate the extent to which ECD services have been integrated and institutionalized within national health systems specifically MOH.
• Identify lessons learned and provide actionable recommendations for future ECD programming in Jordan.

Scope of the Evaluation

Timeframe Covered

January 2020 – July 2026 (all three phases)

Geographic Coverage

Amman, Zarqa, Irbid, Karak, Balqa, Ajloun, Ma’an, Mafraq, Madaba, Jerash, Aqaba, Tafeleh

Target Groups

• Parents and caregivers
• Children under six (indirect)
• MoH staff and frontline workers
• National ECD stakeholders

Thematic Scope

The evaluation will cover the main thematic areas of the FSBS programme, including:

• Parenting programmes and caregiver behaviour change.
• Male engagement in early childhood development.
• Integration of ECD services within health centres.
• Capacity building of frontline health workers.
• Coordination among national ECD stakeholders.
• Policy and advocacy efforts related to early childhood development.

Evaluation Methodology

The evaluation will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.

Given the programme’s multi-phase design and systemic ambitions, the evaluation will adopt a theory-based impact evaluation approach that examines how project interventions contributed to changes in parenting behaviours, service delivery systems, and institutional frameworks for early childhood development.

The evaluation should assess outcomes at three levels:

• Household-level behavioural change among parents and caregivers.
• Service delivery improvements within health facilities.
• Institutional and policy-level change within the national ECD system.

Desk Review

The evaluation will begin with a comprehensive desk review of all relevant programme documentation and available monitoring data. This review will help the evaluation team understand the design, implementation processes, and intended outcomes of the First Steps, Big Step (FSBS) programme across its three phases. The evaluator will analyse key documents including project proposals, logical frameworks, monitoring and evaluation reports, situation analyses, male engagement study, and behavioural change studies conducted during the programme. In addition, documentation related to the national ECD indicators, databases developed during the project, and relevant policy and advocacy outputs will be reviewed. The desk review will provide the basis for refining the evaluation questions, identifying information gaps, and developing the data collection tools to be used during the evaluation.

Quantitative Analysis

The evaluation will incorporate quantitative analysis to assess measurable outcomes of the programme and to examine changes in parenting practices and caregiver behaviours over time. Existing monitoring data collected during programme implementation will be analysed in relation to the project indicators and targets. Where feasible, the evaluator may conduct a structured survey with a sample of participating caregivers to collect quantitative information on selected outcomes. These may include changes in parenting behaviour, levels of male caregiver engagement in child development, caregiver awareness and utilization of early childhood development services, and the frequency of child stimulation activities practiced at home. The analysis should ensure that data are disaggregated by relevant variables such as sex of caregiver, location, and other demographic characteristics in order to examine differences in outcomes among different groups of participants.

Qualitative Methods

Qualitative data collection will play an important role in understanding the context in which results were achieved and in capturing the perspectives and experiences of programme participants and stakeholders. The evaluation will therefore include a combination of key informant interviews and focus group discussions with relevant stakeholders. Key informant interviews will be conducted with individuals who have been directly involved in the implementation or oversight of the FSBS programme. These may include project staff from Plan International Jordan, representatives of the Ministry of Health, health centre personnel responsible for delivering ECD services, and other national stakeholders engaged in early childhood development initiatives. These interviews will provide insights into programme implementation, coordination with national institutions, and the institutional integration of ECD services within the health sector.

Focus group discussions will also be conducted with groups of programme participants and community stakeholders. These discussions will aim to capture the experiences of caregivers who participated in parenting programmes, parents of young children who accessed early childhood development services, and other community stakeholders involved in ECD-related initiatives. The discussions will explore perceived changes in caregiving practices, attitudes toward gender roles in parenting, awareness and accessibility of ECD services, and the overall perceived benefits of the programme within communities. Conducting separate discussions with mothers and fathers may be considered where culturally appropriate in order to encourage open dialogue and ensure that diverse perspectives are captured.

Evaluation Criteria and Key Questions

The evaluation will be guided by OECD/DAC criteria.

A. Impact

• To what extent did FSBS contribute to measurable improvements in nurturing parenting practices?
• What behavioral changes occurred among male caregivers?
• What shifts in gender norms can be observed?
• Did children benefit indirectly through improved caregiving environments?
• What systemic changes occurred within MoH regarding ECD institutionalization?

B. Sustainability

• Are ECD services embedded within MoH structures?
• Are parenting programs institutionalized within professional development frameworks?
• Are Centers of Excellence functional and replicable?
• Is there evidence of budgetary allocation and policy integration?

C. Effectiveness

• Were intended outcomes achieved across all three phases?
• Which interventions produced the strongest results?

D. Relevance

• Did FSBS address priority ECD gaps in Jordan?
• Did the project align with national strategies?

E. Efficiency

• Were resources used strategically to generate systemic change?
• Was the phased approach appropriate?

F. Gender and Inclusion (Cross-cutting)

• Did the project reduce discriminatory gender norms?
• Were children with disabilities included?
• To what extent did participation in the programme contribute to changes in fathers’ attitudes and behaviours related to caregiving, gender roles, and involvement in child development?
• To what extent did the programme ensure equitable access to services for caregivers from different backgrounds, including Jordanian and non-Jordanian populations (e.g., refugees and vulnerable groups)? Were there any barriers to participation related to nationality, or geographic location?

Ethical and Safeguarding Statements

Plan International is committed to ensuring that the rights of those participating in data collection or analysis are respected and protected, in accordance with the Ethical MERL Framework and our Global Safeguarding Policy. All applicants should include details in their proposal on how they will ensure ethics and safeguarding in the data collection process. Specifically, the consultant shall explain how appropriate, safe, non-discriminatory participation of all stakeholders will be ensured and how special attention will be paid to the needs of children and other vulnerable groups. The consultant shall also explain how confidentiality and anonymity of participants will be guaranteed.

Additionally, all parties involved in the data collection will be requested to provide their consent to participate in this study.

Key Deliverables

The evaluation is expected to be carried out over a period of approximately 8 weeks, with the final report delivered by the end of July 2026. The timeline is set to ensure that results are available to inform the next phase proposal development. Below are the key deliverables and associated timelines:

• Inception Report – Due approximately 2 weeks after contract signing. This report will outline the evaluator’s refined methodology and work plan. It should include: the evaluation design and rationale, data collection tools (draft interview guides, survey questionnaires, etc.), a detailed evaluation matrix linking questions to data sources, sampling plan, and a timeline for fieldwork. The inception report will also address any limitations or needed adjustments to the plan. The evaluator will commence data collection only upon approval of the inception report by Plan International.
• Data Collection and Field Work - During this phase, after approval from ethical review team of Plan International, the evaluator will conduct field visits, interviews, and surveys as per the agreed plan. While not a separate “deliverable” to submit, the evaluator will provide brief field progress updates (via email or calls) to the Plan MERL focal point, highlighting any issues encountered or any need to adapt the approach.
• Draft Evaluation Report – The evaluator will submit a comprehensive draft report for review by the first week of July 2026. The report should be written in English and structured logically (executive summary, methodology, findings by criteria, conclusions, recommendations, annexes, etc.). It should address all evaluation questions and criteria with evidence and include practical recommendations. Plan International and key stakeholders will review the draft and provide feedback, focusing on factual corrections, clarification needs, and alignment with expectations.
• Presentation of Preliminary Findings (Debriefing) – The evaluator will present initial findings, emerging trends, and any early recommendations to key project stakeholders (e.g., Plan staff, partner representatives, possibly donor and government reps) in a debrief meeting or workshop. This can be done in-country or virtually. The purpose is to validate findings, fill any gaps, and ensure factual accuracy. Feedback from this session should be incorporated into the reporting phase. Deliverable: summary of preliminary findings (PowerPoint presentation) to be shared in advance of the debrief.
• Final Evaluation Report – The evaluator will deliver the final revised report, incorporating feedback from the draft review by the end of July 2026. The final report should be professionally edited and include:
• A concise Executive Summary (2-4 pages) summarizing key findings, conclusions, and recommendations – suitable for sharing with senior decision-makers.
• The Main Report (with introduction, background, methodology, findings, conclusions, lessons learned, recommendations).
• Annexes (including the ToR, data collection instruments used, list of people interviewed, detailed data tables or analysis if any, and any case studies or illustrative materials).

The final report must be submitted in both Word and PDF formats. It should be of publishable quality, as it may be shared externally (with donors, stakeholders, possibly published on websites). All raw data (e.g., cleaned survey datasets, interview transcripts or notes) should also be handed over to Plan International in an agreed format as part of the assignment’s completion. The report should be submitted electronically in a MS – Word document. The consultant is responsible for English editing and proofreading of the final report which should be well formatted. The report will be credited to the evaluator and potentially placed in the public domain at the decision of Plan International.

All handwritten and electronic transcripts of interviews and KIIs, hard copies of survey questionnaires, photographs taken during the assessment and any equipment received from Plan for the purpose of the study should be submitted to Plan. Furthermore, all information generated during the baseline study will be the sole property of Plan and is subject to submission to Plan, along with the final report, prior to the end of the contract.

Timeline

• Contracting of evaluator(s): Early June 2026
• Inception phase (desk review, inception report): after two weeks of the contract 2026
• Data collection (field work, interviews, FGDs, etc.): June 2026
• Draft report submission: first week of July 2026
• Feedback from Plan: one week after receiving the draft report 2026
• Final report submission end of July 2026

Plan International Jordan and its partners will actively support the evaluation by logistical support, access to project sites, and introductions to stakeholders; coordinating the mobilization of participants for data collection; providing relevant project documents and MERL data; and ensuring smooth communication through designated focal points. They will also review and validate tools and deliverables, support adherence to ethical and safeguarding standards, and maintain consistent coordination with the consultant throughout the process.

Evaluation Criteria

The proposal will be scored on technical (technical approach/methodology, previous experience, and team capacity), financial (budget), and gender responsiveness aspects weighted at 65%,30%, and 5% respectively.

• The distribution of technical grades will be as outlined below and final score will be calculated out of 65:
• Technical proposal quality, encompassing the workplan (30%)
• Past performance and similar assignments (20%)
• Proposed working methodology (30%)
• CVs of key staff (15%)
• Gender responsiveness and integration in the proposed approach (5%)
• Financial proposal 30%
• Gender responsive 5% explained as below:
• Women-owned business: A legal entity in any field that is more than 51% owned, managed and controlled by one or more women.
• Women-led business: A legal entity in any field that has a minimum of 50% women representation in management with senior-level, strategic decision-making capabilities.
• Gender-responsive business: Legal entity that actively promotes gender equality and empowerment of women and young women through their policies and labour practices.

Budget

The consultant should submit the total budget in the proposal with detailed breakdown including applicable government taxes.

The financial proposal must not exceed EUR 7,400 and any proposal exceeding this amount will be disqualified. The total amount must be inclusive of all applicable taxes.

Estimated LOE of approximately 8 weeks.

Expected Qualifications

The Consultant should have the following competencies and qualifications:

• Master's degree in social studies, International Development or any other related field, a minimum of seven years of equivalent professional experience in research may be considered.
• Technical Expertise: Proven expertise in conducting evaluations of development/humanitarian projects using mixed-methods. The lead evaluator should have at least 5-7 years of experience in project evaluation or applied research, including specific experience with impact evaluations.
• Experience in evaluations in the early childhood development programmes sectors is highly desirable. Familiarity with issues of child rights and child protection in Middle Eastern or similar contexts will be an asset. Experience working in Jordan, preferably in the project’s target areas.
• Demonstrated experience in incorporating a gender & inclusion lens into research and deliverables.
• Demonstrated experience of facilitating research with participatory methods and tools, particularly with children and young people.
• Competency in managing, organizing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data and information.
• Solid experience in the development of tools for baseline studies involving vulnerable populations such as refugees and children.
• Excellent report writing skills in Arabic and English.
• Ability to communicate effectively to a range of different stakeholders.
• Availability to work in the project areas for the duration of the data collection.

Note that the consultant is required to identify, recruit, contract and train enumerators and data collectors. No support can be provided on this matter by Plan International.