Youth Skills MEAL Consultant

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Consultant

Youth Skills Sudan Programme

1. Background

The British Council's Youth Skills Sudan Programme is a pilot initiative implemented between April 2026 and March 2027 that combines Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Non-Formal Education (NFE) into a single integrated skills offer. The programme aims to improve employment opportunities, enterprise development and formal skills recognition for young people across ten target states in Sudan while contributing to the implementation of Sudan's Transitional Education Plan (TEP) 2025–2027.

The programme consists of five integrated interventions:

• Inclusive Economic Empowerment (Employment and Enterprise pathways)
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
• Curriculum Development with NCCER
• Regional and International TVET Engagement
• TVET+ Behaviour Change Campaign

Following completion of the Youth Skills Model Report, the programme is entering its implementation phase. To ensure effective programme management, adaptive learning and evidence generation, the British Council seeks to recruit a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Consultant to establish and operationalise the programme's MEL system.

The consultant will work under the approved Project Management Plan (PMP), ensuring that all monitoring systems align with the programme logic, outputs, outcomes, governance arrangements and reporting requirements.

2. Purpose of the Consultancy

The British Council is seeking a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Consultant to accompany the implementation of the Youth Skills Sudan pilot throughout FY26/27.

The primary purpose of this consultancy is to systematically capture evidence, learning and impact generated throughout the pilot year, enabling the British Council to assess the effectiveness of the integrated Youth Skills model, document what works in Sudan's conflict-affected context, and produce a robust end-of-pilot report that will inform future programme design, policy engagement and resource mobilisation.

Rather than undertaking a traditional end-line evaluation, the consultant will embed learning throughout programme implementation by establishing practical monitoring systems, collecting quantitative and qualitative evidence, documenting lessons learned, and translating programme results into compelling evidence products for government, partners and donors.

The consultancy will ensure that by March 2027 the British Council has a comprehensive evidence base demonstrating the programme's achievements, challenges, lessons and recommendations for scaling the Youth Skills model beyond the pilot phase.

3. Scope of Work

Guided by the Youth Skills Project Management Plan (PMP) and reporting to the Programme Manager, the consultant will accompany programme implementation throughout the pilot year and undertake the following responsibilities:

Objective 1 – Establish the Learning Framework for the Pilot

• Review the Project Management Plan, Theory of Change and programme documentation.
• Develop a practical MEL framework that measures programme outputs, outcomes and emerging impact across all five programme interventions.
• Define indicators, baselines, targets and learning questions that will test the effectiveness of the Youth Skills model.
• Develop data collection tools, reporting templates and quality assurance processes suitable for implementation in conflict-affected settings.

Objective 2 – Capture Evidence Throughout Implementation

The consultant will work alongside the programme team to continuously capture evidence generated throughout implementation by:

• monitoring progress against programme indicators;
• analysing programme data and identifying emerging trends;
• documenting implementation challenges and adaptations;
• capturing beneficiary feedback and stakeholder perspectives;
• collecting qualitative evidence through case studies, Most Significant Change stories and learning interviews;
• documenting policy influence, institutional strengthening and systems change;
• supporting periodic reflection and learning sessions with programme staff and partners.

Objective 3 – Generate Learning for Adaptive Management

The consultant will ensure that evidence collected throughout implementation informs programme improvement by:

• producing periodic learning briefs;
• presenting findings to the programme team;
• identifying emerging good practices and innovations;
• recommending programme adaptations where necessary;
• documenting lessons relevant to youth skills programming in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.

Objective 4 – Produce the End-of-Pilot Evidence Package

Towards programme completion, the consultant will synthesise all evidence collected throughout the year into a comprehensive suite of knowledge products, including:

• Final Pilot Learning and Impact Report;
• Executive Summary for senior leadership;
• Donor-ready Impact Report;
• Success Story Compendium;
• Evidence Brief highlighting the effectiveness of the integrated TVET and Non-Formal Education model;
• Recommendations for Phase II design and future scale-up.

4. Deliverables

The consultant will deliver, as a minimum:

• Inception Report and Workplan
• Programme MEL Framework and Data Collection Toolkit
• MEL and Reporting Templates
• Quarterly Learning Briefs (3)
• Success Stories and Most Significant Change Case Studies
• Mid-Year Learning Review
• Partner MEL Training
• Quarterly Monitoring Reports (technical support and ScaleData reporting)
• Donor Impact and Evidence Briefs
• End-of-Pilot Learning Report

5. Methodology

The consultant is expected to apply:

• Results-Based Management (RBM)
• Theory of Change
• Mixed-methods evaluation
• Outcome Mapping where appropriate
• Most Significant Change methodology
• Conflict-sensitive monitoring approaches
• Gender-responsive and inclusive MEL
• Participatory learning approaches
• Adaptive management principles

6. Reporting Arrangements

The consultant will:

• Report directly to the Partnerships and Programmes Manager (Youth Skills Sudan).
• Work closely with the wider Youth Skills programme team.
• Liaise with British Council technical advisers, regional programme leads and implementing partners as required.
• Attend agreed project meetings and learning sessions.

7. Duration

• Consultancy period: Contract signature until 31 March 2027.
• Maximum level of effort: 48 working days.

8. Budget

Maximum consultancy budget:

GBP 7,000

The consultancy will be delivered under a Framework Agreement in accordance with British Council procurement procedures.

9. Required Qualifications and Experience

The consultant should demonstrate:

Essential

• Advanced degree in Monitoring & Evaluation, Statistics, Development Studies, Social Sciences or related discipline.
• Minimum seven years' experience designing MEL systems for international development programmes.
• Experience designing MEL frameworks for education, TVET, youth employment or livelihoods programmes.
• Experience developing digital and offline data collection systems.
• Experience conducting qualitative and quantitative evaluations.
• Strong analytical and report writing skills.
• Experience working with donor-funded programmes.
• Experience operating in fragile or conflict-affected contexts.
• Excellent English writing and communication skills.

Desirable

• Experience working in Sudan or the Horn of Africa.
• Knowledge of TVET systems.
• Experience with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
• Experience supporting programmes funded by FCDO, EU, GPE or the World Bank.
• Familiarity with British Council project management approaches.

10. Evaluation Criteria

Applications will be assessed against:

• Relevant technical experience (40%)
• Proposed methodology and approach (30%)
• Experience in fragile/conflict settings (20%)
• Value for money (10%)

11. Ethical Standards

The consultant must comply with all British Council policies relating to:

• Safeguarding
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
• Data Protection
• Information Security
• Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption
• Risk Management
• Conflict-sensitive programming

All materials produced under this consultancy shall become the intellectual property of the British Council.