Research Opportunity – FCDO PLANE II Project

📢 Research Opportunity – FCDO PLANE II Project

Organization: Plan International Nigeria

Plan International Nigeria is inviting qualified consultants or research firms to conduct a Retention Study (“Beyond Transition”) under the FCDO Partnership for Learning for All in Nigeria (PLANE II) project.

🎯 About the Study

This research aims to generate evidence on what happens to children after transitioning from the Accelerated Basic Education Programme (ABEP) into formal schools.

While over 17,000 learners have successfully transitioned, there is limited data on:

• Retention and attendance
• Academic performance
• Psychosocial adjustment
• Barriers affecting continued education

The study will focus on learners in Borno and Yobe States.

🔍 Key Objectives

• Assess retention rates and dropout patterns
• Evaluate academic adaptation and learning gaps
• Examine psychosocial wellbeing (belonging, safety, peer relations)
• Identify school-level barriers (infrastructure, teacher capacity, WASH)
• Analyze household & community factors (poverty, cultural norms)
• Provide actionable recommendations for stakeholders

📊 Methodology (Expected)

A mixed-methods approach, including:

• Quantitative surveys (learners, parents, teachers)
• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs)
• Key Informant Interviews (KIIs)
• Classroom observations
• Secondary data review

Data must be disaggregated by gender, age, disability, and location.

📍 Study Locations

• Borno State: Jere, MMC, Konduga
• Yobe State: Damaturu, Nguru, Potiskum

🧠 Key Focus Areas

• Retention & participation
• Academic performance
• Psychosocial adjustment
• School environment & inclusiveness
• Household/community influence
• Gender equality & child protection

📦 Key Deliverables

• Inception report (methodology, tools, sampling)
• Data collection tools & ethical framework
• Clean datasets and transcripts
• Draft and final research report with recommendations

⚖️ Important Requirements

• Strong experience in education research / MERL / development studies
• Proven ability to conduct mixed-methods research
• Experience working with children, safeguarding, and ethics protocols
• Capacity to manage fieldwork in Northeast Nigeria
• Submission of technical proposal + detailed budget

🛡️ Ethics & Safeguarding

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Child protection compliance
• Informed consent procedures
• Confidentiality and data protection
• Risk mitigation plans (especially for vulnerable children)

📅 Deadline

• 20th May, 2026 (1:59 PM)

📎 How to Apply

Send your proposal (Technical + Budget) to:
📧 Nigeria.procurement@plan-international.org

Use reference:
PIN/CNSLT/026/007B – FCDO PLANE II Project

Further information, including all Annexes can be accessed via the following link: https://tinyurl.com/2rptmm7x

🌟 Why This Matters

This is a high-impact research opportunity that will influence:

• Education policy in Nigeria
• Donor funding decisions (e.g., FCDO, UNICEF)
• Future programmes for out-of-school children