1. Introduction

We are seeking proposals from qualified external evaluators to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of our Company Plus Program. The evaluation will assess the effectiveness and impact of the program in delivering entrepreneurial and life skills to South African in-school learners.

2. Program Overview

The Company Plus Program is designed to equip South African school learners with essential entrepreneurial and life skills. Targeting Grade 10 and 11 learners from disadvantaged schools classified within quintiles 1 to 3, the program allows them to transform a business idea from concept to reality.

The curriculum focuses on business management, career planning, leadership development, and technology integration in entrepreneurship. A key objective of the program is to build self-efficacy among learners, empowering them with confidence in their ability to succeed. Utilising experiential learning methodologies, the initiative prepares learners for both entrepreneurship and future workforce engagement. By encouraging learners to address real-world challenges within their communities through business ventures, the program fosters problem-solving skills and an entrepreneurial mindset.

Participants gain hands-on experience by running their own company for one academic year. Through this process, they develop a practical understanding of business operations and discover how their individual talents can contribute to establishing a successful enterprise.

This evaluation aims to generate insights into the program's overall effectiveness, identify areas for improvement, and assess its impact on participants.

The program targeted a total of 1000 beneficiaries and successfully reached 1215 of those targeted. This impressive reach included various provinces and schools across the country.

• Eastern Cape had one program implemented in 2 schools.

• Gauteng, the program expanded significantly, with 10 programs offered across 10 schools.

• KwaZulu-Natal implemented two programs in two schools.

• Limpopo implemented one program in one school. 

• Mpumalanga implemented two programs in two schools. 

• Northern Cape implemented a program in one school.

• North West province implemented four programs in four schools.

• Western Cape implemented two programs in two schools.

3. Program Objectives

The program seeks to achieve the following objectives:

• Provide entrepreneurial and life skills to South African youth for enterprise establishment

• Promote entrepreneurship to contribute to South Africa's economic growth

• Prepare youth for post-school life through economic awareness

• Educate participants in business management and career planning

• Improve youth employability and develop leadership skills

• Deliver essential business and life skills

• Enhance Project Management and IT Skills for business operations

4. Evaluation Scope

The external evaluation should assess:

4.1. Program Effectiveness

• Achievement of stated program objectives

• Effectiveness of facilitating methods and curriculum delivery

• Quality and relevance of program content

• Efficiency of program implementation

• Adequacy of resources and support provided

4.2. Program Impact

• Changes in participants' knowledge and skills

• Business establishment outcomes

• Technology adoption in business operations

• Leadership and personal development outcomes

• Evaluate the program’s implementation process, identifying key challenges and best practices.

• Provide evidence-based recommendations for program enhancement and scalability.

5. Scope of work

• Developing a comprehensive evaluation framework and methodology.

• Conducting field research across the six participating provinces.

• Collecting and analysing both qualitative and quantitative data.

• Engaging with key stakeholders, including learners, educators, program facilitators, and school administrators.

• Producing a detailed evaluation report that presents findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

6. Methodology Requirements

The evaluation should employ a mixed-methods approach, including:

6.1. Quantitative Methods

• Participant surveys 

• Skills assessment analysis

• Business performance metrics

• Program completion rates

• Statistical analysis of program outcomes

6.2. Qualitative Methods

• In-depth participant interviews

• Focus group discussions

• Case study development

• Stakeholder consultations

• Document review and analysis

7. Deliverables

The evaluator will be required to provide:

7.1. Inception Report: Outlining the evaluation methodology, work plan, and data collection tools

7.2. Data Collection & Analysis: Conducting fieldwork and analysing findings

7.3. Monthly or Weekly progress reports

7.4. Draft evaluation report for review

7.5. Final evaluation report including:

• Executive summary

• Methodology description

• Findings and analysis incorporating feedback

• Recommendations 

• Supporting documentation

7.6. Presentation of findings to key stakeholders

8. Timeline

Please provide a proposed timeline for completing the evaluation within three months, including all major milestones and deliverables.

9. Proposal Requirements

Your proposal should include:

9.1. Evaluation approach and methodology

9.2. Detailed work plan and timeline

9.3. Team composition and qualifications

9.4. Previous experience in similar evaluations

9.5. Detailed budget breakdown

9.6. References from similar projects

9.7. Sample of previous evaluation work

10. Budget

Please provide a detailed budget, including:

- Professional fees

- Travel and accommodation

- Data collection costs

- Report production

- Any other relevant costs

11. Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria

- Technical approach and methodology 

- Team qualifications and experience

- Budget reasonableness 

- Timeline feasibility 

12. Submission Requirements

Please submit your proposal by 02 May 2025 to rfp@jasouthafrica.org

The proposal should not exceed 20 pages (excluding annexes).

13. Contact Information

For any queries regarding this RFP, please contact:

rfp@jasouthafrica.org

010 825 8465

14. Confidentiality

All information provided in this RFP and gathered during the evaluation process should be treated as confidential and used solely for the purpose of this evaluation.