Terms of Reference (ToR)
Translation of Handbook “Essence of Learning – Learning support in crisis contexts: A practical approach to education in emergencies”

1. Background:
Caritas Switzerland (CaCH) in Bangladesh having it’s headquarter in Lucerne, Switzerland is operational in the areas of development cooperation and humanitarian aid in more than thirty countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. The worldwide thematic six fields of CaCH are Education and Income; Food Security and Markets; Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); Migration; Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR); and Humanitarian Aid.

Under the Education and Income theme, CaCH stresses on investing in the early years of the children leading to yield some of the highest rates of return to families, societies and countries. It believes that successful Early Childhood Development (ECD) is an essential prerequisite for children’s learning capability and school career. ECD improves the children's school performance and leads to a more health-conscious behavior during adolescence and adulthood. In view of effective facilitation of ECD, CaCH follows a didactic approach “Essence of Learning (EoL) which is also known as a pedagogical approach. This approach provides teachers with a flexible instrument which they can use to help children overcome their learning hurdles by means of short, practical training units. The EoL attempts to compen¬sate for the lack of toys and a stimulating environment, as well as time and resources. It conveys to the teacher the skills and limitations of mental abilities and the children’s corresponding awareness of consequences.

Over the years, CaCH has implemented the EoL approach in many countries namely, Bangladesh, Kosovo, Chechnya, Moldova, Romania, and Gaza. In Bangladesh, it is helping Caritas Bangladesh and Mati (local NGO in Mymensingh) to promote the EoL leading to ECD. To this end, CaCH has developed a Handbook “Essence of Learning – Learning support in crisis contexts: A practical approach to education in emergencies”. In order to disseminating knowledge and interpret and the topics, techniques and methods to a broad spectrum of audience (not only students and teachers but also not limited to parents, scholars, experts, caregivers, peers, leaders, early childhood education service committees; local early childhood education centers; local schools, school educators, local government, etc, CaCH feels imperative to translate the Handbook of EoL. Thus, CaCH seeks a competent translator to translate the Handbook of EoL including the associated documents with a high professional level of translations and accordingly, this Terms of Reference (ToR) is developed for the assignment.

2. Objectives of the Assignment:
The key objectives of the assignment are as follows:
i. To ensure that the Handbook/Guidelines and associated documents are available in Bengali version.
ii. To provide with a Bengali translated version to all stakeholders as stated above.

3. Scope of Assignment:
The translator will undertake the following duties and responsibilities.

  • Make translation of the EoI Handbook documents, proof read and edit;
  • Ensure accuracy of the terms and terminology used in the documents and the translation is written with correct Bangla terms/terminology and spelling;
  • Share the draft translation documents ensuring high quality and accuracy;
  • Complete the work within the agreed timeline and submit the final translation in both soft and hard copy.

4. Conditions
The Translator will use her/his own office/resources/materials and computer in the execution of this assignment. CaCH will provide desk space at its country office if required.

5. Time Frame:
A duration of 20 work days are estimated for the completion of the assigned tasks. The Translator will complete the assignment within the given time from the date of issuance of the work order.

6. Supervision:
The Translator will update the progress of the task to the CaCH Country Director (CD) from time to time.

7. Mode of Payment: The payment mode will be as follows:

  • 50% after successful submission of all translated documents (before proof reading / editing).
  • 50% on successful submission and sign off of all translated documents.

8. Qualifications and competencies of the Translator:

  • Post-Graduation Degree in any discipline.
  • Excellent knowledge and written skills in both Bangla and English language.
  • Proven skills in translation and interpretation from English to Bangla and vice versa.
  • 3-5 years of professional translation experience with quality assurance in the relevant area.
  • Ability to work independently.
  • Excellent computer skills in word and presentation.

9. Deliverables:
The total expected pages of assigned documents are around 120. The translator will have to deliver the following documents

  • Hard copy of about 120 pages translated Handbook including associated documents from English to Bangla.
  • Soft copies of the translation documents (MS Word format in DVD and through Email).

10. The interested individuals, agencies, organizations and other bodies are requested to submit their proposal, including their proposed consultancy fee, on or before 5th August 2019 to countryofficebd@caritas.ch