Consultancy opportunity: Evaluation of the SEGA Graduates Business Development Program in Morogoro , October 2026

Consultancy opportunity: Evaluation of the SEGA Graduates Business Development Program in Morogoro region

Secondary Education for Girls’ Advancement (SEGA)

P.O. Box 273, Mkundi-Nguvu kazi, Kihonda Ward, Morogoro.

Email: info@sega.or.tz

Terms of reference (TOR)

Evaluation of the SEGA Graduates Business Development Program in Morogoro region

Purpose: To obtain an external evaluator to assess and document the impact of the SEGA Graduate Business Development Program to inform future programming.

Background

Secondary Education for Girls’ Advancement (SEGA) is a Tanzanian NGO, based in Morogoro town, that was established in 2007 to provide an opportunity for Tanzanian girls to escape poverty and exploitation, receive a quality and holistic education, and gain the skills and credentials necessary to thrive in Tanzanian society.

With a particular focus on vulnerable girls, SEGA’s mission is to educate and equip bright Tanzanian girls with academic, leadership, and business skills to unleash their individual talents and reach their full potential.

SEGA achieves its mission through its four main programs, which include:

I. The Sega Girls Secondary School

A quality boarding school that serves over 250 girls from Forms I to IV annually. Sega School fosters the development of academic excellence, strong values, healthy self-esteem, and independent thinking skills among its students, with an emphasis on leadership, social responsibility, entrepreneurship, and environmental care.

II. Post Form IV Continuing Education Scholarship Program

Sega School graduates pursue A-Levels, certificates and diplomas, vocational training, and university education. The program provides scholarships covering tuition, housing, and living expenses.

In addition, graduates continue to be supported by the institution through ongoing staff follow-up, training, mentorship, internship placements and job search support.

III. Msichana wa Kisasa / Modern Girl (MK) Community Outreach Program

A yearlong education and empowerment program, which brings key elements of the SEGA Girls’ School’s successful Education for Life Program to girls and young women in communities in Morogoro, Iringa and Dodoma regions.

Lessons are delivered through girls’ clubs by trained mentors. The program serves over 2,500 girls annually.

IV. Graduates Business Fund Program

This program supports both Sega School and MK Program graduates in operating and growing their small businesses to improve their livelihoods.

The program provides small revolving loans, business coaching and training sessions that support the beneficiaries’ journey to financial independence.

The SEGA Graduates Business Development Program

The SEGA Graduates Business Development Program was started in March 2022 as a pilot, in partnership with SAWA Wanawake Tanzania, a local NGO that took the lead role in implementing the program, given their over 20 years of experience in managing women’s savings and lending groups and supporting business development for women.

All graduates have engaged in hands-on business learning throughout their secondary education program at Sega School, especially while they were in the Form III class. MK graduates have varying levels of formal education, but all receive entrepreneurship training throughout the one-year program.

Through knowledge gained from the two programs, some of the Sega School and MK graduates have successfully been able to open small businesses in their communities.

The Business Fund Program was designed to boost their efforts as they seek out sources of funding, not only to grow their businesses, but also to provide them with mentorship and coaching, to strengthen their capacity in managing and sustaining their businesses.

Beneficiaries

Beneficiaries are Sega Girls Secondary School and Modern Girl (MK) program graduates who have not secured formal employment and wish to establish or grow a business or income-generating activity.

Selection of the beneficiaries follows the criteria in the Program Policy and Procedures, including active involvement in the business, minimum 20% own capital contribution, willingness to repay, and completion of required business training.

As of August 2026, the program has supported over 134 beneficiaries across 4 different cohorts, all coming from Morogoro Region, specifically in Morogoro town, Morogoro rural district (Mvuha) and Mvomero district (Turian).

Mission

The mission of the program is to provide SEGA graduates with microloans and guidance on entrepreneurship, business development, business planning, and monitoring and evaluation services.

Additionally, the program seeks .to ensure the profitability and self-sustainability of their various business enterprises.

Objective

Young women entrepreneurs develop and improve the profitability of their businesses or income generating activities/projects.

Specific objectives of the program

1. Enhance Sega School and MK graduates’ ability to meet standards that qualify them for financial support.

2. Increase participants’ ability to develop business plans and manage business enterprises.

3. Foster entrepreneurship skills and spirit among Sega School graduates and MK graduates.

4. Promote a sense of togetherness among Sega School /MK graduates to support each other when facing entrepreneurial challenges.

5. Help Sega School and MK graduates establish their own businesses or income-generating activities.

Theory of Change (ToC)

Problem statement

Girls from marginalized backgrounds in Tanzania graduating from schools or programs face limited formal employment opportunities, as the labor market is scarce.

They also, have inadequate practical business skills, limited professional networks, limited access to finance, and difficulty converting ideas into viable businesses.

These problems affect the economic and social empowerment of graduates contributing to unsustainable economic development.

Inputs

• Funding from Donor, partners and financial institutions

• Trainers and business experts for training, mentorship and coaching

• Partnerships with financial institutions and private sectors

• Training facilities/technology on business development and management tools

• Networking with stakeholders and within graduates

Activities

• Recruit graduates from Sega Girls Secondary School and Msichana wa Kisasa (MK) Program

• Conduct training for recruited graduates on entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy, and business Management

• Disburse revolving loans to qualified applicants

• Conduct regular field/business visit for progress assessment

• Provide mentorship and coaching

• Conduct Monitoring and evaluation

• Connect graduates to finance institution and markets

• Organize networking events for participants to share challenges and success

Outputs

• Graduates identified and recruited

• Training conducted to graduates and business ideas developed

• Business plans developed and completed

• Revolving loans disbursed to qualified applicants for business establishment/continuity

• Field/business visit conducted

• Mentoring and coaching sessions delivered

• Monitoring and evaluation conducted

• Graduates connected to finance institutions and markets

• Graduates connected with successful business for mentorship and guidance

Short-term outcomes

• Graduates have increased business knowledge and entrepreneurial skills

• Graduates have improved financial literacy, and digital skills

• Graduates have ability to create and manage a business.

• Graduates are Confident in running businesses and have entrepreneurial mindset

• Graduates understand markets and customers.

• Graduates have stronger professional networks and platforms.

Mid-term outcomes

• Graduates strengthen their businesses and improve profitability

• Graduates Businesses become more formal and financially viable

• Graduates have increased access to finance and markets

• Graduates have improved in business management practices

• Increased employment/self-employment among graduates.

• Graduates are participating in economic decision-making.

Long-term outcomes

• Sustainable women-owned businesses.

• Increased income and economic independence for SEGA graduates;

• Improved household economic resilience.

• Creation of jobs for other young people, especially women;

• Increased participation of marginalized women in the formal and informal economy.

• Stronger contribution of SEGA graduates to local economic development.

Impact

Economically empowered Tanzanian women from marginalized backgrounds who have greater opportunities to achieve sustainable livelihoods and contribute to inclusive and sustainable economic development.

Evaluation rationale

To assess and document the program impacts, SEGA is commissioning a comprehensive external evaluation of its Graduate Business Fund Program.

The main purpose of this evaluation is to determine to what extent the program has met its objectives. The evaluation will identify and document the impact of the program on the lives of participants, with the aim to improve the overall program efficiency, effectiveness, and potential to scale.

The evaluation results will be used by SEGA, Nurturing Minds, and implementing partners to design future programming, inform further growth trajectory of the program and attract donor funding to reach more communities.

Evaluation objective and questions

• To document successes, gaps, and lessons learned, and make recommendations to improve the program.

• Develop an analytical framework and detailed methodology for the assignment.

• Reconstruct the program’s Theory of Change, where necessary, linking inputs and activities to business development and longer-term economic empowerment outcomes.

• Apply Gender and Safeguarding Lens. The consultant should recognize that young women entrepreneurs are not a homogeneous group, and may experience constraints differently, including limited collateral and asset ownership, unpaid care responsibilities, gender norms, harassment, exploitation, limited mobility and restricted access to networks and markets. The review should therefore assess not only business performance but whether the program enables graduates to exercise greater agency, economic security, decision-making power and resilience.

Evaluation questions

Through this program evaluation, we would like to answer the following questions:

1. What changes in business revenue and profitability have Sega School graduates and MK graduates experienced, and what evidence links those changes to the program versus other factors?

2. Did the businesses of SEGA graduates survive because of the program?

3. What behavior changes in financial management practices have Sega School graduates and MK graduates demonstrate, and what evidence links those changes to the program versus other factors?

4. What is the loan repayment rate? Does it allow the program to financially sustain itself in the future?

5. Did the program improve participants’ income and standard of living?

6. What other impacts have been observed beyond these stated goals, if any, for participants?

7. Were there any unintended, unplanned, or negative impacts?

8. Does the program have the potential to scale? What would it need to scale?

9. Where records permit, the consultant should undertake cohort analysis to determine how business and repayment performance changes over time.

The evaluation-specific research questions will be developed from the questions above by the Evaluation Consultant.

Sources of information to answer evaluation questions

• Interviews with SEGA Business Development Program graduates and current participants

• Interviews with instructors, community members, other local business owners

• SBDP Program monitoring data

• SBDP Program documents, including financial/loan information

• National data on business development loans

Proposed methodology

The evaluation should utilize a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative methods.

The tools to collect quantitative and qualitative data should include individual surveys, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews with beneficiaries, their families, and key stakeholders.

The Evaluation Consultant should propose and state specific methodology that they will employ during this work.

Deliverables

I. Inception report

Inception report, including a detailed work plan for the assignment, and a follow-up meeting or online call to confirm methodology and tools.

II. Mid-point meeting

Mid-point meeting to share initial results and receive feedback/course-correction from SEGA as data is collected and analyzed.

III. Draft evaluation report

Draft evaluation report, and a follow-up working session or online call(s) to discuss draft report, key findings, and recommendations.

IV. Final evaluation report

A final report in English including:

• Executive Summary

• Objectives

• Methodology

• Sampling, Data Collection

• Data tables of all collected information

• Findings (related to Evaluation Objectives and Questions)

• At least 3 mini-qualitative “case examples” or “human interest stories” demonstrating the program impacts on participants

• Gender Safeguarding Analysis

• Benchmarking and Lessons

• Conclusion

• Recommendations

V. Donor-friendly evaluation brief

Donor-friendly evaluation brief (3-4 pages, using simple, understandable language to explain the program impacts).

VI. Sustainability and scale up strategy

Sustainability and scale up strategy (Practical 3–5-year simple Roadmap) incorporating SEGA’s feedback and a concise strategic presentation suitable for discussion by the SEGA/Nurturing Minds Board and leadership.

Timeline of the evaluation: 4 months

October 20th to Nov 20th 2026

Activity: Consultant recruitments, interviews, and contract signing.

November 21st – November 30th 2026

Activity: Inception report and feedback.

December 1st – December 21st 2026

Activity: Mobilization, field data collection.

January 14th 2027

Activity: Mid-point analysis presentation and course-correction meeting with SEGA.

January 15th – February 10th 2027

Activity: Analysis, Draft report with main findings.

February 11th – February 28th 2027

Activity: Submission of final report and donor brief.

Application specification

We will consider proposals from individual consultants, companies, or organizations.

To submit your application, please email the following to the SEGA Executive Director at: info@sega.or.tz by November 10th 2026, 1630 hours.

1. A proposal responding to the TOR, with a specific focus on addressing the main objectives and key questions, timeline, and methodology to be used.

2. An initial work plan based on the methodology outlined, and confirming the availability of the applicant.

3. Company, organization, or individual profile or website (where applicable) and CVs of consultant(s) who would deliver the work.

4. A minimum of three references (organization or individual consultant, as appropriate).

5. Sample of recent program evaluations/research produced by Consultant/Company within the last three years. Examples of Tracer Studies are highly desirable.

6. Create budget breakdown based on minimum daily rates, allocated to the initial work plan.

Ethical considerations and confidentiality

The consultant will be required to maintain strict confidentiality regarding beneficiary, program and financial information.

Participation in interviews and surveys must be voluntary and based on informed consent. Personally identifiable information must not appear in reports without explicit permission.

The consultant will comply with SEGA’s safeguarding and data-protection requirements throughout the assignment.

Selection criteria

Proposals will be assessed against:

• Understanding of the assignment and quality of methodology: 25%

• Relevant technical expertise and experience: 25%

• Experience in women’s economic empowerment/entrepreneurship/finance: 20%

• Experience in Tanzanian/African context: 10%

• Quality and feasibility of workplan: 10%

• Financial proposal/value for money: 10%

Total: 100%

To submit your application, please email the following to the SEGA Executive Director at: info@sega.or.tz by November 10th 2026, 1630 hours.