TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONDUCTING A BASELINE SURVEY FOR THE KNHL-FUNDED PROJECT
Project Title: Empowering local communities to combat FGM/C – female genital mutilation/cutting in Somaliland
Location: Maroodijeeh, Togdheer and Awdal – Somaliland
1.0 About NAFIS
Network against FGC in Somaliland (NAFIS) is an anti-FGC civil society Network that was established in 2006 to work toward ending female genital cutting (FGC) in Somaliland and empower women and girls to claim their rights. To reach this ambitious goal of ending SGBV, especially in FGC, NAFIS utilizes a holistic approach that includes coordination and networking, policy dialogue, research, women’s economic empowerment, and enlightening the public.
In collaboration with Kindernothilfe (KNH) with the grant awarded from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), NAFIS Network is implementing a multi-year community empowerment project on abolishing violence against children and women in Marodijeh, Togdher and Awdal regions in Somaliland. The project has explicitly empowered the Cluster level Associations (CLAs) of the Self-help group approach. Strengthen NAFIS members and other civil society organizations. Works with health workers at Mother and Child Health Centers and, finally, the politicians and legislators to act on policies/laws affecting women and children.
2.0 About the project
FGM/C is considered a violation of child protection and women’s rights. Communities are willing to abolish it through a grassroots movement supported by NAFIS affiliates and other civil society organizations in the three project regions of Maroodijeeh, Togdheer and Awdal.
3. Project Overall Objective
Communities understand FGM/C as a human rights violation and are committed to ending the practice.
Project Outcome
By the end of the project, communities are using their new advocacy skills, and 90% of community members have ended FGM/C in their families.
Project outputs:
- CLAs in all communities advocate at grassroots level, understand FGM/C as a human rights violation and work to end the practice.
- the capacity of NAFIS member organisations (NMOs) and other civil society organisations to advocate for an end to FGM/C has increased.
- health workers in mother and child health centres better understand the human rights and medical dimensions of FGM/C
- politicians and legislators have a full understanding of how FGM/C violates the rights of girls and women and are ready to approve the FGM/C law and directive.
4.0 Purpose of the Baseline Survey
- To provide a benchmark and understanding existing interventions being conducted for beneficiaries and stakeholders pertaining to the promotion of empowering the society to take action against FGM.
- To collect and establish a fixed baseline data or starting points against which project outcomes and progress will be measured throughout the result framework.
- If deemed necessary, redefine additional outcome indicators and how to measure them.
- The baseline survey will be used to initiate a process for continued programme monitoring to measure the impact of the planned interventions and activities.
- The baseline values will be used at the end of the project evaluation.
5.0 project target groups:
- The direct target group of this project is 8,000 women from around 400 SHGs or 40 CLAs.
- 160 CLA Social Committee members
- 40 CLA Chairs
- 40 Change Agents
- 40 public primary and secondary school teachers
- 90 health workers
- 20 Nafis Member Organisations
- 15 other civil society organisations
- 112 Members of the child protection committees under the Ministry of Social Affairs
- 30 Members of the Social Committee and the Human Rights Committee of the Somaliland Parliament
- 30 representatives of the ministries most relevant to ending FGM
6.0 Baseline study Approach and Methodology
The overall objective of the baseline assessment of the project is to generate data for the project’s baseline to measure the status of all indicators and to understand the starting point of key elements of the work against which later progress will be measured. This will enable project indicators at output and goal/outcome levels to be measured and tracked. The baseline report is to be used to monitor the project progress benchmark and evaluate the project implementation.
6.1 Data Collection Methodology
- The baseline methodology is expected to make NAFIS M&E framework easy to capture information for the purposes of tracking progress and provide data for the project indicator targets which will allow comparability in the future. The consultant is expected to employ a variety of data collection and analysis techniques for both quantitative and qualitative data to ensure a comprehensive baseline exercise. This will likely include, at a minimum:
- Surveys: Application of structured survey questionnaires with a representative, random sample of target population to quantitatively assess outcomes.
- Focus Group Discussions:
- Key Informant Interviews: Consultations with key project stakeholders to engage during the exercise. Identification of these stakeholders can be done with the help of NAFIS staff members.
- Data Analysis
Prior to the start of data collection, the consultant(s) shall develop and present to NAFIS for review and approval, a data analysis plan that details how:
- Qualitative data such as key informant, stakeholder, and beneficiary interviews and/or focus group discussions will be transcribed and analyzed;
- How quantitative data will be analyzed and presented. Whenever possible, data will be disaggregated and analyzed by gender.
7.0 Key Tasks and Responsibilities of the consultant
- Study planning and design
- Prepare outline including study objectives, methodology and process, research questions, target population(s), coverage and reach of study, timeline and budget.
- Review existing information [using relevant project documents] 2. Together with NAFIS, organize a debrief meeting in which the consultants will present the methodology to NAFIS management and Project team.
3. Quantitative research and questionnaire design
- Define needs for quantitative data
- Design questionnaire
- Code and edit questionnaires
- Pre-test and review questionnaire
- Finalize questionnaire
8.0 Sampling
- Design sample frame
- Design sample and decide on sample size
- Select sample
- Fieldwork
- Lead the field work and provide supervision to field team
- Train field assistants.
- Complete fieldwork
- Presentation of preliminary feedback/findings to NAFIS and key stakeholders
10.0 Reporting
- Hold a debriefing meeting with the NAFIS management/project team and key stakeholders in which the draft report and key results will be presented.
- The final baseline report should be submitted to NAFIS at the end of the contractual period. NAFIS with its collaborating partner KNH will be given the opportunity to comment on the draft reports before they are finalized.
11.0 Deliverables
- Inception report: 5 working days after signing the contract, a detailed report on the consultant’s proposed final baseline design and methodology will be submitted to NAFIS for approval. This will provide preliminary understandings based on document review, rationale and a detailed description of the methodology and tools, analytical methods, budget with a breakdown of costs and detailed work plan for the entire exercise. Any draft questionnaires or interview forms will also be submitted for review at this stage.
- Interview Notes and List of Resource Documents: The Consultant shall provide NAFIS summaries of all key meetings, and discussions conducted during the course of the baseline and copies of any relevant documents and reports gathered during the baseline survey.
- Summary Presentation of Findings to NAFIS and Stakeholders: The Consultant shall present initial findings to NAFIS for review, comment and feedback. A PowerPoint presentation and handout (maximum of two pages) shall be prepared for the presentation through a meeting. The Consultant shall consider NAFIS and relevant stakeholder’s comments and revise the draft report as appropriate.
- Baseline Report: A final baseline report to be submitted to NAFIS.
The baseline report shall include the following:
- Executive Summary
- Background;
- Introduction;
- Methodology;
- Findings;
- Conclusion
- Annexes, including:
- Scope of Work
- Data collection tools
- Key data sets, including interview transcripts
- List of key informants
- TORs
- Profile of consultant
- Covid 19 plan
The report should be:
- 5 spacing, Times New Roman font, size 12.
11.0 Criteria for selection
The evaluation items expectation and maximum score are presented in the table below.
| Evaluation Item | Expectation | Max Score |
| Organizations/Consultant Experience | A brief of past relevant assignments indicating scope, geographic coverage, and staff involved and budget. | 30 |
| Understanding of TOR and Proposed Approach and Methodology/Work Plan | Consultant’s perspective of what the assignment entails and the key considerations that should be made to implement it successfully. | 20 |
| Qualification & Experience of Staff | CV’s for consultants and team members indicating their academic qualification and clear relevant experience summary | 20 |
| Financial Costs | A breakdown of costs detailing proposed staff days, daily rates, taxes and other direct costs related to the assignment in USD. | 30 |
12.0 Requirements of the consultant
The baseline survey to be done by a local consultant/firm with a mix of expertise in Child rights, women and youth empowerment, female/male empowerment, youth involvement and education.
Lead Consultant. Preferably at Masters level. He/she should have strong experience in Child rights, female empowerment, community development, youth involvement and education as well as excellent analytical, communication, team management and communication skills (verbal and written). He/she should demonstrate experience in impact evaluations and practical experience in qualitative and quantitative research methodology, evaluation design and implementation. The consultant must be committed to implementing child protection and child safe guarding practices during the baseline study. Command of local language(s) Somali and English among members of the team. Provide references on similar or related baseline studies focusing on children s’ rights, climate change, GBV/FGM would be an added advantage.
13.0 Tentative financial proposal (budget) containing:
- Consultancy fees/costs,
- Field data collection expenses broken down by team members, number of days, fees per team member according to the level of involvement and number of days required from each,
- Any other related costs and required for the proper execution of the baseline survey,
- In case of institution paying VAT you should include it in financial budget.
13.1 Payment Terms
- Payment plan shall be based on deliverables outlined upon successful and satisfactory completion of activities. Therefore, the payment terms shall be as follows;
− 50% initial payment – upon submission of survey tools.
− 50% – final payment – Upon submission of final and accepted Baseline report
- Payment under this Agreement will be made by bank transfer to the consultant.
14.0 Proposed time-frame
- The baseline data collection will be conducted in 10 January 2023. The consultant shall submit a schedule of tasks to be undertaken. Throughout the whole period of the assignment, follow-up meetings will be held between the consultant and NAFIS to tackle any field problems anticipated in order to address them
15.0 To apply;
Interested Consultants/ University departments/lecturers/individuals or firms are requested to submit:
- A technical proposal detailing their interpretation of the TOR, proposed methodology including sampling framework, work schedule and proposed budget;
- A capability statement demonstrating how they meet the required qualifications and competencies;
- Copies of all relevant Curriculum Vitae (CVs). Only CVs for the specific individuals that will form the proposed survey team should be included.
- Examples of previous work similar to this assignment