TOR for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Baseline study for Geze Gofa project

Description of Programme Location and Context

The SOS CVE Hawassa Program location is the fourth oldest village under SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia, founded in 1985 in response to the severe drought that affected the southern region during the 1980s. As an independent non-governmental organization focused on social development, we are dedicated to supporting vulnerable children. Currently, the program location (PL) runs eleven projects, which fall under three main initiatives: alternative childcare, family strengthening, and humanitarian action programs.

Rationale and overall objective of environmental impact assessment and baseline study:

This assessment has two components. Environmental impact assessments and baseline study. The primary aim of environmental impact assessment and baseline study is to assess the impact of project interventions on the environment and set baseline values for selected indicators in the project result framework. The assessment aims to provide environmental risk information for the project team to develop mitigation mechanisms so that the impact of intervention on the environment will be compensated and relevant strategies will be developed accordingly. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is used to evaluate the potential environmental consequences of a proposed project or development. It helps decision-makers understand the likely impacts on the environment and human health before a project begins, enabling them to make informed decisions about whether to proceed and how to mitigate potential negative effects.

The project operation has been experienced recurrent environmental risks, the recent landslide is one of the indicators of environmental risks, causing families, children and elders displacement leading to complicated life in relocated areas where basic service was limited. The landslide happened in project operation areas degraded the land, affected farming activities, disrupted the existing social structures and complicated the service provided by the local government. EIA is most valuable when applied early in the planning process for a project as a support to decision making. It provides a means to identify the most environmentally suitable option at an early stage, the best practicable environmental option, and alternatives to the proposed initiative; and thus, avoid or minimise potentially damaging and costly negative impacts and maximise positive impacts. The finding of environmental impact assessment will be used to mitigate environmental impacts, design mitigation strategies and introduce safe programming. Similarly, the baseline assessment/study will assess the indicators in the result framework, and the findings will use to set baselines and targets for the project life.

Objectives of the terminal evaluation:

Overall objective:

The Environmental Impact assessment (EIA) is intended to identify the impacts (both beneficial and adverse) of a proposed project interventions and activities. Often, the focus is dominantly environmental (biophysical); it also addresses social and economic aspects.

It aims to identify the most environmentally suitable option at an early stage, the best practicable environmental option, and alternatives to the proposed initiative; and thus, avoid or minimise potentially damaging and costly negative impacts and maximise positive impacts.

Whereas the baseline study/assessment will establish baseline values for key indicators in the result framework, including household food security and hunger scales; dietary diversity at both the household and individual level for women; the prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and rates of malnutrition among children under five and pregnant and lactating women.

Specific objectives:

The specific objectives of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and baseline study are:

• To check whether the proposed activities will have impact on the environment and identify the effect from social and economic perspectives as well.
• To identify the environmental risks that pose negative impact on the proposed interventions and the local community in general.
• To develop tailored mitigation mechanism that can avoid or minimize the environmental impacts related to the proposed interventions.
• To develop disaster preparedness plan for the environmental risk that adversely affect the project intervention and the local community resilience efforts.
• To assess the key indicators status before the project interventions and establish baseline values and targets for the key indicators, including household food security and hunger scales; dietary diversity at both the household and individual level for women; the prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and rates of malnutrition among children under five and pregnant and lactating women.

Project out comes and outputs:

Project Goal: Communities in Shacha Gozdi, Kencho Gozdi Woyiza and Burda Kebeles have improved Livelihood benefits and Protection status

Project Outcomes & Outputs:

Outcome #1: To provide immediate livelihood benefits to communities in K Godzi and Weiza and Burda Kebeles affected by the landslide

Outcome #2: To rebuild or support small scale farmlands or food system, infrastructure, including improved access to financial services, non-financial services, business development services) to ensure livelihoods for people affected by the landslide

Outcome # 3: Children and their caregivers experience improved mental health and psychosocial well-being

Outcome # 4: Family separation is prevented, and unaccompanied and separated children receive care and protection in timely, safe, appropriate and accessible way in accordance with their rights and best interests

Outcome # 5: Children under five years and pregnant women use more equitable and better quality essential maternal, newborn and child health and Nutrition services.

Project Outputs

Output 1: Average maize production per 222 HH reaches 4,440 QT/11,109,999 ETB

Output 2: Average beetroot production per 157 HH reaches 981QT/ 3,925,000ETB

Output 2: Average dark spinach production per 156 HH reaches 11,700 QT/ 4,680,000ETB

Output 2: Average carrots production per 157 HH reaches 785 QT/3,925,000ETB

Output 2: Average Irish potato production per 157 HH reaches 1,099 QT/4,396,000ETB

Output 2: Average egg production for 174 HH reaches 800/16,000ETB

Output 4: 435 male headed HH resettled in Burda kebele are grouped into 44 and provided with 6 sheep as to participate in fattening as part of group IGA

Output 5: 174 females headed household who live either at (Shacha Gozdi, Kencho Gozdi Woyiza) or now in Burda kebele are grouped in 9(and later recognized as VSLA) are also provided with seed money and materials to function as VSLA

Output 6: The nursery site produces 895,185 seedlings (414,585 dark spinach, 66600 cabbage, 247500 onions, 166500 beet root)

Output 6: Vermin compost yield 400 Kg of vermin culture/200,000ETB and 2,000 QT/ 3,000,000 ETB organic fertilizer

Output 7: 314 care givers/ HH’s trained in business development knowledge and skills

Output 8: 216 Children/young people (age less than 18) will have access quality MHPSS.

Output 9: 400 care givers (Age 18+) will have access to quality MHPSS service

Output 10: 24 Child Rights Committee will be strengthened and empowered to increase awareness’ on protection related issues and the referral pathways to seek treatment services

Output 11: A child, Youth and Women friendly spaces (3) will continue to be operational to provide psychosocial support for the communities of Kencho Shacha Gozdi, Kencho Gozdi Woyiza and Burda Kebeles.

Output 12: An estimated 2,931 children, young people and women have better understanding of their rights

Output 13: Health and Nutrition Mobile team provides 11 sessions (flexible, integrated services for management of acute malnutrition common childhood illnesses to young children in targeted emergencies and non-emergency settings

Output 14: a robust M&E framework generates important weekly, monthly, and before and after project performance indicators as well as human touch stories/success stories.

 

Major Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Tool questions:

The commissioned consultant should develop appropriate quantitative and qualitative for both environmental impact assessment and baseline study questions and tools that can easily be used and adopted to the local context. The most recent and automated EIA tools like NEAT+ (Nexus Environment Assessment Tool plus) are recommended in this context.

Scope and project targets:

Specifically, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and baseline study is limited to assess the environmental impact pertaining to the proposed project interventions, environmental risks posing negative impact on the program activities and local communities and baseline assessment for selected indictors from target beneficiaries/program participants. Geographically, the Environmental Impact Assessment and baseline study are limited to project intervention areas and targeted three kebeles of Geze Gofa woreda where landslide have impacted the local community. These kebeles are Kencho Shacha Gozdi, Kencho Gozdi Woyiza and Burda Kebeles. The following table shows the project program participants/beneficiaries.

 

Project targeted response	Quantity
Project total target	4,245
Most affected	849
HH targeted for horticulture production	627
HH targeted for maize crop	222
female headed household targeted for poultry	174
HH targeted for group IGA	435
children targeted for kinship/family strengthening	216(84HH)

 

Community level intervention

• Nursery site establishment
• Vermicompost establishment
• Provision of energy saving stoves

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and baseline study methodology:

The consultant(s) must develop a strong data collection methodology for both EIA and baseline study, ensuring the data’s reliability and validity. A mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative research methods, is recommended to produce the highest quality and most credible evidence. These studies will collect data, disaggregated by sex, age, and disability, for the indicators listed in the result framework (the RF will be annexed for the winner consultant). The chosen methodology must be sensitive to the local context and ensure that all respondents, regardless of their background, have an equal opportunity to participate in EIA. The EIA should be designed to provide safe and inclusive spaces that encourage all participants to respond freely, irrespective of gender, age, disability, origin, or religious beliefs. As far as possible, the consultant should disaggregate data by sex, age, and disability while collecting and analysing data. Furthermore, the consultant should also clearly explain which questions will be answered using which methods. The Consultant should also ensure that the survey and qualitative methods (such as focus group discussion (FGD), key informant interview (KII) and group discussion with participants are representative of the project’s target groups.

Sampling

The consultant is required to propose statistically sound sampling strategies for these studies to ensure representativeness. He/she is required to clearly state the sample size and the acceptable margin of error. The consultant will develop a detailed data analysis plan, outlining the statistical methods to be used for the quantitative data and the thematic analysis approach for the qualitative data. All data collection activities should be conducted following the highest ethical standards, ensuring informed consent, confidentiality, and the safety of all participants.

Work plan and expected deliverables

Work plan/timetable

The EIA and baseline study tasks are expected to be finalized within 45 days after the contractual agreement is signed. The consultant is expected to develop her/his detailed work plan based on the following table.

 

Activities	Dates	Time frame	Location

 

Deliverables:

The commissioned external consultant must deliver the EIA and baseline study findings within 45 days of the contract signed. Based on the work plan, SOS Children’s Villages of project intervention programme locations Arbaminch and the national office MEAL and Humanitarian Response program team expect the following deliverables:

• An inception report of 8 pages on the EIA and baseline study design, methodology, sampling frame, sampling technique, sample size, assessment tools and work plan
• Draft EIA and baseline report.
• The consultant is expected to analyse the data and present findings (for both draft and final findings) by target groups separately.
• Final report – The findings of EIA and baseline report including an executive summary and data collection tools in both electronic and hardcopy formats should be submitted.
• Raw data, which has been cleaned (both qualitative and quantitative, including original field notes for in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, and recorded audio material), should be submitted with the report. SOS CVE will have sole ownership of all final data, and any findings shall only be shared or reproduced with the permission of SOS Children’s Village Ethiopia.

Report criteria:

The reporting criteria for EIA task shall be in line with the SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia result based management (RBM) toolkit and should be shared with the winner consultant along with the data review process and/or for the preparation of the inception report.

Child safeguarding and ethical issues.

SOS Children’s Villages is committed to ensuring that all assessment, research, evaluation and data collection processes (i.e. evidence-generating activities) undertaken by SOS Children’s Villages and its partners are ethical and respect child safeguarding policy and procedure.

The consultant must respect the rights, dignity and protection of children and other vulnerable population groups and should ensure special protection for children and other vulnerable groups during any data-generating activities to minimize any potential risks. Any assessment, research, evaluation and data collection SOS Children’s Villages is directly carrying out or is involved in as a partner.

Ethical practices need to be ensured in the following circumstances:

• Any assessment, research, baseline, midterm or final evaluations and data collection SOS Children’s Villages has commissioned for ethical oversight of these processes.
• Any assessment, research, evaluation and data collection carried out by researchers/consultants on SOS Children’s Villages programmes and participants.

Hence, relevant Coordinator in SOS Children’s Village Arbaminch and Humanitarian Program department will ensure that any researchers, evaluators and data collectors should receive awareness training on, sign and adhere to SOS Children’s Villages core policies:

Obtaining consent from research participants is central to the research relationship and signals respect for the research participant’s dignity, their capability to express their views and their right to have these heard in matters that affect them. Informed consent is an explicit agreement which requires participants to be informed about and understand the research/assessment. This must be given voluntarily and be renegotiable, so that participants may withdraw at any stage of the research process.

Logistical arrangements:

The awarded consultant shall show feasible logistical arrangements for the assignment as part of the technical proposal. National or location-level staff (SOS CVE) will be available to help organize the interviews including contacting SOS CVE, announcing and local preparation of evaluation, and linking to community duty bearers and national authorities if required.

Duration of the contract and terms of payment

Payment will be made only upon SOS Children’s Villages’ acceptance of the work performed in accordance with the above-described deliverables. Payment will be affected by bank transfer in the currency of birr.

Duration of contract: the contract is effective from the moment it was signed until the acceptance of work by the SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia management team.

Notice of delay

Shall the successful bidder encounter a delay in the performance of the contract which may be excusable under unavoidable circumstances; the contractor shall notify SOS Children’s Villages in writing about the causes of any such delays within one (1) week from the beginning of the delay.

After receipt of the Contractor’s notice of delay, SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia shall analyse the facts and extent of the delay and extend the time for performance when in its judgment the facts justify such an extension.

Copyright and other proprietary rights:

SOS Children’s Villages shall be entitled to all intellectual property and other proprietary rights including, but not limited to, copyrights, and trademarks, with regard to products, processes, inventions, ideas, know-how, or documents and other materials which the Contractor has developed for SOS Children’s Villages under the Contract and which bear a direct relation to or are produced or prepared or collected in consequence of, or during the course of, the performance of the Contract. The Contractor acknowledges and agrees that such products, documents, and other materials constitute works made for hire for SOS Children’s Villages.

All materials: interviews, reports, recommendations, and all other data compiled by or received by the Contractor under the Contract shall be the property of SOS Children’s Villages and shall be treated as confidential and shall be delivered only to SOS Children’s Villages authorized officials on completion of work under the Contract. The external consultant is obliged to hand over all raw data collected during the assessment to SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia.

Termination:

The termination of the service agreement for the assignment will be in accordance with the contractual agreement to be included at the formal agreement’s actual signing.

Qualification of the Researcher/Research Team

• The applicant consultancy firm shall have at least a master’s degree in a relevant field of study such Disaster Risk management, Climate and Environment, Sociology, Social Work, development studies, Economics, Project Management, Monitoring & Evaluation and other related fields per the required assignment
• An applicant should have practical experience in conducting baseline study environmental impact assessment using NEAT+ using the kobo toolbox and any other digital data collection
• At least 5 years’ work experience & proven competency in Environmental impact assessment (EIA), monitoring, research, terminal evaluations, baseline assessments or organizational/program evaluation (baseline, midterm, and final evaluations). The applicant consultancy firm shall attach at least one sample final evaluation report produced on a similar topic.
• A good understanding of Humanitarian program with particular focus on Safe programming
• A good understanding of Environmental safeguarding, child/youth rights/safeguarding & other issues affecting vulnerable children in the Ethiopian context.
• proven experience in working with conceptual frameworks and data collection methods (including age-appropriate data collection methods)
• Proven experience in participatory processes and data collection methods
• Strong skills in coordination, good facilitation, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Proven experience in participatory processes
• Strong skills in coordinating teamwork
• analytical and conceptual skills on environment, food security and livelihood assessment
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English and local language.
• Ability to transfer complex concepts and ideas into practical and simple language.
• Experience in organizing research processes with SOS Children’s Villages or similar child focused organizations.
• Experience in managing Environmental impact assessment, baselines, final evaluations and livelihood assignments in respect of the participating communities’ culture, social norms, values, and behaviour; and maintain appropriate relationships with participants of this evaluation.
• Legally registered firms with renewed license, VAT registration and TIN number

Required Skills

• Quantitative and Qualitative research skills