Terms of Reference for a Feasibility Study at Christian Blind Mission (CBM), Ethiopia

Project Summary

Planned Project/	Improving the resilience and food security of vulnerable groups in the Oromia region.
Country/Region	Ethiopia
Partner Organisation	Bright Future Initiative (BFI)
Planned Project start date	North Shewa Zone, Oromia Region
Study Purpose	The aim of the requested consultancy is to assess the feasibility of project idea elaborated by CBM and BFI and to systematically check the extent to which the project approach can plausibly achieve the planned changes under the existing framework conditions.
Commissioning organisation/contact person	CBM Ethiopia Country Office
Study duration	Xx days

1. Background of the feasibility study

BFI and CBM would like to propose a project to the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), which shall contribute to improving the resilience and food security of vulnerable groups in the Oromia region. The proposing organisations are:

Bright Future Initiative (BFI)

Please insert a short description of BFI

CBM Christoffel Blindenmission Christian Blind Mission e.V.

CBM is a Christian international development organisation, committed to improving the quality of life of people with disabilities in the poorest communities of the world irrespective of race, gender or religious belief.

CBM’s approach of Disability-inclusive Development is the framework of all its initiatives and the key theme which drives activities and the impact of its work. It believes that this is the most effective way to bring positive change to the lives of people with disabilities living in poverty and their communities. Through our disability-inclusive development approach, we address the barriers that hinder access and participation and actively seek to ensure the full participation of people with disabilities as empowered self-advocates in all development and emergency response processes.

Please add a short description of the CBM Country Office in Ethiopia

 

2. Description of the project

Please provide a short description of the project including

• The problem the planned project should address
• Target area
• Target group

Draft Impact Matrix:

Overall objective	Indicators OPTIONAL
	Initial value (quantitative and qualitative)	Target value (quantitative and qualitative)
The food security and socio-economic stability of small-scale farmer households, especially women-headed households, and persons with disabilities in North Shewa Zone has improved.	The average income of small-scale farmer households per month is according to yy xx ETB	At the End of the project 60% of the targeted small-scale famer households report xx% (xx ETB) increase in average monthly income compared to yy
Project objective	Indicators
	Initial value (quantitative and qualitative)	Target value (quantitative and qualitative)
2.430 Smal-scale farmers, women headed households and persons with disability apply improved, climate resilient agricultural practices [1]and access diversified inclusive livelihood opportunities	Currently, the average crop yield per hectare in the target area is xx per hectare	At the end of the project the crop yield per hectare among at least 60% of project-supported small-scall farmers has increased by xx% to xx per hectare
	The targeted households typically rely on a single source of income to sustain their livelihoods.	At the End of the project 60% of the target households report diversified livelihoods
	Currently, small-scale farmers in the target districts are not organised in self-help groups to access credits for income-generating activities.	At the End of the project xx of individuals are organised in self-help groups for saving and accessing loans for launching income-generating activities
	Farmer cooperatives operate largely in isolation with minimal collaboration or coordinated marketing	By the end of the project at least 17 of the targeted 21 farmer cooperatives implement at least one collaboration strategy each (e.g. bulk purchase of inputs, storage, marketing, transport etc.).
	Currently, small scale households use conventional agricultural methods and are not well connected with the agricultural extension and input and support service	By the end of the project xx number of targeted households have accessed innovative agricultural technologies /practices/inputs through the agricultural extension and support system
	Currently, most small-scale farmers in the target districts are unaware of climate-resilient techniques like conservation agriculture, drought-resistant crops.	By the end of the project xxx% of the targeted households apply at least three climate resilient agricultural methods
Sub-objective (aim)	Indicators
	Initial value (quantitative and qualitative)	Target value (quantitative and qualitative)
750 small scale farmers, women-headed households and persons with disability have strengthened capacities to access diversified and inclusive livelihood opportunities.	Currently, most of the target group have limited or no experience in developing structured business plans for income-generating activities.	In year xx yy number of persons have developed individual business plans to start an income generating activity.
	Currently, farmer cooperatives have limited capacities planning collective activities	In year xx 21 farmer cooperatives have developed a cooperation strategy.
	Small-scale farmers lack the knowledge and tools necessary for managing VESA credit cycles	In year xx 30 established VESA groups are capacitated to issue and track small credits for business start ups
830 small scale farmers, women-headed households and persons with disability have increased capacities to adopt improved and context-relevant agricultural inputs and technologies/practices	Currently small-scale farmers lack awareness of the technical steps required for improved agricultural practices and their potential benefits     Few small-scale farmers employ structured planning tools to manage planting schedules, resource use, or crop maintenance.     Small-scale farmers have little exposure to modern irrigation techniques or water resource management	In year xx yy number of small-sale farmers access improved inputs (seeds, fertilizers, tools)           In year xx yy “% of trained households have acquired knowledge of at least xx improved agricultural practices.             In year xx yy % of trained households who developed a mid-term planting and maintenance plan integrating improved methods     In year xx yy % of trained households have acquired knowledge in at least 2 innovative irrigation methods
	Currently, most farmers rely on traditional seed varieties and basic tools that constrain productivity
850 small scale farmers, women-headed households and persons with disability have strengthened capacities to effectively adopt and apply climate resilient agricultural practices	Currently, small scale farmers have limited or no exposure to climate-Resilient agriculture (CRA) concepts.     Currently, there are no mechanisms in place to facilitate collective reflection or planning to identify climate, market, or social vulnerabilities.   Currently farmers lack both the organizational structure and institutional support to engage in coordinated cluster-based production.   Currently, there is no consistent or scheduled forum for dialogue, feedback, or joint planning between small scale farmers and staff from Productive Saftey Net Programme (PSNP)   Women and persons with disabilities have limited or no access to participate in climate resilient agricultural practices	After the end of project year XX yy% of trained farmers know at least xxx methods of climate resilient agriculture” and have developed a medium-term plan to use at least three methods as of the following season.     In year xx yy % of trained persons have conducted a peer group-based risk and resilience analyses         In year xx yy number of famers are organised for cluster level farming         From year xx onwards PSNP staff and farmers meet at least xx per xxx       By the end of the project, xxx % of women headed households and persons with disabilities men who report improved household food security due to programme interventions
Self-representation groups and local development actors have strengthened capacities to advocate for the rights and full participation of women and persons with disabilities in local socio economic (agricultural) and community development.	Members of self-representation groups lack the tools to collectively voice their needs or demands.   Agricultural services are currently designed and delivered without systematic consideration for gender, disability, youth, or marginalized groups   Currently there are no associations specifically targeting the needs, rights, and economic empowerment of women-headed households	In year xx, xx number of trained Self-representation groups and farmer cooperatives have developed an advocacy plan to voice and claim their rights     In year xx yy number of trained extension workers and agricultural office experts can name at least x number of measures to make their services more inclusive and accessible. I htink it would be more impactful if this informaton is self reported by the participants. so maybe including a indicator ….% of participants (by disability and gender) who report that the programme strengthened their ability to cope with climate shocks       At the end of year xx, 3 associations of women headed households are established and operational. From the xx year of the project onwards, they hold monthly meetings

 

3. Purpose of the feasibility study

The project is currently in its development phase and CBM is seeking to recruit a consultant to conduct a feasibility study to assess the feasibility of the proposed project and systematically check the extent to which the project approach can plausibly achieve the planned changes under the existing framework conditions.

It should provide CBM and its partner(s) with sufficient information on the project opportunities and risks as well as concrete recommendations for improving the project concept. The study will be submitted to BMZ together with the project proposal.

As a first step, the study should provide an assessment on the following:

• Situation and problem analysis at macro, meso, micro level. BFI has already drafted a first situation analysis. The consultant should build on this initial analysis and should add additional information.
• Assessment of the local partner organization in the respective country
• Analysis of target groups and key stakeholders at macro, meso and micro level

All three of the above listed components include a systematic gender analysis through specific questions and request for gender disaggregated data which is a vital part of the feasibility study.

It is important to note that the study should be complementary to any assessments/field research/information already available to CBM and its partner.

Based on this, the study should assess as a second step:

• The feasibility of the project concept against the OECD/DAC criteria of relevance, coherence, efficiency, effectiveness, potential impact and sustainability.
• the inclusiveness of the project, i.e. the active participation of person with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups such as women, girls, indigenous population, and their representative organisations in all aspects of the project.

This assessment will be made based on a first draft of the impact matrix and indicators, description of activities and a draft budget to be made available by CBM and BFI.

 

4. Questions of the feasibility study

4.1 Initial situation and problem analysis at macro, meso, micro level

• In the thematic sector the project aims to address, does the design consider the relevant problems and situation of the target group?
• Which governmental and cultural/ normative frameworks (legislation, safeguarding mechanisms, etc.) pertaining to gender equality and inclusion need to be taken into consideration?
• Which local existing structures (institutions, networks, umbrella organisations, etc.) and social mechanisms can be built upon? Which gaps have been identified in the system?
• Are there approaches or results from previous development projects? If so, how will they be built upon?
• Does the project description provide a differentiated analysis of the specific situations of people of different gender and ages, with and without disabilities in the target area (e.g. local gender roles, access to resources and services in different sectors, participation in decision-making bodies, skills, capacities, needs and interests)?

 

4.2 Local project implementing partner organization (BFI) in the partner country

• What is the special expertise that justifies the selection of BFI to implement the proposed project?
• Is there a need to strengthen the ownership of BFI?
• Are there any relevant technical or methodological competences/ capacities that BFI should develop to better implement the planned project?
• Will capacity-building measures be necessary to strengthen the capacities of BFI in relation to gender equality and inclusion approaches in accordance with the project objectives (e.g., training in human rights and women’s rights and in participation of people with disabilities)?

 

4.3 Target groups and key stakeholders (at micro, meso and macro level)

• What is the composition of the target group (gender, age, ethnicity, language, capacities)?
• Have people of different gender and ages, with and without disabilities, and/or relevant interest groups/associations been actively involved in the project planning (needs analysis, selection of activities, etc.)?
• Are there specific needs of target groups that can be adequately addressed only by including specific activities just for them (e.g., the creation of protected spaces only for women/girls who have experienced sexual violence)?
• Are key stakeholders (governmental/OPDs/ women’s organization etc; regional/district level) adequately involved in the project? Are there convergences or conflicts of interest between them?
• Which self-help potential does the respective target groups have? How can local problem-solving capacities be strengthened?
• Does the project build the capacity of key stakeholders and target groups on disability inclusion?
• What approach is the project using to strengthen the rights, representation and resources (the three Rs) of the target groups? Is it ensured that people of different gender and ages, with and without disabilities, will receive the same benefit from the planned project, i.e. are all able to participate in activities? Are complementary activities needed that target the societal context as a whole to enable the entire target group to participate in the first place (e.g., addressing traditional gender roles together with community leaders)?

4.5 Assessment according to DAC Criteria

The guiding questions on the criteria serve as orientation for the content of the study. They are to be understood as a collection from which the relevant questions can be prioritised. This allows the criteria to be weighted differently according to the study’s interest in knowledge. Questions should be selected and adjusted in agreement between PD, CO and Initiatives according to the specific study requirements identified. Overloading of the study should be avoided.

Relevance – To what extent is the planned project doing the right thing?

• To what extent do the project objectives and design adequately consider the specific needs of the target groups and structural obstacles in the project region, partner/institution, policy programmes?
• Is the project designed in a conflict-sensitive and gender-sensitive way (Do-No-Harm principle)?

Coherence – How well does the intervention fit?

• How coherent are the planned activities with human rights principles (inclusion, participation), conventions and relevant standards/guidelines?
• To what extent are there synergies and linkages between the planned project and other interventions by the same actor (organisation) and other actors? To what extent does the project add value and avoids duplication?

Effectiveness – Which project approach can best achieve the objectives?

• Is the chosen methodological approach appropriate to the context and sufficient to achieve the project objective? Are alternatives necessary?
• At which level (multi-level approach) are additional measures to increase effectiveness to be envisaged?
• How are the changes measured? Which indicators are more suitable for this?

Efficiency – Does the use of funds planned by the project appear economical in terms of achieving the objectives?

• To what extent can the planned measures be implemented with the budgeted funds and personnel in the planned duration?

Impact – To what extent has the planned project the potential to contribute to the achievement of overarching developmental impacts?

• To what extent has the planned project the potential for systematic change of norms and/or structures (also considering gender perspective)?

Sustainability – To what extent will the positive effects (without further external funding) continue after the end of the project?

• How can the sustainability of the results and impacts be ensured and strengthened? (structural, economic, social, ecological)?
• What long-term capacities are built up in the target group to be able to continue the implemented measures on their own?
• Which personal risks for the implementers, institutional and contextual risks influence sustainability and how can they be minimised?
• Has the project design included safeguarding as cross-cutting issue? Are safeguarding practices strengthened?

 

Safeguarding

4.4 Recommendations

Based on the main findings and the assessment according to the DAC criteria, the consultant should provide concrete recommendations for the project concept. These recommendations should be within the thematic and financial scope of what the project aims to achieve. They should be practical and implementable.

 

In particular, the following should be addressed:

• Recommendations on any components, measures, approaches that might be missing or not fitting in the project concept.
• Recommendations regarding any components or measures where potential negative effects have been identified.
• Recommendations on the impact matrix of the project:
• Anything that can strengthen the effect chain of the project.
• Recommendations on indicators demonstrating progress.

 

5. Scope of the feasibility study

5.1 Stakeholders

The consultant will work closely with all partners, including the CBM, BFI and (relevant local government/non-government agencies). He/She will report to the CBM team. The consultant will execute his/her mission in complete independence and will receive only general instructions by CBM, justified by the necessities of the independent collaboration between the parties and the orderly execution of the confined tasks.

5.2 Geographical Scope

The project is located in (region, county). Thus the study shall analyse the situation in (the x communities of …).(please insert relevant details).

5.3 Documents to be reviewed

Please insert any related documents, such as actual project proposal, previous project reports, evaluations, organisational policies and strategies etc. relevant to this study

5.4 Methodology

Independent of the methods to be used, there are mandatory mechanisms that must be adhered to during the entire process:

• Participatory and inclusive
• Safeguarding of children and adults at risk
• Data Disaggregation (gender/age/disability)
• Data Security and privacy (informed consent)

The evaluator is expected to use a variety of methods to collect and analyse data. Participatory methods should be used to collect qualitative and quantitative data. The consultant shall indicate the methodology he/she intends to use in his/her offer.

If a special method is required, please mention this in this chapter. You may want to include which and how many actors with which backgrounds and interests are involved.

5.6 Limitations

Please insert any potential limitation for data collection, e.g., timing and whether conditions, pandemic and movement restrictions, safety and security restrictions.

If remote or semi-remote methodology has to be applied, please outline this here.

[1] Definition of climate resilient agricultural practices: improve practices so that agriculture can withstand and recover from climatic shocks and stresses.

Focus: •Emphasis is on adaptation rather than mitigation •Resilience through diversification, early warning systems, improved water security

Key Features:

• Promotion of climate-resilient varieties, soil health, water management
• Link to disaster risk reduction and social protection systems

6. Deliverables and schedule

6.1 Deliverables

• Inception report including proposed data collection tools and feasibility study question matrix (matching feasibility study questions with data collection tools);
• Final report (max. 30 pages without annexes) according to CBM’s report template and in accessible format;
• Any data sets collected/analysed and other documents related to the feasibility study;
• A summary Power Point Presentation highlighting main findings and recommendations;
• Presentation of findings and recommendations in a validation workshop.

6.2 Time Frame and schedule

The study is expected to start xxx, taking xxx days. An itemised action plan should be submitted with the expression of interest.

Availability of the consultant for the proposed timeframe is crucial.

Please adapt dates and duration according to needs and scope of the study

Activity Description	Duration/ days	Stakeholders involved	Location
Briefing of consultant	1	CO, partner, DID	Online meeting
Review of relevant documents	3	consultant
Tools development	3	consultant
Inception Report	1	CO, partner, DID, initiative	Online meeting
Data collection	13	Consultant and team
Data analysis and preparation of draft report	5	consultant
Validation meeting (incl. ppt presentation)	2	CO, partner, DID, initiative	Online or during workshop
Finalisation of feasibility study and final report	3	consultant
TOTAL	30