Terms of Reference (TOR) to revise the needs assessment on child vulnerability in Ambo and Mettu Towns

Rational for the needs assessment:

We work in a dynamic environment with many actors and influencers that will change in the number of children in our target group, the reasons for being in the target group, and/or their situation once in the target group. A needs assessment is an objective analysis of the situation of the target group in a specific location to identify the needs and stakeholders present. It replaces the feasibility studies that SOS used to conduct and is applicable for both new and ongoing programmes.

For both new and ongoing programme interventions a need assessment should be carried once per programme cycle (i.e. every 3-5 years, in line with the SOS Results Based Management Approach) in order to guide SOS staff on whether the organization is the best placed stakeholder to respond in a certain community, and to provide up-to-date information on context and most crucial needs of the target group. The recommendations provided in the needs assessment report are essential to develop tailored services and interventions and thus are the basis for developing a programme concept.

The need assessment is complementary to the child rights situation analysis [CRSA], which is done at the country-level and indicates areas with child rights concerns. The needs assessment is conducted after the CRSA and provides more details on a location identified as having child rights concerns to support a decision of whether SOS should intervene in this specific location.

Hence, SOS children’s Village Jimma conducted a needs assessment in Metu and Ambo towns in 2022. However, due to dynamicity of the situations, the programme location needs to update the current information specially in target group, community assets and needs and stakeholders by using to the results based Management toolkits and templates.

Overall objective:

The overall objective of conducting this needs assessment is to assess the current child vulnerability situation in Ambo & Mettu Towns and help SOS children’s village Ethiopia in decision-making regarding the level, causes and possible intervention for child vulnerability in Ambo & Mettu towns separately.

Specific objectives are:

• To assess the current child vulnerability situation by using target group analysis for both Ambo and Metuu separately.
• To Identify the community assets and needs in line with the child vulnerability separately for both Ambo and Mettu.
• Stakeholder analysis separately for Ambo and Mettu
• To assess the Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, and Environmental factors (PESTLE) in line with the child vulnerability context for both Ambo and Mettu separately.

Scope of the need’s assignment

Geographically, the assessment is limited to the two towns namely Ambo & Mettu. The assessment will be undertaken based on the organization’s Result Based Management toolkit/template, SOS Children’s Villages Programme Policy, and relevant government policies. The consultant is expected to conduct the need assessment and present the findings for both Ambo and Mettu separately.

Methodology of Assessment:

The consultant is expected to develop relevant and standard quantitative and qualitative methodologies that can generate the highest quality and most credible evidence base findings. The commissioned consultant should use a mixed method approaches (quantitative and qualitative methods) both primary & secondary data to assess the child vulnerability situation. the consultant should disaggregate data by sex, age, disability, geographic location while collecting and analysing data. The consultant should also clearly explain which questions will be answered using which methods. Data collection methods proposed by the consultant should be linked to the specific target group question(s). Moreover, the consultant is expected to explain the design and process of data collection tools, data collection plans and data analysis method.

The Consultant should also ensure that the household survey and qualitative methods (such as focus group discussion (FGD), key informant interview (KII) participants are representative of the target groups.

Sample

The Commissioned consultant is expected to use appropriate sampling techniques and set acceptable sample size for both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods for both Ambo and Mettu need assessments. Based on the Results Based Management toolkit, results framework template and target population size, the consultant should produce best sampling methods and ensure representativeness of the sampled households or respondents, and the sampling frame.

Major needs assessment questions for both Amabo and Mettu need assessments (the consultant will add more relevant questions.

• Questions related with target group analysis
• Questions related with community assets & needs
• Questions related with PESTL analysis
• Stakeholder analysis
• Question with child vulnerability

Work plan and expected deliveries:

work plan/timetable:

The assignment is expected to finalize the task within 30 days after the contractual agreement is signed.

S.N	Activities	Responsible person	Date	Remark

The consultant is expected to develop her/his work plans based on the following table.

Deliverables:

All deliverables should be submitted to SOSCV Ethiopia (National Office). These include-

• Inception reports on how the consultancy will conduct the need assessment, plan and including the methodology
• Presentation on preliminary results to SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia to ensure a common understanding of the findings and recommendations and to promote discussion on the way forward.
• First draft l reports for both Ambo and Mettu separately in English within 30 days after the passement started asper the agreement in July 2025, will be submitted (the template is annexed.)
• A final reports separately for Ambo ad Mettu that focuses on the main findings, lessons learned and recommendations
• Final reports separately for both Ambo and Mettu are in English (The final report should be submitted as soon as comments given from SOS CV Ethiopia (the Jimma programme location team will be part of it) has been received.
• A 2-page analysis of the assessment process that highlights strengths, challenges and areas for future improvement from the research team separately for both Ambo and Mettu.

All deliverables need to be approved by SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia.

Report criteria

The reporting criteria for the needs assessment shall be in line with the SOS Children’s Village 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. Interested consultants should submit their offers within 10 days after the assessment is advertised.

Logistical arrangements

The awarded consultant shall show feasible logistical arrangements for the assignment as part of financial proposal.

Duration of the contract and terms of payment:

The contract for the assignment will stay for 30 days from the signing of the agreement and the following terms of payment will be applicable as follows:

1. 30% initial payment with the approval of the inception report
2. 30% while the draft report is submitted, reviewed and feedback is given by the SOS Children’s Villages teams.
3. 40% while the final reports on the needs assessment assignment is delivered.

Notice of delay

The incumbent consultant is expected to report the delay in any part of the assignment 10 days before the agreed days of the timetable. If the consultant fails to complete the work within the time limit prescribed under contract agreement, he/she shall pay 0.5% (0.5 percent) of the contract price as liquidated damage for each day of delay until the Client unilaterally terminates the contract for non-performance. The Client shall have the right to decide whether there is a convincing reason for the delay or not.

Copyright and other proprietary rights

The needs assessment result shall be the sole property of SOS-CVE and shall not be copied or modified for other purposes without the formal consent/approval of the national director.

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 consultant shall have at least a master’s degree in a relevant field of study such Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, development studies, Economics, Project Management (Development or Humanitarian), Monitoring & Evaluation and other related fields per the required assignment
• At least 5 years’ work experience & proven competency in needs assessment, monitoring, and evaluation, including baseline assessments or organizational/program evaluation (baseline, midterm, and final evaluations). The incumbent shall attach at least one sample needs assessment report produced by the candidate on a similar topic.
• The consultant should have Gender expertise, and at least one gender expert among the consultant team members.
• A good understanding of child/youth rights/safeguarding & other issues affecting vulnerable children in the Ethiopian context.
• Proven experience in participatory processes and data collection methods
• Strong skills in coordination, analytical and conceptual skills on needs assessment
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English.
• Ability to transfer complex concepts and ideas into practical and simple language.
• Experience in organizing research processes with/for child focused development organizations.
• Experience and credibility in providing needs assessments for external communication and organizational purposes.
• Experience in managing needs assessment in respect of the participating communities’ culture, social norms, values, and behavior; and maintain appropriate relationships with participants of this assessment.
• Legally registered firms with renewed license, VAT registration and TIN number

Note that the consultants whose names appear in the technical and financial proposal must also be the ones to conduct the assignment.