TERMS OF REFERENCES (TOR) – BASELINE STUDY FOR STRENGTHEN THE RESILIENCE OF WOMEN AND GIRLS TO LIVE A LIFE FREE OF VIOLENCE IN HARARI REGION

Description of Programme Location and Context

Established in 1980, SOS Children’s Villages programme in Harar is Ethiopia’s second oldest children’s village. It has been at the forefront of transforming the lives of countless children, families, and communities who have faced adversities in the Eastern Part of Ethiopia including Harari, Dire Dawa, and East Hararghe zone. Between 2012 and 2021, the programme implemented four Family and Community Strengthening Projects in Harar, Haramaya, and Dire Dawa, benefiting more than 10,000 children and young people at risk of losing their parental care and more than 2000 caregivers were supported to keep their children, care for them adequately, and get back on their feet. Currently, the programme location runs six different projects in the Harari Region, Dire Dawa, East and West Hararghe zones: Harar Standard Project, Advancing the Rights of Children and Young Adults with Disabilities in Dire Dawa and Harar, Reaching out to Children on the Street Situation Project in Dire Dawa, Dutch Relief Alliance Ethiopian Joint Response (Humanitarian Action Project) in Midega Tola, and Practice Peace and Live in Tranquility project.

To address the increasing violence against girls and women in Harari Regional State, the programme is planning to implement a new project entitled “Strengthening the Resilience of Women and Girls to Live a Life Free from Violence” in Harari Regional State.

The proposed project is designed to strengthen the resilience of women and girls (350 and 450) to live a life free of violence in the Harari region of Ethiopia. The project interventions are comprehensive and designed to address young girls and women’s challenges at community and individual levels. The project is based on the local needs analysis with a special focus on gender equality and the Child Rights Situation Analysis in Ethiopia.

Rationale and Overall Objective of the Baseline Study

SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia Programme in Harar is going to implement a new project entitled “Strengthen the resilience of women and girls to live a life free of violence in Harari region Ethiopia”. The project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, and it will be implemented by the SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia Programme in Harar. It is important to establish baseline values for the indicators set in the Results Framework so that it will be possible to set realistic targets for the indicators defined in the Results Framework and compare baseline values with final evaluation values/findings.

Objectives of the Evaluation/Assessment

Overall Objective

The overall objective of this baseline study is to measure the baseline situation (values) of the indicators identified in the logical framework (outcome and output level) before the start of the project implementation in the target area (Harari). The baseline study result will help us to set the targets to be attained at the outcome and output level indicators and provide guiding information for actual implementation. Furthermore, it will be easy to compare the indicators at baseline time with the final evaluation results.

Specific Objectives

• To know the status of selected indicators before the project implementation and set achievable and realistic targets for the indicators in the project’s Results Framework.
• To measure the validity and data availability of the indicators defined in the Results framework (for instance, do they measure what they are supposed to measure, are they cost-effective to gather, etc).
• To collect data on the capacity of Women CSOs, OPDs, and existing local government sectors (structures) to lead collective actions aimed at promoting the prevention of GBV, gender equality and inclusion.
• To collect demographic data, as well as information on knowledge, attitudes, practices, and other relevant characteristics of the target group.

Project Outcomes and Outputs

The project has the following goals, outcomes and outputs. Under the goal, there are three specific objectives (outcomes). There are also 3 outputs under each outcome.

Goal: To strengthen the resilience of women and girls to live a life free of violence in the Harari region Ethiopia

Outcomes and Outputs

Outcome 1. Gender-equitable social norms, attitudes, and behaviours change at community and individual levels to prevent violence against women and girls and harmful practices.

Output 1.1. Women, men, girls, boys and target community members in all their diversities have awareness of gender equality and their rights.

Output 1.2. Women and girls benefitted from supporting services for SGBV mitigation and SRHR promotion.

Output 1.3. Public health service providers are capacitated to provide safe and appropriate SGBV mitigation and SRH services.

Outcome 2: Women are empowered to take control of their lives and play an active role in their families and communities

Output 2.1. Women in vulnerable positions have parenting skills and can engage their partners in the care and protection of their children.

Output 2.2. Women in vulnerable situations have the capacity to engage in income-generating activities.

Output 2.3. Girls and boys in targeted families in all their diversities have access to essential services and are protected from VAC (Violence Against Children) and GBV.

Outcome 3: The capacity of women-led CSOs, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and relevant government sectors is enhanced to advance gender equality and prevention of GBV.

Output 3.1. Institutional Capacities of Women-led CSOs and OPDs built

Output 3.2. Women-led CSOs and OPDs acquire technical capacities to lead collective actions aimed at promoting the prevention of GBV, gender equality and inclusion.

Output 3.3. Relevant government sectors and duty-bearers have the capacity to institutionalize the participation of women and disability-led CSOs and OPDs.

Major Baseline Study Questions

The commissioned consultant should list relevant and possible baseline study questions by referring to the project document and the project result framework and show the baseline study questions during the inception report presentation.

Scope of the Baseline Study

Geographically, the baseline study will be limited to the project participants women, girls, boys and families, the communities, Disability People Organizations (DPOs) and key implementing partners including CBOs, SACCOs and government key stakeholders in Harari Regional State, Amir Nur and Sofi districts. The Harari region has nine districts (woredas): six urban and three rural districts (woredas). Amir Nur is one of the six urban districts of the region. It has three kebeles. On the other hand, Sofi district is one of the three rural districts of the region. It has seven rural kebeles. SOS CVE will intervene in four kebeles (3 kebeles from Amir Nur district and 1 kebele from Sofi district.) Hence, the baseline study will take place in the intervention districts and kebeles.

The Project has the following direct and indirect participants/beneficiaries.

Baseline Study Methodology

The consultant(s) must develop a strong data collection methodology for this 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. This study 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). This data will serve as a benchmark to monitor the project’s programme and measure how well the project achieves its targets. 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 the baseline study. The baseline study environment 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 and key stakeholders (Community members, women, girls, boys and children), CBOs.)

Sampling

The consultant is required to propose statistically sound sampling strategies 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 quantitative data from programme participants and the thematic analysis approach from implementing partners, key stakeholders and the community members for 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 Deliveries

Work Plan/Timetable

The baseline study task is expected to be finalized within 35 days after the contractual agreement is signed. The consultant is also expected to develop her/his detailed work plan based on the following table.

Deliverables

The commissioned external consultant must deliver the baseline study findings within 35 days of the contract signing. Based on the work plan, SOS Children’s Villages of Harar programme location, Programme location MEAL and the national office MEAL and FS teams expect the following deliverables:

• An inception report of 8 pages on the baseline study design, methodology, sampling frame, sampling technique, sample size, assessment tools and work plan
• Draft a baseline study report of a maximum of 20 pages.
• The consultant is expected to present the findings of the Harar FS project (for both draft and final findings) by intervention areas.
• Final baseline study report – the findings of the baseline study 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 the baseline study shall be in line with the SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia’s result-based management (RBM) toolkit and the project logical framework which will be shared with the winner consultant along with the data review process and/or for the preparation of the inception report. The consultant is expected to submit the baseline study report using the baseline study report template (T7C), which will be shared with the consultant.

Child Safeguarding and Ethical Issues

SOS Children’s Villages is committed to ensuring that all research, evaluations 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 research, evaluation and data collection SOS Children’s Villages is directly carried out or is involved in as a partner. Ethical practices need to be ensured in the following circumstances:

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

Hence, the relevant project coordinator and location MEAL coordinator in Harar will ensure that any researchers, evaluators and data collectors 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 present 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, 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 under the above-described deliverables. Financial proposals should include proposed stage payments. Payment will be transferred by bank transfer in birr.

Funding and Payment:

The consultant will be paid by SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia as follows:

• 30% on the submission and approval of the inception report.
• 30% on completion of the draft report.
• 40% on completion of the final report.

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 analyze 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 consultants will work closely with the respective national and Programme MEAL staff. Key qualifications required of the consultant(s) are:

• The applicant consultant shall have at least a master’s degree in a relevant field of study such as Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, development studies, Economics, Project Management, Statistics, Monitoring & Evaluation and other related fields per the required assignment
• A minimum of 5 years of working experience in project cycle management, evaluation, M&E and social research methods
• Proven and recent experience in conducting baseline or other quantitative surveys of considerable sample size (excerpts to be included in references.) The incumbent shall attach at least one sample baseline or final evaluation report produced by the candidate on a similar topic
• Proven experience in participatory processes and inclusive data collection methods (including age-appropriate and disability-sensitive data collection methods)
• Excellent facilitation techniques with a focus on participatory methods
• Strong analytical and conceptual skills
• Ability to transfer complex concepts/ideas in a practical and simple language
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English. Knowledge of local languages is a strong asset for team leaders and mandatory for data collectors
• Sound MS Office and IT skills.