ToR: Conduct baseline study for RISE Project in Axum, Adwa and Adet

Background and Programme Context

About SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia (SOS CVE)

SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia (SOS CVE) is a child‑focused international non‑governmental organization that has been operating in Ethiopia since 1974. SOS CVE works to ensure that children and young people who have lost, or are at risk of losing, parental care grow up in a safe and supportive environment. The organization implements Alternative Care (AC), Family and Community Strengthening Programmes (FCSP), youth empowerment, education, humanitarian response, and emergency recovery interventions in close collaboration with government institutions and community structures.

SOS CVE currently operates in several programme locations across Ethiopia, including Mekelle, Addis Ababa, Bahir Dar, Hawassa, Harar, Jimma, Gode and Arba Minch.

Description of the Programme Location and Context

The SOS CVE Mekelle Programme Location was established in 1974 and primarily implements Alternative Care and Family and Community Strengthening Programmes. In addition, the programme location manages education facilities including a kindergarten and the Hermann Gmeiner School (primary and secondary levels).

Following the conflict in Northern Ethiopia, Mekelle and surrounding areas of Enderta Woreda experienced extensive disruption to social services, livelihoods, protection systems, and community cohesion. Children, young people, women, and caregivers were exposed to displacement, psychosocial distress, protection risks including gender‑based violence (GBV), and loss of livelihoods.

In response, SOS CVE Mekelle has expanded its interventions beyond regular development programming to include emergency response, recovery, and resilience‑building initiatives focusing on mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), protection and livelihoods The RISE Project is implemented within this post‑conflict recovery context in Adiet, Adwa and Axum.

Rationale and Overall Objective of the Baseline Study.

SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia is implementing the RISE project to address this economic problem of survivors, lack of one stop center and related MHPSS support and lack of referral linkage through a comprehensive and survivor-centered approach in Axum, Adet, and Adwa woredas. The intervention will strengthen access to justice, medical referrals, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), Women and Girls’ Safe Spaces (WGSS), and dignity supplies while enhancing community-based protection mechanisms. In addition, the project will promote economic recovery and resilience through Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), business skills training, and seed capital support for vulnerable survivors. By integrating protection, psychosocial wellbeing, and livelihood recovery, the project will enable survivors to rebuild their lives, reduce vulnerability to further abuse, and restore their dignity, safety, and socio-economic independence. 0956020845

A baseline study is essential to establish the current status, needs, and vulnerabilities of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) survivors and at-risk women and girls in Axum, Adet, and Adwa woredas before project implementation. Despite evidence indicating that Central Tigray has the highest number of GBV survivors in the region, significant information gaps remain regarding survivors’ access to justice, Women and Girls’ Safe Spaces (WGSS), Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), medical and legal services, dignity kits, and livelihood opportunities. The baseline assessment will generate reliable data on the prevalence and impact of GBV, levels of psychological distress, service accessibility, community attitudes, and socio-economic conditions of survivors. It will also identify existing protection gaps, referral pathways, and institutional capacities to support survivors. The findings will provide a benchmark against which project progress and outcomes can be measured, ensuring that interventions are evidence-based, responsive to local needs, and effective in improving protection, psychosocial wellbeing, access to justice, and economic resilience among vulnerable women and girls in Central Tigray. The baseline will ensure credible measurement of change and accountability throughout the project lifecycle.

Objectives of the Baseline Study:

Overall Objective:

The overall objective of this baseline study is to measure the baseline situation of the indicators identified in the result framework at outcome and output level before or at the start of the project implementation in the target intervention areas, Axum, Adet, and Adwa woredas.

3.2. Specific Objectives

The specific objectives of the baseline study are:

• To establish baseline values for all indicators in the project Result Framework and recommend improvements where necessary
• To assess the psychosocial wellbeing, protection status, livelihood conditions, and socio‑economic situation of target communities
• To assess awareness of GBV, child rights, coping mechanisms, and existing protection systems.
• To propose realistic and achievable indicator targets – Map existing MHPSS, protection and livelihood systems in the target areas
• To gather facts and data about the current situation which will assist in designing/updating the project’s monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan.

Project Goal, Outcomes, and Outputs

Project Goal:

To contribute to a Tigray Region where conflict-affected communities live free from Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), enjoy restored and resilient livelihoods, and benefit from gender equality as a sustained social norm.

Project Outcomes and Outputs

Outcome 1: GBV survivors and at-risk individuals enjoy safety and psychosocial well being

Outcome 2: GBV survivors and conflict affected households are resilient and economically sustainable.

Outcome 3:Local institutions (women’s associations, health offices and local CBOs) deliver quality and coordinated protection.

(Detailed outputs and activities are outlined in the approved project proposal and Result Framework.)

3.4. Major Baseline Survey Questions:

The commissioned consultant should list relevant and possible baseline survey questions by referring to the project document and the project result framework and present them clearly during/on inception report presentation.

Scope of the Baseline Study

4.1. Geographic Scope

The baseline study will be conducted in the following project implementation areas: – Adiet, Adwa and Axum.

4.2. Target Groups and Beneficiaries

The baseline study will cover both direct and indirect beneficiaries of the RISE Project, as defined in the approved project proposal.

Table 1: Direct Project Beneficiaries (as per approved RISE Project Proposal)

Number of beneficiaries	Male	Female	Total
Caregivers	6674	14,218	20892
Children	1550	1550	3100
Stakeholders	100	108	208

Note: The above figures are consolidated from community-level disaggregation (Adiet, Adwa and Axum Woreda) as presented in the approved project proposal. For baseline and evaluation purposes, beneficiaries are summarized by sex and age group to support sampling, analysis, and reporting, while avoiding unnecessary geographic duplication.

Institutional and Community-Level Participants

In addition to individual beneficiaries, the baseline will include data collection from relevant community and institutional stakeholders, including: – Local government offices (Women and Social Affairs, Health, Women affairs and BOFED ) and civil society organizations – Community-based protection and support structures

The baseline study will ensure that all data are disaggregated by sex, age, disability status, and population category (IDP, returnee, host community), in line with the project Result Framework.

Baseline Study Methodology

The consultant is expected to develop relevant and standard quantitative and qualitative methodologies that can generate the highest quality and most credible evidence. The commissioned consultant should use a mixed method approaches (quantitative and qualitative methods) to answer the baseline survey questions. As much as possible, the consultant should disaggregate data by sex, age, disability 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). The target groups include women and Girls. In addition to the data collection methodology, the consultant should refer relevant documents. Moreover, the consultant is expected to explain the design and process of data collection tools, data collection plans and data analysis instrument and techniques in details.

Under Quantitative Methods, the consultant is expected to use the following methods.

• Structured household surveys
• Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) surveys
• MHPSS and trauma screening tools aligned with WHO SH+, EASE, and GPM+ guidance

Under qualitative methods, the consultant is expected to use the following methods.

• Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with local authorities, service providers, community leaders, and implementing partners
• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with women and Girls (using age‑appropriate tools), persons with disabilities, IDPs, returnees, and host communities
• SWOT analysis to assess institutional and system capacities

All data must be disaggregated by sex, age, disability status, and population category (IDP, returnee, host community).

5.1 Sampling:

The Commissioned consultant is expected to use appropriate sampling techniques and set acceptable sample size for both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods based on the project objectives, results, the baseline survey equations. The consultant should produce best sampling methods and ensure representativeness of the sampled households or respondents, and the sampling frame should include targets from women and girls.

Work Plan and Deliverables

Duration and Work Plan

The baseline study shall be completed within 35 days of contract signing. The consultant is expected to develop her/his detailed work plan based on the following table.

Activities	Dates	Time frame	Location (if necessary)

Role and Responsibility of the consultant:

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

Refer the project document, result framework and indicators and develop baseline study questions and detailed tools for both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods.

• Recruit and train data collectors/ enumerators
• Covers transport and per diem costs for data collectors
• Develop inception report with data collection tools, data collection plans and present for SOS CVE team and data collection plans
• Compiled draft and final baseline report based on scheduled time

Note that SOS CVE programme location-level staff (SOSCVE) will be available to help organize the interviews including contacting SOSCV, announcing and local preparation for baseline study, and linking to community duty bearers and national authorities. SOSCVE team will facilitate while the consultant collects data from programme participants, partners and key government stakeholders.

Deliverables:

The commissioned external consultant must deliver the baseline survey findings within 35 days of the contract signing. Based on the work plan, SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia, national MEAL staff and SOS CVE Mekele programme location staff expect the following deliverables:

• An inception report of maximum 8-10 pages on the baseline survey design, methodology, sampling frame, sampling technique, sample size, assessment tools and work plan
• Draft baseline survey report of maximum 25 pages.
• The consultant is expected to present findings (both draft and final findings) by intervention areas of the sampled locations.
• Final baseline survey report – The findings of 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 in Ethiopia.

Report criteria

The reporting criteria for the baseline survey shall be in line with the SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia’s result-based management (RBM) toolkit and the project framework which will 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 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 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 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 program and participants.

Hence, relevant organization staff 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 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 in accordance with 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 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 consultant’s team shall have at least one master’s degree holder in a relevant field of study such youth empowerment, Youth livelihoods programme, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, development studies, Economics, Project Management, Monitoring & Evaluation and other related fields per the required assignment. Training and qualifications related to social behavioral change communication approach are a plus.
• The team lead should have at least 5 years of relevant work experience & proven competency in assessments, monitoring, and evaluation, including baseline assessments or organizational/program evaluation (baseline, midterm, and final evaluations). The incumbent shall attach at least one sample baseline or final evaluation report produced by the candidate on peace building and related topics.
• A good understanding of peace building programs logic and conceptual framework
• A good understanding of Gender based survivor program, livelihoods programme, GBV and protection, women rights/safeguarding & other issues affecting vulnerable girls/women in the Ethiopian context.
• Proven experience in working with conceptual frameworks and data collection methods (including age-appropriate 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 market and livelihood assessment
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English. Tigrigna language is plus.
• Ability to transfer complex concepts and ideas into practical and simple language.
• Experience in organizing research processes with women, children and youth focused organizations.
• Experience of assessing conflict sensitive projects operated alongside borders of conflict prone areas
• Experience in managing baselines, final evaluations and livelihood assessment in respect of the participating communities’ culture, social norms, values, and behavior; and maintain appropriate relationships with participants.
• Legally registered firms with renewed license, VAT registration and TIN number