ToR: Undertake Baseline Survey for Shashemene Holistic Action for Sustainable Household Empowerment (SHASHE II) Phase Two Project

Description of programme location and context

SOS CVE, Hawassa Programme is the fourth oldest programme location under SOS CV Ethiopia which was established in 1985 due to the drought that occurred in the midst of 1980 in the southern part of the country. We take action for children as an independent non-governmental social development organization. Currently, twelve projects are being implemented by the programme location (PL), categorized under three major programs, alternative childcare, family strengthening and disability inclusion programs. These projects include standard project (FLC, OAC, FFC, SGH, and SIL), from FCSP ARADA Phase II, ECoS-CaR Phase IV, SHECAN, SHASHE Phase II, Grow Equal, WACHAMO, and the Together for Sustainable Future (T4SF) project in Aletawondo, Yirgalem, and Yabello towns. Additional initiatives include advancing the rights of children and young people with disabilities in Hawassa and Hosaena city administrations.

Rationale of Conducting Baseline Survey

The rationale for conducting a baseline survey is to establish a clear and evidence-based understanding of the initial situation before any intervention begins. It provides critical data on existing conditions, needs, and challenges, ensuring that programmes are designed in a relevant, targeted, and effective way. By defining the starting point, a baseline survey enables meaningful measurement of progress, supports informed decision-making, and strengthens accountability throughout the programme lifecycle. It also enable comparison over time by creating a reference point against which future progress and impact can be measured.

Objective of the Study

Overall objective

The main objective of the baseline survey is to measure and set baseline values of the indicators of the results framework at outcome and output level before the start of the project in the target intervention areas in Shawsheen city administration. The baseline survey result will help us to set the targets to be attained at outcome and output indicators at the end of the project intervention.

Specific objectives:

• To establish baseline data for the project as benchmarks for performance monitoring and evaluation.
• To set achievable targets for each project`s outcome and output.
• To identify gaps in child protection, caregivers’ empowerment and livelihoods among target groups.
• 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 Outcomes and Outputs

The overall objective or goal of the project is “Children and Young People in Shashemene Community are Growing in Caring and Protective Family and Community Environment by 2028”.

The summary of project outcomes and outputs are listed as follows:

Outcome 1: Children and Young People are Cared and Protected

Output 1.1. Children and young people are able to protect themselves from abuse

Output 1.2. Children and young people are engaged in decisions that affect their development

Output 1.3. Caregivers have improved parenting knowledge and skills to care and protect their children

Output 1.4. Community Based Partners (CBPs) strengthened to respond to the needs of children and young people.

Output 1.5. Relevant government sector offices respond to the needs of children and young people.

Outcome 2: Households and Youth have Sustainable Livelihood to Support Child Development

Output 2.1. Caregivers have improved knowledge, skills and resources for entrepreneurship and employment

Output 2.2. Youth have improved knowledge, skills and resources for entreprenuership and employment

Output 2.3. SACCOs respond to the financial needs of caregivers and youth

Outcome 3: Children and youth are educated and skilled

Output 3.1. Children and young people develop essential life skills

Output 3.2. Caregivers support education of children and young people.

Output 3.3. Children and young people have enabling school environment

Output 3.4. Children in partner schools have equitable access to inclusive education

Outcome 4: Children and youth grow up healthy

Output 4.1. Children and young people are protected and treated from infectious diseases

Output 4.2. Children are well nourished

Output 4.3. Families and communities’ hygiene, sanitation and waste management improved

Output 4.4. Households are mentally and emotionally stable

Some of the major baseline study questions:

• What does the current situation of the indicators in the result framework look like?
• What is the current level of child protection awareness?
• What are HH income sources and stability?
• What looks like targeted households ‘livelihoods?

The commissioned consultant should further list relevant, tailored and possible baseline study questions and tools for both quantitative and qualitative methodologies. He/she is expected to refer to the project document in detail, log frame and in addition to developing evaluation questions, and data collection tools. SOS CVE Ethiopia will share the project document, log frame/result framework for winner consultancy firm.

Scope of the Study

The SHASHEP II Project is the second phase of a community development initiative in the West Arsi, Oromiya regional state of Ethiopia. It’s a continuation and expansion of the initial project that ran from January 2023 to December 2025 in Shashemene town, located in the West Arsi Zone. This new phase, from 2026 to 2028, aims to create a caring and protective environment for children and young people in the region.

This new phase will also expand its reach to include one new district, Alelu, starting in 2026. Simultaneously, it will gradually hand over its activities to community-based partners in the two existing districts, Didaboke and Arada, by the end of 2028.

The SHASHE II project will be implemented through strong partnerships with Key Implementation Partners (KIPs), including Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) and Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs). These partnerships, which are already in place in the existing districts, will be expanded to the new Alelu district.

To maximize its impact and avoid duplicating efforts, the project will also collaborate with other organizations like Helvetic and the Meki Catholic Secretariat through the Hibret Alliance. Additionally, the project will work with relevant government sectors to address the developmental needs of the target communities.

The project will address the needs of 2,150 children, 200 young people, and 550 caregivers by focusing on four key outcomes: Protection and Care: Ensuring children and young people in target families are cared for and protected. Economic Stability: Helping caregivers and youth achieve sustainable income for self-reliance by 2028. Education and Skills: Providing education and skills training to children and young people. Health: Promoting the healthy development of children and young people.

An estimated ETB 446,587,178 (Four hundred forty-six million five hundred eighty-seven thousand one hundred seventy-eight. or $ 2,895,869 (Two million eight hundred ninety-five thousand eight hundred sixty-nine)., which will be used over the three-year period from 2026 to 2028. The project is funded by UZHF through SOS Switzerland.

The project participants planned to reach are summarized as follows:

Project Indirect Participants		Project Indirect Participants
Gender	# of participants	Gender	# of participants
Female	443 caregivers+ 100 youth	Female	2172
Male	107 caregivers + 100 Youth	Male	828
Boys	1104	Boys	4416
Girls	1046	Girls	4184

Methodology

The consultancy firm to be recruited is expected to develop appropriate 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 study questions. As far as possible, the consultant should disaggregate data by sex, age, disability while collecting and analyzing 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). In addition to the data collection methodology, the consultant should refer to the relevant desk review of the project agreement documents. Moreover, the consultant is expected to explain the design and process of data collection tools, data collection plans and data analysis instrument. The consultant is also expected to test data collection tools before the actual utilization.

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, Children, youth, care givers (men & women), CBOs.)

Sampling

The Commissioned consultant is expected to use appropriate sampling techniques and set a representative sample size for both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. Based on the project objectives, results, the baseline study equations and SHASHE Phase II project result framework. The consultant should produce appropriate sampling methods and ensure representativeness of the sampled households or respondents, and the sampling frame is from target children, youth, care givers, schools, CBOs and community structures.

Work Plan and Expected Deliverables

Work plan

The baseline study task is expected to be finalized within 35 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

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 National or location-level staff (SOSCVE) will be available to help organize the interviews including contacting SOSCV, announcing and local preparation of evaluation, 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 study findings within 45 days of the contract signing. Based on the work plan, SOS Children’s Villages of Hawassa programme location MEAL department, the national office MEAL and FCS&FD program 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 baseline study report of maximum 20 pages.
• The consultant is expected to present findings of SHASHEII project (for both draft and final findings) by intervention areas.
• Final baseline study 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

Thef reporting criteria for SHASHE Phase II project baseline study shall be in line with the SOS Children’s Villages result based management (RBM) toolkit and should be shared with the winner consultancy firm 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 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, relevant project coordinator and location MEAL coordinator in Hawassa 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 (SOSCV) will be available to help organize the interviews including contacting SOSCV, 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 affected by bank transfer in the currency of birr.

Funding and Payment: The consultant will be paid by SOS Children’s Villages 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.

Signing of the contract

The signing of the contract will follow the awarding of the assignment. It is tentatively scheduled for April 10, 2026.

Rights of SOS Children’s Villages

SOS-CVE has the right to cancel the service contract if the consultant could not comply with any standards articulated in the service agreement. SOS-CVE has the right to hold the impact assessment result as its own sole property.

Qualification of the researcher / research team

• The applicant consultant shall have at least a master’s degree in relevant fields of study such Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, development studies, Economics, Project Management, Monitoring & Evaluation and other related fields per the required assignment
• At least 5 years’ work experience in international NGOs & 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 a similar topic.
• A good understanding of family strengthening, community empowerment, education, livelihoods and development programme work.
• A good understanding of 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 market and livelihood 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 SOS Children’s Villages or similar child focused organizations.
• Experience and credibility in providing market and livelihood assessments for external communication and organizational purposes.
• Experience in managing baselines, final evaluations and livelihood assignments in respect of the participating communities’ culture, social norms, values, and behavior; and maintain appropriate relationships with participants of this evaluation.