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CALL FOR CONSULTANCY
Combined Assignment: Baseline Study for the Balbala Standard Project and National & Local Research on Alternative Care, Child Protection Systems and Community-Based Responses in Djibouti
IMPORTANT – ONE CONSULTANT / FIRM FOR BOTH ASSIGNMENTS
This is a combined call. SOS Children’s Villages Djibouti intends to engage one qualified consultant or consulting firm with the capacity and availability to undertake both studies. Applicants should therefore submit one coordinated application covering both assignments, with a clear methodology and work plan for each study and a financial proposal showing the cost of each assignment separately and the overall combined cost.
About SOS Children’s Villages
SOS Children’s Villages is a global federation working to ensure that children and young people grow up in a safe, nurturing family environment where their rights are protected. SOS Children’s Villages Djibouti has operated in the country since 1999 and implements integrated programmes including family-like care, family strengthening, education support, emergency response and initiatives that strengthen civil society and community-based child protection.
Context and Background
SOS Children’s Villages Djibouti is inviting qualified national and international consultants or consulting firms to undertake two complementary studies under one consultancy arrangement. The assignments are intended to generate evidence for programme implementation, monitoring, learning, child protection system strengthening, policy advocacy and childcare reform.
Assignment 1: Baseline Study for the Balbala Standard Project
The Balbala Standard Project builds on the Family Strengthening Project and targets vulnerable families, children and young people in selected areas of Balbala and Boulaos in Djibouti City. The programme is planned for January 2026–December 2028 and aims to strengthen family care, access to essential services, alternative care, crisis resilience, community-based child protection and youth self-reliance.
Purpose of the baseline study
The baseline will establish reliable starting values against which programme progress and results can be measured. It will also test the availability and reliability of indicators and sources of verification and, where necessary, recommend feasible refinements.
Assess caregiving practices, child protection awareness, access to social and basic services, and the situation of children without adequate parental care or at risk of separation.
Establish baseline information on household income, livelihoods, employment, poverty, access to financial services and household resilience to economic, social and climate-related shocks.
Assess education, health, psychosocial support, protection, care, accommodation and other key dimensions of child and family well-being.
Map existing care arrangements, including family-based, informal and institutional care, and assess the availability and functionality of formal alternative care options such as foster care, kafala and kinship care.
Identify gaps in case management and referral systems, existing community-based organisations and community resilience mechanisms.
Assess youth unemployment, barriers and opportunities for employability, and marketable skills relevant to young people.
Geographic scope
Selected areas of Balbala (including Wahadi Daba and 8 Meter) and Boulaos (including Quartier 4, Quartier 5 and Djabal District), Djibouti City.
Key baseline deliverables
Documentation of data collection and consultations carried out.
Draft and final baseline study report with Executive Summary, methodology, recommendations on indicators and sources of verification, a table of baseline values, narrative findings and recommendations.
Presentation of final findings, if required.
Assignment 2: National and Local Research on Alternative Care Practices, Child Protection Systems and Community-Based Responses
SOS Children’s Villages Djibouti seeks to undertake national and local research, including case studies, to document current alternative care practices, child protection systems and community-based responses. The evidence will help identify what works, existing gaps and opportunities for reform, and will support programme design, policy advocacy, childcare reform and stronger collaboration among governmental and non-governmental child protection actors.
Key objectives
Map formal and informal alternative care arrangements, including kinship care, foster care, kafala, residential care, informal care and family reunification approaches.
Assess the legal and policy framework, institutional roles, coordination mechanisms, case management systems, referral pathways and child safeguarding mechanisms.
Document community-led protection mechanisms, including Community Child Protection Committees, CBOs, religious and traditional support systems, women’s associations, youth groups and informal support networks.
Identify challenges affecting children without parental care or at risk of losing parental care.
Document good practices and successful community-based initiatives to identify what works.
Identify system and service gaps and opportunities for reform, and provide evidence-based recommendations for strengthening family-based care and child protection systems.
Develop a minimum of five detailed case studies illustrating effective child protection and alternative care practices.
Geographic scope
The study will combine a national-level review with local research in Djibouti Town, Balbala and Tadjourah.
Key research deliverables
Inception Report and approved data collection tools.
Stakeholder Mapping Report.
Minimum five (5) detailed case studies.
Draft Research Report.
Validation Workshop Presentation.
Final Research Report.
Executive Summary.
Final database and interview records.
Methodology and Quality Expectations
Applicants should propose a rigorous, practical and coordinated mixed-methods approach for the two assignments. The methodology may include desk review, quantitative data collection where required, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, stakeholder mapping, institutional capacity assessment, community consultations, observation and case-study development. The proposal should explain sampling or stakeholder-selection approaches, data analysis, triangulation, quality assurance and how the two studies will be coordinated without compromising the distinct objectives and deliverables of either assignment.
Child Safeguarding and Ethical Requirements
Compliance with SOS Children’s Villages Child Safeguarding Policy and applicable research ethics principles.
Confidentiality, secure data handling and data protection.
Informed consent and age-appropriate assent procedures where children and young people participate.
Child-safe, age-appropriate and non-discriminatory data collection methods.
Application of Do No Harm principles and appropriate risk-mitigation measures throughout the assignments.
Indicative Timing
The consultant is expected to develop an integrated work plan that allows both assignments to be implemented efficiently, including where appropriate through coordinated fieldwork and stakeholder engagement.
Assignment
Indicative period / duration
Key timing note
Baseline Study
4 weeks from contract signature
Preparation, indicator/source review, field data collection, analysis, draft and final reporting.
National & Local Research
8 weeks from contract signature
Includes inception, desk review, fieldwork, analysis, draft report, validation and finalisation.
Required Consultant / Firm Profile
Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Child Protection, Sociology, Development Studies, Law or a closely related field, particularly for the team lead/research lead.
At least five years of relevant experience conducting research, evaluations or assessments, with demonstrated competency in baseline studies and/or programme evaluations.
Demonstrated expertise in child protection, alternative care, child rights and issues affecting vulnerable children and families.
Strong understanding of development work and the operational, institutional and socio-cultural context of Djibouti.
Proven experience in quantitative and qualitative research methods, conceptual frameworks, sampling, data collection and analysis, including age-appropriate methods.
Ability to manage and coordinate multiple but related research assignments and deliver high-quality outputs within tight timelines.
Strong analytical, conceptual and report-writing skills.
Excellent written communication skills; ability to produce high-quality outputs in French and English is strongly required for the research assignment.
Logistical Arrangements
At programme locations, accommodation and field transportation will be organised and covered by SOS Children’s Villages Djibouti in accordance with the respective ToRs and should therefore not be included in the consultant’s price proposal. SOS staff will support coordination of interviews, stakeholder linkages and local preparations as required.
Submission Requirements
Applicants must apply for both assignments under this combined call. A single coordinated application package should be submitted, while clearly distinguishing the proposed methodology, work plan, deliverables and budget for each study.
Bid submission / identification form.
Previous experience form.
Technical proposal covering both studies, including methodology, quality assurance, safeguarding/ethical approach, staffing and an integrated work plan.
Financial proposal/price schedule in Djibouti Francs (DJF), inclusive of applicable taxes, showing: (i) cost of the baseline study; (ii) cost of the national and local research; and (iii) total combined consultancy cost.
CVs of the proposed research team member(s), including current geographical location(s).
Three professional references, at least two of whom are familiar with the applicant’s work.
At least one recent and relevant baseline, research or evaluation report that is available for review.
The proposal and supplementary documents should be submitted in French/English, in line with the RFP requirements. Technical and financial proposals must be submitted as separate PDF files. The financial proposal will be considered after the technical proposal has been reviewed and shortlisted.
Evaluation of Applications
Applications will first be assessed for technical quality, relevance, compliance with the two Terms of Reference, proposed methodology, work plan, team capacity and demonstrated experience. Financial proposals of technically shortlisted applicants will then be reviewed. The award will be based on the overall best-value proposal. SOS Children’s Villages Djibouti may request additional information or invite shortlisted applicants to a virtual presentation or interview.
How to apply
How to Apply
Submission email: [email protected] or [email protected]
Suggested subject line: Combined Consultancy – Baseline Study and National/Local Research – [Consultant/Firm Name]
Closing date: 20 August 2026, by the end of the day (Djibouti time).
Postal address: P.O. Box 2466, Djibouti (electronic submission preferred).
Important: Applications covering only one of the two studies will not meet the purpose of this combined call, which is intended to identify one consultant/firm capable of delivering both assignments.
Safeguarding Commitment
Child safeguarding and protection are central to SOS Children’s Villages’ work. The selected consultant/firm will be expected to comply fully with SOS Children’s Villages safeguarding, confidentiality, data-protection and ethical research requirements throughout both assignments.
Full RFPs and Terms of Reference: The detailed RFP/ToR documents for both assignments should accompany or be linked from this ReliefWeb advertisement and will govern the final scope, deliverables and contractual conditions.