BHA MAFA KONDUGA Endline Assessment Consultancy Terms Of Reference Consultancy

BHA MAFA KONDUGA ENDLINE ASSESSMENT

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Endline Assessment Consultancy for Integrated Lifesaving Assistance for Conflict-Affected Households in Mafa and Konduga, Nigeria with Humanitarian Coordination and Localization in BAY States. October 2023 – December 2024

1. Project Summary

Type of study

Endline Assessment

Study duration

40days

Contract start and End date

1st November till December 30th, 2024

Name of the project

Integrated Lifesaving Assistance for Conflict-Affected Households in Mafa and Konduga, Nigeria with Humanitarian Coordination and Localization in BAY States.

Project Start and End dates

October 2023 – December 2024

Project duration

15 Months

Project locations:

Mafa, Konduga LGAs, and Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states, Nigeria

Thematic areas

Food Assistance, Multipurpose Cash Assistance, ERMS (Economic Recovery and Market Systems), Nutrition, Protection, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) and Humanitarian Coordination, Information Management, and Assessments

Donor

USAID/Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance

Estimated beneficiaries

Parents/Caregivers, children, National Non-Government Organizations (NNGOs), International Non-Government Organizations (INGOs), and Public Officials.

Overall project goal

To address lifesaving humanitarian needs and improve resilience of most vulnerable IDPs and host communities in Mafa and Konduga by increasing access to integrated, disability-inclusive and gender-sensitive food assistance (Cash and vouchers) nutrition, livelihoods, WASH and protection services

2. Introduction

This document outlines the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Endline Assessment of a USAID BHA-funded project implemented by Save the Children (SC), in collaboration with two National Non-Governmental Organizations (NNGOs) – Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (EYN) and Green Concern for Development (GREENCODE). Save the Children serves as the Lead Agency for the project. The project started on October 1st, 2023, and initially it was planned to end on 30th September 2024 but donors gave a no-cost extension to see that the program ends by December 31st 2024.

The activity is being implemented in Borno State, providing lifesaving assistance to vulnerable, conflict-affected households in communities within Borno State. The thematic areas of focus for the BHA program’s interventions include:

• Food assistance
• Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA)
• Economic Recovery and Market Systems
• Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)
• Nutrition
• Protection

The ongoing conflict in Borno continues to disrupt livelihoods and related activities, leaving many vulnerable households reliant on food aid from donor agencies. The program is addressing these humanitarian needs through the Integrated Lifesaving Assistance for Conflict-Affected Households in Mafa and Konduga, Nigeria, with Humanitarian Coordination and Localization in BAY States—a fifteen-month program funded by USAID/BHA.

Program Goal

The program aims to address lifesaving humanitarian needs and enhance the resilience of the most vulnerable internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities in Mafa and Konduga. This is achieved by increasing access to integrated, disability-inclusive, and gender-sensitive services, including food assistance (cash and vouchers), nutrition, livelihoods, WASH, and protection.

Key program activities include:

Food Assistance and Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA)

• Food Assistance: Unconditional food support is provided to vulnerable households in IPC Phase 3 and above, particularly focusing on internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps. During the lean season, food assistance was expanded to other affected households to prevent the use of severe negative coping mechanisms.
• Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA): Newly displaced households received MPCA to meet immediate needs. Households transitioning off food assistance was supported with a one-off MPCA to limit negative coping strategies.

Livelihoods Assistance:

• Conditional Cash Grants: Conditional cash grants were offered to households to restore or start income-generating activities (IGAs). Micro-enterprise training on management of IGAs is provided as a prerequisite for cash transfers.

Financial Services:

• Vulnerable individuals in the targeted communities were trained on how to establish and manage savings and loans groups. These groups were provided with the necessary tools and kits to ensure their optimal functioning.
• Each group was supported by a Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) agent, who mentors and guides the members in the initial stages, ensuring proper management and sustainability of the group.

Nutrition Services:

• The program provides services to prevent and treat acute malnutrition among children under five (CU5) and pregnant and lactating women (PLW) through community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) and Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition in Emergencies (MIYCN-E) programs. This intervention incorporates electronic value vouchers for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNA), Social Behavior Change (SBC) activities, micronutrient supplementation, and supported for SAM treatment.
• Nutrition services were integrated with other sectoral interventions, including WASH and protection, to ensure comprehensive care for vulnerable households.

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH):

• The program ensures safe access to drinking water by rehabilitating water points at health facilities, child-friendly spaces, and surrounding communities.
• The program provides latrine slab for household latrine construction and rehabilitated/constructed latrines at health facilities, child-friendly spaces.
• Hygiene promotion activities and the distribution of WASH non-food items (NFIs) has been prioritized, particularly for households at risk of waterborne diseases like cholera.

Protection Services:

• SC offers case management services for vulnerable children, particularly unaccompanied and separated children, as well as child-headed households. Psychosocial support (PSS) was provided through child-friendly spaces and mobile units. Community-based child protection programming that is aimed to reduce risks by strengthening local knowledge on protection issues and improving access to child protection information and services.
• Comprehensive gender-based violence (GBV) case management services, including cash assistance, was provided to survivors of GBV. SC also trained caseworkers on GBV case management and caring for child survivors, ensuring timely and effective responses.

3. Background and Context

According to Humanitarian Need Overview, (HNO) 2024, conflict-affected communities in Mafa and Konduga LGAs are facing rising levels of food insecurity, malnutrition, and inadequate WASH infrastructures, particularly at health facilities providing nutrition services. Child protection risks, including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), persist. The relocation of IDPs and recent arrivals from Boko Haram-held areas have heightened the demand for food, livelihood, nutrition, and protection services, straining government services and local resources.

The project aims to alleviate suffering, maintain dignity, and save lives among men, women, girls, boys under five years old, and pregnant and lactating women/girls (PLW/G) in Mafa and Konduga LGAs. The program intends enhance food security, livelihood, and nutritional status while improving coping strategies and creating a safer protective environment for crisis-affected children. With funding from the International Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance, SC and partners intend to deliver critical food, clean water, and necessary nutrition and protection services in Mafa and Konduga LGAs from October 2023 to December 2024.

Specific indicators to measure.

Indicator Number

Indicator

FS01

Percent of households with poor, borderline, and acceptable Food Consumption Score (FCS)

FS02

Mean and median Reduced Coping Strategies Index (rCSI) score

FS03

Percent of households with moderate or severe hunger (HHS)

F02

Percent of households where women reported participating in decisions on the use of food assistance

F03

Percent of food assistance decision-making entity members who are women

M02

Percent of (beneficiary) households who report being able to meet (all/most/half/some/none) their basic needs as they define and prioritize them

M03

Percent of beneficiaries reporting that humanitarian assistance is delivered in a safe, accessible, accountable, and participatory manner

M11

Percent of (beneficiary) households that report having minimum household items that allow all the following: comfortable sleeping, water and food storage, food preparation, cooking, eating, lighting, and clothing

M12

Percent of (beneficiary) households reporting that all household members have access to an adequate quantity of safe water for drinking, cooking, personal and domestic hygiene

M13

Percent of (beneficiary) households having access to a functioning handwashing facility with water and soap at home and essential hygiene items including menstrual hygiene products

P-Custom 01

% of children reporting an improvement in their sense of safety and wellbeing at the close of the project

P-Custom 02

Percentage of Children reporting improvement in their psychosocial wellbeing

P-Custom 03

% of individuals reporting decreased incidents of gender-based violence (GBV) in the targeted communities

N08

Percent of infants 0 – 5 months of age who are fed exclusively with breastmilk

N09

Percentage of children 6-23 months of age who received foods from 5 or more groups (MDD)

E02

Percent of beneficiaries reporting net income from their livelihood (New Livelihoods Development subsector)

E02

Percent of beneficiaries reporting net income from their livelihood (livelihoods restoration subsector)

E04

Percent of beneficiaries actively practicing in their new livelihoods

E11

Percent of financial service accounts/groups supported by BHA that are functioning properly

W08

Percent of beneficiary households with soap and water at a handwashing station on premises

W10

Percent of people targeted by the hygiene promotion program who know at least three (3) of the five (5) critical times to WASH hands.

W11

Percent of households targeted by the hygiene promotion program who store their water safely in clean containers.

W26

Percent of households reporting satisfaction with the content of the WASH Non-Food Items (NFI) kits received through direct distribution (i.e. Kits) or vouchers.

W28

Percent of households reporting satisfaction with the quality of the WASH NFIs received through direct distribution (i.e. kits), vouchers or cash.

W39

Percent of water user committees trained by the WASH program that are active at least three (3) months after training.

W40

Percent of water points developed, repaired, or rehabilitated that are clean and protected from contamination.

HC0-Custom-01

% of National INGO Forum (NIF ) members indicating that coordination among INGOs has improved as a result of NIF’s efforts.

HC-Custom-02

% of members indicating that they are more informed as a result of NIF’s information sharing efforts.

HP-Custom-01

% of NNGOs, increased knowledge and understanding and incorporated learnings in organization

4. Scope of Study

1. Purpose, Objectives and Scope

The purpose of this end-line assessment is to evaluate the outcome and effectiveness of Save the Children’s Integrated Lifesaving Assistance for Conflict-Affected HHs in Mafa and Konduga, Nigeria with Humanitarian Coordination and Localization in BAY States. The assessment aims to:

• Assess the program’s progress toward achieving its intended outcomes and objectives.
  • Examine the program’s contribution to household food security, child protection, WASH, and children nutrition status.
    • Assess the effectiveness of the program’s components, including food assistance, nutrition interventions, child protection, and WASH activities.
      • Generate endline data for a set of indicators outlined in the project M&E plan/ITT for comparison with the baseline data to measure program’s progress against the log frame indicator.
• Document lessons learned from project implementation.
• Provide recommendations for program improvement and future interventions.
• Explore unintended outcomes of project activities, or successes.

Type of Evaluation

Overarching objectives/questions

Implementation/
Process

• How well was the program/project implemented?
• Did the program/project reach its intended target populations?
• Did beneficiaries have a positive experience with the program?
• What mechanisms contributed to the achievement or non-achievement of the programme results? Which did not work and why?

Outcome

• Did the program achieve its intended outcomes?
• How relevant were the program’s objectives to the needs of the target population?
• To what extent were the program’s objectives achieved?
• To what extent are the program’s benefits likely to continue after the program ends?
• How and why did the intervention make a difference?

Scope of Work

This end-line assessment focuses on evaluating the overall impact and outcomes of the program implemented in Mafa and Konduga Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Borno State, covering interventions in Food Assistance, Economic Recovery and Market Systems (ERMS), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Nutrition, and Protection sectors. The evaluation will apply the OECD/DAC evaluation criteria to assess the program’s relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, and sustainability.

The study will be limited to beneficiaries and key stakeholders in Mafa and Konduga LGAs who directly participated in or were impacted by the program. The timeframe under evaluation includes the duration of the program, from its inception until the current assessment date. The study will cover all geographic locations in Mafa and Konduga LGAs where program interventions were implemented, including remote areas. Stakeholders involved in the study include local communities, government representatives, and sector-specific actors.

• Relevance: Assess the extent to which the program addresses the FSL, nutritional, WASH, and protection needs of conflict-affected girls, boys, men, and women. Evaluate the appropriateness of program strategies and interventions in the local context.
• Effectiveness: Assess the achievement of the program’s intended outcomes and objectives. Measure the effect of the program on CU5, PLW/G FSL nutritional status, WASH, and protection.
• Coherence: The extent to which the program is consistent with other development efforts in the region or country, and whether it is contributing to wider development goals.
• Sustainability: The extent to which the net benefits of the intervention continue or are likely to continue and be sustained. This simply asks and answers what difference does the intervention make.

Geographic Scope

The study will focus on all intervention sites within Mafa and Konduga LGAs, covering both central and remote communities. Sampling and budgeting will consider the distribution of these sites, ensuring representation of diverse geographic areas impacted by the program

In all sectors, respondents will be sampled from the respective communities, agencies/boards/parastatals. The target groups are all present by sector as follows-

1. Food Security and Livelihood: Household member who redeem their voucher on food assistance, newly displaced HHs who were supported with multipurpose cash assistance (MPCA) to meet their immediate needs and households who were supported with IGA
2. Child protection: Children (0-17yrs), Unaccompanied and separated children, adolescent girls and boys including heads of child-headed households, and/or their caregivers; women and men who have accessed case management (CM) and mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS), foster parents, Community-based Child Protection Committees (CPC), Caseworkers, Psychosocial Support (PSS) Animators, PSS facilitators, Case Management volunteers, officials of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (MWASD), and SCI staff.
3. Nutrition: Caregivers of children (0-59 months), beneficiaries of supplementary nutrition assistance (SNA), existing support group members, women and adolescents, and young girls including those who may be affected by childbearing, religious leaders, partner staff, government officials, and SCI staff.
4. WASH: Caregivers (M/F) with children U5, existing Water user committee, community leaders, children (B/G).

   1. Intended Audience and Use of the Study

The primary audience for this study includes key stakeholders who are expected to utilize the findings to assess the program’s impact and guide future decision-making. The audience and purpose of the study will also influence the methodology to ensure alignment with stakeholder needs, especially if proving the intervention’s effectiveness or scaling it up is a priority.

Stakeholder

Further Information

Project participants

Individuals from communities of implementation in Mafa and Konduga LGAs of Borno State, benefiting from sectors including Food Assistance, Economic Recovery and Markets Systems (ERMS), Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Nutrition, and Protection

Project donor

USAID

Primary implementing organization

Save the Children

Implementing partners

EYN, GreenCode

Government stakeholders

Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Primary Health Development Agency, RUWASS

Community leaders

Child Protection Committee, Community Committee

Beneficiaries

Children and adults involved in the program/project and the study

International development/humanitarian research community

Scholars and practitioners interested in development, humanitarian response, and impact evaluation

The Lead Consultant must develop strategies to engage these audiences during the evaluation. The findings from the assessment will be used to:

• Assess the program’s effectiveness.
• Inform stakeholders about the program’s successes and areas for improvement.
• Guide future programming and decision-making.

Additionally, results will be communicated effectively to ensure insights and recommendations are shared and utilized to improve ongoing and future interventions.

1. Key Study Questions

Criteria

Key Study Questions

Process

Outcome

Accountability

• How has the program/project approached accountability to children and the wider community?

X

X

Coherence*

• Is the intervention consistent with the interventions of other actors in the same context, such as supporting complementarity, harmonization, and co-ordination with government and other relevant service providers?

X

X

Effectiveness*

• Did the program/project achieve its intended outcomes?
• Are there any differences in outcomes achieved by different groups?
• Were there any unintended outcomes?
• Are the objectives of the program/project being achieved?
• How big is the effectiveness or impact of the project compared to the objectives planned?

X

Equity and equality

• Did/does the intervention have an impact on inequality or marginalization?
• Is there evidence that the intervention reduces inequality and marginalization for specific groups?
• What mechanisms / factors contributed to this result?

X

Inclusion

• How did the program/project consider inclusion of vulnerable groups in the design and its implementation of activities?

X

X

Process

• How can implementation of the program be improved in terms of coordination?
• Have MEAL activities been implemented as planned? Were they relevant and appropriate? How could they be improved?

X

X

Relevance*

• Are we doing the right thing? Does the intervention respond to clearly identified needs and priorities of the project participants? Was the intervention appropriately adapted to the local context and target population?
• How was learning and evidence was used throughout the program cycle to adapt and ensure the project remained relevant?
• How important is the relevance or significance of the intervention regarding local and national requirements and priorities?
• Are the activities and outputs of the programme consistent with the intended impacts and effects?

X

X

Satisfaction and experience

• How satisfied were the program/project beneficiaries?
• Did program beneficiaries feel the services they received were acceptable, appropriate, and suited to their needs?

X

X

Sustainability*

• Are the positive effects or impacts sustainable?
• How is the sustainability or permanence of the intervention and its effects to be assessed?

X

Gender sensitivity

• How has the program/project considered gender sensitivity both in the design and its implementation of activities?
• Has the program/project outcomes or results been equally represented?

X

X

*OECD DAC Criteria

5. Study Methodology

1. Study Design

The individual selected for this assignment will be expected to develop a detailed protocol/inception report for the assessment clearly stating the methodology (evaluation design, sampling procedures, sample size determination by area (Mafa and Konduga), and data collection methods with appropriate justifications for the selection of the methods being proposed). However, SC and her partners expect to see that the evaluation employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative and child centred data collection methods. The Lead Consultant is expected to provide a detail of how the sampling size is determined and the procedure of selection of each of the sampling unit.

1. Data Sources and Data Collection Methods / Tools

As applicable, the primary data collected during the evaluation must facilitate disaggregation by gender, disability, and age. SC and her partners will guide tools and classification schemes for the data collection. Save the Children will provide the project baseline data collection tools that can be drawn on in the evaluation. The consultancy team is responsible for devising a standardized tool for the endline assessment. As a child centered organization, it is recommended that child friendly approaches and tools are adopted when dealing with children. All data collection tools must be presented to SC and her partners for review before finalization and implementation.

SC will provide enumerators to assist with primary data collection. The consultancy team may have to source additional external data sources to add value to the assessment, such as government administrative data.

A range of project documentation will be available to the consultancy team providing information about the Program’s design, implementation, and operation. Documents include annual reports, an overview of project design, and other necessary documents. The Lead Consultant is expected to review related documents to establish key insights relevant to the project’s effective implementation.

The consultancy team is required to adhere to the Save the Children Safeguarding, Data Protection and Privacy, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse policies throughout all baseline activities. The Lead Consultant will be appreciated for using Participatory Tools and Techniques for data collection, which may include but not be limited to In-depth interviews, Key informant interviews, and Focus Group Discussions with beneficiaries, and community groups, among other stakeholders. Given the that the endline will involves children, it would be appreciated if child participatory approached are introduced by the consultancy team.

Existing Save the Children data sources and documents that can be drawn on in the assessment include:

• Proposal documents
• BHA annual reports
• Baseline Report
• Baseline tools
• IPTT showing detailed activities implemented.
• Other relevant documents.

  1. Ethical Considerations

Ethical approval must be obtained prior to the commencement of data collection. The ethical approval will be provided by the Save the Children Research, Ethics, and Evidence Generation Team, ensuring strict adherence to ethical standards. The Save the Children Borno state study team will be responsible for submitting the following to the Research Ethics and Evidence Generation team for approval:

• Study Protocols/Inception report: This will be prepared by the consultant, and it will provide detail evaluation methodology and study tools to answer the objectives,
• Special Considerations for Vulnerable Groups: Ethical measures for consulting with children and other vulnerable groups, ensuring their protection and minimizing any potential harm.
• Participant Information Statement and Consent Forms: These documents will ensure that participants are fully informed about the study’s purpose, their rights, and how their data will be used, ensuring informed and voluntary participation.

It is also expected that this evaluation will be:

• Child participatory: Any child participation, whether consultative, collaborative, or child-led, must abide by the 9 basic requirements for meaningful and ethical child participation. Refer to the Practice Standards in Children’s Participation (International Save the Children Alliance 2005).
• Inclusive: Ensure that adults and children from different ethnic, social, and religious backgrounds have the chance to participate, as well as children with disabilities and children who may be excluded or discriminated against in their community.
• Safeguarding – demonstrating the highest standards of behavior towards children and adults.
• Sensitive – to child rights, gender, inclusion, and cultural contexts.
• Openness – of information given, to the highest possible degree to all involved parties.
• Confidentiality and data protection – measures will be put in place to protect the identity of all participants and any other information that may put them or others at risk.
• Broad participation – the relevant parties should be involved where possible.
• Reliability and independence – the assessment should be conducted so that findings and conclusions are correct and trustworthy.

It is expected that:

• Data collection methods will be age and gender appropriate.
• Assessment activities will provide a safe, creative space where adult and children feel that their thoughts and ideas are important.
• A risk assessment will be conducted by SC team to identify any risks associated with the participation of children, young people and adults. This assessment is to be carried out and reviewed a day before data collection commences.
• A referral mechanism will be in place by the SC team, in case any child safeguarding or protection issues arise.
• Informed consent must be obtained from all participants throughout the study.
• The consultancy team will not be required to obtain approval from the Human Research Ethics Committee. Save the Children will work with the relevant agency and assist with this process.

Expected Deliverables

The time for this activity will be 40 days maximum. The Lead Consultant expressing interest shall propose detailed timelines for the different components of the activity that are reasonable and realistic. The contract will be valid from 1st November till 30th December 2024, this to provide a window for reviews and any unforeseen circumstances.

6. Expected Deliverables

The time for this activity will be 40 days as the successful consultant will be paid for 40 days only. The Lead Consultant expressing interest shall propose detailed timelines for the different components of the activity that are reasonable and realistic. The contract will be valid from 1st November to 30th December 2024, to provide a window for reviews and any unforeseen circumstances.

Deliverables and Tentative Days

Deliverable / Milestones

# Days

The Lead Consultant is contracted and commences work

1

The Lead Consultant will facilitate an Inception meeting with the relevant stakeholders at the commencement of the project to develop the inception report.

1

The Lead Consultant will submit an inception report* in line with the provided template, including:

• Study objectives, scope and key study questions.
• Study protocol containing a description of the methodology, including design, data collection methods, sampling strategy, data sources, and study matrix against the key study questions
• data analysis and reporting plan.
• caveats and limitations of study
• risks and mitigation plan
• ethical considerations including details on consent and assent.
• key deliverables, responsibilities, and timelines
• data collection tools include child participatory tools

4

Training of enumerators and Training of enumerators

• Training on data collection methodology
• Pilot test

4

Field data collection

• Field Data collection

14

A Study Report including the following elements:

• Executive summary
• Background description of the Program and context relevant to the Study
• Scope and focus of the study.
• Overview of the study methodology and data collection methods, including a Study matrix
• Findings aligned to each of the key Study questions.
• Specific caveats or methodological limitations of the study.
• Conclusions outlining implications of the findings or learnings.
• Recommendations
• Annexes (Project log frame, study ToR, Inception Report, Study schedule, List of people involved).
• A consolidated set of feedback from key stakeholders will be provided by Save The Children within 1 week of the submission of the draft report.
• Data and analyses including all encrypted raw data, databases, and analysis outputs

10

Final Study Report* incorporating feedback from consultation on the Draft Study Report

4

Knowledge translation materials:

• PowerPoint presentation of Study findings
• Evidence to Action Brief**

2

All reports are to use the Save the Children Final Study Report template.

All documents are to be produced in MS Word format and provided electronically by email to the SC Evaluation Project Manager. Copies of all PowerPoint presentations used to facilitate briefings for the project should also be provided to Save the Children in editable digital format.

7. Study Management

What

Who is responsible

Who else is involved

Study tender submissions due

Lead Consultant

SC Procurement team, Study Working Group

Tender review and selection of Lead Consultant

SC tender review panel

Study Working Group, Procurement team

Documentation review, desk research

Lead Consultant

Study Working Group

Consultation

Lead Consultant

Relevant stakeholders, Study Working Group, SC MEAL staff, staff

Inception report

Lead Consultant

Study Working Group

Review of inception report

SC Study Project Manager

Study Working Group, Project Manager, Technical advisor, Regional MEAL Advisor, Head of Research and Evaluation – Nigeria

Development of Data collection tools

Lead Consultant

Consultancy team, Regional MEAL advisor, SC enumerators

Ethics submission

SC Study Project Manager

SC Study Project Manager, Ethics committee (if applicable)

Logistical arrangements

Lead Consultant or SC Project Manager

SC Logistical support, SC Procurement team

Data collection

Lead Consultant or SC Study Project Manager

SC enumerators, Study Working Group, Regional MEAL Advisor

Data management and analysis (coding, transcriptions, data cleaning, integration and analysis)

Lead Consultant

SC MEAL staff, Data analysts

First draft of the Final study report

Lead Consultant

Study Working Group

Review of first draft report

SC Study Project Manager

Study Working Group, SC Project Manager, SC Technical advisor, SC MEAL Managers, Head of Research and Evaluation

Meeting with consultancy team and evaluation team to finalize the report

SC Study Project Manager

Study Working Group, Consultancy team

Validation of study findings and recommendations

SC Study Project Manager

SC MEAL staff

Final study report and submission of data and analyses

Lead Consultant

Study Working Group, SC Data Analysts

Knowledge translation materials

Lead Consultant

SC Communications team, Study Working Group

Project team meeting to develop Study Response Plan

SC Study Project Manager

Technical advisor, Study Working Group

Study final report (together with response plan) posted on OneNet and reviewed

SC Study Project Manager

SC Peer reviewers, Study Working Group

8. Study Team and Selection Criteria

SC will apply first the Essential criteria and then the Capability criteria. The essential criteria will be evaluated using a simple Yes/No scoring method. A Yes will be awarded if the Lead Consultant provides evidence of the requirement. Only Lead Consultants that score ALL Yes under the essential criteria assessment will progress to the capability assessment stage.

Experience and skill set required.

Lead Consultants that respond to the tender must meet the criteria outlined below.

Lead Consultants that respond to the tender must meet the criteria outlined below.

Essential Criteria

Yes/No

Agrees to comply with Save the Children standard policies and procedures as stated in the RFQ or Invitation to Tender (ITT) document

A ‘no’ in either of these boxes will result in immediate disqualification.

Brief description with evidence (attached copies) of up to 2 copies of the most recent relevant services provided to other actors (either INGOs, International Organizations, or donors), including the year of service and an official email address to contact as a reference

Master’s degree in a developmental-related course (Social sciences)

Capability Criteria

Max. 100

Evidence of the consultant`s experience (as per past performance reports, case studies, or client references) with a minimum of five (5) years’ experience in designing and conducting high-quality assessments, including baseline, mid-term, end-line studies, and final evaluations across one or more of the following thematic areas:

• Child protection,
• Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH),
• Health and Nutrition,
• Food Security and Livelihoods,
• Child Rights Governance.

Evidence of experience working in development and/or humanitarian settings.

Means of Verification

• Past project portfolios or case studies demonstrating the consultant`s experience in development or humanitarian contexts.
• Contract documents or completion certificates for similar projects.
• Reference letters from clients in the development or humanitarian sectors

Evidence of strong training and experience in quantitative and qualitative data collection methods and analysis

Evidence of knowledge and experience with a range of statistical and qualitative data managing software and approaches (such as SPSS, EPI Info, Stata, NVivo, Atlasti, KOBO Toolbox, ONA, CommCare, ODK or other similar software)

Evidence proves strong command of the English language, both written and verbal with strong report writing and documentation skills

Evidence of specific expertise in one of the following (depending on the pieces for which has been applied):

• Baselines, mid-lines, and end-line surveys – BHA-funded project is preferred
• Mid-term and final evaluations BHA funded project is preferred
• Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices surveys
• Anthropometric (SMART) surveys
• Markets/Livelihoods assessments
• Labor market assessments
• Gender assessments
• Child participatory assessments or research
• Conflict sensitivity assessments
• IYCF Barrier Analysis

Provide a brief description (200 words or less) of steps the consultant will take to ensure the quality of the services you would provide is of consistently high standards.

Provided brief description (200 words or less) of experience in inclusive and ethical child participatory methods of data collection.

SUSTAINABILITY EVALUATION (10 Marks)

The bidder demonstrates experience and understanding of local context and community.

Bidder demonstrates a strong understanding of local context and community
Bidder demonstrates a satisfactory understanding of the local context and community
Bidder doesn’t provide confidence that they have an adequate understanding of local context and community

During the interview, the consultant demonstrates in-depth knowledge of assessments, studies, and evaluations, in terms of their design and implementation, which will be assessed and scored by a panel of experts

FINANCIAL EVALUATION

• 0 to 5% (Above / Below) SCI Cost Estimate
• 6 to 10% (Above / Below) SCI Cost Estimate
• 11 to 15% (Above) SCI Cost Estimate
• Above 16% of SCI Cost Estimate

Understanding of Requirements and Experience

To be considered, the study team members together must have demonstrated skills, expertise and experience in:

• Designing and conducting Baselines, mid-lines, and end-line surveys evaluations.
• Leading socio-economic research, evaluations or consultancy work in Nigeria that is sensitive to the local context and culture, particularly: child rights, gender equality, and vulnerable groups.
• Conducting ethical and inclusive studies involving child and children’s participatory techniques.
• Conducting ethical and inclusive studies involving marginalised, deprived and/or vulnerable groups in culturally appropriate and sensitive ways
• Managing and coordinating a range of government, non-government, community groups and academic stakeholders.
• Experience conducting study in humanitarian contexts.
• Sound and proven experience in conducting evaluations based on OECD-DAC evaluation criteria, particularly utilisation and learning focused evaluations
• Extensive experience of theories of change and how they can be used to carry out evaluations.
• Strong written and verbal skills in communicating technical and/ or complex findings to non-specialist audiences (especially report writing and presentation skills)
• A track record of open, collaborative working with clients.

There is a high expectation that:

• Members (or a proportion) of the study team have a track record of previously working together.
• A team leader will be appointed who has the seniority and experience in leading complex study projects, and who has the ability and standing to lead a team toward a common goal.
• The team has the ability to commit to the terms of the project and have adequate and available skilled resources to dedicate to this study over the period.
• The team has a strong track record of working flexibly to accommodate changes as the project is implemented.

Financial Proposal

Save the Children seeks value for money in its work. This does not necessarily mean “lowest cost”, but quality of the service and reasonableness of the proposed costs. Proposals shall include personnel allocation (role / number of days / daily rates / taxes), as well as any other applicable costs.

9. Schedule of Payment

Payment to the selected consulting firm shall be made following the normal procedures of Save the Children. However, consultancy fees will be paid upon a satisfactory report of performance.

The payment schedule will be as follows:

• Upon approval of inception report and tools: [30%]
• Upon approval of the final study report: [70%]
• SC will deduct 5% WHT from the agreed total evaluation cost for individual consultants.

How to apply

How to Apply

Complete applications should be submitted electronically through.

Email ID: [email protected]

RFP: RFP_PR533842_BHA MAFA_KONDUGA ENDLINE SURVEY

DEADLINE: 31ST OCTOBER 2024

Note:

Applications submitted through any other means will not be considered