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Baseline Study Consultancy
Breaking Barriers: Building Feminist Solidarity and Economic Opportunities for Women in West Nile, Uganda (Phase III: 2026–2028)
About the Assignment
The Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA Network) seeks a qualified and experienced locally based consultant or consultancy team in West Nile to conduct a baseline study for the Breaking Barriers project (Phase III: 2026–2028).
This is a high-impact assignment designed to generate robust, context-specific evidence that will shape programming, influence strategy, and strengthen accountability for advancing women’s economic empowerment and feminist solidarity in West Nile.
Background
The Breaking Barriers project aims to strengthen feminist solidarity, expand women’s economic opportunities, and address structural barriers that limit women’s participation in economic and public life across Arua City and Arua District, with a focus on young women and marginalized groups.
The baseline study will be conducted at project inception to:
Establish benchmarks for key indicators
Inform adaptive program implementation
Provide a reference point for measuring impact
The study will examine:
Women’s socio-economic status (income, livelihoods, assets, savings, resilience)
Access to finance, markets, skills, and social protection
Functionality and strength of women-led groups and feminist networks
Structural barriers such as gender norms, unpaid care work, and gender-based violence
Responsiveness of local institutions, markets, and financial actors
Theory of Change
The project is grounded in the principle that:
Strengthened feminist solidarity combined with improved access to economic opportunities enables women to increase their income, agency, and leadership.
The baseline will test key assumptions by generating evidence on:
Women’s current economic realities
Strength and cohesion of feminist networks
Institutional responsiveness and policy environment
Findings will be used to validate and refine implementation pathways.
Objectives of the Baseline Study
The consultancy aims to:
Establish socio-economic benchmarks for at least 70% of target women (disaggregated by sex, age, and location) within the first month of project implementation
Assess stakeholder perceptions on women’s participation in non-traditional economic sectors
Evaluate the capacity and functionality of at least 80% of feminist solidarity networks
Identify key structural and institutional barriers through:
Surveys
At least 4 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs)
At least 10 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs)
Scope of Work & Methodology
The consultant will design and implement a rigorous mixed-methods study grounded in feminist and participatory research principles.
Approach
Women and community members will be engaged as active contributors and knowledge holders
Emphasis on inclusion, ethics, and contextual sensitivity
Data Collection Methods
Quantitative Survey
Multi-stage sampling across rural and urban settings
Indicators: income, assets, savings, credit access, leadership, decision-making
Disaggregation: age, disability, location
Stakeholder Perception Survey
Attitudes toward women in non-traditional economic roles
Qualitative Methods
4 FGDs (young women, market groups, community members)
10 KIIs (government, private sector, CSOs, cultural leaders)
In-depth interviews on lived experiences
Organizational Capacity Assessment
Governance, advocacy, financial systems, sustainability of women-led groups
Quality Assurance
Tool pre-testing
Enumerator training (ethics, safeguarding, consent)
Data triangulation
Analysis
Quantitative: statistical analysis
Qualitative: thematic analysis
Deliverables
The consultant will deliver:
Inception Report (within 2 weeks)
Methodology, tools, sampling, work plan
Draft Baseline Report
Preliminary findings and analysis
Presented in a 2–3 day validation workshop
Final Baseline Report
Refined findings, conclusions, and actionable recommendations
Presentation Deck (PowerPoint)
Clear summary for stakeholders
Required Qualifications
SIHA is particularly interested in consultants based in West Nile with strong contextual understanding.
Essential
Proven experience conducting baseline studies or evaluations
Strong expertise in gender, women’s rights, or feminist programming
Demonstrated skills in mixed-methods research
Excellent analytical and report writing skills
Ability to engage diverse stakeholders
Desirable
Deep understanding of West Nile socio-cultural and economic context
Experience working with women-led groups or grassroots movements
Knowledge of local languages (e.g., Swahili or Lugbara)
How to apply
Interested candidates should submit the material below via the link https://airtable.com/appH0FdsE4k8EHmeF/shrmVtsw5pf6WOfJx
Technical Proposal (max. 5 pages): methodology, approach, and work plan
Financial Proposal (detailed budget)
CV(s) of consultant(s)
Samples of previous relevant work
Deadline: 27 March 2026
SIHA strongly encourages applications from qualified consultants based in West Nile, particularly women and feminist researchers with demonstrated commitment to advancing gender equality.