TERMS OF REFERENCE

1.     Context And Rationale

About SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia

SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia is an International Non-governmental organization and a member of the SOS Children’s Villages International Federation. The organization started its humanitarian work in Ethiopia with the opening of its first Village in Mekelle, the Northern part of Ethiopia in 1974. Since then, it has expanded its programmes to different regions including Amhara, Oromia, Somali, Harari, Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, and South-Central Ethiopia regions and Addis Ababa. Currently the organization is planning to establish new programme location or sub office in Dessie town. Through its unique family-based care model, the organization has provided a nurturing environment where children can flourish, grow, and realize their full potential. The programme also works with different youth empowerment initiatives, supporting young people to help them become productive and independent members of society. The family and community development programme has enabled many families in the communities to become sustainable and provide the necessary care for their children. Furthermore, SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia also provides humanitarian assistance interventions in cases of natural and human-made disasters, when the livelihoods of families and communities are disrupted. SOS CVE collaborates and partners with like-minded organizations, community structures, government entities, and relevant all in advocating for the fulfilment of the rights and needs of vulnerable children, young people and families.

Description of programme location and context

SOSCVE Addis Ababa program location was established in the year 1981 G.C and is mainly working on an alternative care program supporting children to grow up in alternative families in established villages by providing comprehensive care and essential services for their holistic development. Furthermore, SOSCVE Addis Ababa Program manages and implements various facilities and programs, including Alternative Care (AC), the Family and Community Strengthening Program (FCSP), youth empowerment and Employability, a kindergarten, and high School (which includes both primary and secondary schools). The AC, FCSP and Youth initiative and humanitarian programs are the organization's core interventions, providing comprehensive care and support to children who are without adequate parental care and affected by crisis. Addis Ababa programme location is currently actively operating in Addis Ababa city Administration, and Adama City Administration in Oromia region.

2.     Rationale of the project

SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia is implementing Sustainable Training for Employment Promotion (STEP) project that has been implemented in Addis Ababa, and Adama from May 2024 to April 30, 2026, and Non-Cost Extension (NCE) to June 30, 2026 (two months).

The project presented here is closely linked to youth employment in the Plan for Accelerated and Sustained Development to End Poverty (PASDEP), Ethiopia's 10-year development plan (2005/6 to 2009/10), the national youth policy, the action plan for job creation (PAJC), the national strategy for the development of a climate-resilient green economy, the education policy and the strategies for the development of industry and MSMEs.

Furthermore, the planned activities tie in with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular with SDG 5 (gender equality), SDG 8 ("decent work and economic growth") and SDG 10 ("reduced inequalities"), as the project aims to support young people, the majority of whom are women, to take up productive employment or self-employment, which should contribute to the country's economic growth.

According to the FDRE CSA urban unemployment survey, the unemployment rate in Adama was 24.9% in 2020. Young people make up 43% of the total population, of which 18% are unemployed according to the city administration's Agency for Enterprise and Industrial Development (2020). Similarly, the unemployment rate in Addis Ababa is 19.3% according to the 2020 Urban Employment and Unemployment Survey (UEUS). For young people, the 2021 rate is 22.1% in Addis Ababa.

The increase in unemployment is due to internal migration from neighboring cities. There are several factors that explain the migration trends to Adama. The main push factors include environmental degradation, low agricultural productivity, inadequate social services, demographic pressure, land scarcity, lack of rainfall, recurrent droughts and conflict. Pull factors include public services, security and employment opportunities.

The gig economy is growing in both cities, as it functions primarily in the cities. Various platforms have been founded. At the same time, university graduates often lack knowledge of the platforms, the digital infrastructure or entry opportunities.

The 2020 Urban Unemployment and Employment Survey shows that the unemployment rate for young people in urban areas is 25.7%, with an even higher rate for young females (31.7%). Most young people in employment are in the self-employed category (34% of the 15-29 age group). This is followed by private companies (26.8 % for the 15-24 age group and 25 % for the 15-29 age group), and in third place are domestic workers.

Although the young population is an asset, it faces multiple socio-economic challenges. These include unemployment and underemployment, health problems, including inadequate access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, the spread of HIV/AIDS, substance abuse (especially khat, tobacco, alcohol and other drugs) and persistent gender inequalities.

 3.     Objective of the Study

Overall objective

STEP project is at its final stage, looking to document key lessons/learning to be scaled up, good practices to be replicated, success stories to be shared and documentary video to witness the project achievements. As such, SOS Children’s Villages seeks well-organized and sound independent consultants to produce  20 minute long documentary highlighting project milestones, achievements and impact and a magazine covering project and strategic pillars. This necessitates well organized and sound independent consultants having practical expertise in facilitating the entire process or cycle of lesson learning, identifying tailored good practices applicable for youth empowerment context, developing human touching stories, and producing quality audio visual documentaries and developing three-year impact stories. Moreover, the external consultant will capture lessons/learned, good practices, success stories and documentary video witnessing.

The overall objective of the Best Practice and documentation study is to document good practices, lessons and experience of STEP Project from the target area of Adama city and Addis Ababa City Administration.

Specific objectives

1. Document best practices, lessons learned, case stories, and high-quality videos and photos that highlight the STEP project’s impact, success, challenges, and contributions to youth employability, income sources and decent work environment, and improved wellbeing.

• Demonstrate the project's results and contributions toward improving labor ecosystem, skills and knowledge acquired in short term training, internship, life & employability and accessibility of finance (loan access) and local governance, utilizing case stories, audiovisual documentaries, lessons learned, and best practices.
• Publish practical evidence and documents including lessons learned, best practices, case studies, and audiovisual materials that showcase the benefits, impacts, and challenges of project interventions.

Project Outcomes and Outputs

The goal or impact of the project is Strengthening youth employment under decent conditions in Addis Ababa and Adama city.

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

Project objectives/Outcome 1: 4500 young people utilize improved professional and/or entrepreneurial skills and established structures to earn a decent income.

• Sub goals/output 1: 2000 unemployed young people have acquired vocational qualifications.
• Sub goals/output 2: 800 unemployed young people have gained work experience.
• Sub goals/output 3:1,500 young entrepreneurs improve their capacities in the areas of demand-orientated services and business development.
• Sub goals/output 4: The state systems and structures for promoting the employment of young people have been strengthened.

4.     Scope of the Study

Sustainable Training for Empowerment and Promotion (STEP) project has been started since May 1, 2024, and will be completed on June 31, 2026. Geographically, the best practice and documentation study is limited to Adama City in Oromia region and Addis Ababa City Administration.

By pooling expertise and resources, the project will amplify its impact and outcomes, ensuring a synergistic, effective and efficient deliverable for youth people in target area.

5.     Methodology

Proposed Methodology is:

• Document Review: The consulting firm should refer to project proposals, reports, assessment report, case stores, PDM assessment, and other essential documents so that the consultant will understand the nature of STEP project, partnership dynamics, sector composition, project achievements and success factors. These documents will be shared with the consulting firms upon signing the agreement and data protection policy. 
• Interview with project participants: The project participants engaged in different activities will be interviewed with interview guides prepared as per various deliverables. The consultant should design interview guide, test the question and translate it into the local language. The participants for the interview session will be voluntarily.
• Interview with government stakeholders: The government stakeholders who are supporting the implementation of the STEP project will be selected based on their level of engagement, participation, understanding level of the project implementation, contribution they made to the STEP project achievements. The consulting firm should prepare guiding questions tailored to each of the stakeholders, engagement, participation and contribution.
• Interview with staff of the STEP Partners and members: The STEP partners and members staff will be selected for the interview based on their implementing sectors, their roles in STEP project, and experience with the STEP project. The consulting firm should prepare guiding questions tailored to each partner and members staff’ roles, implementing sectors and years of experience in implementing the STEP project.
• Observation: The consulting firm should first understand the context in the targeted location, target communities, and target participants. The targeted youth participants were from age 15 to 34 who participated in short term training, internship, gig works, Micro and Small Business enterprises that have been impacted because of the STEP Project intervention is essential to document learnings, goods practices and producing documentary videos.
• Document picture and record sound: Pictures witnessing the STEP project achievements and success will be taken from the interviewees where the STEP project implemented. The participants interview will be recorded to prepare documentary video indicating the STEP contribution and achievements. The consent will be received from each of the participants before any act of recording and taking pictures.

Proposed Standards of the Assignment:

In compliance with the partners’ communications & branding policy, the following standards are expected to be fulfilled:

• Aspect ratio should be 16:9 whereas exceptions could be tolerable in case-by-case situations based on the type of archive data to be inserted and/or based on the compatibility needs of the website/social media through which the good practice will be shared.
• Video quality (documentary video) 
• Video resolution produced should be recorded at a minimum of and exported at 1920x1080 HD quality
• No footage should be below 720p other than archival data
• The framerate of the video should be compatible with the current social media needs (24fps is recommendable)
• When possible, all video footage should be at the best bitrate. This will allow with better color and video quality
• It is part of documentary video production
• Audio quality (Documentary video)
• Avoid any background sound including Mic frequency

In case of sound effects, use clean and professional low bass sounds (consult SOS-CVE communication department)

It is part of documentary video production

Magazine quality (Good practice and Lesson learned)

• The magazine consists of various good practices, success stories and pictures.
• High-quality JPEG images with 3000pxl are recommended on the longest side resolution.
• Use the default RGB color space for color images and use whatever the default color space is for grayscale images.
• For case/success stories, try to take pictures of live moments (actions) of project participants.
• Use art paper to print the booklet 100gram with cover page of 250gram coated or hard back cover.
• The printing of the booklet shall be only with digital print with layout design and illustrations.
• Brand alignment with the SOS Children’s Villages brand should be added to the magazine requirements

Other technical specs to export

• Container: MP4 or MOV
• Audio code: AAC-LC
• Sample rate: 48khz
• Video Code: H.264

5.2. 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, Objectives and subgoals of the STEP Project.

The consultant should produce appropriate sampling methods from each subgoals and project locations and ensure representativeness of the sampled youth participants respondents, and the sampling frame.

Work Plan and Expected Deliverables

6.1. Work plan

The Best Practice and documentation study task is expected to be finalized within 45 days after the contract is signed.

The consultant is expected to develop her/his detailed work plan based on the following table.

6.2  Responsibility and Responsibility

a)     SOS Children’s Villages

• Will select the locations and facilitate all the personal contacts including interviewees and government officials and implementing project team to brief on the project approach.
• Will give general orientation and resource documents so that the consulting firm will have better understanding of the context STEP project implemented, the target people reached and the result achieved.
• Final acceptance of the good practices’ documentary video, lesson learned and case stories against the standard quality agreed by the terms of the agreement

a)     Role of the consultant:

• Will prepare detail work plan and submit it for discussions and joint agreement. This should include a written description of the methodology, costs of the production (professional fee, expenses for shooting/new footages, studio facilities, production cost and other related costs) as well as the list and profiles of the most important members of the production team (including the script writer, the narrator and director). The consultant shall also prepare and submit a detailed timetable of activities.
• Will thoroughly review all documents given by the SOS Children’s Villages and its partners for this assignment.
• Will prepare the script, present face to face presentation on how to implement the script and get approval from SOS Children’s Villages.
• Shall use the feedback given by SOS CVE technical team to further improve the quality of the work. Following the comments, the company shall polish and prepare the final work accommodating the feedback.
• Shall deliver the final documentary video in soft copy (compatible to social media, USB, CD/DVD, FTP, Dropbox and emailing) while that case stories and good practices will be shared with us in hard copy and soft copy as per the quality standards mentioned above.
• Displays the best resolution SOS Children’s Villages logo and SOS CVW logo & branding in all sessions of the production.
• Abide by the SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia and partners child and youth safeguarding policy and branding.
• The consultants should use their own HD quality video camera and professional editing software for recording and editing.

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

 Report criteria:

The reporting criteria for STEP project best practice study shall be in line with the SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia result based management (RBM) toolkit and should be shared with the winner consultant along with the data review process and/or for the preparation of the inception report.

6.3.  Deliverables

The commissioned external consultant must deliver the best practice & documentation study reports within 45 days of the contract signing. Based on the work plan, SOS Children’s Villages of Addis Ababa programme location Program team, the national office MEAL team and Youth empowerment portfolio teams expect the following deliverables:

1.  An inception report of 8 pages on the best practice and documentation study design, methodology, sampling frame, sampling technique, sample size, assessment tools and work plan.

• Draft best practice and documentation study report that have the following components.
• A master copy of the 20 minutes video for knowledge management but 5-7 minutes video for sharing with stakeholders the standards mentioned in this ToR from Adama City and Addis Ababa City Administration of project sites.
• The narration text or the full script used for the production with still pictures extracted from the footage
• Three 2-min cut down versions for social media promotion.
• A copy of the video in the formats explained in the TOR
• Versions provided should be compatible for internet and TV screening (compatible with social media, USB, CD/DVD, FTP, Dropbox and emailing)
• 25-both sides page digital printed Magazine having the contents of cases stories, good practice and lessons learned with 100 copies.
• Final Best Practice and Documentation Study Report - The findings of best practice and documentation study report including an executive summary and refined final reports that are listed in the above draft components.
• Raw data, 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.

1.Background and Programme Context

1.1 About SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia

SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia is an International Non-governmental organization and a member of the SOS Children’s Villages International Federation. The organization started its humanitarian work in Ethiopia with the opening of its first Village in Mekelle, the Northern part of Ethiopia in 1974. Since then, it has expanded its programmes to different regions including Amhara, Oromia, Somali, Harari, Sidama, Southern Ethiopia, and South-Central Ethiopia regions. Through its unique family-based care model, the organization has provided a nurturing environment where children can flourish, grow, and realize their full potential. The programme also works with different youth empowerment initiatives, supporting young people to help them become productive and independent members of society. The family and community development programme has enabled many families in the communities to become sustainable and provide the necessary care for their children. Furthermore, SOS Children’s Villages in Ethiopia also provides humanitarian assistance interventions in cases of natural and human-made disasters, when the livelihoods of families and communities are disrupted. SOS CVE collaborates and partners with like-minded organizations, community structures, government entities, and relevant all in advocating for the fulfilment of the rights and needs of vulnerable children, young people and families. 

SOS CV Ethiopia engages with a variety of community-managed organizations and local government authorities. It supports them in providing an enabling environment for the most vulnerable communities and families to access vital social services and protection whether in peaceful times or crises, to ensure care and protection for all children and youth living in their community

1.2 Description of the Project

The Rise & Help Project is a one-year initiative designed to empower young and marginalized change-makers by enabling them to engage in voluntary civic action without the burden of financial insecurity or dependence on family support or alternative income sources. The project was implemented to strengthen youth participation in civic and community development initiatives while promoting volunteerism, leadership, personal growth, and social responsibility.

The project directly supported 20 volunteers based in Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar, operating under both full-time and part-time volunteer modalities. Through financial and non-financial support mechanisms, capacity building, mentoring, and practical engagement opportunities, the project aimed to create an enabling environment for volunteers to contribute meaningfully to community development and social impact initiatives.

As the project reaches its completion, a terminal evaluation will be undertaken to assess its overall performance, achievements, effectiveness, impact, sustainability, and lessons learned. The evaluation findings will inform future youth engagement and volunteerism programming and provide accountability to stakeholders.

2. Rationale and Overall Purpose of Terminal Evaluation

The overall purpose of the terminal evaluation is to assess the extent to which the Rise & Help Project achieved its intended objectives and contributed to empowering young volunteers and marginalized changemakers.

Specifically, the evaluation will:

• Assess the relevance of the project's design and interventions.
• Measure the achievement of planned outputs and outcomes.
• Examine the effectiveness and efficiency of project implementation.
• Assess the project's contribution to volunteer empowerment and civic engagement.
• Determine the sustainability of outcomes beyond the project period.
• Identify key lessons learned, challenges, and best practices.
• Generate recommendations for future volunteer and youth empowerment initiatives.

3. Objectives of the Terminal Evaluation

The evaluation objectives should incorporate clear flow, avoid overlap, and align better with standard terminal evaluation criteria (relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability, learning, and cross-cutting themes)

3.1 Overall Objectives

The evaluation will assess whether the project achieved its intended objectives and outcomes at the same time, examine the performance, results, sustainability, and contribution to volunteer development, while documenting lessons learned, best practices, and recommendations to inform future programming and organizational learning.

3.2 Specific Objectives are:

The specific objectives of the Terminal Evaluation are:

1.Assess the relevance of the project in addressing the needs and challenges faced by young and marginalized volunteers.

2.Determine the extent to which the project achieved its intended outputs and outcomes.

3. Evaluate the effectiveness of financial and non-financial support provided to volunteers.

4.Assess the quality and effectiveness of project management, coordination, and implementation arrangements.

5.Examine the project's impact on volunteers' skills, confidence, leadership, civic participation, and employability.

6.Evaluate the sustainability of project achievements and benefits.

7. Document lessons learned and recommendations for future interventions.

3.3 Project Goal, Outcomes and Outputs

3.3.1. Project Goal:

3.3.1.1. Long term objective

Youth from disadvantaged backgrounds engage for a chosen global challenge thereby developing critical thinking, leadership, and organizational skills that can contribute to their societies and shape their future roles in society.

3.3.1.2. Short term objective 

provides young people with the opportunity to actively contribute to and drive positive change on issues that matter most to them in their local communities.

3.3.2 Project Outcomes & Outputs:

Outcomes:

1: Enhancement of access for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to engage in a civic activity of their choice, enabling them to contribute to their communities and shape their future roles.

2: Development and strengthening of participant's international and regional networks, fostering global and regional solidarity and cooperation.

3: Positive contribution by participants' civic engagement to their local communities through the civic activity of their choice.

4: Development of participants' new skills, including technical, vocational, and soft skills, influential for determining participants' future roles in society be it further education or employment.

3.4 Major evaluation /research questions

The commissioned consultant should list relevant and possible evaluation questions by referring to the project document and the project result framework and show the terminal evaluation questions during the inception report presentation.

4. Scope of the Terminal Evaluation and Project Targets

4.1. Geographic Scope

The terminal evaluation will be limited to the project participants who are 19 young adults. The project was being implemented in Addis Ababa and Bahirdar where 14 of them are from Addis Ababa and 5 are from Bahir Dar. The subcities where the Volunteers from Addis Ababa work at are Kirkos, Lideta, Kolfe Keranyo and Arada Sub Cities and the volunteers from Bahirdar worked at in Atse Tewodros, Gish Abay, Fasil and Tana Sub Cities.

4.2 Target Groups and Project Participants

The primary target groups are 19 young who were deployed across education, health, and social development institutions and the 12 Organizations who hosted these volunteers for one year.   

Table 1. Programme participants/project beneficiaries.

 5.  Terminal Evaluation Methodology

The consultant(s) must develop a strong data collection methodology for this terminal evaluation, ensuring the data's reliability and validity. A mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative and qualitative research methods, is recommended to produce the highest quality and most credible evidence. This study will collect data, disaggregated by sex, age, and disability, for the indicators listed in the result framework (the RF will be annexed for the winner consultant). The chosen methodology must be sensitive to the local context and ensure that all respondents, regardless of their background, have an equal opportunity to participate in the baseline study. The terminal evaluation environment should be designed to provide safe and inclusive spaces that encourage all participants to respond freely, irrespective of gender, age, disability, origin, or religious beliefs. As far as possible, the consultant should disaggregate data by sex, age, and disability while collecting and analysing data. Furthermore, the consultant should also clearly explain which questions will be answered using which methods. 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 and their host communities/organizations are representative of the project’s target groups and key stakeholders.

5.1 Sampling

The consultant is required to propose statistically sound sampling strategies to ensure representativeness. He/she is required to clearly state the sample size and the acceptable margin of error. The consultant will develop a detailed data analysis plan, outlining the statistical methods to be used for the quantitative data and the thematic analysis approach for the qualitative data. All data collection activities should be conducted following the highest ethical standards, ensuring informed consent, confidentiality, and the safety of all participants.

6. Work plan and Deliverables

6.1 Work Plan and Timetable

The terminal evaluation task is expected to be finalized within 30 days after the contractual agreement is signed. The consultant is expected to develop her/his detailed work plan based on the following table.

6.2 Deliverables

The commissioned external consultant must deliver the evaluation findings within 30 days of the contract signed. Based on the work plan, SOS Children’s Villages of project intervention programme locations expect the following deliverables:

• An inception report of 8 pages on the evaluation design, methodology, sampling frame, sampling technique, sample size, assessment tools and work plan
• Draft evaluation report.
• The consultant is expected to analyse the data and present findings (for both draft and final findings) in the intervention areas (Addis Ababa & Bahirdar sites).
• Final report - The findings of the evaluation 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 Ethiopia.

6.3. Report criteria

The reporting criteria of the terminal evaluation shall be in line with the SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia Result Based Project Management (RBPM) toolkit and should be shared with the winner consultant along with the data review process and/or for the preparation of the inception report.

CALL FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICES

Shared Space, Shared Futures (3SF): Advancing Social Cohesion and Civic Participation in Post-Conflict Ethiopia

Chura Abugida Kene–Tibebawi Mahiber (CAKTM), on behalf of the Shared Space, Shared Futures (3SF) project consortium, invites qualified individual consultants, teams of consultants and consulting firms to submit competitive technical and financial proposals for the assignment described below.

1. Background

CAKTM, in partnership with consortium partners, is implementing the Shared Space, Shared Futures (3SF) project to promote social cohesion, peaceful coexistence and inclusive civic participation in conflict-affected communities across Tigray, Amhara, Afar and Somali regions of Ethiopia.

The project seeks to strengthen constructive relationships among communities and relevant stakeholders, support locally grounded peacebuilding practices and expand meaningful civic participation, particularly for women, young people, persons with disabilities and other groups that may face barriers to participation.

To establish an evidence base for implementation, monitoring, learning and advocacy, CAKTM seeks an independent consultant or consulting team to conduct a Baseline Assessment and Local Peace and Civic Space Practices Study in eight selected bordering woredas. The assignment is expected to generate credible, context-sensitive findings and practical recommendations.

2. Purpose and Objectives

The overall purpose is to establish baseline benchmarks for relevant 3SF project indicators and generate an evidence-based analysis of local peacebuilding practices, social cohesion, civic participation and civic-space conditions in the project intervention areas.

• Establish baseline values for relevant project indicators, with appropriate disaggregation by sex, age, disability and geographical location, where feasible and ethically appropriate.
• Analyze local conflict dynamics, community relationships, peacebuilding mechanisms, civic participation and citizen authority engagement.
• Document local peace practices, shared histories, cultural ties and social and economic linkages that may contribute to peaceful coexistence.
• Identify opportunities, barriers and risks affecting civic participation and the meaningful inclusion of women, youth, persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups.
• Assess relevant civic-space conditions, including opportunities and constraints affecting association, expression, participation and engagement, using a context-sensitive and non-partisan approach.
• Provide actionable recommendations to strengthen project implementation, peacebuilding, social cohesion, civic engagement, monitoring and advocacy.

3. Scope of Work and Geographical Coverage

The assignment will cover eight selected bordering woredas across Tigray, Amhara, Afar and Somali regions. CAKTM will communicate the selected woreda list and relevant project documentation to the successful consultant during inception, subject to applicable security and access considerations.

• Review project documents, indicator definitions, policies, strategies, previous assessments and credible secondary sources.
• Develop a stakeholder map covering community structures, civil society actors, local institutions, women’s and youth groups, persons with disabilities and other relevant stakeholders.
• Refine research questions, sampling, tools and analysis in consultation with CAKTM and consortium partners.
• Conduct field-based data collection in the eight selected woredas, subject to safe and approved access.
• Analyze findings across locations and stakeholder groups, identifying common patterns and contextual differences.
• Present preliminary findings for validation and incorporate evidence-based feedback into the final reports.

4. Methodology and Minimum Data Collection Expectations

The original project scope anticipates a qualitative approach consisting of 24 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), three per woreda; 40 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), five per woreda; and a desk review. Applicants should explain how these methods will answer the study questions and produce credible evidence.

The call also requires baseline indicator values and a clean quantitative dataset. Applicants must therefore explicitly explain whether a quantitative component is necessary to measure the relevant indicators. Where proposed, the technical proposal must specify the sample, sampling method, tools and analysis approach. Any additional quantitative survey beyond the stated qualitative minimum must be justified and separately costed. The final design will be agreed with CAKTM during inception.

• Desk review and evidence-mapping framework.
• Sampling strategy, respondent categories and selection criteria.
• FGD and KII guides aligned with the project objectives and indicators.
• Conflict and context analysis and civic-space assessment frameworks.
• Gender, age, disability and social inclusion approaches.
• Data quality assurance, triangulation and transparent analysis.
• Fieldwork plan covering team composition, language capacity, supervision and logistics.
• Explanation of limitations, access constraints and mitigation measures.

5. Ethics, Safeguarding and Conflict Sensitivity

The consultant must apply recognized ethical research standards and CAKTM’s applicable safeguarding and data-protection requirements throughout the assignment. At a minimum, the consultant/team must:

• Obtain informed and voluntary consent and explain the purpose, risks and intended use of information.
• Ensure participation is voluntary and participants may decline to answer or withdraw without consequence.
• Protect confidentiality and avoid collecting personally identifiable information unless strictly necessary, justified and approved.
• Anonymize notes and datasets before sharing them in reports or presentations; securely store and transfer research records.
• Avoid procedures that could expose participants to retaliation, stigma, distress or other harm.
• Use conflict-sensitive, inclusive and accessible approaches, including appropriate arrangements for women, youth and persons with disabilities.
• Train field researchers on safeguarding, confidentiality, referral boundaries and the Do No Harm principle.
• Obtain prior approval before recording interviews, taking photographs or collecting sensitive information.
• Immediately report safeguarding concerns or data-protection incidents through the agreed reporting channel.

The consultant must not promise assistance, legal protection or services outside the assignment. The study is not an investigation of individual allegations or a process for identifying alleged perpetrators.

6. Expected Deliverables

1. 1. Inception report: Refined understanding; research questions; indicator matrix; methodology and sampling; tools; ethical and safeguarding protocol; fieldwork plan; team composition; risk analysis; and detailed schedule.
2. 2. Final data collection tools: Approved FGD and KII guides, desk-review framework and, where a quantitative component is agreed, survey questionnaire and related tools.
3. 3. Fieldwork and data package: Anonymized qualitative notes/transcripts as agreed, completed data collection records and fieldwork summary; cleaned quantitative dataset and codebook only if quantitative collection is part of the approved methodology. No direct identifiers should be included.
4. 4. Draft Baseline Assessment Report: Methodology, baseline values for applicable project indicators, analysis, disaggregation where feasible, limitations, conclusions and recommendations, with an indicator matrix.
5. 5. Draft Local Peace and Civic Space Practices Study Report: Context-sensitive analysis of local peace practices, social cohesion, conflict dynamics, civic participation, civic-space conditions, inclusion barriers and practical recommendations.
6. 6. Validation and presentation: Presentation of preliminary findings to CAKTM and relevant consortium stakeholders, with a record of feedback and how it was addressed.
7. 7. Final reports: Final edited versions of both reports, incorporating agreed feedback, with executive summaries and recommendations suitable for programme management, learning and advocacy.

All deliverables must be submitted in editable electronic formats (Word and Excel, as applicable) and PDF. The consultant must hand over materials produced under the assignment in accordance with the consultancy agreement and confidentiality requirements.

7. Duration and Level of Effort

The assignment is expected to be completed within 25 working days from the date of signing the consultancy agreement. Applicants must submit a realistic work plan showing inception, desk review, tool development, fieldwork, analysis, validation and finalization. Assumptions about travel, access, security and regional logistics must be stated clearly in the technical and financial proposals.