ActionAid Rwanda (AAR) is a Non-Governmental Organization and an Affiliate member of the ActionAid Global Federation. AAR is committed to combating poverty and working with marginalized communities. Since its inception in Rwanda in 1982, AAR has strived to achieve social justice, gender equality, and poverty eradication by empowering communities, redistributing resources, and advocating for the rights of those living in poverty and exclusion with a focus on women and girls. While seeking to promote resilient livelihoods and secure climate justice, AAR prioritizes interventions for women smallholder farmers, strengthening their capacity to adapt to climate change, enhance food security, access to credit and market for their produce, and ensure appropriate use of natural resources and clean energy alternatives.

To achieve this mission, AAR aims to increase the capacity of women smallholder farmers to be resilient to shocks and uncertainties in as far as food access and financial independence are concerned. In addition, AAR increase the capacity of women smallholder farmers to practice Agro-ecology. Also, AAR promotes and advocates for policies of climate change adaptation to benefit women small holder farmers.

AAR has secured a grant from AAUK through the Transformative Impact Fund (TIF) to implement a 3-year Project entitled “Resilient Communities and vibrant social justice movements in the face of climate change in the Great lakes Region.”. to be operated in Nyaruguru, Gisagara, Nyanza, Musanze and Karongi Districts and work with women cooperatives and young people. 

In this regard, Action Aid Rwanda would like to recruit a consultant to conduct a baseline study for the Project.

Purpose and objectives of the Consultancy

The objective of the baseline assessment is to establish the starting conditions of a project and provide the data needed for monitoring and evaluation. These include:

• Establish Baseline Values for Indicators:Initial values will be collected for each indicator in the project’s log frame, creating a reference point to measure change and assess the project’s impact over time. AAR will use baseline data to suggest improvements to the targets where necessary which will later approved by the GL region.

• Identify Contextual Needs, Gaps, and Opportunities: Gain a deeper understanding of the current conditions, challenges, and strengths within the target population in relation to project goals, helping to tailor interventions for maximum effectiveness. Identify critical needs, resource gaps, or opportunities that may not have been fully recognized during the design phase but could impact project actions or outcomes. Additionally, assess existing barriers to food and nutrition security and identify opportunities to enhance climate-resilient livelihoods within the target communities.

• Identify challenges, risks or barriersthat could affect project implementation and set mitigation actions.
• Document Existing Practices and Resources: Document current practices related to food production, consumption, and resilience strategies in the communities, providing a reference point for evaluating the effectiveness of project interventions over time.
• Gather Stakeholder Perspectives:Engage with community members, stakeholders, and local authorities to gather insights on their perceptions, needs, and expectations regarding the project’s focus areas.

During the project initiation process, the consortium (AAI BURUNDI, AA DRC, AA RWANDA, AA TANZANIA) developed a project Log-frame with project objectives, activities and indicators. This assignment consists in collecting baseline information on the status of indicators such as Minimum Dietary Diversity Among Women and Young People, Current Level of Food and Nutrition Security, Prevalence of Food Insecurity. The consultancy will also assess Community and Household Income Sources and engaging stakeholders to gather insights on current climate-resilient practices and food security initiatives.

Scope of Work:

The consultant will need to read the project proposal and its annexed log frame to determine the most appropriate methodology to be adopted in undertaking this assignment. The project is being implemented in 5 Districts Nyaruguru, Gisagara, Nyanza, Karongi and Musanze and is expected to reach directly to 37,400 beneficiaries including:

• 325women self-help groups/cooperatives each having 30 members=9,750 members.
• 77Environmental school’s clubs with 54,430 children in primary and 13,131 students in secondary.
• Refugees host communities, and neighboring refugees’ camps which are in Muganza and Kibilizi sectors of Gisagara district.
• Also, this project will target Government agencies and local authorities like Ministry of Agriculture, The Rwanda Agriculture Board, The Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, District-level officials, sector-level officials among others.

Timeline:

The consultancy assignment is expected to be completed within 1.5 months from the commencement date.

The project indicators to be measured.

During the project design period, AAR defined and established a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that will be used to measure project success over time. AAR also planned that the indicators measured during the baseline study will again be measured at the end of the project to identify project achievements. The expected results of the project and their corresponding indicators to be measured throughout the project implementation are included in the table below:

Deliverables of the assignment

Listed below are the main deliverables that are expected from the consultant.

An inception report: The consultant will produce an inception report in which they will describes the consultant’s understanding of the Terms of References and outlines the objectives, methods, and expectations of the assignment. As part of the inception report, the consultant will include as an annex well-structured tools and instruments, which will be used for data collection, including a list of key documents that will be read for desk review, survey questionnaires, interview guidelines, and any other data collection forms.

A Report of the Baseline study:The primary deliverable that will be produced by the consultant is a comprehensive baseline report, which will provide values for the measured project Key Performance Indicators. This report will include an overview of the project's objectives, the methodology used for data collection, a description of the population and the sample, a description of the study area, and detailed findings based on the data collected, anticipated risks and the proposed mitigation measures. Additional information that will be presented in the baseline report will include the following.

• Raw Data: The consultant will share the raw data collected during the baseline study, including survey responses, interview transcripts, and any other data sources.
• Data Analysis Report: The consultant will present an analysis of the collected data, including both quantitative and qualitative data. This report will include statistical summaries, data visualization, and a clear interpretation of the findings, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and risks related to the targeted beneficiaries of the project.
• Comparison with Benchmarks: The consultant will compare the baseline findings to relevant benchmarks or best practices in food production, women small holder cooperatives and youth producers. This will help identify areas where women small holder farmers as well as young producers may need improvement and set realistic goals for the project.
• Stakeholder Engagement Report: The consultant will identify and document the key stakeholders involved in the project. This report will detail their roles, interests, and levels of engagement to ensure a clear understanding of who should be involved in project activities.
• Feedback Mechanism: The consultant proposes a feedback mechanism to AAR to gather input and insights from project stakeholders on the baseline assessment process and findings.

Annexes to the report will include:

• Risk Assessment: The consultant will identify potential risks and challenges that may impact on the project's success. This should include a risk register with mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
• Documentation of Data Sources: The consultant will include a detailed list of all data sources used during the baseline study. This documentation is crucial for transparency and for future evaluations of the project.

Presentation Materials: The consultant will prepare presentation materials, such as slides or a summary report, to communicate the baseline findings to project stakeholders, funders, and the broader community.

Proposal specifications

Candidates are invited to bid on the assignment described above not later than November 21^st 2024. Proposals received after this deadline will not be accepted.

Detailed technical and financial proposals must be submitted in English as one single PDF document.

The Technical Proposal should be between 5-10 pagesand should demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the tasks set forth and the candidate’s capacity to perform the assignment. The following information should be provided in the technical proposal:

• In-depth description of the candidate’s recent experience in a similar assignment.
• Description of the methodology proposed to reach the outcomes.
• Estimated days and detailed program for preparation and completion of the assignment.
• Up-to-date C.V. of the Lead Consultant and his team members note more than 4pages.

The following information shall be disclosed as part of the technical proposal:

• Statement to certify that all the information provided in the candidate’s bid is, to the best of its knowledge, accurate and complete. Any misleading or false information may result in disqualification of the candidate at the sole discretion of Action Aid Rwanda.
• References
• List of previous contracts and their amounts
• Copy degrees and certificates for the proposed consultants.

The Tax inclusive financial proposal should be submitted in Rwanda Francs (Rwf) with sufficient details to facilitate cost comparison and assessment. The candidate must specify the cost of:

• Consultant fees, Per diem.
• Travel/transportation.
• Other direct costs.

The financial proposal of the selected candidate will be reviewed during contract negotiations to determine the final contract price. The contract will be drawn up during the negotiation stage.

Evaluation of proposals

Technical proposals will be evaluated and ranked based on the assessment specified below. The technical evaluation may also include interviews with the experts named in the proposals. The results of these interviews will be factored into the final technical score of the proposals and the original ranking of the bidders will be adjusted accordingly.

The following criteria will be used to assess proposals:

The minimum pass marks to financial evaluation will be: 50/70

Qualifications:

• The consultant(s) should possess a master's or Ph.D. degree in a relevant field such as Agriculture, agroecology, crop production, economics, agriculture marketing or a related discipline.
• Prior experience in conducting baseline studies, impact assessments, or research related to agriculture production, cooperatives management, women empowerment and emancipation or similar areas. Copies of certificate of completion for three most similar tasks are desirable.
• Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies and data collection techniques.
• Familiarity with the dynamics, challenges, and opportunities in agriculture, women cooperatives and their role in food production.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills to engage with women, government officials, and other stakeholders involved in the project.
• Knowledge of ethical considerations in research, including obtaining informed consent and ensuring the privacy and safety of research participants, especially when working with women.
• Proficiency in the relevant languages spoken by women and communities to facilitate effective communication and data collection.

Reporting:

The consultant(s) will report to the Programme Policy and Business Development Lead and coordinate closely with the Project Coordinator.

How to apply

Qualified and interested individuals/ institutions are invited to submit a full proposal (technical and financial) to Procurement.ActionaidRwanda@actionaid.org not later than 21^st November 2024 before 5:00PM. GMT/UTC+2h. Please indicate “Consultancy for Baseline project Study” in the subject line of the email.

Note that Successful consultant will be expected to abide to ActionAid’s values and adhere to ActionAid policies including the Safeguarding Policy, the Child Protection Policy and anti-modern slavery policy, among other ActionAid policies.

Contact Information:

For inquiries or clarification regarding this consultancy assignment, please contact +250280300142.