Key Responsibilities

The selected consultant will be primarily responsible to:

• Develop a BL study inception report including detailed methodology, proposed tools.
• Develop and implement a detailed BL study workplan
• Work closely with the SNV INCLUDE team during the design of the methodology/ tools; agree on the tools that will be used.
• Protocols and ethical review clearance. Seek clearance of the field activities and researchers from relevant authorities where applicable.
• Constitute, deploy and supervise a competent BL study team.
• Conduct a BL study results validation workshop.
• Sign the SNV Safeguarding Policy and abide by the terms and conditions thereof.

Responsibilities of SNV

• Develop the BL terms of reference.
• Provide administrative support to the BL study team e.g. introducing the BL team to key stakeholders.
• Review and approve the BL study design, methodology and data collection tools.
• Review reports and provide feedback to the consultant and approval of final report. The reports include the Inception report and BL study report.
• Arrange or mobilise key stakeholders as per agreed assessment methodology and work plan.
• Ensure compliance to contractual obligations between the BL study partners/stakeholders.
• Provide necessary documents to support BL study.

Expected deliverables:

• Detailed Inception report. The inception report should include among others, profiles of key BL study team members, their roles on the team, a detailed workplan, proposed methodology and data collection tools.
• Baseline Study Reports: This includes drafts and final reports. The main body of all reports should be written in simple, non-technical language, with any technical material presented in annexes. Final report expected within 40 days from signing of the contract.
• Collected baseline Data: All primary data collected, and analysis conducted for the study shall remain the property of SNV-INCLUDE and must be submitted electronically, and in a clear and comprehensible format in Excel, and any other statistical software.
• BL Results validation workshop PowerPoint.

Competency of the consultant:

The consultant should possess extensive work experiences (minimum ten years) at senior level and in-depth knowledge on socio-economic, Participatory Integrated Planning (PIP) & Farming System Approaches and in conducting baseline evaluations, participatory research, impact assessments and impact evaluations.

Consultant team qualifications, Competencies and Other Key Considerations

• The lead consultant must have a minimum of master’s degree in relevant disciplines to this baseline evaluation.
• General professional experience: At least 10 years of professional experience in relevant discipline.
• Specific professional experience: Proven experience in baseline evaluation, impact assessments, action research and impact evaluation in many of the following areas: integrated livestock farming, enterprise development, agriculture, economic/women empowerment, market systems development, school milk/nutrition or livelihoods projects will be considered as an asset.
• At least 5 years Proven experience in gender responsive/transformative programming/evaluation, gender responsive methodologies and tools, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), etc. will be considered as an asset.
• Experience with M&E within a results-based management framework.
• Proven experience in Participatory Integrated Planning (PIP), Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) or closely related approaches with smallholder farmers will be considered as an asset.
• Proven experience in development of evaluation reports with various donors such as EKN, and development partners.
• Gender and social inclusion (GESI) lens to assess how INCLUDE will address the specific needs and impacts on different genders and vulnerable/marginalised/disable groups (social inclusion/inclusivity and cohesion aspect of the project).
• Technical understanding and experience with mixed methods studies/evaluations including meta inferences, experimental/quasi-experimental studies. Experience with triangulation for corroboration. The consultant will produce a data analysis syntax/plan at inception. Use of appropriate software for quantitative and or qualitative data analysis required.
• Effective communication and documentation skills.

Communication, Coordination and Payment

1. Reporting, Communication and Form of work. The consultant will report directly to SNV-INCLUDE Project Manager and will work in close collaboration with SNV-INCLUDE MEL Advisor and PME Technical Advisor at the global office. There may be consultation and engagement with Wageningen University & Research – Center for Development Innovation (CDI), and other local partners.
2. Payment will be in two instalments, i.e., 60% upon signing of the contract, 40% upon approval of the final BL study report. All payments shall be based on an approved report and invoice.
3. Tentative Timeline. Submission of inception report by 27th September 2024, draft baseline report by 08th November 2024 and final/approved baseline evaluation report by 15th November 2024.

Template for Baseline Study Report

The consultant is required to submit a final Baseline report following this format:

1. Executive Summary report (5 pages maximum).
2. Introduction and Background to the baseline study.
3. Purpose of the baseline study and specific objectives.
4. Methodology. The final report must describe the full approach taken, the rationale for the chosen methods, and lay out any limitations that came therewith.
5. Overarching key findings. This should be in line with the specific objectives of the baseline study and final baseline study questions (scope).
6. Detailed findings (comprehensive descriptions, explanations and illustrations where relevant).
7. Limitations.
8. Key lessons learnt, best practices. Lessons should succinctly specify the context from which they are derived, establish their relevance beyond that context (where it will be applied and by whom) and suggest some prescription or action. Although lessons are derived from a specific situation, they are intended to have wider relevance.
9. Conclusions. This section should be written considering the findings. Conclusions should be comprehensive and balanced statements that are well substantiated by evidence and logically connected to the assessment findings.
10. Key recommendations. This should be precise and actionable.
11. Findings based on results framework’s indicators in tabulation form.
12. Annexes: List of documents consulted or reviewed; List of persons interviewed; Other data sources.
13. Utilized tools and scripts of all interviews.

Evaluation and award of contract

SNV will evaluate the proposals and award the assignment based on eligibility, technical and financial feasibility criteria guided by this TOR. The proposals total score will be calculated as the weighted sum of the technical score and financial score. The relative weights will be: Technical: 80%, Financial: 20%. SNV reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal received without giving reasons and is not bound to accept the lowest, the highest or any bidder. The assignment is subject to SNV policies and Safeguarding Policy.

Submission of Technical and Financial proposal

The consultant must submit technical and financial proposals showing their understanding of the baseline study for INCLUDE project in the Greater Ankole, Kigezi, Rwenzori, and Busoga sub-regions, Uganda.A one-page capability statement detailing previous experience, similar assignments and how it is relevant to this proposed assignment, a brief explanation as to why the consultant is well-placed to carry out the assignment.

A technical and financial proposal based on this TOR is required from the consultant. At minimum, the technical proposal should contain:

Consultant’s technical understanding of the TOR, introduction, methodologies including survey/research design, sampling approach, field procedures for data collection and analysis plan, and workplan of key activities

The financial proposal should contain detailed budget. The detailed budget should cover all costs (operational and professional fees) associated with the tasks. This should be submitted by major activities and line items. The fee will be all-inclusive, including all applicable taxes, allowances, transport and accommodation in the study regions.

Updated CVs of Team Leader and core BL study team members showing relevant experience and their technical contribution in the key results areas required by the TOR.

An updated profile of the consultant if a consultancy firm, including at least one (1) baseline study or evaluation report(s) of similar assignments attached.

Contact details (e-mail address and phone number) for at least two (2) references, one of whom must be of similar work assignment.