Terms of Reference for an End-line Survey Consultant

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Mali Office, BP: E1171, Hamdallaye, ACI 2000 Rue 311, Bamako, Mali Tel : +2 23 20 29 41 55 Website: www.ird.org Terms of Reference for an End-line Survey Consultant A.

1 Mali Office, BP: E1171, Hamdallaye, ACI 2000 Rue 311, Bamako, Mali Tel : Website: Terms of Reference for an End-line Survey Consultant A. PROJECT BACKGROUND Project title: Increasing resilience to climatic stresses and shocks of 264,000 people in Mali, including those who are most at risk economically and physically. RIC4REC will build the resiliency of 264,000 people in Mali -- vulnerable to complex climate risks, including variable rainfall and drought -- by helping communities identify, reinforce and scale-up their unique adaptive capacities. Through Community Management Resilience Climate Change (CMRCC), RIC4REC has been strengthening social cohesion, climateadapted livelihoods and natural resource management in Koulikoro, Segou and Mopti regions. RIC4REC s context specific adaptation measures empower vulnerable people to protect against asset loss and build new economic opportunities, while they emphasize the central role of women. In tandem, the project has been strengthening local and national government and infuse policy decisions with RIC4REC lessons learned. Implementation country: Mali Implementation regions: Koulikoro, Ségou, Mopti Project duration: 36 months Estimated total cost of the full project (In GBP sterling): 4,915,171 Geographic Coverage The BLUMONT RIC4REC project is being implemented in three regions of Mali (Koulikoro, Segou and Mopti), and in 12 cercles: Banamba, Kolokani, Nara, Macina, Niono, San, Tominian, Mopti, Koro, Bankass, Douentza and Youwarou. Project activities have been implemented in 280 communities (villages) with 800 inhabitants or more in order to reach the number of targeted direct beneficiaries (264,000). These communities have been drawn from 60 local governance areas (communes, average number of villages per commue is 20) clustered geographically in the three regions. The clustering was done so that Communes were continuous and adjacent for the most part to other target communes in adjoining regions. I. Project Objectives Project outcome indicators, output indicators, and activities have been structured under the four (04) strategies to achieve project objectives which are:

2 Strategy 1. Making climate change adaptation a priority with strong community basis for implementation: RIC4REC uses a Community Managed Resiliency to Climate Change approach (a variant of community based adaptation) as a platform for building community capacity to identify, plan and act on reducing climate change vulnerabilities. Strategy 2: Empower communities to use climate information to make management decisions about their livelihoods that reduce risk (Climate-Adapted Livelihoods): Through the use of early warning/climate and production advisory services, beneficiaries make better management decisions about their livelihoods that reduce risk and vulnerability. Climate and weather information is integrated with promotion of climate-smart practices and technologies. Strategy 3. Increase assets and access to resources by introducing improved livelihood adaptation & NRM practices: Through climate adapted micro enterprise and improved managed of productive natural resources, beneficiaries are increasing assets and reducing the risk of loss and the depletion of environmental assets. These outcomes are structured under three themes. Women s increased access to markets and livelihood opportunities -BLUMONT will leverage results from previous Mali projects to train women s marketing groups in sesame and fonio, and introduce improved practices for solar drying, food processing, and gardening. Access to savings and credit through support women s savings and credit associations. NRM/Conservation: Beneficiaries adopt improved practices to protect environmental assets such as community-managed common natural resources, tree planting and assisted regeneration and fuel efficient cook stoves. Strategy 4. Strengthen climate change Adaptation management (CCAM) at local and national levels: RIC4REC is supporting community advocacy for inclusion of priority issues affecting their resiliency in local government planning and budgeting. At the national level, RIC4REC is supporting AEDD s communication of national policies, programs, projects and best practices in climate change adaptation. Key output achievements: Indicators Output Indicator 1.1 (KPI 1) (Required) Number of people supported by DFID programmes to cope with the effects of climate change (KPI 1) High intensity and targeted (M/F) Medium intensity (M/F) Planned Acheived Sub- Outcome Indicator 1.1 Strategy 1 # of CWGs that complete a RIC4REC Community Resiliency Grant (CRG) to address a resilience / CMRCC priority identified in participatory manner

3 Sub- Outcome Indicator 1.2/ Strategy 1/ Strategy 4 # of community members whose CMRCC priorities have been integrated in commune level planning with project support Output Indicator Strategy 1 # of CWGs established to support CMRCC planning with project assistance Output Indicator 1.2/4.3 - Strategy 1/ Strategy 4 # of CWGs that develop a CMRCC plan and communicate it to local government representatives with project support Output Indicator Strategy 1 # of beneficiaries that participate in meetings between local councils and CWGs to jointly identify and plan CMRCC priorities with project support Medium intensity (M/F) Output Indicator Strategy 1 # of persons supported to cope with the effects of climate change through the implementation of Community Resiliency Grant Output Indicator Strategy 2 # of radio programs produced and aired to targeted audiences by the project Output Indicator Strategy 2 # of beneficiaries trained on using climate advisory information (eg. AGROMET, FEWSNET) with project assistance Output Indicator Strategy 2 - Production # of beneficiaries trained in climate smart agriculture training with project assistance Output Indicator Strategy 3 : Production # of beneficiaries that received materials developed by ICRISAT with project support Sub-Output Indicator Strategy 2 # of beneficiaries that participate in community to community exchanges supported by the project

4 Output Indicator Strategy 3 # of beneficiaries that have been trained in one or more CMRCC practices (e.g., savings groups, cereal banks, community management of common natural resources) Output Indicator Strategy 3 - Women's Access # of women trained in adapted livelihood and business practices to increase income High intensity and targeted (M/F) Output Indicator Strategy 3 - NRM/ Conservation # of beneficiaries that are trained in NRM / Conservation practices Output Indicator Strategy 4 High intensity and targeted (M/F) # of beneficiaries trained in how to communicate their climate change concerns and advocate for their CMRCC priorities with project support Output Indicator 4.2/1.3 - Strategy 1 # of beneficiaries that participate in meetings between local councils and CWGs to jointly identify and plan CMRCC priorities with project support Medium intensity (M/F) Output Indicator Strategy 1/ Strategy 4 # of CWGs (communities) that develop a Community Resiliency Plan and communicate it to local government representatives with project support Output Indicator Strategy 4 # of commune representatives trained in Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliency strategies High intensity and targeted (M/F) Output Indicator Strategy 4

5 # of beneficiaries that participate in Science Policy dialogue meetings with national government and policy stakeholders where RIC4REC presents vulnerable groups priorities 6 0 II. Consortium Implementing Partners Name of organization Description of role Core Partners: Substantial role in implementation and strategic management BLUMONT (prime) Coordination and integration of project activities and partners, strategic vision, and accountability for program results and reporting. BLUMONT leads in gender, women s cereal processing enterprises, learning and enabling environment component, and coordination with national and project structures. AMASSA Afrique Climate-adapted livelihoods of the project, Verte helping communities select and lead their own interventions to promote adapted agriculture, livestock, and women s businesses. Lead program operations in Mopti. G.FORCE ICRISAT/CCAFS Build capacity of CBOs to identify, organize, and address issues. Technical lead on NRM and social cohesion components. Lead program operations in Segou and Koulikoro. ICRISAT provides technical direction for improved seeds marketing, soil quality management, agricultural P&T demonstrations. CCAFS support the farm of the future approach and beneficiary use of climate information, integrate RIC4REC in national and regional science-policy dialogues. Resource Partners: Organizations with discrete technical assistance AFIMA (Association des Femmes Ingénieurs du Mali) HURDL Lab at Clark University (previously U of SC) Orange Mali Discrete technical support for energy- and labour-efficient household technologies. Technical support on resilience measurement and behaviour change research. BLUMONT is expanding their mobile phone on demand advice service Senekela to address climate adaptation and livestock and promoting use of Sandji 2-day weather forecast for farmer planning. Added value Large and complex project management experience; know-how in improving market- and policy-enabling environments; and sectorial expertise in value chain development, climate change, and DRR. In addition, strong regional presence. Strong contextual knowledge of agriculture in Mali, MIS, and women s livelihoods. Nearly 20 years of experience working with grassroots organizations in addition to women s savings programs. Sharing one administration in Mali, they draw on CGIAR global network of climate adaptation research and a strong set of learning and dissemination platforms to support RIC4REC objectives. Enterprising women-led organization with vast expertise in low-cost engineering solutions to improve rural women s wellbeing. Cutting-edge research institution studying climate change adaptive behaviour change in Mali. Offers the only mobile phone information dissemination platform of its kind in Mali. B. SCOPE OF WORK The purpose of this Scope of Work (SoW) is to guide an independent party to design, conduct and produce the written deliverables for an Endline Survey for the DFID funded Strengthening Community Initiatives for Resilience to Climate Extremes (RIC4REC)

6 project implemented by Blumont International (replacing International Relief and Development/IRD ) and partners in Mali. RIC4REC is a three year 4.9 million GBP grant awarded to BLUMONT by the U.K. Department for International Development (DFID) DFID BRACED mechanism 1. BLUMONT will retain the services of an independent consultant or firm Endline Consultant to conduct the endline survey. The Endline Consultant will design and implement a rigorous survey and data collection plan that that meets BLUMONT and donor data quality standards. The survey will provide quantitative measurements of outcome level indicators in the RIC4REC M&E Plan. The successful candidate will meet the qualifications listed below (see Terms and Conditions, page 08). Interested offerors should submit a proposal to BLUMONT no later than September 10, The proposal package should include the following: 1) The Curriculum Vitae (latest update) of the Team Leader candidate (05 pages maximum) 2) Description of Services and Summary of Experience Relating to this Assignment (02 pages maximum) 3) A preliminary methodological approach including a preliminary sample selection plan and description of data collection methods (02 pages maximum) 4) Work Plan and Schedule for the completion of all Endline Survey tasks and deliverables, with a planned number of days estimated for completion of each task and deliverable (01 page maximum) 5) Clear Statement of Availability within the stated Endline Survey period of performance 6) Proposed Changes to the SoW (if any) 7) Cost Proposal for the Deliverables Outlined Below in relation to the candidates proposed work plan (including all applicable taxes) 8) Two written evaluation or survey reports (in English) that were written solely by the candidate from previous assignments (not larger than 10 megabits each) 9) Three professional references and their contact information from similar past assignments The Endline Survey will begin upon signing the agreement with selected consultant or firm. The consultant will conduct a desk review and submit comprehensive draft and final versions of the Endline Survey design and methodology including a First Draft and Final Version of the Endline Survey design including a comprehensive descriptions of the following: methodological approach; data quality limitations; quantitative data analysis plan; household survey questionnaire and key informant interview data collection instruments and protocols to be used in electronic format; and sampling frame, sample selection method, and protocols for each category of respondents; Logistics/ work plan and finalized timeline for data collection. Indicators concerning for the endline survey are listed below in the tables. 1 The BRACED Program is funding 15 projects in Africa and Asia. Seven of these projects are in the Sahel and four have a modest to greater level of investment in Mali. RIC4REC is the only BRACED project focused 100% in Mali.

7 N.B: Given the insecurity in some of our intervention zones, the choice of villages will be made in a targeted way. They are two (02) important measure in the project: impact and the outcome for resiliency. Impact Indicator % change in score Composite Index of socio-economic well-being of interviewed targeted beneficiaries in terms of livelihood viability, income, assets, and social capital Comments Outcome Indicator KPI-4: Number of people whose resiliency has improved as a result of RIC4REC support Comments The KPI-4 is measured by the aggregation of below indicators: Indicators % of beneficiaries with improved level of food security as a result of RIC4REC % of beneficiaries interviewed that state they have used climate information (early warning systems, weather forecasts, or advisory services) to make livelihood decisions with project support % of beneficiaries interviewed that state they have applied climate smart practices with project assistance % of beneficiaries interviewed that state they have increased their income generating activities with project assistance Comments Area of Change: Changes in level of knowledge; Changes in capacities Area of Change: Changes in level of knowledge; Changes in capacities

8 % of beneficiaries interviewed that state they have used one or more RIC4REC supported NRM techniques with project assistance Area of Change: Changes in level of knowledge; Changes in capacities Area of Change: Changes in level of knowledge; Changes in capacities Institutional change: Indicator % of government employees and local council members interviewed that state they have benefited from one or more RIC4REC lesson learned/ practice or technology due to information or training received by the project Comments Disaggregation: Region; Gender; Name of government agency/ service branch Area of Change: Changes in level of knowledge; Changes in capacities The project team had already made distribution points for sampling. The Endline survey design will include no more than 383 households. C. DURATION OF ENGAGEMENT AND DELIVERABLES: The duration of the consultancy is about 65 days (calendar days) including a literature review, questionnaire design and pilot testing of questionnaire in the field, enumerator training, field survey work, data cleaning, data analysis and report writing. Sufficient information should be collected to allow contextual factors analysis along with quantitative measures. See also the table below for details. Indicative Timeframe Inception Phase Tasks and responsibilities Deliverables/ deadlines submission to BLUMONT September 20 th Contract signing Team and BLUMONT kick-off meeting Literature review of all relevant RIC4REC project documents and relevant contextual material, other BRACED studies and background material

9 September 23 st Endline design including: Detailed descriptions of the data collection methods, limitations; sampling approaches, sampling frames, plans and protocols for community and household sample selections; Draft Endline design submitted to BLUMONT on September 23 st September th BLUMONT feedback on draft of the endline survey design Consultant survey team mobilized Training of endline survey team members Field testing of data collection instruments Training survey enumerators and field test of survey instruments is completed September 30 th. September 30 October 2 nd Final draft of endline survey design including methodology, data analysis plan, survey instrument(s), detailed implementation calendar October 2 nd : Final version endline survey design Field work data collection October th Data Analysis & Report Writing Phase Administration of questionnaire to households Simultaneous contextual data collection Concurrent data entry Data Entry, cleaning, and quality control simultaneously to field work Progress updates to BLUMONT at beginning, mid-point and field work wrap-up October 19 th - Submission of clean datasets to 24 th BLUMONT Perform data analysis October 24 th Initial data analysis tables - November 10 th Drafting of the Endline Survey Report October 24 st : Clean and complete datasets November 2 nd : Data analysis tables submitted November 10 : First draft Endline Survey Report in English, with the following minimum contents: o Executive Summary; o Introduction;

10 November 10 th 15 th November 16 th 24 th BLUMONT provides written feedback to consultant on First Draft Report Blumont meets with consultant to discuss comments and expected revisions Consultant addresses BLUMONT comments and revises the Endline Survey Report Report translated to French o Project Description and Objective; o Endline Survey Purpose; o Methodology and Sampling Approach; o Data Limitations; o Analysis of Findings; o Conclusions based on specific findings and contextual analysis o Annexes: analysed data tables, bibliography, survey instruments and protocols. o Any pictures and any related endline documentation Digitized and hard copies of all completed questionnaires November 24 th : Final Endline Survey Report Final version in French and English, D. TERMS AND CONDITIONS The contract will be a fixed price with payments made based on the agreed upon deliverables schedule which will be outlined in the contract document. BLUMONT will assist in facilitating the process (Mission Order, introduction at community level, etc). The Evaluator in turn will provide BLUMONT with regular updates of progress. Required Skills and Experience: The proposed candidate for the Evaluation Methodologist/ Team Leader should be able to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and experience: More than ten years of experience in managing and conducting related international development endline surveys, evaluations, and field research, including significant experience conducting large-scale, complex mixed methods studies and producing high quality written deliverables. More than ten years of experience in conducting studies for US and UK government funded development projects with a focus on livelihoods, climate change adaptation, and agricultural projects. Specific experience in measuring interventions designed to build resilience to climate extremes an advantage. Significant capacity and experience on similar quantitative field research tasks as demonstrated by the submission of several written evaluation and or endline study reports in English authored by candidate.

11 Demonstrated knowledge of and experience in agronomy, agro-economy, livelihoods, and climate change adaptation interventions as well as quantitative survey design and collection in rural West African contexts. At least ten years of leadership experience in carrying out field surveys and related assessments and evaluative studies, including designing and implementing all needed data collection tools and methodologies Solid skills in quantitative and qualitative analysis including professional and frequent application of quantitative analysis software such as SPSS, STAT, or equivalent applications. Sound understanding of the agricultural systems and related socio-economic environment in Central Mali. Professional fluency to speak, read, and write reports of high calibre in English while possessing a fluent command of speaking, reading and writing in French as well. How to apply: Please send your proposal package at malirecruitment@blumont.org. You can also deliver your application in closed hard copy at the IRD-Blumont Country Office at: Hamdallaye ACI 2000 Rue 209 Porte 420, Bamako-Mali. For more questions please address to Fatoumata Alidou Gareka, Chief of Operations, fgareka@blumont.org We thank all applicants for their interest. Only those selected for interview will be contacted. Applications are not returned. NB: All incomplete offer will be eliminated or won t be considered

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