Baseline Survey Consultant at HIAS Refugee Trust of Kenya

Terms of Reference to Conduct a Baseline Survey.

Baseline survey for the “Increasing Protection for Vulnerable Refugees and Host Communities in Nairobi” Project.

THE PURPOSE

The baseline study is intended to provide program staff with detailed baseline data on key project indicators that will be used as a basis to measure changes in refugees and host communities through the course of the project. The data collected will be both qualitative and quantitative in nature, and will include information gathered on the outcome indicators. All data will be collected in a COVID-19-safe manner as per HIAS’ COVID-19 safety policies and as aligned with all Government of Kenya directives and guidelines.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The main objective of the baseline study is to establish baseline values and validate anticipated target figures for the indicators established to measure the outcome-level results that indicate progress toward project objectives and goal. In particular, the project baseline study will be shaped by the following specific study objectives:

 To set up benchmarks against the key outcome indicators of the project, including

outcome indicators supporting each of the following objectives:

• To improve the safety and well-being of survivors of women and girls vulnerable to GBV through risk reduction, and response services.
  • To strengthen the safety of unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) and other children-at-risk by facilitating access to community based safe living arrangements and appropriate support services.
  • To improve mental health and psychosocial well-being of vulnerable refugees through provision of integrated MHPSS interventions.
• Note that, as much as possible, indicators related to the targeted refugee populations shall be disaggregated by sex, age, nationality, disability, and vulnerability as defined in the project document.
• To identify changes in key project assumptions, including changes in protection concerns, vulnerabilities, and level of awareness of rights and services among various refugee groups in the current COVID-19 context
• To validate project assumption on refugees existing knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding GBV, safe spaces by refugee women and girls in Nairobi.
• To validate project assumptions on refugee help seeking behaviors, including reporting of GBV, seeking for MHPSS services and protection services by refugee communities in Nairobi.
• To validate and/or identify changes in HIAS’ mapping of existing GBV, Protection and MHPSS service providers supporting vulnerable refugees in Nairobi to refine intervention planning and the referral mechanism.

SCOPE OF THE EVALUATION

The geographical scope of the study will be within Nairobi County. The design and implementation of the baseline will ensure ethical consideration are put in place, e.g., principles of gender equality, inclusion and non-discrimination are considered and acted upon throughout, and that the meaningful participation of the most vulnerable groups and other key stakeholders is promoted in the design and implementation of the baseline.

NOTE: The baseline study will be undertaken while strictly adhering to the Government of Kenya’s directives and guidelines on preventive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY

The baseline consultant will submit the proposed study methodology to HIAS upon the inception of the consultancy. Methodologies may include, but not be limited to, the below:

• Secondary documentation: Desk review of project documents and assumptions affecting protection outcomes for vulnerable refugees and host communities in Nairobi.
• Quantitative approaches to collect data, including survey data collection as required to provide information on the baseline status of select outcome indicators.
• Qualitative approaches, such as focus group discussions, document review and key informant interviews, as needed.
• Triangulation of information gathered during the quantitative and qualitative research is crucial in this study, with reflection on how the findings relate to the secondary documentation The assessment is to be consistent with SPHERE standards through its emphasis on a rights-based and participatory approach in conducting of monitoring and evaluation; the baseline survey will be organized in a participatory way, including HIAS staff, Partner agency staff, refugee community leaders and project beneficiaries.

EXPECTED OUTPUTS AND DELIVERABLES:

The expected key outputs and deliverables are:

• Work plan and Inception Report (with key parameters and indicators to be considered for the baseline survey including the methodologies for data collection and dissemination).
• Data Collection tools/instruments based on the three (3) key outcome areas of the project as elaborated in the project document
• Draft report for stakeholder review—clearly identifying information relevant to the three (3) outcome areas of the project framework; as well as data gaps and areas that may require further assessment
• Cleaned final dataset(s) containing all data collected for the baseline, including survey responses and KII/FGD transcriptions
• Final Report (incorporating inputs from the review) will include:
• A comprehensive and well organized Final Report complete with standard reporting formats (main body of the report should be a maximum of 20 pages in length, excluding Table of Content, tables and annexes). The report must be in English and must address both the overall and specific objectives of the survey. The following survey report structure will be adopted:
  • An executive summary. It should include the major findings of the baseline and summarize conclusions and recommendations.
  • The objectives of the baseline. iii. The main question or central survey question.
  • Methods and techniques used (including relevant underlying values and assumptions, theories) with a justification of the selections made (of persons interviewed). Eventual limitations of the survey.
  • Analysis and findings, to address status of outcome indicators and changes to project assumptions
  • Conclusions vii. Recommendations

The findings will be presented in a meeting organized for key HIAS staff:

TIME FRAME

Probable date for the baseline survey to commence will be mid-November 2020 and is expected to take a maximum of 18 working days, which includes desk-review, preparation, and implementation, report-writing.

INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT

HIAS will establish an evaluation team to oversee all the related tasks. The HIAS Kenya and Regional M&E officers will be responsible for the overall coordination of all the evaluation tasks with the Consultant. In addition, the Program Managers, Head of Programmes and Country Director will provide all the necessary technical and operational support required throughout the evaluation process.

HIAS will provide:

• Relevant documentation and background information.
• Contacts of relevant stakeholders and set up meeting(s).
• Staff to conduct the survey.
• Consolidated feedback/guidance on draft reports and strategy.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

We are looking for a Consultant/team with the following skills and qualifications;

• Demonstrable expertise on refugee operations especially in Kenya
• An individual with demonstrable experience in qualitative & quantitative researches, data analysis and reporting with a focus on Social research and evaluation, preferably in the region.
• The team leader should preferably possess a post graduate degree in research-oriented social science or related discipline with extensive knowledge of and experience in leading (designing and undertaking) large scale quantitative social surveys as well as qualitative research
• Experience in managing and coordinating evaluation/research exercises, delivering agreed outputs on time and on budget
• Experience in data collection and analysis using participatory methodologies
• Excellent and demonstrated understanding of ethical issues in research, including child protection
• Ability to respond to comments and questions in a timely, appropriate manner.
• Capacity to use mobile data collection for data collection, and analysis of survey results.
• Excellent verbal and written communication in English required.