Expression of Interest (EOI) for Baseline Evaluation at Hand in Hand Eastern Africa (HiH EA)

Reference Number:             HIHEA/05-2021/M&E
Title of project:            Expanding the Pipeline Project: Hilti Phase Two (2)
Project Implementation Area:       Kenya: Thika, Embu and Nanyuki Branches;
Tanzania include Mwanga, Siha, and Rombo districts in Kilimanjaro region
Task:                           Baseline Evaluation
Period:                    1.5 months (to be discussed with the consultant)

Project description

The Expanding the Pipeline Project funded by HILTI Foundation, seeks to increase the number of people reached through Hand in Hand’s four step model of enterprise development in Kenya and Tanzania.

Expanding to new geographies, the project will provide 24,000 people living in poverty with the skills to establish their own enterprises.  The overall objective of the project is to reduce poverty and improve household wellbeing for 20,000 people in Kenya’s Nanyuki, Embu and Thika counties, and for 4,000 people living in the Arusha region of Tanzania.

The project seeks to achieve the following key result areas.

1. Profitability and resilience of member enterprises (income change)
2. Social capital and financial resilience of target individuals
3. Women’s economic empowerment

The Baseline Evaluation

HiH EA is commissioning a baseline study to provide a critical reference point on which to monitor and assess the program’s progress for assessing changes and impact. The evaluation intends to provide a basis for comparing the situation during and after implementation, and for making inferences as to the effectiveness of the project.

The key objectives of the baseline evaluation include;

• To provide reference point for the project indicators that will be used to inform program planning, determine progress and monitor project implementation.
• To provide data against which the project will be monitored and evaluated for change.
• Assess measurability of selected indicators for future measurement.
• Shape expectations and communication strategies for the project
• Draw recommendations to strengthen the evidence-base generation for the project

HiH EA is seeking an independent evaluator, firm or individual to undertake this assignment comprehensively and to satisfaction. The assignment may be conducted concurrently by one firm present in the two countries or by separate firms from both countries. There is need for high coordination from the firms to increase comparability of data and its use in subsequent evaluations. The selected firm will have an opportunity to be procured again to undertake the end line if this assignment is satisfactorily accomplished.

HiH EA will provide all supporting documents necessary to ensure the assignment is completed successfully.

Role of the consultants

The consultants will be required to undertake at a minimum the following;

• Develop the sample frame for the baseline survey
• Design/adapt/refine (as appropriate) the baseline survey tools
• Organize and translate the tools into relevant languages
• Conduct a pre-test of the tools and incorporate changes
• Train the field supervisors and enumerators
• Plan the field work logistics
• Prepare survey implementation and questionnaire documentation e.g. enumerator supervision manuals, etc.
• Supervise survey implementation and ensure quality control
• Develop the data entry program, supervise the project database, and arrange for data cleaning and entry
• Analyze and report the findings of the survey and provide datasets and final documentation.

Approach and Methodology

The evaluator is to propose the methodology for carrying out the assignment. A mixed method may be included to ensure all proposed indicators are addressed. Secondary review will also be required to inform the contextual relevance of the project and the result areas as designed.

Deliverables

• The inception report including validated tools
• Field work report
• Draft zero report (soft copy) in word.docx.
• Draft-one report incorporating changes or comments generated in the draft zero. 
• The evaluation report of approximately 40 pages or less.
• The evaluation report to include an Executive Summary of no more than 4 pages.
• Include appendices such as data logs and share raw data sets in an accessible format including .xlsx, .dta or .sav
• A presentation of the report to HiH EA

Submitting Proposals

HiH EA and HiH EA-TZ are requesting the consultants to submit proposals to respond to this Terms of Reference as outlined above. We expect the consultancy firm or consultant to demonstrate the skills and experience outlined below (or equivalent):

• The consultant should have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in field research and monitoring and evaluation of community projects
• The individuals should demonstrate evidence of past relevant evaluation assignments in rural and urban areas of Kenya and Tanzania (share sample report(s))
• Proven track record in analytical report writing
• Proven track record on working with digital data collection approaches
• Experience of field work and data collection at household level in rural areas of Kenya/Tanzania
• Operational capacity, understands the Kenyan and Tanzanian contexts
• Solid understanding of agriculture (regenerative agriculture and circular economy), small, medium and micro enterprises, economics, monitoring and evaluation and value chain analysis

The proposal should include the following:

1. A short outline of evaluation approach, research design and methodology for the Evaluation. No more than 7 pages
2. A proposed process and time frame for the Evaluation setting out the phases, the number of consultants and the number of days.
3. The anticipated challenges and dependencies likelyto affect the implementation of the Evaluation and how these should be addressed both by the consultants, HiH EA/HiH EA-TZ and HiH I.
4. A summary of the skills and experience of the proposed lead consultant and the consultant(s) together with her/his CV showing relevant previous assignments and clients. (Annex CVs separately)
5.  A detailed fee quote and rationale for the consultants and an estimate for the operational costs.

Budget and Payment

The consultancy firm will provide a detailed budget summary splitting the consultants’ fees and logistical expenses. The terms of payment will be negotiated with the firm upon signing of the contract.