Request for Proposal: Terms of Reference for Consultancy Services to Conduct Impact Data Surveys for the Investing in Women South Sudan Program at Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF)

The key objectives of the study will be to

• Review the market assessment report and the PIP to understand the situation before the project implementation.
• Develop a sampling methodology for interviewing both the 8 investee businesses and their beneficiaries (including disaggregation by gender, age, region).
• Interview the sampled beneficiaries and the business they are affiliated with.
• Interview community members engaged in areas of project implementation
• Ensure ethical standards, informed consent, and safeguarding protocols for all respondents.
• Develop tools (questionnaires, interview guides) aligned with the indicators listed above
• Recruit and train enumerators (if applicable), pilot and finalize survey tools and coordinate and oversee field data collection across selected project areas.
• Conduct analysis and submit a comprehensive report detailing the methodology, findings per indicators, lessons learned and recommendations for improvement.
• Clean, analyze, and disaggregate data as required.
• Use both descriptive and inferential statistics, and qualitative analysis where relevant.

Deliverables

The consultant is expected to lead, accomplish, and submit the following deliverables within the agreed timeframe and budget.

• An inception report outlining approach, data sources, methodology, work plan, team members, tools to be deployed and stakeholder engagement processes.
• Draft report on the study findings on results and target matrix and recommendations for future interventions
• A validated comprehensive report (not more than 40 pages) on the study findings, target matrix, and recommendations for future interventions.
• A PowerPoint presentation to the stakeholders on the findings of the study

Qualifications

• The lead consultant should have a master’s in development finance, Economics, statistics, monitoring and evaluation, or related fields.
• Minimum of 8–10 years of relevant experience in the design, implementation, and evaluation of agribusiness and gender-focused development programmes.
• Proven expertise in household and beneficiary survey design, quantitative and qualitative data collection, and analysis methodologies.
• Strong track record in stakeholder engagement, especially with women-led businesses, rural households, and local government structures.
• Extensive experience working in South Sudan, with a deep understanding of the socio-economic, cultural, and gender dynamics affecting women in agribusiness.
• In depth knowledge of investing through the private sector, particularly models that empower women in agriculture and enterprise development.
• A team member with gender specialty
• Ability to work independently in remote and fragile contexts.
• Knowledge of local languages in South Sudan is an added advantage.