Conducting a Baseline Survey on the Attitudes, Perceptions and Practices Related to the Community Economic Empowerment Interventions with Focus on the Well Being Conditions and Livelihoods Improvements of Sponsored Children’s Families Based in Bugesera, Gatsibo and Nyaruguru Districts
Organization IMBARAGA Farmer Organization
Project name Transforming Households Resilience in Vulnerable Environment (THRIVE)
Position title Consultant
Reporting to Secretary General
Duration 30 days calendar (effective from the contract signing date).
1. Introduction
IMBARAGA is an independent, Non-governmental National Farmers Organization which works with farmers to improve the socio-economic conditions of an estimated 27,400 members located in 25 out of 30 districts throughout the country.
It is structured from the village to the national level and governed by the vision of making her members “Professional farmers and change makers” through “lobby and advocacy”; “increase the productivity and access to market and Environment protection and conservation”.
IMBARAGA would like to hire a consulting firm or an individual consultant to conduct a baseline survey on assessing the household living conditions and livelihoods for all beneficiaries of Plan International, especially poor households capabilities and or strategies of resilience in vulnerable environment, gender equality, women and young girls empowerment based in Nyaruguru, Bugesera and Gatsibo; documenting the best practices, lessons learnt and proposing clear recommendations for future concrete action.
2. Background
With the financial support from Plan International, since December 2020, IMBARAGAis involved in THRIVE project implementing process in three (3) Districts namely Bugesera, Gatsibo and Nyaruguru covering in total six (6) sectors and 18 cells.
THRIVE Project is aiming to contributing to improve the livelihoods of the households’ beneficiaries in availing farm agricultural inputs, agro-equipment as well as small livestock in order to boost the production at the farm level. Enhancing the capacity of 600 sponsored children’s families at community level through hands-on trainings on the established demo and learning sites (FFS) and enhancing the capacities and abilities of existing structures of community-based volunteers selected to work with the project, namely FFS facilitators at sector and cell levels.
This study will provide strategic orientations in regard with improving the performance of THRIVE project vis-à-vis the target group at all levels and how multi-sectoral partnerships can be strengthened among the implementing partners (YCWA, IMBARAGA;..), the end result to be achieved is to inform the future programming and enableIMBARAGA to strategically plan the interventions in response to the needs and challenges raised at the grass root level.
3. Objectives of the Assignment
The overall objective of the consultancy is to conduct “a baseline survey on the Attitudes, perceptions and practices related to the community economic empowerment interventions with focus on the wellbeing conditions and livelihoods improvements of sponsored children’s families based in Bugesera, Gatsibo and Nyaruguru Districts.”
Specifically, the study is designed to achieve the following objectives:
– Conduct a participatory research on how target group/people views, needs and wants, expectations and aspirations at the grass-root levels (villages, cells, sectors; …) are gathered, analysedand validated by different stakeholders at the community level;
– Assess the existing, if any, participatory mechanisms or channels used at the grass-root level to make citizens/poor families more engaged in service delivery process and show how they impact their wellbeing and livelihoods;
– Organize face-to-face meetings with key informants at the grass root level (FFs facilitators, farmer promoters, sponsored children’s family representatives, local administrative entities) ;… to have a big picture of service provision in relation with their needs and wants, expectations and aspirations, from CSOs and other non-state actors in Rwanda;
– Gather relevant information and best practices on the existing initiatives and achievements related to community mobilization and service provision to build on that have been initiated or supported by other key stakeholders such as local NGOs or farmer organizations and their extend;
– Explore perceptions of men, women, youth, and leaders on gender equality/ equity and women empowerment;
– Identify social-cultural masculine factors that negatively affect the social integration of women and girls in the family and community;
– Examining illegal or reported violence against women and girls’ cases capturing new structures of inequalities in regard with the current situation of covid-19 outbreak pandemic and lockdown;
– Produce concrete recommendations on the area of focus related to the community mobilization and service provision, gender equality promotion and women empowerment and poverty alleviation.
4. Key Expected Deliverable Outcomes
– A comprehensive detailed methodology: data collection and analysis techniques and methods, triangulation approaches and sampling methods;
– Well-designed tools for quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis;
– Plan of interview with key informants such as men, women, local authorities, or other stakeholders;
– Data collection and dissemination plan;
– Lead internal validation and external meetings (workshops) to disseminate the key findings from the baseline with key stakeholders and donor.
– Two final reports in hard copy (one for IMBARAGA and the other for the donor) after incorporating comments from IMBARAGA and its partners.
5. Minimum Desired Qualification and Competencies
The current short-term assignment will be carried out by an individual consultant or a consulting firm, to be hired by IMBARAGA, basing to its tender policy. An individual consultant or a consulting firm will be able to perform all tasks as detailed in the above section of the key deliverables.
The minimum expected qualification and experience desired to conduct the baseline survey are detailed below:
– An individual consultant or multidisciplinary consulting firm with demonstrable experience in Qualitative &Quantitative researches, data analysis and reporting with a focus on gender equality and women empowerment as well as community mobilization.
– The Lead Consultant should hold at least Master’s degree in gender studies, Social Sciences,Development Studies, Project Development, Rural Development, or related fields;
– The Lead Consultant should demonstrate strong experience in working with women and power analysis;
– Strong experiences in using advanced data analysis and visualization techniques and methods;
– Proven work experience with Government institutions, international and local NGOs, Community Based Organizations and IMBARAGA itself;
– Excellent command of English, both spoken and written. Knowledge of Kinyarwanda will be an added value;
– Create and effectively maintain good working relationships between organization staff and the baseline survey team.
6. Criteria of selection
The selection will mainly be based on the following elements:
– Relevance of the proposed approach and methodology;
– Qualification and experience of the team in carrying out similar work;
– Working calendar and detailed financial proposal.
7. Work duration
The assignment including report validation shall be completed within period of 30 days’ calendar, from the date of contract signing.
8. How to apply?
Interested candidates are required to submit the following documents, not later than 09/03/ 2021 at 3:00 pm local time:
- A technical proposal should outline an indicative methodology (sampling methodology and techniques for sample size calculation, data collection, and analysis techniques), timeline, and delivery dates and proofs of previous similar work experience, detailed CVs; and an application letter including contact information of references.
- A financial proposal (Financial bids) quoted in Rwandan Francs (RWF).
Applications should be addressed to IMBARAGA HQ by submission of hard copy to IMBARAGA Secretariat and late bids will not be accepted.
Done at Kigali, on March 2nd, 2021
Approved by:
MUNYAKAZI Jean Paul
Legal Representative of IMBARAGA
