Consultant – Baseline Study, MERL Capacity Building on Baseline Study Development

About the company

ChildFund International is a non-sectarian, non-profit development organization operating in 25 countries worldwide. It works to improve the well-being of approximately 24.33 million children and their families. ChildFund Sri Lanka (CFSL) began its operations in 1985 and implements development programs that aim for positive outcomes for deprived, excluded, and vulnerable children. Currently, ChildFund is working in ten districts and their families. All programs are designed in alignment with ChildFund’s global strategy and are implemented in collaboration with local partners, government, and non-governmental organizations. CFSL strives to deliver high quality, evidence-based programming in the core areas of advancing care and development of infants and young children, enhancing educational achievement and skills of youth. These efforts are underpinned by ChildFund Sri Lanka broader result framework, which focuses on learning, building sustainability, strengthening livelihoods and gender and disability inclusion.

Background

The STEP (Strengthening Organizational Capacity for Evidence, Learning, and Impact to Enhance Communities in Sri Lanka) Project is a short-term strategic initiative implemented by ChildFund Sri Lanka to strengthen monitoring, evaluation, research, and learning (MERL) systems and practices across the country office and local partner organizations. The project focuses on improving evidence generation, strengthening knowledge management systems, enhancing program learning processes aligned with ChildFund Sri Lanka’s country results framework and future country strategic plan (CSP).

As part of the STEP project, ChildFund Sri Lanka intends to engage with consultancy firm or individual consultant to extend development and implementation of a baseline study. Further, while carrying out the baseline study, the consultancy firm is also expected to strengthen the capacities of direct implementation (DI) staff, and partner organization MEL staff on how to design and carry out a baseline study. CFSL Sri Lanka working through 03 partner organizations in 05 districts and directly implementing in 03 districts.

Baseline purpose and objectives

Purpose: To conduct a baseline study to assess the current status of indicators across each project in the targeted communities and establish baseline values for all high-level indicators aligned with the project’s long-term outcomes and impact.

Specific objectives:

1. Assess the current status of project indicators and establish baseline values and generate and document the evidence for future comparison during mid-term and end-line evaluations.
2. Develop a robust baseline study design, including the sampling strategy and methodology.
3. Develop data collection tools, methodologies, and indicator reference sheets.
4. Train and build the capacity of the partner organization and direct implementation MEL staff on baseline study design, data collection, quality assurance, data analysis, and reporting.
5. Assess the existing knowledge, attitudes, practices, and behaviors related to project interventions and identify barriers, challenges, and opportunities relevant to project implementation. (Expected beyond the set indicators)
6. Conduct the baseline data collection, analysis, and reporting using appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods.
7. Provide recommendations to strengthen the implementation of each sub-sector, identifying key areas of focus and priority based on the findings. The recommendations should also outline where resources should be allocated to maximize impact, address identified gaps and improve overall sector performance.
8. Provide recommendations to strengthen the project’s monitoring, evaluation, and learning system.

Scope of work and deliverables

Inception phase

1. Review project documents (proposal, results framework, MEL plan, indicator reference sheets, theory of change, etc.).
2. Hold inception meetings CFSL MERL team.
3. Submission of inception report (to confirm the consultant’s understanding of the assignment and propose the overall approach before developing detailed study components.)
4. Develop the baseline study design.

Expected deliverables for inception phase:

1. Inception meeting presentation
2. Inception report
3. A detailed baseline study design outlining the overall approach, methodology (quantitative and qualitative components), sample size, research questions, tools and alignment with the results framework and MEL plan. That includes the following:
4. Methodology – mixed method approach, data collection approach and data management and data collection plan
5. Documented sampling approach, including sampling strategy, sample size calculation and justification, selection criteria, sampling frame, and respondent distribution plan.
6. Data collection tools – quantitative questionnaire and other tools and qualitative tools
7. Data analysis plan – quantitative analysis method and qualitative data analysis
8. Field implementation plan – enumerator requirements, training plan, pilot testing approach, field supervision mechanism

Capacity building phase

1. Deliver 03-day capacity building training on baseline study design development that includes: (study design, sampling techniques, tools development, data quality assurance technique, data cleaning, data analysis and reporting)

Expected deliverables for capacity building phase:

1. Develop and submit detailed training manuals that include session plan, delivery approach etc.
2. Capacity building report including pre and post test result

Data collection and analysis phase

1. Pilot test tools
2. Revised tools based on pilot findings
3. Clean and analyze the data
4. Organize validation workshop and present and validate the findings with all the stakeholders
5. Incorporate the findings and finalizing the findings and produce baseline value for all indicators

Expected deliverables for data collection and analysis phase:

1. Finalized tools
2. Cleaned raw dataset with data cleaning procedures documented
3. Data analysis outputs – including statistical tables, indicator calculations, thematic analysis summaries, and disaggregated findings (sex, age, location, disability, etc. as relevant).
4. Findings presentation and validation workshop report
5. Final baseline indicator matrix – final table showing all sector indicators, definitions, calculation methods, baseline values, data sources, disaggregation, and remarks/limitations.

Reporting phase

1. Prepare and draft final baseline report
2. Incorporate feedback of CFSL and submission of final report.

Expected deliverables for reporting phase:

1. Draft baseline report
2. Finalized baseline report

Budget

The budget is expected to elaborate on consultant/ consultancy fees, travel and logistics, and administrative fees.

Payment schedule:

1. 1st payment – 20% of the total contract amount will be paid upon completion of the inception phase, following submission, review, and formal approval of the inception report, baseline study design, methodology, sampling plan, and other agreed deliverables.
2. 2nd payment – 20% will be paid upon the completion of capacity building phase and approval of all agreed deliverables under this phase.
3. 3rd payment – 40% of the total contract amount will be paid upon successful completion of all tasks under the data collection and analysis phase, including the submission, review, and approval of all agreed deliverables.
4. 4th payment – 30% of the total contract amount will be paid upon successful completion of all tasks under the reporting phase, including the submission, review, and approval of all agreed deliverables.

Qualifications

1. A legal citizen of Sri Lanka.
2. Consultant/ consultancy team must include professional(s) in the areas of monitoring, evaluation, research and learning especially having experience in providing consultancy for at least 3 baseline studies.
3. Experienced in both qualitative and quantitative research and must have efficient data collection teams in project implementation areas.
4. Experience in using SPSS or similar statistical software for quantitative data analysis and demonstrated experience in using qualitative data analysis software or developing systematic qualitative analysis frameworks.
5. Consultant/ consultancy team MEAL expert with a minimum of ten (10) years of experience in project monitoring and evaluation.
6. Experience of working/contracting with non-governmental organizations at the time of this advertisement e.g.: partnership agreements, and MOUs.
7. Must adhere to child protection and safeguarding, and data protection policies and guidelines of ChildFund.

When applying

A cover letter with the profile of the consultant/ consultancy team and the experience of similar assignments (2 page).

Technical proposal with consultants’ understanding of the assignment, baseline approach, sampling, methodology and the evaluation timeline of consultant’s team.

Updated CVs (each not exceeding 2 pages) of consultant’s team.

Examples of two previous similar assignment reports.

Technical and financial proposals need to be submitted separately.

A written confirmation of availability during the indicated timeframe.