# 6 Liverpool Street, Freetown-Sierra Leone

 Headquarters Office 

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL –EXTERNAL CONSULTANT

PUBLIC TENDER NOTICE

Invitation for Bids

SIERRA LEONE RED CROSS SOCIETY (SLRCS) 

NATIONAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING (NCB)

Date:  18th December 2024.

PROJECT NAME: Integrated Resilience Programme in Sierra Leone

Contract Identification Number: SLRCS/1631/13/12/2024

Background

Integrated Resilience Programme in Sierra Leone

Background and purpose of the assignment.

In Sierra Leone, women and girls face one of the highest rates of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the world, with an estimated 62% of women reporting that they have experienced physical or sexual violence according to the 2019 SLDHS. Confronted with high levels of marginalization, most women do not have access to financial capital, or even bank accounts – and this economic insecurity often leads to high-risk coping strategies, such as survival sex or child marriage, which only increases their likely exposure to violence. Economic empowerment and financial inclusion reduce the likelihood that a woman will experience SGBV. However, in Sierra Leone, financial services are often inaccessible to women and are not designed to meet their specific needs. 

In response, following a 12-month pilot, in 2022 the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society (SLRCS), partnered with the British Red Cross (BRC) to design and implement a three-year program called “Integrated Resilience Program (IRP)” in 12 deprived communities across Western Urban (Freetown) and Western Rural Districts of Sierra Leone. The project’s aim was not only to enable women to actively participate in pro-poor gender-sensitive financial services and increase their knowledge of SGBV prevention but also to build community resilience to improve food security, livelihoods, and disaster risk reduction. Overall, the program aimed to prevent and mitigate crises, reduce humanitarian needs over time, and pave the way towards sustainable solutions to improve food security, livelihoods, financial inclusion of women, and social scourges from a gender equality approach.

The SLRCS, with the support from British Red Cross (BRC), is carrying out an internal final evaluation during Q1 in 2025 which aims at capturing intended and unintended impact based on the original plan, contribution to change and lessons learned from the program. For this purpose, SLRC requests to have an External Consultant to lead the collection of data from surveys and focus group discussions, based on tools that will have been designed by the SLRCS/BRC evaluation team. The data collection process will be done in Creole and English, for this reason it is expected that the data collection team are proficient in both languages.

Purpose

The purpose of the consultancy is to collect field data from surveys and focus group discussions using tools that will have been designed by the evaluation team of SLRC/BRC. 

Up to 24 focus group discussions are expected to be conducted of 10-15 members each. 

A total of 500 surveys of various groups to be conducted. 

The locations will be 12 communities in Western Urban and Western Rural Districts, the calendar of the surveys and focus group discussions will be arranged by the SLRC/BRC evaluation team. 

Analysis of the collected data will not be required by the consultant. 

Task description

Main task of the external Data Collection Team will be as follows:

Participate in the briefings/training and testing of evaluation tools, such as KOBO questionnaires and semi-structured focus group discussions. All evaluation tools will have been prepared by the SLRCS/BRC evaluation team.

Provide (verbal) feedback to SLRC/BRC on the processes and tools used

Facilitate the recruitment of data collectors. Data collectors should use mobile phone equipment that are provided by the external consultant.

Collect the outlined data in person in the 12 communities, as per the evaluation sample prepared by SLRC/BRC and jointly work on a field work calendar with the consultant. 

Inform respondents about the purpose of data collection, ensuring informed consent and emphasizing confidentiality.

Undertake primary data collection through surveys and facilitation of focus group discussions, using designed evaluation tools prepared by SLRC/BRC team

Give daily (verbal) updates to SLRC/BRC on progress, and report challenges encountered during data collection. 

Reporting

Enumerators will report to the external consultant’s Team leader on the data collection. The consultant’s Team Leader will report to the SLRC/BRC evaluation team. 

In the absence of a consultant’s Team Leader, the enumerators can seek for support from the SLRC/BRC evaluation team. 

Deliverables

Completed raw data of questionnaires for surveys

Transcription / notes taken during focus group discussions.

A summarised table indicating results of a secondary research on similar projects in the area, catchment, and (intended) results

Timeframe

The whole data collection process is estimated to take 2 weeks (14 calendar days), with possible one week extension. The collection data process needs to be completed by the 2nd week of March.

Qualification and experience required

For Team Leader:

Advanced level certificate (University degree)

Minimum of three previous consultancies that have been completed successfully. At least two of these should have been conducted for an international humanitarian/development/UN organization. 

Experience leading field teams.

Fluent (writing, listening, and speaking) in Creole and English.

Sensitivity to cultural nuances and diversity.

Computer literate & familiar with the use of smartphones.

For enumerators:

Completion of higher secondary education.

Experience in conducting household interviews is preferable.

Personable and able to build trusting relationships.

Skillful in eliciting information without leading the interviewee.

Fluent (writing, listening and speaking) in Creole is essential. Fluent in English is desirable.

Familiarity with the use of smartphones.

Sensitivity to cultural nuances and diversity.

Ethical Requirements

Honesty and Integrity: The credibility of the survey relies on the accuracy and integrity of data collection. Falsifying data or submitting fabricated records could lead to immediate dismissal.

Confidentiality: Data collectors must guarantee respondents that provided information will be kept strictly anonymous and confidential, used only for analysis purposes. The data collected, and all its intellectual property rights, will be property of SLRC.

Ethics: Surveys may not be delegated, and neutrality and impartiality must be maintained during data collection.

Professionalism: Data collectors are entrusted with an important task that contributes to safety improvement. Face-to-face interviews should be conducted with pride and responsibility.

Additionally, all data collection teams will need to adhere to the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society of Conduct.

The work of the consultant is part of the implementation of the above-mentioned (IRP) project. The intention of the evaluation is not to collect sensitive or any personal information of individuals. 

SLRC is acquiring the service of an independent consultancy. SLRC will not be liable for any social security, or life insurance benefits of the consultant or any of its enumerators. The consultancy will be responsible for covering any accident or loss during the consultancy tasks. Any accident or loss will not be a liability of the SLRC.  

The Sierra Leone Red Cross Society (SLRCS) now invites sealed envelopes of proposals from eligible service providers:

Note: 

Bidding will be conducted through a national Competitive Bidding (NCB) procedure in accordance with the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society procurement manual which is in line with National Public Procurement Act 2016, and open to all eligible bidders defined in the Bid Document.

Interested eligible Bidders may obtain further information from the Procurement Unit, Sierra Leone Red Cross Society, #6 Liverpool Street, Freetown from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm – Mondays to Fridays inclusive except on public holidays.

 Bids must be marked on the outer envelope “REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL –EXTERNAL CONSULTANT” and delivered to the above office on or before: 2:00 PM on or before 28th January 2025 and must be accompanied by the following documentation for firms: 

A true copy of a valid business registration certificate.

A true copy of a valid and updated tax certificate from the National Revenue Authority (NRA).

A true copy of a valid and updated clearance certificate from NASSIT.

For Individuals:

Advanced level certificate (University degree)

Certificate-Minimum of three previous consultancies that have been completed successfully. At least two of these should have been conducted for an international humanitarian/development/UN organization. 

Experience leading field teams.

Fluent (writing, listening, and speaking) in Creole and English.

Sensitivity to cultural nuances and diversity.

Computer literate & familiar with the use of smartphones

Submission deadline: 

On or before 2:00 PM Tuesday 28th January, 2025.

Sierra Leone Red Cross Society reserves the right to accept or reject any or all the offers without assigning any reason whatsoever and is not bound to accept incomplete Bids. 

Approved by:

Secretary General – Sierra Leone Red Cross Society