Job Description

Request for Tender (RFT)

Trócaire Sierra Leone invites tenders for the service of a Midterm evaluation and Pre-Pilot Study – Consultancy. Tenderers must demonstrate that they have the resources and expertise to provide services required and have a presence in country (Sierra Leone). Tenderers must apply for both consultancies stated in 4a and 4b respectively, of this tender notice. 

Deadline for tender submission: 18/08/2026 @ 23.59 GMT

• Introduction

Tenders are invited from suppliers who wish to be considered for selection as the supplier of below goods and services to Trócaire.

This tender document deals with:

1. Section 2 : Confidentiality
2. Section 3 : Profile of Trócaire
3. Section 4 : Context
4. Section 5 : Scope of the work
5. Section 6 : Content and format of Tenders
6. Section 7 : General Terms and Conditions
7. Section 8 : Conflict of Interest
8. Section 9 : Contract Period
9. Section 10 : Intellectual Property
10. Section 11 : Termination of Contract
11. Section 12 : Evaluation of Tenders
12. Section 13 : Submission of Tenders

• Confidentiality

Trócaire will treat the content of all tenders as strictly confidential and information provided in the tenders will be used solely for the purpose of deciding on the award of a contract as described in this document.

• Profile of Trócaire

Trócaire is an International NGO. We work with local partners in the world’s most at-risk communities and with people in Ireland to tackle the underlying causes of poverty and injustice and respond to the crises they create. Together we bring about positive and lasting change for a just world. Trócaire works in up to 20 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

With the support of the generous people of Ireland, we work towards five goals:

• Promote Access to Justice;
• Achieve Climate & Environmental Justice;
• Ensure Women & Girls’ Protection, Voice & Influence;
• Save Lives and Protect Human Dignity
• Mobilise the Public on the island of Ireland to achieve Global Justice.

More information about Trócaire can be found on http://www.trocaire.org/.

Through its programmes in Sierra Leone, Trócaire is implementing development and humanitarian programmes on governance, human rights, women’s empowerment, prevention, response to gender-based violence, sustainable livelihoods, climate change, and peacebuilding. In partnership with local CSOs that directly implement projects in communities.

• Scope of Services Required

• Context – Mid-Term Evaluation

Trócaire together with KADDRO and private sector provider, Easy Solar, is implementing a renewable energy pilot project in Kambia District, Sierra Leone, aimed at providing sustainable solar energy systems to vulnerable households using the Energy as a Service (EaaS) model. The goal of the project is to test the feasibility, impact, and sustainability of this model in increasing energy access, improving household economic conditions, and fostering long-term renewable energy solutions in rural communities.

The project is implemented across Masungbala, Gbinle, Dixon, and Mambolo chiefdoms in Kambia District and comprises four interrelated components:

• Business Model Development and Sustainability – strengthening the commercial viability and operational effectiveness of the Energy-as-a-service model. 
• Community Sensitisation and Mobilisation – increasing awareness, uptake, and inclusion of vulnerable households. 
• Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) Delivery – installation, maintenance, and management of solar kits and associated payment systems. 
• Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) – monitoring progress, documenting lessons learned, and supporting adaptive management. 

The Lite Salone project is now at its midpoint and seeks to undertake a Midline Evaluation to assess progress towards intended outcomes, identify implementation challenges, document lessons learned, and provide recommendations to strengthen implementation during the remaining project period. Given the critical role of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) in supporting project success, Trócaire intends to commission a consultant to conduct the evaluation. 

The consultant will collect and analyse both quantitative and qualitative data to assess the performance and emerging outcomes of the Energy as a Service (EaaS) model including: 

• Progress towards achieving project outcomes and outputs;  
• How project elements, including community engagement, installation, payment systems, maintenance, and NGO-private sector-partner coordination functions in practice, identifying what is working, not working, and why
• Payment regularity, modalities and factors that impact this positively or negatively; 
• EaaS delivery and customer satisfaction, what’s working, not working and why; 
• Changes in energy access, economic conditions, social outcomes, and community readiness; 
• Changes in household livelihood and domestic economic activities associated with improved household energy access, including economic activities enabled or extended by night-time lighting, and the extent to which access to reliable lighting has influenced productivity, operating hours, income-generating opportunities, and household economic wellbeing
• Changes in household electric energy consumption patterns, including the use of traditional energy sources (e.g. kerosene, candles, batteries and generators, remotely sourced energy such as charging of phones), and the extent to which households have transitioned to cleaner energy sources as a result of the project
• Changes in education outcomes associated with improved household energy access, including children’s study habits, time available for learning, homework completion, and perceived effects on school attendance and educational performance.
• Comparison of the effectiveness of different community engagement approaches (basic and intensive) in sustaining solar energy solutions. 

Findings from the evaluation will inform adaptive management and decision-making, ensure the project remains aligned with its objectives, and generate lessons learned to support future replication and scaling of the Energy as a Service (EaaS) model.

• Purpose of the Midline Evaluation

The purpose of the Midline Evaluation is to:

• Assess progress towards achieving project outcomes and outputs. 
• Measure changes since baseline.
• Examine the effectiveness of the EaaS model and community engagement approaches. 
• Understand household experiences with solar energy services. 
• Identify barriers and enablers to payment compliance and service utilisation. 
• How project elements, including community engagement, installation, payment systems, maintenance, and NGO-private sector-partner coordination is function in practice, identifying what is working, not working, and why.
• Measure changes in energy access, economic conditions, social & educational outcomes, community readiness.
• Generate evidence-based recommendations to improve implementation during the remainder of the project.

• Evaluation Objectives

The evaluation shall deliver following objectives:

Objective 1: Assess Progress Towards Results

• Determine the extent to which project outputs and outcomes are being achieved. 
• Compare progress against project targets and baseline values. 
• Changes in energy access and usage (renewables vs non renewable sources), economic conditions, social & educational outcomes, community readiness
• Assess the effectiveness of the solar lantern intervention, including the appropriateness of household selection, utilisation, user satisfaction, and perceived benefits.

Objective 2: Assess Effectiveness of the Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) Model

• Examine household uptake and utilisation of solar kits. 
• Assess customer satisfaction with the quality and reliability of services. 
• Review payment performance and repayment behaviours (barriers and enabling factors including payment for more than a month in advance). 

Objective 3: Assess Community Engagement and Inclusion with a comparison between basic and intensive communities

• Assess community understanding of the EaaS concept 
• Evaluate community understanding of customer responsibilities 
• Confirm awareness of maintenance and support processes
• Evaluate the effectiveness of sensitisation and mobilisation activities. 
• Assess participation and inclusion of vulnerable households. 
• Explore community understanding of the EaaS model. 

Objective 4: Assess Operational Performance

• Review installation processes, maintenance arrangements, customer support systems, and complaint resolution mechanisms. 
• Assess functionality of kits and user experience with repairs and replacements. 

Objective 5: Generate Learning and Recommendations

• Identify factors contributing to success and underperformance. 
• Document lessons learned and good practices. 
• How project elements, including community engagement, installation, payment systems, maintenance, and NGO-private sector-partner coordination is function in practice
• Recommend actions to strengthen project performance and sustainability– including sustainability in alignment with proposed business models.

• Evaluation Questions

Relevance

• To what extent does the project address the energy needs of target communities? 
• Is the EaaS model appropriate for the socio-economic context of participating households? 
• How well does the project address the needs of vulnerable households? 

Effectiveness

• To what extent have project outputs and outcomes been achieved? 
• How many households are actively using the installed solar systems? 
• How satisfied are households with the services provided? 
• What factors influence uptake and continued participation? 
• Two what extent and how has the different community engagement approaches impacted household uptake and consistency of payments?

Efficiency

• Are project resources being used efficiently? 
• Are installation, maintenance, and payment collection processes operating effectively? 
• How effective is the partnership and coordination between NGO-and private sector in delivering EaaS
• What operational bottlenecks affect implementation? 

Sustainability

• Is the proposed current business models financially viable? 
• Are households willing and able to continue making payments? 
• What factors may affect long-term sustainability? 

Impact (Emerging)

• What changes have households experienced as a result of access to solar energy? 
• How has energy access affected household wellbeing, education, livelihoods, safety, communication, or economic activities? 
• To what extent has Solar EaaS reduced use of non renewable energy sources? 

Learning

• What lessons have emerged from implementation to date? 
• What adaptations should be made during the remaining project period?

• Scope of the Evaluation

The evaluation shall cover:

• All project components. 
• All implementation chiefdoms. 
• Project implementation period from project inception to the date of evaluation. 
• Project participants, community representatives, community champions, local leaders, local authorities, project staff, and implementing partners and private sector actors.  

The evaluation should include both participating households and a sample of households that have discontinued participation, as well as households not participating or are significantly behind on payments, where feasible.

• Methodology

The consultant shall propose a robust mixed-methods approach.

Quantitative Methods May include:

• Household survey 
• Analysis of project monitoring data 
• Analysis of payment records 
• Analysis of installation and maintenance records 

Qualitative Methods May include:

• Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) 
• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) 
• Community meetings 
• Case studies 
• Direct observation of installed systems 

Data Sources – the evaluation should draw upon:

• Baseline data 
• Monitoring and reporting data 
• Household registration records 
• Payment and repayment records 
• Maintenance and service logs 
• Community feedback and complaints data 
• Project reports and documentation

• Deliverables

The consultant shall provide:

Inception Report Including:

• Detailed methodology 
• Sampling strategy 
• Data collection tools 
• Work plan 

Data Collection Tools

• Survey questionnaires 
• KII guides 
• FGD guides 

Clean Datasets

• Raw data, codebooks and analysis files

Draft Midline Evaluation Report Including:

• Executive summary 
• Methodology 
• Findings 
• Conclusions 
• Recommendations 
• Lessons learned 

Validation Workshop

• Presentation of preliminary findings to key stakeholders.

Final Midline Evaluation Report

• Incorporating stakeholder feedback.

Presentation Deck

• PowerPoint presentation summarising findings and recommendations.

• Context – Pre-Pilot Study

The Lite Salone Project seeks to expand access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable solar energy services in rural Sierra Leone through an Energy as a Service (EaaS) model. Prior to the implementation of the Lite Salone pilot in Kambia District, a pre-pilot phase was undertaken across five districts: Kambia, Port Loko, Karene, Pujehun, and Bombali. The pre-pilot reached approximately 350 households and served as a proof of concept for testing key assumptions underpinning the EaaS model (Dec 2023-present) 

The pre-pilot provided an opportunity for Trócaire, Easy Solar, and implementing partners to test community engagement approaches, household demand, installation processes, payment mechanisms, maintenance systems, solar kit suitability, and partnership arrangements. Lessons emerging from this phase informed the design and implementation of the Lite Salone pilot project (Dec 2024-Nov 2026). While valuable learning was generated through periodic monitoring and implementation experience, a structured assessment of these lessons has not yet been conducted. Including covering the 2025-6 period where local partners community engagement / follow-up support was scaled down or stopped. 

As Lite Salone continues to build an evidence base for future scale-up and replication, it is important to systematically capture and analyse the full experiences/lessons of the pre-pilot phase. Understanding what worked, what did not work, and why, especially up to 2 years after installations, will strengthen ongoing implementation and contribute to the development of a more effective and sustainable Energy as a Service model.

Trócaire therefore seeks to commission a consultant to undertake a learning study that will generate actionable evidence and recommendations from the pre-pilot phase to inform the continued implementation and future scaling of Lite Salone.

• Purpose of the Learning Study

The purpose of the study is to generate actionable, evidence-based learning from the Lite Salone pre-pilot phase to inform ongoing implementation of Lite Salone and future implementation of the Energy as a Service (EaaS) model.

• Study Objectives

The study will:

• Assess how core project components, including community engagement, installation, payment systems, maintenance arrangements, solar system design suitability and private sector-partner coordination functioned in practice, identifying what worked, what did not work, and why.
• Gain evidence on the sustainability of Energy as a Service model by analysing payment trends, payment compliance, and factors influencing continued or discontinued participation/payment, including the effects of phasing out civil society follow-up support.
• Assess current levels of service uptake, payment compliance, customer engagement, customer satisfaction, and community ownership within pre-pilot communities, after installations in 2024
• Explore how responsibilities and relationships evolved as service delivery transitioned from NGO-supported implementation towards private sector-led service provision.
• Generate credible and actionable learning to strengthen the Lite Salone model and support future implementation, scale-up, investment, and funding opportunities.

• Key Learning Questions

The study should seek to answer the following questions:

Community Engagement and Uptake

• How effective were community engagement and mobilisation approaches (per and post installation) in promoting awareness, uptake, and participation?
• What factors influenced household decisions to adopt or not adopt the solar energy service?
• What role did community leadership and stakeholders play in project uptake and sustainability?

Installation and Service Delivery

• How effective were installation processes and technical support systems?
• What operational challenges emerged during implementation and how were they addressed?
• How satisfied are users with the quality, reliability, and accessibility of Energy as a Service including fault resolution?

Payment Systems and Sustainability

• What payment patterns and trends emerged during and after the pre-pilot phase?
• What factors contributed to consistent payment, delayed payment, or discontinued payment?
• How sustainable is the EaaS model in the absence of intensive NGO support?

Partnerships and Delivery Model

• How effective were coordination arrangements between Trócaire, Easy Solar, implementing partners and the government or any other regulatory body?
• What lessons can be drawn regarding roles, responsibilities, communication, and accountability?

Outcomes and Changes

• What intended and unintended outcomes emerged from the pre-pilot phase?
• What changes have households and communities experienced as a result of accessing solar energy services?
• Which factors contributed most significantly to these outcomes?

Future Scale-Up

• What elements of the model should be retained, adapted, strengthened, or discontinued?
• What lessons should inform future expansion and replication of the EaaS model?

Market evolution

• To what extent have other providers of Solar Home Systems (SHS), including those using Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) models, entered the pre-pilot communities since implementation, and what influence has this had on the Lite Salone model and participating households?

• Scope of the Study

The study shall cover the pre-pilot communities located in:

• Kambia District
• Port Loko District
• Karene District
• Pujehun District
• Bombali District

The study should include perspectives from:

• Households participating in the pre-pilot
• Community leaders
• Community representatives
• Easy Solar staff
• Trócaire staff
• Partner organisations involved in implementation

• Methodology

The consultant is expected to propose a robust mixed-methods approach. The methodology should combine the following approaches:

Retrospective Learning Review

• To systematically review implementation experiences and lessons through document review and stakeholder reflection.

Process Evaluation

• To assess how key project components were implemented, how effectively they functioned, and what implementation lessons can be drawn.

Outcome Harvesting

• To identify, verify, and analyse significant changes and outcomes that emerged from the pre-pilot phase and understand the factors that contributed to them.

Data Collection Methods may include:

• Desk review of project documentation
• Review and analysis of Easy Solar payment and operational data
• Key Informant Interviews (KIIs)
• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs)
• Household interviews
• Community case studies
• Direct observation where appropriate

• Deliverables

The consultant shall provide:

Inception Report

Including:

• Refined methodology
• Learning framework
• Sampling strategy
• Data collection tools
• Detailed workplan

Data Collection Tools

• KII guides 
• FGD guides 
• Interview tools
• Outcome harvesting tools

Draft Learning Report

Including:

• Executive summary 
• Methodology 
• Findings 
• Conclusions 
• Recommendations 
• Lessons learned 

Validation Workshop

• Presentation of findings to stakeholders for review and validation

Final Learning Report

• Incorporating stakeholder feedback.

Learning Brief

• A concise 2–3-page summary of key findings, lessons, and recommendations

Presentation Deck

• PowerPoint presentation summarising findings and recommendations.

• Duration

The consultancy is expected to be completed within 30–40 working days from contract signing for both lots of Mid Term Evaluation and Pre-Pilot Study.

• Content and Format of Tenders

Tenders should be submitted by way of a written tender document and contain at least the following elements:

• CVs/Resumes
• Cover letter
• Two descriptions and references for similar relevant assignments
• Technical proposed workplan with clear timeline and deliverables (outlining your understanding of the TOR, the approach, required materials)
• Proposed budget outlining all relevant costs, including consultant fees

• General Terms and Conditions of this RFT

• Trócaire does not bind itself to accept the lowest priced tender.
• Trócaire does not guarantee exclusivity and reserves the right to engage other companies for the same services (if required) during the term of the contract.
• Trócaire shall be free to
  • To accept the whole, or part only, of any tender.

• To accept none of the proposals tendered.
• To republish this Request for Tenders.

• In the event of not accepting any of the tender submissions received on foot of this RFT, Trócaire shall be free to make such arrangements as it considers necessary in relation to the provision of the goods/services.
• Trócaire will not be liable for any costs or expenses incurred in the preparation of a tender.
• The Contract shall be considered as a contract made in Sierra Leone according to Sierra Leone law and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Sierra Leone courts.
• The Standard Procurement Terms and Conditions to which Trócaire expects all of its supplier to respect can be found here https://www.trocaire.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Trocaire-General-Terms-Conditions-for-Procurement-V4-April-2023.pdf.
• The Suppliers Code of Conduct to which Trócaire expects all of its suppliers to respect can be found here https://www.trocaire.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Trocaire-Supplier-Code-of-Conduct-V3-April-2023-EN.pdf.

• Conflicts of interest

Any conflicts interest involving an applicant must be fully disclosed to Trócaire. Failure to disclose a conflict may disqualify an applicant or invalidate an award of the contract. Applicants are required to declare any current or past work which might reasonably be considered to represent a conflict of interest. It will be for Trócaire to decide if a material conflict of interest exists and applicants in doubt in this regard should seek the advice of Trócaire.

• Contract Type and Period

The contract will be a defined consultancy contract, expected for not more than 30 days

• Intellectual Property

Any concept, guidelines or other material developed during the contract will be considered the property of Trócaire and may be used by Trócaire at any time.

• Termination of Contract

1. Trócaire reserves the right to terminate the contract at any stage on payment of reasonable and agreed costs accrued to the date of termination. The contract may be terminated by either party on giving appropriate written notice.
2. If at any stage during the contract, the goods / services delivered by the tenderer is found to be unsatisfactory, the contract may be terminated by Trócaire. In the event of such a termination, the tenderer will only be entitled to receive payment in relation to the acceptable goods / services rendered at that time.

• Evaluation of Tenders

All Service Providers should at least meet following minimum criteria:

1. Consultant qualifications and expertise

• Advanced degree in Social Sciences, Economics, Energy Studies, Development Studies, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in conducting baseline surveys, midline and endline surveys, socio-economic assessments, or evaluations, especially in energy access.
• Experience working in renewable energy, market systems development, private sector engagement, or rural development programmes

1. Technical Expertise in MEAL and Evaluation Design

• Proven experience designing and implementing baseline and endline assessments, including developing logical frameworks, indicators, data analysis and data collection tools.
• Strong grounding in mixed-methods research, combining both quantitative and qualitative approaches.

1. Energy Access Knowledge

• Demonstrated understanding of renewable energy access models (preferably Energy-as-a-Service), rural electrification strategies, and socio-economic impacts on vulnerable populations.
• Familiarity with community-level energy needs and financial behavior in low-income settings.

1. Data Analysis and Reporting Skills

• Proficiency in using data analysis software for both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Ability to synthesize complex data into clear, concise, and actionable reports.

1. Community Engagement and Participatory Methods

• Experience facilitating participatory focus group discussions, and key informant interviews, especially in rural or under-served communities.
• Culturally sensitive approach with the ability to build trust and encourage participation across diverse groups.

1. Local Context Familiarity (Highly Desirable)

• Experience working in Sierra Leone or a similar rural context, with knowledge of local languages and cultural dynamics being an added advantage.

1. Regulatory and legal compliance requirements

• Must be registered and licensed to operate in Sierra Leone.
• Adherence to Sierra Leone’s local tax laws.

1. Financial and contractual requirements

• Pricing and Value for Money: Consultant must provide in their proposal transparent pricing with a detailed breakdown of actual cost.
• Payment Terms: Consultant must offer flexible payment terms aligned with project funding cycles. Performance-Linked Payment Schedule
  • 50%: Inception Report (including all relevant sections);
  • 50%: Final report (including all deliverables)
• Performance Bonds: Requirement for a performance bond to ensure Consultant compliance with quality and delivery standards.
• Insurance: Consultant must have adequate liability insurance to cover any Service defects or failures.
• All taxes compliance requirement is applicable as per Sierra Leone Tax law.

The successful tenderer will be the one who, in the opinion of Trócaire, submits the most economically advantageous proposal applying the following award criteria:

• Price of services offered: 20%
• Quality of Services offered: 25%
• Methodology of service delivery: 20%
• Relevant experience and expertise: 20%
• Delivery time: 10%
• Innovation: 5%

During the evaluation period clarification may be sought in writing from tenderers. Responses to requests for clarification may not materially change any elements of the tenders submitted.

No unsolicited communications from tenderers will be accepted or entertained during the evaluation period.

A shortlist of those who have tendered may be drawn up and a certain number of those who have tendered may be invited to make a final presentation of their tender.

• Submission of Tenders

Interested consultants should be invited to submit applications for both the Lite Salone Mid-Term Evaluation and the Lite Salone Pre-Pilot Learning Study. While these are separate assignments with distinct Terms of Reference, applicants should indicate their interest and submit proposals for both consultancies. 

Your proposal marked “RFT TROCAIRE SIE Lite Salone Mid-Term Evaluation” should be submitted by email to tenders_sle@trocaire.org and will be acknowledged after the deadline. 

To facilitate the dropping of any large reference materials there will also be a physical tender box available in the Trócaire Office in Freetown (31c Lower Pipeline, Off Wilkinson Road, Freetown).