Job Description

Terms of Reference: Christian Aid Sierra Leone – ICSP – Cases of Change 2026

October 2026

1. About Christian Aid 

Christian Aid works through partner organisations across five multi-country clusters worldwide, with its West and Central Africa Hub in Abuja supporting programmes in Sierra Leone. Our work in Sierra Leone focuses on four interconnected signature programmes: Climate Resilient Livelihoods, Governance and Rights (People in Action), Women Transforming Economies, and Community-Led Peacebuilding. Through these programmes, we work with local partners and communities to strengthen climate resilience and livelihoods, empower marginalised people to claim their rights and influence decisions, advance gender justice and women’s economic empowerment, and address local conflict drivers through inclusive, community-led peacebuilding. Together, these approaches seek to tackle the root causes of poverty, inequality, vulnerability and conflict while strengthening the capacity and agency of local communities to lead sustainable and peaceful change.

Christian Aid Ireland (CAI) exists to create a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. We are here to help end poverty, injustice, inequality and violence in some of the poorest countries across the world. We are an international development agency founded by the Protestant Churches of Britain and Ireland. We tackle both the symptoms and root causes of injustice challenging the systems and structures that perpetuate poverty and marginalisation. We work with people of all faiths and none, and work in partnership in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

1. Background

Christian Aid (CA) Sierra Leone, in collaboration with five Sierra Leonian Civil Society Organisations and Christian Aid Ireland, is implementing the Irish Civil Society Partnership (ICSP), 2023 – 2027. This five year programme focusses on issues of strengthening civil society and accountable governance by supporting coalitions such as the Budget Advocacy Network (BAN) to promote transparency, public resource accountability and improved services; advancing inclusive decision-making, women’s leadership and civic participation; promoting land rights, gender equality and awareness of the Customary Land Rights Act 2022 and GEWE Act 2022; and engaging traditional and faith leaders to protect civic space, human rights and social cohesion. The programme also strengthens community peacebuilding, including multi-stakeholder approaches to farmer-herder conflict that have contributed to locally agreed by-laws and wider policy change. Alongside this, Christian Aid and partners promote climate-smart agriculture, agroecology, sustainable livelihoods, savings groups and locally led climate adaptation to improve food security, resilience and incomes, particularly for women and vulnerable communities.  It is implemented in Bo, Bombali, Falaba, Kambia, Kailahun, Karene, Koinadugu, Kono, Moyamba, Port Loko, Pujehun, Tonkolili and Western Rural. 

The programme seeks to influence meaningful shifts in the systems that create change. To accommodate this within the MEAL system, each year the programme identifies and documents several ‘cases of change’ which describe changes, and the programme’s contribution to them. 

This cases of change methodology (inspired by the publication No Royal Road) seeks to identify and document:

• The change/s that have occurred
• The journey to achieving the change
• The contribution of the programme to the change
• How inclusive the change is. 
• The change is also rated along several factors of interest, learnings and recommendations are identified. 

The cases should be well evidenced, using a mix of existing monitoring data, primary data collection, and (where available) secondary data. Typically, the programme identifies a broad focus of change, which is then refined through data collection. 

Of particular relevant to these Terms of Reference (ToRs) are the following two cases (each specific to one organisation):

• Case 1: There is better, and more sustainable, prevention and/or peaceful settlement of resource-related disputes, between crops farmers and cattle rearers, due to the work on community and chiefdom-level groups/ committees.  A key focus of the learning will look at convening and trust: How ICSP has supported the local actors to gain increased trust within communities and ability to convene dialogues and engagements with community members or target groups.  How the CAGs and CSCs are convening peace mediation meetings and growing communities trust in their peace/mediation efforts, etc Key Actors: Target communities (women and men), Community Action Groups, Chiefdom Settlement Committees, local leaders.  Gbense, Fiama and Lei Chiefdoms in Kono district.
• Case 2: There is stronger land governance, at community, district and national level, through better implementation of Sierra Leone’s Land laws (2022). A key focus of the learning will look at land governance: Micro level: How numbers of/groups of landowners and users are gaining increased confidence to ensure accountability and transparency in the implementation of the land laws using their knowledge on the land laws, raising concerns on irregularities and seeking clarifications, speaking truth to power as well.  Meso level: How District Multi Stakeholders Platforms are growing in confidence, recognition and trust in peace mediations on land conflicts.  Key Actors: Government of Sierra Leone and relevant district level ministries and agents, Civil Society organisations, District level Multistakeholder Platforms (and their members), Landowners and users, Landowners and Users groups and associations, District and Chiefdom Authorities, Community Members, etc.  Locations: Districts: Bombali, Portloko and Pujehun.   

1. Objectives

To support the development of two cases of change by:

• Providing documented key conclusions, and associated underpinning evidence (summarised, with more detailed evidence attached) for each of the cases of change to inform: 
  • The draft ‘change’ statement (if needed), so that it reflects the evidence
  • The claims the programme can make about the change observed, the journey to it, and the programme’s contribution. 
• Sharing and discussing evidence-based insights with CA Sierra Leone and partners

1. Scope

• • Number of cases/ partner organisations: The consultancy will cover data collection and documentation for two cases, each one related to one partner organisation
  • Sampling: Sampling should balance rigor and feasibility. Purposive sampling will be completed, for each case, ensuring that a variety of voices are heard, and the change and change journey is understood from multiple perspectives. Partner organisations will support in identifying and accessing sampled parties. 
  • Inclusion: Women and other marginalised groups (as agreed in advance) should be well represented in the sampling, and the final write up. 

• Design and implementation of Data Collection/ methodology: A light inception report will be required to ensure the consultant and CA have the same understanding of the task, to confirm sampling, and review the data collection tools. Primary data collection should be in person (exceptions can be made for national level stakeholders), through Key Informant Interviews, Focus Group Discussions and participatory methodologies, as most useful. The data collection plan and methodology should be gender inclusive. The consultant will not be asked to review and incorporate monitoring information to their conclusions. They will be asked to incorporate existing external evidence from relevant secondary documentation, particularly in the case of macro-level change, but this aspect of data collection, if used, should receive significantly less emphasis. 

• Documentation: The consultant should provide key conclusions under each of the below headings, using the predesigned CA template. These can take the form of bullet points. Each conclusion should be well supported by evidence, which can take the form of summarised findings and key quotes. 

• • The situation before the change
  • A description of the change that occurred
  • The journey towards the change, including the role of the programme (if any) and other actors, in enabling and contributing to the change.  

An annex with a fuller set of evidence should be provided (should be anonymised but labelled appropriately for adequate interpretation and understanding of gender inclusion).

• Timing: the consultancy must be completed by 13th November 2026

1. Delivery

The consultant must be based within Sierra Leone, and able to access the above-described locations independently. The consultant is responsible for their own costs and logistics.  The partners will provide assistance with information regarding their project participants and key stakeholders including planning and coordinating meetings and engagements around the gathering of data for the cases of change with these key actors.

1. Budget and Resourcing 

The Consultant will submit a clear proposal (includes concept and budget) for carrying out this piece of work.  This should include a comprehensive narrative proposal with clear activities and timelines that are aligned with the delivery of the work.  The budget should show all costs associated with the consultant’s services, travel and data gathering activities. 

1. Environmental, Social and Governance criteria (ESG)

• The consultancy should be completed with a view to minimising any potential Environmental impact. 
• Social: The consultancy must take an ethical approach to data collection, with particular regard for do no harm principles. In particular, the consultant will seek to minimise the risk of harm for community members and act in accordance with local customs and laws.
• The consultant must be in compliance with Sierra Leonian laws and regulations, as relevant. 
• The consultant will be asked to sign and abide by the CA Code of Conduct and non-disclosure agreement.

1. Payment terms

• Christian Aid standard payment term is 30 days from receipt of a valid and error-free invoice.  Christian Aid will deduct withholding tax of 6.5% of the total money – 6.5%.
• Payment will be made in two tranches:

• 70% following finalisation of the inception report
• 30% following submission of final reports

• Payment will be made in Leones at the equivalent of the value in Euro (€) at the time of payment.
• The budget and agreed amount will be inclusive of all costs the consultant may incur in completing this assignment. Any costs must be agreed with CA Sierra Leone in advance and will only be reimbursed on a receipted basis. 

1. Consultant Requirements

The Consultant will be based in Sierra Leone and be able to travel to the above-described locations. The consultants should possess the following qualities: 

• Demonstrated experience and understanding in the areas of civil society, land governance, gender equality and inclusion, peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention.
• Demonstrated experience and expertise in gathering and synthesising qualitative data, and synthesising it to draw conclusions
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate qualitative evidence gathering and navigate sensitive and complex topics, safely and effectively.
• Fluency in Krio and English, and clear verbal and excellent written communication skills.

Deadline for applications: Tuesday 13th October 2026

Request for Proposals – Christian Aid Sierra Leone – ICSP – Cases of Change 2026 Project Background 

Christian Aid Sierra Leone, under the project “Promoting Accountability and Citizens Engagement”, in  collaboration with five Sierra Leonian Civil Society Organisations and Christian Aid Ireland, is implementing  the Irish Civil Society Partnership (ICSP), 2023 – 2027. The programme focusses on strengthening civil  society and accountable governance, advancing inclusive decision-making, gender equality and women’s  empowerment, community peacebuilding, and climate resilience and adaptation.  

Purpose of the Cases of Change 

The Cases of Change seeks to identify and document: 

• The change/s that have occurred 
• The journey to achieving the change 
• The contribution of the programme to the change 
• How inclusive the change is.  
• The change is also rated along several factors of interest, learnings and recommendations are  identified.  

Objectives of the Cases of Change 

To support the development of two cases of change by providing documented key conclusions and associated underpinning evidence – see full details in the ToR. 

Scope of the Research: The consultant will conduct the study across selected chiefdoms and communities in Bombali, Kono, Port Loko and Pujehun. 

• Desk review, development of methodology, sampling strategy, and research tools. • Quantitative and qualitative data collection (digital surveys, FGDs, KIIs, participatory methods). • Data cleaning, analysis, and triangulation. 
• Preparation of inception report, draft and final research reports, datasets, and presentation materials. Timing: the consultancy must be completed by 13th November 2026 

Consultant Profile:  

Qualified applicants must demonstrate: 

• Advanced degree in gender & development, conflict analysis, social policy, or related fields. • Proven experience conducting cases of change or similar pieces of work related to land governance,  conflict resolution, peacebuilding or similar thematic areas. 
• Ability to apply an intersectional gender lens. 
• Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills. 
• Ability to work in local communities with good knowledge of the sociocultural context. 

Application Procedure: Interested consultants/firms should submit: Technical proposal (methodology,  approach, team roles), Financial proposal with itemized budget. Two samples of similar past work, CV of the  lead consultant. Submission Email: sierra-leone-info@christian-aid.org Copy to fkamara@christian aid.org and MDimoh@christian-aid.org Deadline: Close of Business, 13th October 2026 Address: Christian Aid Sierra Leone, 4B King Harman Road, CCSL Building, Richmond Ground, Freetown.