TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) FOR A BASELINE ASSESSMENT

Job Description

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR) FOR A BASELINE ASSESSMENT

YOUTHLEAD: Youth Leadership to Enhance Accountability and Development

Overview

Social Enterprise Development (SEND) Sierra Leone is seeking a consultant(s) to conduct a Baseline Assessment for a proposed intervention titled “Youth Leadership to Enhance Accountability and Development in Kenema, Pujehun, Kambia and Port Loko Districts.

The intervention is financed jointly by the European Union and SEND-SL. The project will be implemented for twenty-four months and will be implemented by SEND-SL, TRŌCAIRE and Welfare Society for the Disabled-Sierra Leone (WESOFOD).  It is preferred that the applicant(s) have demonstrated working experience in Sierra Leone, particularly in women and youth empowerment, social sciences, education, inclusive governance, and community development. 

Brief background of Partners. 

The consortium features three key organisations: SEND SL, with 16 years of experience in governance, gender equality, and community transformation across Sierra Leone; Trócaire, renowned for its 14-year history in organisational capacity development in Sierra Leone, focusing on sustainability, women’s empowerment, and disaster preparedness; and WESOFOD, a leading advocate for Persons with Disabilities in Sierra Leone, specialising in inclusive education, governance, and social empowerment. 

The current initiative is being implemented by these consortium partners of highly skilled national NGOs (SEND and WESOFOD) and international partner TRŌCAIRE combining experience in community-based mobilization, development, advocacy and empowerment of women, youths, Persons with disability and civil society capacity strengthening as outlined below: 

About SEND-SL

SEND Sierra Leone is a leading development organization dedicated to promoting the well-being of Sierra Leone’s population by addressing inequalities and enhancing community resilience. SEND focuses on five strategic pillars aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

1. Sustainable Growth: Targeting rural poverty and unemployment through economic diversification and local resource utilization, contributing to SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).
2. Health, Nutrition, and WASH: Tackling health challenges in rural areas through comprehensive interventions that improve health, nutrition, and sanitation, supporting SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
3. Education: Promoting inclusive, equitable, and quality education in rural communities, aligning with SDG 4 (Quality Education).
4. Gender Equality: Amplifying efforts toward gender equality and reducing inequality by empowering women and girls, aligned with SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
5. Climate and Disaster Resilience: Implementing community-based programs to address climate-related risks and disasters, supporting SDG 13 (Climate Action).

SEND is committed to stakeholder engagement, community involvement, and transparent resource mobilization. The organization adheres to its core values of integrity, accountability, and service and enforces policies to protect beneficiaries from exploitation and abuse, safeguard children, and prevent workplace harassment. SEND ensures that all projects are gender-sensitive and inclusive. 

TRŌCAIRE: is a global leader in organisational capacity development and will lead the local civil society strengthening work in the proposed action. Trócaire has an array of organisational capacity development tools that have been applied in Sierra Leone and will be adapted for the proposed action. These include a broad partner capacity assessment and support (PCAS) framework for LNGO-led joint assessment of capacity in various competencies focusing on institutional, programming, and financial management capacity. Based on the strengths and areas of growth identified during the assessment process and their own priorities, the LNGOs will develop a capacity-strengthening action plan to provide the basis for further support. Of fundamental importance is the recognition that LNGOs have ownership of and primary responsibility for this process, supported by Trócaire. Trócaire will build on its over 14 years of CSO capacity strengthening support experience delivering its four national pillars: Sustainable Livelihoods and Natural Resource Management; Women’s Participation and Empowerment; SGBV Prevention and Response; and Preparedness for Disasters.  Trócaire has worked across 5 regions in Sierra Leone incrementally increasing its portfolio in the country since 2005 with >20 partners working towards institutional goals of civil society space, unifying the policy debate across CSOs, (I)NGOs and facilitating stakeholder engagement at Ministerial, Donor, UN, and Diplomatic level. 

WESOFOD: The Welfare Society for the Disabled-Sierra Leone (WESOFOD-SL) is a local Non-Governmental Organization of people with disabilities founded in 2004 to promote disability inclusion in Sierra Leone. It is registered with the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Ministry of planning and Economic Development (MoPED), the Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations, the Kambia and Pujehun District Councils, the Sierra Leone Union on Disability Issues (SLUDI), the Climate Change Network (CliCNet), Corporate Affairs Commission and the Kambia District Human Right Committee. Its principal aim is to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities through the delivery of projects, which focus on Inclusive Education, Skills Training and Small-scale Enterprises, Advocacy and Social Protection. WESOFOD-SL design and implement programmes that provide a much-needed perspective on the challenges faced by people with disabilities across Sierra Leone. 

The organization has significantly contributed towards to the realization of this vision primarily through direct programme support, research, documentation and evidence based policy advocacy/campaigns, strategic partnerships, individual direct support, institutional strengthening, capacity building and technical support in 5 programming pillars: Inclusive Governance, Inclusive Education, Inclusive Health, Social Protection and Livelihood programmes. 

About the Project/ Intervention

• Background

In Sierra Leone, Community-Based organisations (CBOs) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) play a crucial role in addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges at the grassroots level. The civil society sector operates amidst historical conflict legacies, political instability, and financial hardships. This environment significantly shapes the landscape for youth and women facing distinct but interconnected challenges. For young people, issues such as high unemployment, limited educational opportunities, and inadequate healthcare access persist, exacerbating their marginalisation and societal disenfranchisement. Similarly, women, especially young women aged 18-35 encounter pervasive gender inequalities, including restricted access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities, rooted in entrenched cultural norms and structural barriers. Youth and women-centred CSOs in Sierra Leone confront numerous challenges, including funding constraints, limited organisational capacity, and political pressures that limit advocacy efforts. 

Over 24 months, this project will support an estimated 2,694 project participants. Forty youth-led organisations and cooperatives will be strengthened and supported through entrepreneurship training and resource provision in 20 targeted communities in Kenema, Pujehun, Kambia, and Port Loko Districts.  One thousand two hundred seventy-five women, 191 men and 500 Persons with Disabilities (Persons with Disabilities) will receive targeted capacity building, mentorship, governance, and economic skills training. All this will result in youth playing a more active and influential role in governance and economic development in Sierra Leone, leading to improved governance, accountability, and community development, as well as enhanced economic justice and sustainable development outcomes.

Project objective

Main Objective

This transformative initiative aims to build the capacity of Sierra Leonean civil society organisations, particularly in empowering youth economically and politically. The project aims to increase youth engagement in governance, accountability, and public policy processes, promoting their economic empowerment for inclusive and sustainable development. The initiative seeks to enhance youth participation in governance, financial activities, and advocacy in supporting civil society organisations to strengthen youth economic and political empowerment and engagement across four districts in Sierra Leone. 

Outcomes/Sub-Objectives

• Oc1: Promoting enhanced youth participation, diversity, and inclusion in civil society collaboration, as well as fostering stakeholder engagement for improved governance, accountability, and community development initiatives.
• Oc2: Enhancing economic opportunities and empowerment for young women, youth with disabilities and youth-led organisations to promote economic justice and sustainable development outcomes. 
• Oc3: Civil society organisations have strengthened organisational and technical capacity to contribute to increasing youth participation by enhancing governance and economic empowerment.

Objectives of the Baseline Assessment and Use

The Baseline Assessment aims to provide SEND-SL and the project partners with a sound basis for developing the proposed intervention framework by identifying critical gaps, challenges, and opportunities within youth participation, governance, economic empowerment, and civil society engagement in Kenema, Pujehun, Kambia, and Port Loko Districts.

The assessment, submitted to the European Union, will highlight the expected changes achievable with project support. It will critically examine the governance structures, economic opportunities, and civil society capacity of the Kenema, Pujehun, Kambia, and Port Loko Districts and the project outcomes formulated to achieve the desired result.

The baseline assessment is expected to:

• Pinpoint existing gaps, challenges, and barriers in youth participation, governance, economic empowerment, and civil society engagement in the four targeted districts (Kenema, Pujehun, Kambia, and Port Loko).
• Examining the current state of governance, economic opportunities, and civil society structures will provide SEND-SL and project partners with a detailed understanding that will inform the design of effective interventions that can address the identified gaps.
• Outline specific indicators for measuring project success. This will identify key target groups, including young women, youth with disabilities, youth-led organizations, and CSOs, providing insight into their specific needs, challenges, and potential for contributing to governance and sustainable development.
• Evaluate the capacity of local governance structures and civil society organizations (CSOs) in these districts, analyzing their effectiveness and readiness to support and implement the proposed interventions.
• Identify existing economic opportunities for youth and marginalized groups and potential barriers they face, which will guide the development of strategies to enhance economic empowerment through the project.
• Establish a baseline for future monitoring and evaluation activities, ensuring that the project’s progress and impact can be systematically tracked through tools like surveys and log sheets managed by field officers.
• Enable stakeholders to make informed, evidence-based decisions about the design and implementation of the project interventions.

Role of the Consultant (s)

The consultant (s) will have the overall responsibilities for this assignment and is expected to:

• Review relevant project documents and national and international policies to inform the processes and recommendations.
• Develop the assessment survey tools, including both quantitative and qualitative tools.
• Lead the pre-testing of the survey tools and refine the data collection questions.
• Develop a sampling procedure.
• Responsible for administrative and logistics support for the survey
• Recruit and train enumerators and supervisors for quantitative and qualitative data collection.
• Analyze and document the challenges to young women’s and Persons with Disabilities’ participation in governance, politics, and leadership roles providing evidence-based insights and recommendations
• Highlight capacity gaps, gender inequalities, and disability-specific challenges within the identified structures.
• Engage with youth governance institutions, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), young women’s groups, local authorities, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Assess the capacity, resources, and training needs of young women, Persons with Disabilities, and governance institutions to enhance their participation and leadership.
• Offer actionable recommendations to address identified barriers, strengthen capacity, and improve the engagement of young women and Persons with Disabilities in governance.
• Compile findings, analyses, and recommendations into a detailed report.
• Ensure the report includes clear action points, timelines, and monitoring mechanisms.
• Share key findings and recommendations with stakeholders through workshops, presentations, or dissemination meetings.
• Facilitate discussions on the implementation of the proposed strategies.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of existing programs and suggest areas for improvement.
• Abide by EU, SEND, Trócaire and WESOFOD policies
• Analysis of quantitative data in SPSS or similar statistical software.
• Analysis of qualitative data in connection with quantitative data.
• Write a report with recommendations and tools for monitoring data collection and an operational M&E plan.
• Incorporate comments and finalize the report.
• Present findings to the staff of SEND.

Roles of SEND Sierra Leone:

• Provide reference documents to the consultant, e.g., Project proposal, logical frame and context documents for background understanding and to support the survey processes.
• Review and comment on survey methodology, sampling and tools.
• Supervise the training of enumerators, data collection and verification
• Approval of the final survey tools.
• Give feedback and comments to draft reports.
• Organize and facilitate funds for the Baseline Assessment.
• The Country Director of SEND will supervise the consultant, with support from the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Accountability Manager and the Business Development and Compliance Manager.

    Methodology and Geographic Focus

This survey will be conducted within the target areas of Kenema, Pujehun, Kambia, and Port Loko Districts, with a representative sampling in each district drawn from direct beneficiaries. It must be ensured that the methodology is participatory and considers the local cultural and social dynamics in Sierra Leone, in line with Core Humanitarian Standards, SEND-SL core values, ethics, safeguarding principles, and Code of Conduct. The consultant will be responsible for designing the survey, including its preferred methodology, possible qualitative and quantitative tools, and proposed research methods.

Methods of survey will comprise the following (but not limited to):

1. Desk review of relevant documents, including project documents/data/reports, strategies, and approaches of SEND-SL, documents/manuals from similar interventions by other donor organizations, government notices/policies/documents impacting implementation, etc. The consultant is expected to share primary documents studied with the contracting party.
2. Focus Group Discussions and Key Informant Interviews (semi-structured) will be conducted with SEND staff, CSOs, youth-led organizations, persons with disabilities, relevant government ministries, local councils, and traditional authorities. The consultant must finalize interviewees’ selection criteria and sample size in consultation with the implementation teams. Additionally, the consultant is expected to prepare the interview guides in collaboration with the implementation teams to ensure alignment with project objectives and local context.
3. Direct observation during field visits.

Content of the Evaluation: 

The content of the evaluation will include the following:

Scope of Work

The consultant needs to conduct a:

1. We are gathering data on youth, young women, and Persons with Disabilities (Persons with Disabilities) participation in these structures within the districts.
2. Draft the project impact matrix according to the identified barriers and opportunities for young women’s and Persons with Disabilities’ engagement in governance, politics, leadership roles, and decision-making processes.
3. Facilitate a one-day workshop to discuss the recommendations and theory of change, focusing on enhancing young women’s and Persons with Disabilities’ roles in governance and decision-making structures.
4. Provide an analytical framework to address the purpose and objectives of the Baseline Assessment. 

Reworked “Scope of Work / Role of the Consultant”

The consultant(s) will conduct a comprehensive baseline assessment to establish key indicators, assess existing gaps, and provide actionable recommendations for strengthening youth participation, governance, and economic empowerment in the targeted districts. The consultant’s work will focus on the following key areas:

1. Data Collection & Analysis

• Conduct a desk review of relevant literature, including project documents, national policies, and best practices from similar interventions.
• Design and implement a mixed-methods approach, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods.
• Develop and pre-test data collection tools such as surveys, key informant interviews (KIIs), and focus group discussion (FGD) guides.
• Ensure representative sampling across Kenema, Pujehun, Kambia, and Port Loko Districts, engaging youth-led organizations, civil society groups, local authorities, and marginalized groups (e.g., young women, persons with disabilities).
• Analyze data using appropriate statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Excel) and qualitative analysis methods.
• Identify key trends, gaps, and opportunities in youth engagement, governance structures, and economic inclusion.

2. Capacity & Governance Assessment

• Evaluate the capacity of civil society organizations (CSOs) and youth-led groups in governance, advocacy, and economic development.
• Assess the inclusivity of governance structures, focusing on the participation of young women and persons with disabilities.
• Identify existing barriers and enablers for youth engagement in decision-making, policy advocacy, and leadership roles.
• Provide recommendations for strengthening governance mechanisms and inclusive participation.

3. Economic Opportunities & Barriers

• Map existing economic opportunities available to young people, particularly marginalized groups, within the targeted districts.
• Identify structural and systemic barriers to youth economic empowerment, including access to funding, entrepreneurship support, and market linkages.
• Provide data-driven recommendations for enhancing youth employment, enterprise development, and financial inclusion.

4. Stakeholder Engagement & Validation

• Conduct consultations with key stakeholders, including government representatives, CSOs, community leaders, and youth organizations.
• Facilitate a one-day validation workshop to present preliminary findings, gather feedback, and refine recommendations.
• Ensure participatory engagement throughout the assessment, aligning with SEND-SL’s commitment to inclusive development.

5. Reporting & Deliverables

• Develop a Baseline Report that outlines findings, key indicators, and recommendations, following the agreed report format.
• Define a baseline for project monitoring, ensuring alignment with the project’s logical framework and MEAL plan.
• Develop a practical MEAL framework, including data collection tools and an operational monitoring plan.
• Submit a final report incorporating feedback from stakeholders and project partners.

Deliverables

The following deliverables are expected from the consultant(s):

1. Inception report, max five pages, with the proposed methodology, analytical framework and timelines. Data collection tools should be attached as appendices to the inception report.
2. Debriefing presentation at the end of the field visits to outline the most important findings of the survey
3. The first draft of the baseline report, as per the format in Annex I, should be completed two weeks after the field visits and be no more than 30 pages long. The report should have concise recommendations.
4. Define the baseline for the project which will Inform midline and endline evaluations
5. Refinement of project Indicators and Targets
6. Develop a MEAL plan for the project and update the Project logical framework.
7. Documents/photos/data studied/collected during the research survey.
8. Final report with all primary data collected.

Reworked Deliverables

The consultant(s) will be responsible for delivering the following outputs within the agreed timeline:

1. Inception Report (Max. 5 pages)

• Detailed methodology and work plan, outlining data collection approaches and analytical frameworks.
• Draft data collection tools (e.g., survey questionnaires, interview guides) as appendices.
• Ethical considerations, including informed consent and data protection measures.

2. Data Collection & Fieldwork Completion

• Pre-tested and finalized data collection tools.
• Completed fieldwork across the four targeted districts (Kenema, Pujehun, Kambia, and Port Loko).
• Preliminary findings shared through a debriefing presentation to project stakeholders.

3. Draft Baseline Report

• Comprehensive analysis of findings, including key indicators, trends, and identified gaps.
• Insights into governance structures, economic opportunities, and civil society capacity.
• Recommendations for improving youth engagement, governance, and economic empowerment.
• Draft MEAL Plan, including baseline indicators, data collection tools, and an updated project logical framework.
• Submitted within two weeks after fieldwork completion for review and feedback.

4. Stakeholder Validation & Recommendations Workshop

• One-day workshop with key stakeholders (CSOs, youth groups, government representatives) to validate findings and refine recommendations.
• Presentation of the baseline impact matrix, illustrating barriers, opportunities, and strategies for youth-led governance and economic participation.

5. Final Baseline Report & MEAL Framework

• Revised baseline report incorporating feedback from project partners and stakeholders.
• Finalized MEAL framework with monitoring tools and performance indicators.
• All supporting raw data, photos, and documentation collected during the assessment.
• Presentation of findings to SEND-SL and partner organizations.

  Timeline

At most, the total planned days of consultant engagement are 30 workdays. The days are                      calculated in the following manner:

Submission timelines:

*Milestones are only indicative dates for task completion. During the inception meeting, the consultants and the contracting party will agree on the exact timeline.

  Qualifications of the Consultant

1. At least 5 years of experience working on and evaluating development projects, including livelihood, gender, governance, and social sciences, with a postgraduate qualification in the same fields. Experience working on and evaluating youth empowerment projects is an asset. Also, relevant experience and expertise in the field of inclusive development initiatives.
2. Strong knowledge/demonstrated experience of Sierra Leone country contexts is a must.
3. Knowledge of the context of Sierra Leone, especially related to gender transformative and women empowerment approaches, is an asset.
4. Proficiency in using MS Office is a must. Experience working with any data representation software is an asset.
5. Clear, practical writing skills in English and local language skills are desirable.
6. Willingness to travel to a remote area for the assignment

Application Procedure

Applicants must provide a technical and financial offer:

1. The technical part (70% wt.) It should include a description of the overall design and methodology of the survey and a work plan/adaptation to the timeline at hand (maximum 10 pages). CV or consultancy firm or consultant profile with a minimum of 3 references
2. The financial part (30% wt.) includes a proposed budget for the complete survey. It should state the fees per working day (plus the respective VAT and withholding tax, if applicable), the number of working days proposed, and other costs such as travel. The budget must also include the cost of any training, including logistics, stationery, transport, etc.
3. . Sample report of similar work previously undertaken by the consultant

Payment Milestones

The consultant will receive payment from SEND-SL in three instalments:

1. First payment: 40 % upon acceptance of inception report and data collection tools
2. Second payment: 30 % upon approval of the draft report with feedback incorporated
3. Final payment: 30% subject to acceptance of the final report by SEND-SL
4. National tax laws will be applied to all payments.

SEND-SL will only settle payment if the consultant has completed all the tasks on time and the deliverables are approved by the SEND-SL Country Director, Human Resource Manager, and Head of the Program.

Confidentiality

All documents and data acquired from documents during interviews and meetings are confidential and to be used solely for the evaluation. Consultants will be expected to sign a data protection agreement (DPA). A consent form should be issued to all respondents participating in this survey. Consultants will undergo credibility screening, including money laundering, fraud, etc. The deliverables and all material linked to the evaluation (produced by the evaluator(s) or the organization itself) are confidential and always remain the property of SEND-SL.

Submission of bids:

Applications should be sent to recruitment@sendsierraleone.com with the subject line “Youth Leadership to Enhance Accountability and Development -Baseline Assessment Consultancy.”

Women with the required expertise are strongly encouraged to apply.

Closing date: 24th March 2025.