Baseline Study Consultant

Hoffnungszeichen | Sign of Hope e.V. (SoH) is a Christian motivated organization for human rights, humanitarian aid and development cooperation. From its base in Constance, Germany, SoH is committed to helping those in distress and exploited people worldwide. This baseline Study is commissioned under the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) budget for development projects run by private organizations.

APDA and Sign of Hope are currently carrying out the project “Holistic Food Security and Creation of Livelihoods for Pastoral and Agro-pastoral communities and Internally Displaced people in Afar, Ethiopia” since October 2021.The German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is co-funding 90% of the project.

The main objective of the project is to improve food security and livelihoods of vulnerable agro-pastoral and pastoral households in Konnaba and Dallol Districts, Afar, Regional State of Ethiopia. The achievement of this objective will be done through 3 expected result areas including; 1) by 2024, water is being made available for domestic and household farming practices for 1300 HHs (7800 people) in Konnaba and Dallol woredas realized by conducting an assessment study and install a solar water system and establishment and training of municipal water committees; 2) Strengthened livelihood diversification and crop production practices among agro pastoralists in Konnaba and Dallol Woredas realized by identification and training of environmental scouts, installation of 4 river water irrigation systems, identification and training of 152 farmers in DRR and horticulture, purchase and distribution of tools, irrigation pumps, water storage tanks, seeds and seedlings and training of 500 urban households in Konnaba and Addow Kwa’a on how establish garden plots at HH level and provide them with tools and seedlings; and 3) Strengthened community support systems and net-works that support sustainable livelihoods and income generation that will be realized establishment and training of 5 multipurpose cooperatives, conducting exchange visits for 200 cooperative members, formation, training and monitoring of VSLAs.

Through these results areas and activities, 2,802 particularly vulnerable households (i.e. 7,902 women & 8,901 men) will be reached directly and at least 28,198 people who live in the target Kebeles but not directly involved in the project, will indirectly benefit from the project measures.

In view of the above, an external Baseline study has been foreseen to.

1. To assess the current (initial) situation in the project region and of the target group with reference to the project outcome and outputs – measured by their respective indicators. By that, the baseline study shall lay the foundation for the mid-term evaluation and the end-term evaluation. Additionally the study could be used as a basis for the selection of project beneficiaries.
2. Test if the proposed indicators are SMART. Making recommendations on how the indicators can be improved or measured.
3. Determine the current project risks (Covid-19, exchange rate gain, inflation, conflicts, drought, people movement etc.) and how these are likely to affect the overall outcome of the project.
4. Provide practical recommendations on how the project can adapt itself to reduce the impact of the identified risks.
5. Serve as a point of reference for the evaluation.

Purpose, Objectives and Use

The baseline study should inform APDA and SoH about the initial situation in the project region and of the target group with reference to the project outcome and outputs – measured by their respective indicators provided in the project proposal (and also presented in the Performance Indicator Matrix).

Through this the baseline study shall lay the foundation for further project implementation, the mid-term evaluation and the final evaluation. Additionally, the study shall be used to inform the selection of project beneficiaries and identify potential risks to the project implementation.

Furthermore, the survey serves to obtain information on specific needs of the target group and to identify possible newly emerging risks and opportunities in the target group and project region. The baseline study report will be used as a measurement to monitor the project progress against the set of indicators over the course of the project implementation.)

Duties and Responsibilities

The Consultant will work under the overall guidance of the Head of the International Assistance and Cooperation Department, in close cooperation with the responsible SoH Officer and the local implementing partner.

The duties and responsibilities of the baseline study Consultant will include:

• Develop a work plan outlining the proposed research methodology, geographical coverage and schedule to conduct the study,
• Conduct a desk review of relevant documents,
• Carry out a project site visit to a project location to conduct research, collect data and establish contact with the local implementing partner, project beneficiaries and relevant project stakeholders,
• Review and evaluate available data and existing sources of information, including the project proposal, annual reports, conducted studies and other documents,
• Examine institutional, technical, staffing and financial capacities of the implementing partner as well as its relationship with the target group and other relevant stakeholders.

Expected Deliverables

The Baseline study including

1. Analysis of current status of indicators
   • Display a Performance Indicator Matrix with the gathered data
   • Verifiable derivation of the published results for each indicator (methodology, sources, definition, calculation)
2. Recommendations for dealing with potential risks

A template will be provided to serve as a guide and may be used to structure the final report.

Study Quality and Ethical Standards

The study team will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the study is designed and conducted to respect and protect the rights and welfare of the people and communities involved. Furthermore, the study should be aligned to the following standards and applicable practices:

• Utility: The study must be useful and used.
• Feasibility: the study must be realistic, diplomatic and managed in a sensible, cost-effective manner.
• Ethics and Legality: the study must be conducted in an ethical and legal manner, with particular regard for the welfare of those involved in and affected by the Study.
• Impartiality and Independence: the study should be impartial, providing a comprehensive and unbiased assessment that takes into account the views of all stakeholders.
• Transparency: the study activities should reflect an attitude of openness and transparency.
• Accuracy: the study should be technically accurate and credible, providing sufficient information about the data collection, analysis, and interpretation methods so that its worth or merit can be determined.
• Participation: the Stakeholders should be consulted and meaningfully involved in the study process when feasible and appropriate.
• Collaboration: Collaboration between key operating partners in the study process improves the legitimacy and utility of the study.

The study must be in line with the SoH guiding principles and Code of Conduct and Local partner country law/regulation.

Process/Timeframe

The total duration of the assignment is up to 21 working days within the period from 21/09/2022 to 19/10/2022.

Planning meeting with SoH (remotely), handover of relevant documents 1 day

Initial document review and inception report preparation 3 days

Sharing inception report with SoH and APDA 1 day

Finalization of inception report 1 day

Data collection site visit to a project location 7 days

Data analysis, draft report with annexes 4 days

Incorporating received feedback and report finalization 4 days