TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE BASELINE REVIEW – SUPPORT TO THE AFRICA-LED MOVEMENT TO END FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION (FGM)

Project Title

Support to the Africa Led Movement to End Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Summary

The UK Government (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – FCDO) has a vision of a world free from Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) by 2030, which is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The importance of eliminating FGM/C is reflected in Target 5.3 of the SDGs:” Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilations.” A programme has been established entitled ‘Support to the Africa-led movement (ALM) to end FGM/C’ to contribute to global efforts to achieve that vision. Building on the foundations of the first five-year investment (2013-2018) of the Department for International Development, this programme is focusing on accelerating the pace of change and achieving results to contribute to the vision in the SDGs of a world free of FGM/C by 2030. More specifically, this program is supporting and building the capacity of the ALM to end FGM/C at multiple levels and at scale. The ALM is not working in isolation, but works in partnership with the rest of the FGM/C community/movement at all levels, complementing the work of UN agencies (such as UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme), Saleema initiative, other alliances (such as Girls not Brides, She Decides, FEMNET, Global Citizen, One Campaign) and grassroot Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), women’s and girls’ movements, etc. Phase II is composed of two consortia working in close collaboration: Options is engaging with Amref Health Africa, ActionAid UK, Action Aid Kenya, Orchid Project, ACCAF and University of Portsmouth to implement the ‘Support to the ALM to End FGM/C’ in cooperation with Population Council that will implement ‘The FGM Data Hub: Data and Measurement Support to the ALM to end FGM/C’.

As part of the wider consortium, ActionAid is delivering a package of community implementation interventions, to engage community members, girls, women, men, and other stakeholders in order to shift attitudes and behaviors towards the practice of FGM/C. In the first year of the programme, the consortium is focusing delivery on Kenya led by ActionAid Kenya (AAK). This baseline review is to collect data against the specific indicators for reporting against the programme outcomes and outputs, which will supplement baseline data collected by other partners.

Programme Vision

A world where girls and women can exercise their power and rights, have expanded choice and agency, and be free from violence including FGM/C

Programme outcome Acceleration of positive change in social attitudes towards ending FGM/C in countries/regions in which the programme is operational

ActionAid Kenya Project Outcomes Outcome 1: Girls’ knowledge, beliefs and agency improved and incorporated in key decision making to challenge power relations and gender roles to end FGM/C.

Outcome 2: Communities influencing and leading advocacy initiatives, speaking out against unequal power relations, FGM/C, VAWG to actively change perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors of communities towards ending FGM/C (communities comprises of women, men, young men and women, boys, cultural/religious leaders, Morans).

Outcome 3: Supporting an enabling environment to promote zero tolerance against FGM/C and VAWG through policy, legislative and structural measures, and enforcement at County and National level.

Outcome 4: Enhanced evidence, shared learning, and documentation to improve programming and accountability for girls in ending FGM/C and VAWG

Background Information

The Support to the Africa Led Movement to end FGM is underpinned by the evidence that social movements must be built from the ground up. This entails the formation of trusted relationships which allow for local adaptation of key messages with pathways of change. The foundation will be built on evidence and learning which will be used to initiate or accelerate progression through stages of change at all levels. There is growing consensus that this work needs to be participatory, use rights-based approaches working with community ‘change agents’ and be grounded in deep community knowledge and strong partnerships. We know that prioritizing the agency of girls, promoting their rights and development, and recognizing the importance of positive family and community roles in girls’ lives can lead to effective abandonment of FGM/C. There is also growing consensus that grassroots organizations are in the best position to understand the dynamics of change around FGM/C decisions making, identify key influencers and how best to mitigate against backlash to change.

ActionAid Kenya is un-apologetic in advancing Women’s Rights ensuring that women living in poverty and exclusion are at the center of our work in Kenya. Our work on VAW/G is guided by our Human Rights Based Approach (HRBA). It is anchored on the recognition that VAW/G is a violation against girls and women; it violates their human rights to life, dignity, health, and bodily integrity. We therefore work with communities, women rights networks and key stakeholders to reduce cases of VAW/G being aware that challenging violence needs to take place at all levels. We create awareness and educate communities on how violence violates girls’ rights and the protection provisions of the law. We support girls at risk of VAW/G and the survivors and affected to demand action by local and national governments.

Objectives and purpose of the baseline study

The overarching objective: The key objective of the baseline is to collect data against the ActionAid International Kenya (AAIK) project indicators outlined in the results framework at outcome and output level. The data collected will be used to populate the baseline data in the AAIK Results Framework against each indicator.

Objectives:

• To identify qualitative and quantitative baseline data for outcome and output indicators in the AAIK Results Framework that will guide in establishing the subsequent targets for the project.
• To analyse the baseline data and populate the AAIK Results Framework as per the outcome and output indicators.
• To assess, document lessons learnt, and challenges experienced during the study and provide recommendations for adaptation in the project implementation.

The consultant will work with their team and with the support from AAIK and its partners to provide relevant project information, data, and documentation. In addition, the consultant will be required to interact with the project participants to collect the baseline data against all indicators at outcome and output levels in Isiolo and Garissa Counties. Lessons learnt/challenges and recommendations will also be generated from the data analysis and feedback from project participants, project partners and AAIK.

Scope of the review

Using a feminist approach to monitoring and evaluation, the consultant will be required to undertake the following:

• To review the relevant project documents as well as relevant ActionAid and consortium documents to inform the literature review and provide secondary data for the baseline report.
• To work with ActionAid’s International Kenya Team for the above processes
• To develop and provide a workplan, inception report and tools that will guide the collection of the baseline data and development of the draft report.
• To conduct the baseline survey using methodology and tools developed and approved by ActionAid International’s Kenya (AAIK) team, with support from the MEL lead at ActionAid UK.
• To train and supervise the data collection enumerators for data quality assurance.
• To analyse data collected, compile and interpret for compilation into a draft report. To develop a draft and final report, this will include a comprehensive and rigorous baseline data collection methodology and tools, methods for analysis and proposed structure for the final report.
• To populate the log frame with the baseline data collected as per the project outcome and output indicators.
• To develop and present a summary PPT and presentation of key findings and recommendations.

Other limitations: The consultant and team will need to take into consideration government restrictions and protocols on Covid-19 and make any adaptations where necessary.

Expected baseline survey approach and methodology The consultant will be responsible for producing a comprehensive mixed-method methodology as well as a detailed work plan for delivering the baseline survey. The methodology developed must include sampling procedure and a representative sample size; data collection instruments; and data analysis methods. An initial brief but clear methodology will be submitted in the technical offer and will be part of the assessment for selecting the successful consultant. All data, qualitative and quantitative, collected and reviewed through the survey must be disaggregated by sex, age and disability as a minimum. The successful consultant will be expected to operate within AA global feminist principles and information on this can be found here: How we practice feminism at work | ActionAid UK

The methodology of the baseline review will include but not be limited to the following methods:

Literature review of project documents (consortium level documents) and relevant AAIK material/documents

Focus group discussions (FGDs)FGDs with relevant project participants in Isiolo county

Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with AAIK staff, partners, duty bearers and other key project stakeholders both at the National and county level

Community sessions/ conversations Community sessions/ conversations with community members in Isiolo county

ActionAid fully expects this baseline to be carried out in line with our Evaluation Standards, to ensure consistency with our Human Rights Based Approach as highlighted below:

Complying with the ActionAid Evaluation Standards

ActionAid expects all evaluations to be carried out in line with our Evaluation Standards. These Standards will be shared on request, but in practical terms require the evaluation and evaluator to consider: • Community voice and representation: it is essential that the evaluation reflects the voices of women and men involved in the project. People should be consulted as part of the evaluation, and their voices included in the evaluation report as direct quotes and case studies. In line with ActionAid’s mandate, the evaluation should priorities people living in poverty and exclusion, especially women.

• Feedback: as a minimum the evaluators should commit to feeding key findings and recommendations back to the communities engaged in the evaluation.

• Transparency and ethical standards: the evaluators should explain clearly to communities engaged in the evaluation what the purpose of the exercise is, and how their information will be used. ActionAid’s ethical standards for research and data collection should be followed, including a risk assessment covering security risks to communities. As a minimum the evaluation should ‘do no harm’.

• Women’s rights: Women’s rights must be respected in all evaluations. All evaluations should seek to explore how women have been affected by an intervention and the effect on gender relations. It is essential that women’s voices are heard clearly in the evaluation. The timing and location of evaluation activities and the composition of the evaluation team should be designed to maximize women’s ability to participate in the evaluation.

• Transparency about methodology: The evaluation should include a detailed and transparent discussion of the methodology used and key decisions taken in designing and implementing the evaluation. This should include information about the sampling (approach to sampling, numbers of people/communities covered, how representative), what tools were used and why, methodological limitations and gaps.

• Disaggregated data: data must be disaggregated in as much detail as possible. As a minimum this means disaggregation by age and sex. Where possible data should also be disaggregated by other relevant factors such as disability

Community sessions/ conversations

AAIK will provide the overall guidance and supervision of the task through its Programme Team. The consultant (s) will work closely with the MEL Coordinator, Project Manager and Project Officer, LRP 5 Coordinators, and Women Rights Lead, in the project areas. The overall accountability of this work rests with Programs and Strategy lead at ActionAid Kenya. Official transport shall be availed where possible, and or travel expenses reimbursed based on actual and realistic costs. However, the consultant shall seek consent prior to incurring travel expense(s) if not provided with official transport. Accommodation shall be provided by AAIK at the venues of the assignment.

Expected Outputs The Consultant will be required to submit the following:

1. A workplan and inception report
2. A draft and then final baseline survey report, together with summary report.
3. The baseline report must not exceed 35 pages, (excluding annexes) as a Word document written in clear and concise English with minimal jargon. The report will include:

• Cover page (title of the baseline report, date, name of consultants, photo)
• Contents table
• Executive summary of no more than 2 pages outlining the purpose of the baseline review, main points of analysis, key findings, conclusions, and recommendations
• Introduction outlining the background to the intervention and the baseline
• Purpose and objectives of the baseline
• Methodology/approach, indicators used, and limitations of the baseline
• Major findings (data analysis, including gender analysis)
• Lessons learned, challenges, ways to mitigate challenges and maximise lessons learnt and recommendations
• Annexes: details of data collection tools, schedule of field visits and meetings; list of people interviewed; bibliography of key documents consulted; TOR for the evaluation

4. The AA Kenya results framework populated with the baseline data against each indicator at outcome and output level.

5. A PowerPoint presentation summarizing key findings and recommendations that can be used to disseminate findings within ActionAid and with external stakeholders. The consultant and team are required to make a presentation of key findings and recommendations to the AA Kenya and AA UK project team.

6. The raw data (all transcripts, quantitative data, data collection tools) must be handed over to ActionAid together with the evaluation report. Where photos are included, these should be provided to ActionAid in high resolution JPEG format and catalogued by ActionAid on Stories hub according to our photo guidelines. The evaluation team must ensure photos are obtained in line with ActionAid guidelines on consent. Diagrams/flowcharts/infographics developed by the evaluation team can be included but the original artwork should also be submitted as separate files along with the evaluation. Note ActionAid reserves the right to modify artwork as appropriate. All deliverables must be based on evidence collected during the process e.g., photos, case studies, qualitative and quantitative data.

Expected Timetable

The consultant and team will prepare a work plan that will operationalize and direct the baseline survey. The work plan will describe the baseline survey to be carried out, bringing refinements, specificity, and elaboration to this ToR. The assignment is expected to be carried out within a period of 6 weeks. Field work is expected to be carried out for 14 days in Isiolo county and Garissa Counties. The assignment schedule will be approved by the Programmes and Strategy lead as the agreement between parties on how the evaluation will be conducted.

Budget

The evaluator is expected to give a detailed breakdown of the budget outlining the professional fees and administration costs. The budget should align with the workplan for Isiolo and Garissa Counties and demonstrate value for money and that maximizes potential efficiencies to deliver the outputs within budget.

Evaluator qualifications

We are looking for an evaluator with the following key skills and capacity. These criteria will be used to assess applications alongside applicants’ technical proposals.

General criteria:

• A master’s degree or work experience in social sciences • At least 5 years of experience in developing and carrying out monitoring and evaluation (MEL) systems, baselines, and evaluation design from a feminist lens with diverse knowledge in mixed methods approach • Proven experience in participatory approaches to designing and delivering baselines • Demonstrable expertise and experience on FGM/C, women’s and girl’s rights, GBV and gender equality and HRBA • Experience and willingness to work in the Geographical areas of Isiolo and Garissa Counties. • Proven cross-regional experience would be preferable • Excellent facilitation skills • Proficient in English and Swahili

Technical criteria

• Experience in qualitative and quantitative methodology, methods, tools and analysis and visualization. • Experience in participatory and community-led approaches • Demonstrable knowledge and skills in development and use of online data collection methods and tools for data collection and analysis. • Evidence of strong downward accountability mechanisms used with project stakeholders/research participants to actively share results and learning. • Evidence of use of ethical considerations and methodological measures that respect the rights of all stakeholders • Evidence of successfully designing and managing large-scale, rigorous, and robust research processes and evaluations. • Evidence of producing clear, concise, and high-quality reports in English

Application process

• All applications should include the following documents: • The CV(s) of the lead consultant and the team of applicant(s) • A covering letter or expression of interest – highlighting relevant experience and skills to the specific baseline survey, and the reasons for interest in the work • A brief technical proposal with a cover letter demonstrating how the evaluator or evaluation team meet the consultant experience and expertise specification. (1page Cover letter and 8 pages maximum or the proposal) • A separate financial proposal with a clear distinction between fee rate and expected logistics costs (3 pages maximum) • Examples or links of similar work / baseline reports • The names of at least 2 previous clients to contact for references.