TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR BASELINE STUDY CONSULTANCY FOR THE WORK AND RESPECT PROJECT – RWANDA

1. Introduction

The National Union of the Disability Organizations of Rwanda (NUDOR) is established as a civil society organization since September 2010 by 8 National organizations of Persons with Disabilities and has currently 13 member organizations.  Through its activities, NUDOR aims to ensure that the practical needs of persons with disabilities at personal and institutional levels are fully addressed with an emphasis on empowerment. NUDOR’s vision is a society where people with disabilities enjoy the same rights as other citizens. NUDOR’s mission is to serve as a platform for organizations of people with disabilities, to share their experiences, to express their points of view and to help them build their capacities and achievements.

2. Background

Work and Respect Project is a 3 years consortium project (January 2021 to December 2023) implemented in Rwanda, Rwanda, and Ethiopia. In Rwanda NUDOR is implementing the project in 3 Districts: Nyanza, Ngororero and Musanze District. The goal of the project is to ensure “improved sustainable livelihood opportunities for youth with disabilities through inclusive technical training and transitioning to employment”. The Project aims to achieve the following outcomes:

1. Enhanced technical market driven employ ability skills for more than 600 youth with disabilities transiting to formal and self-employment
2. Increased inclusive formal and self-employment opportunities for at least 600 youth with disabilities by 2023.
3. Strengthened advocacy & lobby mechanisms influencing government training and employment policies for persons with disabilities.
4. Strengthened learning, sharing and knowledge management through effective regional coordination mechanism.

3.The Baseline Purpose and Scope

National Union of Disabilities Organizations in Rwanda (NUDOR), under the Work and Respect Project is looking for an experienced Consultant to lead the planning and implementation of the Baseline Study for the Work and Respect Project. Supported by Work and Respect Project team, especially the Project’s Regional Coordinator and the Project Manager. The Consultant will carry out the Baseline study to establish:

1. The current status of Inclusive Training and Employment of Youth with Disabilities.
2. Provide information against which to monitor and assess the Project’s activity progress, effectiveness during implementation and against which the final evaluation will be measured.This will encompass the whole ecosystem of the Work & Respect Project.

The consultant will develop all tools and resources to carry out the study in Rwanda (Nyanza, Ngororero and Musanze District Districts) and lead in the design and execution across all target areas to establish the baseline status for all project indicators. The objective of this consultancy assignment is to develop and prepare the baseline study on accessibility of training centers, workplace and livelihood opportunities for youths with disabilities that will guide the implementation of the Work and Respect project; that aims at offering sustainable livelihood opportunities to youths with disability through provision of an inclusive market driven training and transition to employment in the three project areas; Nyanza, Ngororero and Musanze District and at the national level in the long run. The baseline will provide a solid basis for effective implementation and benefit of the Work and Respect Project in improving lives of youth with disabilities by clarifying conditions, opportunities and risks. The baseline study will help to avoid duplication and improve the project implementation process through analyzing the situation on the ground and finding solutions to affecting variables with possible recommendations that will guide the project implementation process.

The scope of the baseline will include the following:

1. All the three target districts (Nyanza, Ngororero and Musanze District)
2. All the TVET, CBTs that Work and Respect Project will place the Youths in.
3. At least five Companies in each district
4.  All the three target districts government headquarters (Nyanza, Ngororero and Musanze District .All the partner organizations within the three Districts
5. In addition to institutional, districts, and sector level data collection, supplementary data will also be collected at the national level to measure the status of specific national level indicators, as guided by the program logical framework.

4.Methodology

The study will employ a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods to gather data on key performance indicators, ensure diverse perspectives to the baseline, and promote different stakeholder groups’ participation. The evaluation will establish the baseline for the program’s key indicators and provide the benchmarks to measure the program performance and form the final assessment basis. Besides, the baseline will inform the program target setting at various result levels.

5.Project Outcomes

Specific Objective 1: Training: At least 200 youth with disabilities have acquired labor market-relevant technical and employability skills through inclusive training in TVET and CBT centres.

Outcome 1.1: All partner training providers are empowered to provide an inclusive environment for training and employment of youths with disabilities

Outcome 1.2: Youth with disabilities have access to technical skills training of their choosing through the partner TVET and CBT providers

Outcome 1.3: Participating youth with disabilities are empowered to make informed personal decisions in regards to their private and professional life

Specific Objective 2: Waged employment and Self-Employment:

At least 200 youths with disabilities have decent and inclusive waged and/or self-employment

Outcome 2.1: Employers are empowered to provide reasonable accommodation to youth with disabilities on the labour market

Outcome 2.2: Participating youths with disabilities have access to relevant labor market information (incl. reasonable benefits), job placement services, and networks

Outcome 2.3: Youth with disabilities who want to start their own businesses are supported to do so.

Specific Objective 3: Advocacy & Lobbying:

The implementation of inclusive education and employment policies is enhanced through youth advocacy and partner mentoring

Outcome 3.1: Grassroots youth advocacy groups are established and/or strengthened to advocate for inclusive training and employment of youth with disabilities

Outcome 3.2: Partnering TVET providers and employers are mentored in applying existing policies regarding inclusion in education and employment

Specific Objective 4: Learning & Knowledge:The quality of project execution is enhanced through action based research, knowledge sharing and learning.

Outcome 4.1: Youth with disabilities are trained and supported to conduct Emancipatory Disability Research (EDR) on issues that concern their livelihoods and inform local action

Outcome 4.2: Implementing partners and stakeholders are empowered to acquire, build and share knowledge during the project implementation

Outcome 4.3: Lessons from ongoing project implementation and EDR are used to create and disseminate knowledge products

6.Deliverable

An inception report detailing the design and planned execution of the Work and Respect Project baseline study. Under this deliverable, the consultant will:

1. Review the existing relevant program documents, including the program document and log frame
2. In consultation with the Work and Respect Project team, design the baseline study methodology, sampling plan, data collection tools (survey questionnaires, key informant Interview guides, focus group discussion guides, observation guides, etc.) as necessary. The study design and sampling plan must be in line with the Gender Equality and Social inclusion principles
3. Develop a practical work plan for the execution of the baseline study as per the agreed timelines in consultation with the NUDOR. Assemble a research assistant team as necessary and train them on the baseline design and data collection tools
4. Submit a concise inception report within the agreed timelines, detailing the baseline study design and work plan before starting any data collection.

7.Time frame and Estimated Working Days

The consultant must ensure the completion of the entire baseline deliverable within this time frame. The level of effort for this assignment is approximately 25 days.

Under this deliverable, the consultant will: oversee the baseline study’s successful execution, ensuring the completion of data collection within the agreed timelines. Specifically, in collaboration with the Regional Coordinator, the consultant will:

1. Assume overall leadership in the baseline data collection exercise
2. Ensure the effective and efficient deployment of any support staff and quality assurance of all the deliverables
3. Recruit and be accountable for all other persons engaged during the study, including the field support staff
4. Ensure collection of accurate baseline data for all program quantitative and qualitative indicators within the agreed timelines
5. Ensure diligence in the handling, management, and storage of all baseline data.

The consultant will diligently analyze all the quantitative and qualitative data dis aggregating it as required in the log frame for all the program indicators and write a baseline report. Specifically, in collaboration with the Regional Project Coordinator and Project Manager, the consultant will:

1. Organize the data and analyze it according to the baseline study’s objectives and dis- aggregated as specified in the indicators
2. Draft a comprehensive and concise baseline report for inputs by the Work and Respect team
3. Make a presentation on the findings during a validation workshop to a reference group of participants and provide a concise PPT
4. Submit a final report reflecting the inputs from the Work and Respect project team and NUDOR staff. The report should be no more than 30 pages long (excluding the annexes)
5. Support the updating of the project log frame with the baseline data.

The consultant shall submit a final report in both hard copies and electronic copies along with all survey data (in Excel or SPSS compatible formats), transcripts of the FGDs, KIIs, photographs and ethical approval etc. The draft report is expected from the consultant before final report. The report will be written in simple English language and must be comprehensive. Reference will be cited after each important facts and figures. The final report should be edited by professional incorporating all comments and corrections if any. Completed checklists, questionnaires, case stories, quotes, photos have to be submitted to NUDOR.

Ownership and Disclosure of Data / Information: The proposal and the Baseline Report remains the remains the property of NUDOR and the consortium. The consultant should not share any information whatsoever with any unauthorized party outside the organization and the consortium.

Ethical and Adult Safeguarding: The consultant duty and responsibility should aim at reducing the risks of abuse to the adult whom NUDOR has contact with and keep them safe from harm. It is NUDOR overriding framework to protect children and adults who come into contact with the NUDOR employees, volunteers, partner organizations and individuals, including consultants, who are working on behalf of NUDOR. The consultant should include statements in the proposal on how he or she will ensure ethics and adult protection in during the commencement of the assignment and during the field works. Consultant/s should also specify other ethical protocols to be followed during the due course of the assignment. Consultant is expected to take consent of the respondents before taking interview, conduction of focus group discussion and taking photographs and ask if their photographs, verbatim or case stories could be used in report and for public dissemination. Such consent must be documented and submitted to NUDOR along with the final report including ethical approval.

Qualification & Experience of the Consultant:  The consultant will be responsible for planning and delivering the baseline study within the agreed standards and timelines. The consultant will recruit and be accountable for all other persons engaged during the study, including the field support staff.

The lead consultant will possess the following qualifications:

• Minimum of a masters’ degree qualification from a recognized university in monitoring and evaluation, education, social studies, development studies, economics, or any other relevant degree
• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in conducting project monitoring and evaluation studies, including education initiatives or program and experience in Rwanda
• Must have good knowledge and understanding of issues around access to and quality of education at vocational and tertiary levels and employment situations and the challenges faced by the marginalized groups, including persons with Disability in accessing training education and employment opportunities within the Kenyan context
• Must possess solid methodological and research skills demonstrated through several research pieces and evaluations
• Must possess excellent report writing, analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• In-depth knowledge of the socio-cultural, economic, and political context of the Work and Respect Project target Districts in Rwanda
• Ability to work collaboratively with multiple individuals and groups
• Ability to produce high-quality work under tight time frames
• Must be available within the period of the assessment
• Previous work experience with marginalized groups, including women, low-income youth, and persons with disabilities, will be an asset.

Application Process

 In your Expression of Interest, include the following:

• A detailed technical proposal including (maximum 10 pages)
• Description of how your skills and experience match the TOR requirements,
• Your understanding of the assignment
•  Proposed methodology and work plan
• A financial proposal: Should include a detailed budget breaking down all costs by different categories, e.g., professional fees, travel, accommodation, etc.
• Your CV, including track-record of recent projects, references of at least three (3) recent clients.
• Sample of 2 recent similar studies conducted.

CONTRACT: Contractual obligations will be defined through a standard consultancy agreement, outlining deliverable, timelines, payments, and stating that the intellectual property will belong to National Union of Disabilities Organizations in Rwanda.

Persons with disabilities who qualify are highly encouraged to apply.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND REQUIREMENTS:

Candidates interested in the position are expected to provide the following documentation:

1. A technical proposal with detailed response to the TOR, with specific focus on the scope of work, methodology to be used and key selection criteria for respondents.
2. Initial work plan based on methodology outlined, and indication of availability
3. A financial proposal detailing the daily rate expected and other mode of payment
4. Company profile or CV including a minimum of 3 references (clients) and 2 samples of similar work recently done
5. To have the ability of facilitating the sign language interpreter during the data collection if need be.
6. To  have an experience in working with person with disabilities

Detailed budget breakdown based on expected daily rates to:

The interested consultancy firm or individual will submit the requested documents on 18^th November 2021 not later than 2pm (Kigali time) at NUDOR Office located at KICUKIRO DISTRICT, NIBOYE SECTOR, NIBOYE CELL, KK 21Av Building 36.

Done at Kigali on Thursday 4^th November 2021 at 1:00PM

NSENGIYUMVA Jean Damascene

The Executive Secretary

TOR_BASELINE STUDY OF THE WORK AND RESPECT PROJECT IN RWANDA-NUDOR Signed