Baseline Study for the Strengthening Smallholders Resilience (SSR) Project Consultancy

In 2019, with funding from Europe Aid the IRC (Lead partner), ZoA and Cordaid formed a consortium and designed a program to build on the achievements, lessons and foundations laid by ProAct. The Strengthening Smallholders’ Resilience in Greater Upper Nile project is designed to scale up reach to more vulnerable households, build long-term community resilience towards climate shocks, recover and stabilize from the effects of war and displacement. The four-year project will run from January 2020 to December 2024. The project is aligned with the objectives of the EUTF’s South Sudan Rural Development: Strengthening Smallholders’ Resilience (SORUDEV SSR) program whose themes and priorities focuses on strengthening individual and community resilience by improving production and nutrition through access to basic veterinary and agricultural extension services; agricultural inputs, nutrition (food diversification) and food hygiene awareness. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), conflict arbitration and peace-building skills as additional integrated component.

Objectives of the Project

The overall objective of SSR project is to contribute to strengthening the resilience of communities, improving governance of natural resources, and conflict prevention and reducing forced displacements due to loss of livelihoods. The two specific objectives of the project are, (i) to improve the food security of rural smallholders in Greater Upper Nile and (ii), to empower them to cope with environmental volatility and insecurity.

In order to better inform setup of the project milestones, and establishment of an informed M&E system, the IRC on behalf of the consortium seeks the service of an external individual M&E expert/consultant to conduct a baseline study for SSR project.

Objectives and Scope of Baseline Study:

The IRC is seeking a Consultant or a team of Consultants to develop a baseline study framework for the evaluation and learning component for this program. The baseline study will focus on the indicator results framework approved by the EU in the project design document. The main assignment of the consultant will be to create suitable baselines for each of the indicators in the results framework and align the baseline to project targets and the M&E framework.

Specifically, working with Consortium M&E and Project staff, the consultant will perform the following duties:

• Review the project design documents of the SORUDEV SSR project including the Log-frame,
• Prepare tools for the baseline indicator survey in consultation with client and relevant experts,
• Train and guide data collectors on the use of Kobo app using available electronic tablets provided by the client
• Guide data collectors on suitable approaches while engaging respondents during data collection,
• Prepare an inception report for the baseline study in consultation with relevant M&E staff,

• Lead the primary and secondary data collection within quantitative and qualitative frameworks,
• Consultations with relevant stakeholders at sector, national, and state levels.

• Using the information and data gathered during the baseline survey data collection the consultant will.

• Analyze data and prepare location specific indicator trends feeding into the overall baseline report

• Draft a comprehensive baseline report for the consortium review indicating and comparing indicators across the 3 study sites.
• Develop a presentation kit of main results highlighting important analysis and trends
• Incorporating feedback/comments and finalization of report
• Prepare a high-level Results framework table with baseline data and indicator targets to be shared with EU technical teams.
• Submit a final Baseline report including a final Results Framework.

Deliverables

 The consultant will submit to IRC:

• An inception report detailing the tools, approaches/methods of assignment, proposed timeline of activities and submission of deliverables.
• Draft Report for comments and reviews by the consortium technical teams.
• Draft Final Report after addressing comments from consortium for review by EU technical teams

• Final report, including revised Log-frame with baseline data and indicator targets.