Tenders are invited for Consultancy Services to Conduct Baseline Evaluation. Background and Rationale In Kenya, adolescents and young people face significant barriers in accessing quality sexual and reproductive health and rights services. These challenges are particularly acute in rural counties where socio-cultural norms, stigma, and harmful traditional practices hinder open discussions on adolescent sexuality and restrict access to health and education services. Early marriage, teenage pregnancies, and gender-based violence remain prevalent, disproportionately affecting adolescent girls and young women. Despite national policies and frameworks promoting adolescent SRHR and gender equality, gaps persist in implementation and service delivery, especially in underserved counties. Youth-friendly services are often limited, and negative community attitudes continue to restrict uptake of available services. In response, Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevolkerung (DSW) in collaboration with Youth for a Sustainable World (YSW) and Sauti ya Wanawake Pwani (SYWP), are implementing a three-year project to improve the well-being and quality of life of adolescents and young people (AYP), with a specific focus on gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Specifically, the project will ensure that 39,450 AYPs aged 10 to 24 years in Kilifi, Migori, and West Pokot counties have the capacity to make informed decisions on gender equality and SRHR through life skills education (LSE). 2. Purpose, Objectives and Use Purpose: The purpose of this consultancy therefore is to provide baseline values for project indicators and generate an evidence-based assessment of the current SRHR and gender equality landscape in the three target counties, specially the wards we are working with, focusing on access, quality, and utilization of youth-friendly SRHR and gender equality services. Objectives: Establish clear Indicator Baselines: Collect quantitative baseline values for all logframe indicators (output, outcome and impact level) and their respective disaggregation Document the methodology applied: 2.1. Include sampling strategy, data collection tools and means of verification for each indicator. Analyse the context and assumptions: 3.1. Capture political, social, economic, and environmental baseline conditions and assess key risks identified Review the projects monitoring system: 4.1. Assess data flows, roles, responsibilities, and identifying potential data gaps, while recommending improvements to strengthen M&E for ongoing monitoring and the endline evaluation Provide qualitative foundations: 5.1. Capture baseline perceptions, attitudes, and barriers through FGDs, KIIS, or any other participatory method) 6. Frame forwards-looking evaluation questions: 6.1. Identify which questions should be revisited at endline and which indicators may require refinement for corrected measurement. 7. Ensure data storage and accessibility: 7.1. Delivering clean datasets, codebook and ethical protocols, thereby guaranteeing that raw data are available for the endline evaluation 8. Strengthen attribution and comparison logic: 8.1. Defining, where feasible, comparison groups or reference areas at baseline to support later assessment of changes attributable to the project. Use of Results The findings will be used: As a reference point for measurement, adapting interventions and target resources effectively. To validate the project design, assessing initial conditions for tracking impact and outcomes To inform implementation strategies To strengthen the monitoring systems To support accountability and donor reporting, informing advocacy and social mobilization strategies. To assess impact, strengthening integration of SRHR and gender equality into county health and education programs. 3. To Scope of Work The baseline study will be conducted across three counties in Kenya; Migori, West Pokot and Kilifi. This will be conducted within 120 days of contract signing. Key Evaluation Questions/Set of questions according to the OECD DAC Criteria Relevance To what extent do the project objectives respond to the most pressing SRHR and gender-related needs of adolescents and young people (AYP) in Kilifi, Migori, and West Pokot? What socio-cultural, economic, and institutional barriers currently prevent AGYW from accessing SRHR and education services? Are the target groups (1024 years, disaggregated by age, sex, vulnerability) correctly defined and inclusive of those most at risk? Effectiveness What are the baseline values for key indicators? Are county systems (health, education, child protection) ready to support interventions? Which contextual factors (norms, stereotypes, stigma, service availability, etc) may enable/hinder change? Are monitoring/reporting mechanisms adequate? Sustainability What is the current level of ownership and commitment from local stakeholders (county governments, schools, health facilities, communities, youth organisations) for adolescents SRHR and gender equality initiatives? Which financial, institutional, or social risks could limit the sustainability of project outcomes once external funding ends? What opportunities exist to strengthen partnerships and community-led structures that will sustain results beyond the project period? Efficiency What shortages in resources (e.g. staff, funds, infrastructure) or limitations in skills, knowledge and systems at county or community level could make it harder or costlier for the project to deliver its activities effectively? What data systems exist (health, education, community) that can be used for monitoring instead of creating parallel structures? Coherence What other donor- or government-funded initiatives are ongoing in Kilifi, Migori, and West Pokot, and how can this project complement rather than duplicate them? Which government and CSOs initiatives are currently active in Kilifi, Migori, and West Pokot, and how can the project build practical linkages with them during implementation to enhance coordination, complementarity, and cost-effectiveness Are there mechanisms for coordination among actors working on adolescent SRHR and gender equality at county and national level? Impact Impact will not be directly assessed at baseline; however, the study should map long-term impact pathways and contextual risks to allow comparison at endline. Methodology The selected consultant will be required to prepare a detailed research methodology, the baseline evaluation is expected to apply a mixed-methods approach, including quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis techniques. Key methods will be face to face interviews, focus group discussions and key informant interviews with sample groups and individuals from the project target groups and stakeholders. Moreover, the consultant is invited to suggest other groups to be interviewed based on information needs. Research tools, such as questionnaires for adolescent and youth, teachers, healthcare worker, Sauti Chapter women, YEC leaders, county government representatives, and other project stakeholders shall be carefully designed and be discussed with DSW International, YSW and SYWP team. 4. Process The major duties of the consultant will be: Activity 1: Developing and submitting inception report to DSW Germany/ YSW/SYWP with refined methodology and data collection tools. The consultant will review project documentation and objective to clearly understand the study and the indicators to be measured The consultant will develop an inception report, demonstrating an understanding of the study with a detailed field work plan on how he will carry out the activities to achieve the study objectives. In close consultation with DSW/YSW/SYWP the consultant will develop research instruments and tools. Activity 2: Recruiting, orienting, and training of experienced data collectors With the support of YSW and SYWP staff, the consultant will recruit and train data collectors on both the use of the data collection tools and the process of data collection Activity 3: Collection and analysis of initial data The consultant will lead in the data collection exercise in the 3 counties. YSW and SYWP staff will oversee/supervise data collection processes. The consultant will review, clean and analyse collected information. Activity 5: Drafting Baseline report The consultant will develop a draft report based on the collected information. The report will be reviewed by DSW International, YSW and SYWP and relevant stakeholders The consultant will incorporate the feedback and submit a final report Activity 6: Data validation The consultant with support of YSW and SYWP will engage the relevant government officials at county and sub-county levels to validate the findings. Validation may involve one-on-one engagement with officials and/or through workshops/ virtual meetings. The validation meetings will help to address any data gaps, promote quality assurance and ensure that the final report will have stakeholder ownership and acceptance for effective use. Activity 7: Final Report & Dissemination of Findings The consultant will incorporate the feedback from YSW, partners and stakeholders and submit a final baseline report. The consultant will also submit final datasets and relevant input for the development of infographics. 5. Outputs and Deliverables Inception report with detailed methodology, work plan, and data collection tools. Cleaned and coded datasets (quantitative and qualitative). Draft baseline evaluation report with initial findings and recommendations. Stakeholder validation workshop presentation. Final baseline evaluation report. 6. Expertise Profile of the Evaluation Team The selected firm/consultant(s) must possess the following qualifications: Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4178545/terms-reference-consultancy-services-conduct-baseline-evaluation
