Baseline Study

الوصف

ToR for Project Baseline Sudy

May 2025

General Background

Oxfam is an international confederation, Oxfam has been working in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) since the 1950s, where a country office was established in Jerusalem in the 1980s. Oxfam mainly works in the most vulnerable communities, such as Gaza, East Jerusalem, and Area C, of the West Bank where the Israeli Government maintains full military and civil control.

Oxfam is looking for a consultant to conduct a baseline study for the “AMAL, Amplifying Mobilization and Local Leadership project”.

Programs background

AMAL project is a three-year project implemented by Oxfam, Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS) and Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children, It aims to empower local Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and marginalized groups including women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs)in OPT become effective agents of inclusive governance and sustainable development (OB).

The project will establish a strong foundation through a comprehensive mapping of the needs of persons with disabilities. This mapping will provide essential baseline data to guide the design and geographic targeting of all the services delivery and advocacy activities, ensuring they are both evidence-based and responsive to the real needs of the population.

Based on this foundation, the project will work to enhance equitable access to inclusive services for vulnerable groups through a range of integrated activities. These include the establishment of inclusive safe spaces, and the provision of diverse services tailored to the specific needs of target groups. In parallel, the projectwill strengthen the systems and institutional capacities of service providers and CSOs to ensure high-quality, inclusive services. These efforts contribute to Outcome 1: The enhanced empowerment and well-being of vulnerable groups through increased access to inclusive services and improved capacity of service providers, community-based organizations, and civil society organizations to deliver high-quality, inclusive, and community-led services with attention to women, children, youth, and PWDs.

Building on these achievements, the project will also foster increased awareness within target communities about the rights of persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups. This will be achieved through coordinated awareness-raising campaigns and by empowering communities and CSOs to engage in effective, evidence-based advocacy. These efforts support Outcome 2: Enabling local CSOs and marginalized groups to effectively influence decision making of key stakeholders, Including the - UN, Palestinian Authority, donors to adopt inclusive and equitable recovery and reconstruction practices andpolicies.

Together, these two outcomes will equip local CSOs and marginalized communities to drive long-term, systemic change. Improved access to services will provide practical models and success stories to strengthen the advocacy efforts, while advocacy in turn will support the continuous improvement of inclusive policies, practices, and service delivery systems—contributing to the project’s overall goal of inclusive governance and sustainable development in OPT.

Purpose and Scope of the Consultancy

Oxfam seeks to hire a consultant to work with the Project team to conduct a comprehensive and objective baseline study, designed to measure the indicators defined in the Project’s Logical Framework (See Table 1 attached).

The main purpose of the baseline assessment study is to establish a clear and accurate understanding - both quantitative and qualitative, of the current situation in relation to the main elements of the project logical framework.

The baseline aims to provide the required information through:

● Measuring the initial value of defined indicators in the Results Framework Matrix at both the outcome and output levels, where applicable to the corresponding target populations;

● Establishing a starting point or baseline which will enable the measurement of the progress and assessment of the over the project’s life cycle.

● Providing recommendations for any necessary changes or amendments to the Results Framework Matrix, including objectives, indicators, assumptions, data collection tools, methodologies, and overall programmatic approaches, to ensure relevancy, accuracy, and responsiveness to the evolving context

Target groups and other stakeholders (the list is indicative and not exhaustive)

The direct beneficiaries of this action comprise 40,000 vulnerable individuals, including 20,000 women and girls, 10,000 men and boys. Among them, an estimated 6,000 women and girls and 4,000 men and boys are PWDs. The total also includes approximately 18,000 youth. These beneficiaries will be evenly distributed across the Gaza Strip (25,000 individuals) and the northern West Bank governorates of Jenin, Nablus, and Tulkarem (25,000 individuals).

Methodology

The consultant/Firm is invited to submit a participatory appropriate methodology aligned with the objectives and scope of the baseline assessment. The methodology must reflect the guiding principles for this bassline study, including participatory, intersectional, and gender responsive approaches. It should also detail the techniques for collecting and analyzing the information that will be used, with a clear inclusion of the gender analysis methods.

The baseline assessment serves to validate the project design and establish indicator values before project activities commence. It should not only focus on quantifiable results but also provide qualitative insights into the project’s assumptions, processes, dynamics, target groups, stakeholders, and sustainability. This entails adopting a holistic approach that delves beyond technical aspects to understand the contextual challenges underlying the project.

The proposed methodology should consist of the following components:

● The consultant is required to ensure a methodological design that adequately combines qualitative and quantitative techniques, both for the generation of primary information and for the structured review of existing literature in the area of intervention.

● The consultant must adopt a methodology consistent with the project participatory and intersectionality approaches. This includes attention to the overlapping vulnerabilities (e.g., women with disabilities, displaced youth, caregivers).

● The consultant/Firm must ensure meaningful participation of all project partners and stakeholders Perspectives of various stakeholders across age, gender, and ability groups—especially those directly involved in implementation and service access—should be incorporated through focus groups, interviews, or community-based participatory tools.

● The consultant/Firm will adopt a gender-sensitive approach, inclusive of all stakeholders, and sensitive to culture and power dynamics. The consultant must also uphold ethical research standards and apply the “do no harm” principle in all aspects of data collection and analysis.

● The consultant/Firm must identify the different sources of information, both for primary and secondary information, to develop tools and participatory methods for data collection and to triangulate the information to have greater accuracy in the collection of information.

● The consultant/Firm should submit a detailed inception report prior to data collection. The inception report will provide details regarding the baseline methodology, approaches and data collection tools, key research questions, timeframe, sampling methodology and calculations, and an implementation plan. The inception report will be reviewed and approved by Oxfam team before the commencement of the study. Oxfam reserves the right to ask the consultant for modifications and adjustments as it sees fit. In the event the consultant fails to fully submit all relevant parts of the inception report or if the inception report in its entirety does not meet Oxfam’s quality standards, Oxfam reserves the right to terminate consultancy contract at the inception phase.

● The consultant will be responsible for establishing baseline values for all relevant indicators outlined in the project’s performance measurement framework and using these to inform the development of the project's implementation plan.

● The consultant will collect and analyze data to distinguish the situation before and after the war. This analysis will ensure a comprehensive understanding of the war’s impact on the target population, areas of research, any new theoretical approaches and frameworks about (service delivery, accessibility and socio-economic context).

● The consultant will propose a risk mitigation plan considering the instable context, particularly regarding data collection and logistics in West Bank and Gaza Strip

In addition, the methodology must explore how power, gender roles, and decision-making dynamics—especially post-war—affect access to services, representation in CSOs, and community leadership. It must incorporate safeguarding protocols and trauma-informed approaches, especially for survivors of GBV, children, and persons with mental health conditions.

All tools and methods must be accessible to persons with various disabilities, including those with visual, hearing, or cognitive impairments. The consultant must co-develop or validate data collection tools with community-based organizations (CBOs), organizations of persons with disabilities (DPOs), and women’s rights organizations (WROs), to ensure contextual relevance, ownership, and accountability.

The consultant is required to obtain informed consent, ensure data confidentiality, and secure ethical clearance from a recognized institution—particularly for research involving minors and vulnerable groups. All data collected should be disaggregated by sex, age, disability, and location, and analyzed through an intersectional lens to inform tailored interventions.

Scope of work:

In collaboration with Oxfam, the selected consultant/firm will be responsible for designing and implementing a comprehensive baseline assessment aligned with AMAL’s project objectives, methodology, and inclusive values. The scope of work will include:

Conducting a desk review of all relevant project documentation, including the logical framework, partner reports, and context specific studies on gender, disability, and service accessibility

Designing the baseline data collection tools and methodologies;

Adapting and tailoring the baseline data collection tools accordingly in English, including arranging and organizing field testing of the questionnaire, during questionnaire development;

Translating the data collection tools to Arabic by a professional translator;

Prepare a detailed schedule for the actual data collection process;

Recruit and manage a team of experienced enumerators and supervisors for the data collection. (final number to be determined in consultation with the Oxfam team).

Ensure ethical standards are explicitly added, by requiring the consultant to provide with informed consent, data privacy, and confidentiality, especially considering the sensitive nature of the new situation.

Lead and organize a thorough in-house training workshop for enumerator candidates and supervisors (including arranging all logistics, such as finding venue, printing, stationary, etc.).

Prepare all required field work logistics as appropriate (print questionnaires, transportations, logistics, etc.).

Analyse and document the results of the baseline survey against all indicators and prepare a draft baseline study report for comments by Oxfam.

Compile and analyse findings and produce an updated logical framework and final report, incorporating feedback from Oxfam;

Prepare final baseline study report including lessons learned during the conduct of the baseline and recommendations for the endline.

Deliverables:

The deliverables for this assignment include:

● An inception report including (the consultant’s understanding of the assignment, method of work, brief written description of the sampling strategy and associated tools).In addition to the work plan including a training schedule and materials for enumerator/supervisor training will be submitted to be reviewed by Oxfam.

● A finalized data collection tools in English and Arabic for the baseline survey

● A brief report on the conduct of the field work, including details about any problems which were encountered and how they were resolved, and any feedback which may be useful for future surveys

● Submission and presentation of a Final Baseline Report (maximum 30 pages) that includes a methodology section, a list of interviewees, focus group participants and WROs detailed baseline findings for all relevant general and specific objectives indicators as stated in the Logical framework. also include a section that describes the data collection process (resources, budget, logistics) including any problems that were encountered and how they were resolved, and any feedback that may be useful for future surveys; The final report should include a section dedicated to comparing conditions before and after the war, with a focus on changes in service delivery, accessibility, and the socio-economic context.

● Copies of all data collection tools (in English and Arabic), raw data (including but not limited to data sets, survey responses, transcriptions, audio recordings etc.) and calculations should be submitted to Oxfam.

Timeframe and time commitment

The assignment is expected to be completed over as per the indicative timeframe below. Applicants are kindly requested to indicate in their offers the actually required number of days broken down by deliverable/ activity versus cost, in addition to the team size involved.

Essential skills and qualifications

The ideal consultant will have at least 7-10 years of relevant experience. The consultant should have the following skills and competencies:

Proven record in the development and implementation of robust baseline evaluation in the development sector for gender justice programming with specific focus on Civic space programs.

Strong background in gender justice, women’s rights, civic space.

Good knowledge and extensive practice applying participatory approaches, qualitative and quantitative methods to monitoring and evaluation.

Submission and presentation of a Final Baseline Report (maximum 30 pages) that includes a methodology section, a list of interviewees, focus group participants and WROs detailed baseline findings for all relevant general and specific objectives indicators as stated in the Logical framework. The final report should also include a section that describes the data collection process (resources, budget, logistics) including any problems that were encountered and how they were resolved, and any feedback that may be useful for future surveys;

Copies of all data collection tools (in English and Arabic), raw data (including but not limited to data sets, survey responses, transcriptions, audio recordings etc.) and calculations should be submitted to Oxfam.

Ability to adapt data collection methodology in light of the security situation in West Bank.

Financial proposal

● Budget breakdown; prices should be valid for 120 days from date of submission.

● The submitted offers should be in Euro Not including VAT. The tendered should be able to issue an officail Vat Exempation invoice in addition to valid deduction at source certificate or will deduct a percentage from the final payment (according to Palestinian Taxation department & laws.

● Prices include all types of expenses such as transportation per-diem, calls, … etc

Application process

Interested consultants are invited to submit Expression of Interest (EoI) with the experience and skills described above. The EoI must include the following:

1. A cover letter of no more than 4 pages introducing the consultant/ Firm and how the skills and competencies described above are met, with concrete examples (organization profile outlining similar experience including type of task, employer, program title, location, achieved outputs). The cover letter should also reflect the number of days to complete the assignment, daily rate and total financial offer (cost). The cover letter should also indicate consultants’ availability for the proposed period.

2. An outline of no more than 10 pages of the proposed process and key considerations including:

● Proposed technical offer

● Proposed actual number of days, timeframe and team size

● Detailed financial offer/ costs. It is expected that the financial offer includes a budget breakdown of costs including the daily rate as per the following table:

1. Team composition, management arrangements, CV and detailed work plan of the proposed team members.

2. one example of a report from previous similar assignment.

3. All documents are requested in English language.

Please submit the EoI (technical and financial offer) and requested documents by email before June 10, 2025, CoB to [email protected] quoting the reference code in the subject line of your email.

مكان تنفيذ الخدمة

القدس, رام الله والبيرة

موعد الإنتهاء 10, Jun

شارك هذا العطاء

OXFAM International

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