Terms of Reference (TORs) for a Comprehensive Baseline Study tender at Luangwa Child Development Agency (LCDA)’s New Operational Areas)

Duration of Assignment: 4 weeks

Reporting To: Federation Manager for Admin Purposes

M&E Officer for Technical Supervision

1. Introduction and Background

Luangwa Child Development Agency (LCDA) is a child protection and child-centered non-governmental organization. The organization is a non-profit making, non-political, non-religious, and does not discriminate on account of color, creed, tribe, race, or nationality. LCDA working with ChildFund Zambia is embarking on a new strategic period with a renewed focus on creating a Zambia where children develop to their full potential, enjoy good physical and mental health, and live in stable communities with responsive and empowered caregivers.

To effectively integrate new areas and measure progress, LCDA working with ChildFund Zambia requires a comprehensive understanding of the current status of community issues in its newly identified operational area. This baseline study will provide critical data and insights into the prevailing conditions related to LCDA and ChildFund’s strategic priorities, informing program design, implementation, and future monitoring and evaluation efforts.

2. Purpose of the Baseline Study

The primary purpose of this comprehensive baseline study is to establish a robust dataset on the status of community issues within the new operational area, specifically focusing on their alignment with LCDA and ChildFund Zambia’s strategic programming and advocacy priorities. The findings will serve as a benchmark against which the impact and progress of LCDA’s interventions will be measured.

3. Objectives of the Baseline Study

The specific objectives of this baseline study are to:

Assess Access and Quality of Health and ECD Services: Establish baseline data on the current access to and quality of inclusive, high-quality health care and Early Childhood Development (ECD) services for infants and young children in the operational area. This includes understanding prevailing child nutrition status and age-appropriate developmental indicators.

Evaluate Learning Opportunities and Access to Essential Services: Determine the baseline status of safe learning opportunities, access to quality education, nutrition, and health services for vulnerable children and young adolescents, including their school enrolment rates and current grade-appropriate learning standards.

Analyze Youth Capacity and SRH Knowledge: Gather baseline information on the capacity of youth to engage in productive, non-exploitative work, their current employment status, and their knowledge and practices regarding Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and health-seeking behaviors.

Map Child Protection Systems and Mechanisms: Identify the current status and functionality of child protection systems and mechanisms at community, district, and national levels, including community awareness of child protection issues, prevalence of abuse, neglect, violence, and exploitation of children, and existing reporting and referral pathways.

Assess Household and Community Resilience to Disasters: Establish baseline data on the capacity of households and communities to prepare for, respond to, and develop resilience to disasters, including common hazards, preparedness levels, and coping mechanisms.

Understand Advocacy Landscape: Assess community awareness and perceptions regarding key advocacy issues such as child marriage, the Child Code Bill, and violence against children, and identify existing platforms for community engagement in policy discussions.

Identify Community Needs and Assets: Through a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) approach, identify the most pressing community needs, existing assets, and local priorities, ensuring that future program activities are contextually relevant and community-driven.

4. Scope of Work

The consultant will be responsible for undertaking the following tasks:

Desk Review: Review ChildFund Zambia’s Strategic Plan (2021-2026), program documents, relevant national policies, reports, and any existing data pertinent to the study objectives in the new operational area.

Methodology Development: Develop a detailed methodology, including sampling strategy (for quantitative components), data collection tools (questionnaires, FGD guides, KII guides, PRA tools), and a data analysis plan. The methodology must clearly articulate how both quantitative and qualitative data will be collected, with a strong emphasis on participatory approaches, especially the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA).

Stakeholder Engagement: Identify and engage relevant stakeholders, including LCDA Management and Child Fund  Technical and Project Staff (including M&E and Grants staff), community leaders, local government officials, service providers, children, youth, and caregivers.

Data Collection:

Quantitative Data: Conduct household surveys to collect statistically representative data on indicators related to health, ECD, education, nutrition, youth livelihoods, SRH, child protection, and disaster resilience, disaggregated by gender, age, and partner area.

Qualitative Data (PRA and other methods): Facilitate Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) exercises (e.g., community mapping, seasonal calendars, Venn diagrams, transect walks, resource mapping, wealth ranking) with diverse community groups (children, youth, women, men, marginalized groups). Conduct Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with relevant stakeholders and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with target beneficiaries to gather in-depth perspectives, perceptions, and contextual information on all strategic priority areas and advocacy goals.

5. Data Analysis: Clean, process, and analyze all collected quantitative and qualitative data using appropriate statistical software (for quantitative) and qualitative analysis techniques (for qualitative). The analysis should identify key trends, disparities, and insights relevant to the study objectives and Child Fund’s strategic plan.

6. Report Writing: Prepare a comprehensive baseline report (draft and final) that clearly presents findings, analysis, and recommendations. The report should highlight the status of community issues, their alignment with Child Fund’s strategy, and implications for future program activities.

7. Key Deliverables

The consultant will be expected to produce the following deliverables:

Inception Report: Detailing the refined methodology, work plan, data collection tools, sampling strategy, and timeline for the study. (5 days after contract signing])

Draft Baseline Report: A comprehensive report presenting preliminary findings, analysis, and initial recommendations for review by LCDA working with ChildFund Zambia. (Due: 20 days after contract signing)

Presentation of Key Findings: A presentation to LCDA and ChildFund Zambia staff and key partners to discuss preliminary findings and gather feedback. (To be scheduled after Draft Report submission)

Final Baseline Report: A revised and finalized report incorporating feedback from ChildFund Zambia, including an executive summary, detailed findings, analysis, conclusions, and actionable recommendations. (Due: 25 days after contract signing)

Cleaned Datasets: All raw and cleaned quantitative datasets (e.g., in Excel or SPSS format) and qualitative data transcripts (e.g., FGDs, KIIs, PRA outputs).

8. Methodology

The consultant is expected to propose a robust methodology that integrates both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. The methodology should explicitly detail:

Study Design: Cross-sectional design.

Sampling Strategy: For quantitative surveys, detail the sampling frame, sample size calculation, and selection procedures to ensure statistical representativeness. For qualitative methods, describe purposive sampling techniques to ensure diverse perspectives.

Data Collection Tools: Provide samples of survey questionnaires, KII guides, FGD guides, and specific PRA tools to be used.

Data Collection Procedures: Outline how data will be collected, including training of enumerators, quality assurance measures, and ethical considerations (informed consent, child safeguarding).

Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA): Clearly describe how PRA will be implemented as a core component, ensuring active community participation in identifying needs, resources, and priorities.

Data Analysis Plan: Detail the analytical methods for both quantitative (e.g., descriptive statistics, inferential analysis) and qualitative data (e.g., thematic analysis, content analysis).

Limitations: Acknowledge potential limitations of the study.

9. Timeline

The study is expected to be completed within [4 weeks] from the date of contract signing. A detailed work plan with specific milestones will be agreed upon in the inception report.

10. Consultant Qualifications

The lead consultant or consulting firm should possess the following qualifications:

Academic Background: Master’s degree or higher in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Statistics, Public Health, Education, or a related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of demonstrated experience in designing and conducting comprehensive baseline studies, program evaluations, or similar research in the development sector, particularly in Zambia or the Southern Africa region.
• Proven experience in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, including expertise in Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to synthesize complex data into clear, concise reports.
• Experience in child-focused programming, ECD, education, youth livelihoods, child protection, and/or disaster risk reduction is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with LCDA and ChildFund’s Strong Core Program approach, program strategies, and M&E framework will be an added advantage.

Technical Skills: Proficiency in statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Stata, R) and qualitative data analysis software (e.g., NVivo, ATLAS.ti).

Communication Skills: Excellent written and oral communication skills in English. Knowledge of local languages in the operational area is a significant asset.

Ethical Conduct: Demonstrated commitment to ethical research practices, particularly in working with children and vulnerable populations.

11. LCDA and ChildFund’s Responsibilities

• LCDA will provide the following support to the consultant:
• Share relevant program documents, including the Strategic Plan, program designs, and available M&E data.
• Facilitate introductions and access to key stakeholders and communities in the operational area.
• Provide timely feedback on all submitted deliverables.
• Assign a focal point person (designated M&E staff) for day-to-day coordination.

12. Budget

Consultants are required to submit a detailed financial proposal outlining all costs associated with the assignment, including professional fees, travel, accommodation, data collection expenses, and any other relevant costs.

13. Application Process

Interested consultants/firms should submit a technical and financial proposal to [luangwafederation@yahoo.com] by June 6, 2025 before close of business.

The technical proposal should include:

Understanding of the TORs.

Proposed methodology and work plan.

Team composition and CVs of key personnel.

Examples of previous relevant work (e.g., links to reports).

The financial proposal should detail the budget breakdown.

LCDA reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal and to annul the solicitation process and reject all proposals at any time prior to award of contract, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected prospective consultant(s).