Consultancy for Baseline Survey: Enhancing Collaboration for Peace and Security in (ECPS Project)

Key Study questions

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The consultant is expected to collect data, analyze, and provide answers to the under-listed research questions;
• What are the baseline values for the outcome indicators in the table above? 
• What are the primary drivers of banditry attacks, kidnapping, and criminality in the Nigeria-Benin states Corridor?
• Who are the main drivers of banditry and kidnapping within the region?
• What are the existing perceptions of the people (including youth and women) regarding banditry and kidnapping within the target area?
• How are the security forces coordinating their efforts in tackling the challenge and what are the existing challenges before the security forces?
• How have the security forces been working with the communities in tackling security challenges in the target States?
• What are the main challenges that the community are currently facing in the local governments of interest to the project in the target states?
• What are the current community efforts in dealing with the challenges?
• The consultant is expected to add other questions that will provide data for the outcome indicators in the outcome table above.

Geographic Locations

• The Baseline Study will be conducted in the following States targeting the selected LGA: Niger (Paiko LGA), Kwara (Barutten LGA) Kebbi (TBD LGA), Katsina (TBD LGA) and Zamfara (TBD LGA) States

Methodology and Data Collection Tools

• The consultant in submitting the proposal should outline the research approach and methodology for data collection to be used, including sampling technique and justification for these methods related to the research objectives. The application submitted must clearly explain why the proposed methodology is the most appropriate to achieve the study objectives; they must also clarify the different tools that will be used and how each of these tools contributes to meeting the established lines of inquiry. 


• The consultant will be responsible for finalizing the literature review, designing the final methodology, developing tools, training of enumerators, data analysis, and drafting of the report and actionable recommendations that will be validated (one-day) in each of the target States. Proposals should include clarity on data triangulation and key methodologies for data collection. Methodologies for data analysis would also have to be outlined with justifications and reasoning for any key methods mentioned including the Do No Harm strategies and any proposed strategies for sharing the findings of the study in line with research ethics involving human subjects. 


• The final inception report containing the methodology and tools will be approved by Search’s Head of DMEL before data collection begins. The Search DMEL unit will participate in the training of enumerators and intermittently visit to supervise data collection in the field. 


• The proposal must also include a budget offer in line with the technical offer. A detailed budget should be provided, including daily rates for personnel, and costs related to data collection (per total number of people sampled, sites for collection, etc.), analysis, and production of deliverables. Also, the cost of holding data validation sessions should be included in the proposal. Note that the Budget should include all planned costs for the study as no additional costs will be borne by Search.

Logistical Support

• The consultant(s) will be responsible for organizing their own logistics for data collection (vehicles, fuel, and drivers), and this must be budgeted into the study.


• In addition, Search will share the following elements with the external consultant: background materials of the project including logframe and similar surveys.

Timeline

• This study will take place from 14th October- 15th November 2024 with the final deliverables due by 22nd November 2024 at the latest.
• Final deadlines will be agreed upon by Search and the Consultant upon finalization of the contract.

Deliverables

• Search expects the following deliverables from the external consultant(s) as they correspond to the timeline and budget:
• Inception report detailing the methodology, data collection tools, Analysis plan, and timeline;
• Training of data collectors or set-up of systems for data collection;
• Supervision and participation in data collection;
• Oversight of data coding and analysis;
• Debrief after data collection is completed (presentation of first trends and preliminary findings)
• Raw data collected from the field and cleaned data used for analysis submitted to Search;
• Uses the Search evaluation template unless otherwise agreed in the contract
• Provides a clear connection between the conflict or context assessment and the intended and unintended results
• Fully explains the objectives and research questions of the study, limitations and methods chosen for analysis, 
• Findings respect Search’s evaluation standards, are structured around the main objectives of the study, and are presented in relation to the intended target groups. The findings should speak to the link between the project, its Theory of Change and its contribution to our strategy. It should explain adaptations that occurred during the project and their impact on results.
• Strategic Recommendations should have a clear audience and be specific, accessible, and actionable. 
• Appendices should include detailed research instruments, list of interviewees, terms of references, and evaluator(s) brief biography
• 2-page summary of key findings 
• PowerPoint slides (12 slides max)

Budget

• A detailed budget should be provided, including daily rates for personnel, and costs related to data collection (per total number of people sampled, sites for collection, etc.), analysis, and production of deliverables. Also, the cost of holding data validation sessions should be included in the proposal. Note that the Budget should include all planned costs for the study as no additional costs will be borne by Search.

Requirements of consultant

• The following skills and experience are expected by Search for the selected evaluator for this project:
• Proficiency in English (written and spoken);
• More than 7 years of experience in evaluation, including collecting data using interviews, surveys, and focus group Discussion methods;
• Experience in previous work of this nature in the social sector;
• Experience working with international organizations/Non-governmental Organizations;
• Experience conducting quantitative surveys and analysis;
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills
• Familiarity and experience with contextual challenges in the geographic location(s) where the study will take place.

In addition, the consultant is required to respect the following Ethical Principles:

• Comprehensive and systematic inquiry: Consultant should make the most of the existing information and full range of stakeholders available at the time of the review. Consultant should conduct systematic, data-based inquiries. He or she should communicate his or her methods and approaches accurately and in sufficient detail to allow others to understand, interpret and critique his or her work. He or she should make clear the limitations of the review and its results.
• Competence: Consultant should possess the abilities and skills and experience appropriate to undertake the tasks proposed and should practice within the limits of his or her professional training and competence.
• Honesty and integrity: Consultant should be transparent with the contractor/constituent about: any conflict of interest, any change made in the negotiated project plan and the reasons why those changes were made, any risk that certain procedures or activities produce misleading review information.
• Respect for people: Consultant respect the security, dignity and self-worth of respondents, program participants. Consultant has the responsibility to be sensitive to and respect differences amongst participants in culture, religion, gender, disability, age and ethnicity.
• In addition, the consultant will respect Search’s evaluations standards, to be found in Search’s evaluation guidelines: 
• http://www.sfcg.org/programmes/ilt/dme_guidelines.html 

Selection Criteria

• Selection Criteria

Method of Selection for the Offer

• Selection will be based on the cost-performance ratio.
• The weighting coefficients fixed to calculate the final score for each supplier are: 75% or 0.75 for the technical bid score. The proposal for awarding the contract will be determined by adding the technical and financial scores: TO (Technical Offer)+ FO (Financial Offer)= successful candidate.