Terms of reference for the recruitment of a firm/design office to carry out formative research on the communication needs of the 309-TUDITUALE project in the central Kasai province
- Context
The “Tudituale” project (abbreviated at RRI level: 309-TUDITUALE) is an initiative implemented by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) under funding from USAID in the administrative province of Kasaï Central in the Democratic Republic of Congo . Tudituale (“Let’s be self-reliant” in Tshiluba) is a USAID/BHA-funded resilient food security activity that aims to address food, nutrition, and economic insecurity through improved household livelihoods and incomes as well as diversified foods rich in nutrients. More than 640 rural communities in the Kasai Central province in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will participate in the project’s interventions. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is leading this 5-year project with a consortium of 10 local and international organizations providing an integrated set of interventions based on global evidence, adapted to the local context and strengthening existing systems, improving accountability and reducing barriers to structural, cultural and gender-based change.
The NGO Farm Radio International (RRI) will implement a mass communication strategy for social and behavioral change based on interactive radio, in collaboration with five (5) radio stations in the province, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). RRI will employ a sustainable approach aimed at building the capacity of these partner radio stations to design, produce and broadcast an interactive radio series using the radio drama. This intervention will allow the TUDITUALE project to promote behaviors and social norms that will have a positive influence on the capacity of the targeted population to strengthen their food security and economic autonomy in the face of chronic vulnerability.
As part of the implementation of project activities, it is planned to carry out formative research, focused on communication needs linked to the different components of the project, in addition to the studies carried out by the CRS team. Hence the present terms of reference for carrying out this study.
- Objectives of formative research
- Overall objective :
Mobilize information on the issues and especially the current priorities linked to the technical themes that will be addressed on air (i.e. food security, health, nutrition, gender equality and local governance) as well as on the opportunities and challenges in communication linked to the use of radio, mobile telephony and social media, as perceived by the target communities in the central Kasai province.
- Specific objectives:
- Exploring intergenerational dynamics – understanding key changes for women across four generations in relation to gender norms related to education, marriage, asset ownership and social networks.
- Understand current community perceptions regarding four key areas of women’s empowerment: 1) economic empowerment, 2) market/economy/participation, 3) mobility, and 4) mobile communication technologies.
- Understand the media habits of target populations, especially in terms of radio (estimation of the potential and active audience, radio listening and participation in broadcasts) and the use of mobile phones, as well as social media.
- Study to what extent potential community radios will bring about behavioral change for targeted groups (men, women, parents and (its beneficiaries girls, boys) and other vulnerable populations within the framework of the Tudituale project.
- Evaluate key indicators on the potential and active audience, the listening rate of programs, the level of knowledge of listeners, the changes and practices adopted by the target populations of the project intervention areas.
- Estimate the added value of potential radio stations and at the same time propose improvements relating to the design of radio broadcasts
- Study to what extent potential community radio stations will contribute to meeting community needs for behavior change
- Understand the opportunities to revise the progress indicators and results of the communication strategy based on different conclusions.
- Main activities :
The main activities to be carried out as part of this formative research are:
- Propose a methodology for the documentary review of available studies and research: Reading grid, strategy for analyzing the information collected;
- Take stock of missing data after the documentary review;
- Propose a methodology for collecting additional data following the documentary review including the sampling strategy;
- Develop the data collection tool according to RRI standards;
- Ensure data collection and logistics;
- Organize a briefing session for the benefit of the RRI teams and the CRS team;
- Process and analyze the data collected;
- Produce a final report to be validated by RRI and CRS.
- Methodology
As part of this research, information will be collected at (02) levels, namely:
A documentary review will be carried out by the team of consultants on the various evaluations, studies and research similar or related to the themes of the project already carried out with the communities in the localities of intervention of the TUDITUALE project. To do this, the consultants will have to, with the support of the RRI monitoring-evaluation, research and learning (SERA) team, develop a reading grid on the different components of the project (agriculture, health nutrition, governance inclusive, environmental issues, community income-generating activities and gender equality). This review would make it possible to take stock of existing information and collect additional data in the field in order to have a package of information necessary for the design workshops.
- Study team
The firm will constitute its team which must be multidisciplinary (taking into account experts in agriculture, livelihoods, WASH, gender and social inclusion, inclusive governance and environment and natural resource management) to carry out the study effectively. The firm will provide a description of the tasks and responsibilities and attach a curriculum vitae for each of the key members of the team formed.
The team will be placed under the direction of a Principal Consultant with relevant qualifications and experience in gender analysis in the project’s areas of intervention. The references of two (02) main similar works (period of completion, name and address of the sponsor, research object, amount of the service, deliverables) already carried out by the Principal Consultant must be provided in the proposal technical.
- Deliverables
The activities will be sanctioned by the provision of a certain number of deliverables that the consultant will make available to RRI at the email address which will be communicated to him/her for this purpose, as indicated below:
- The inception report
- The finalized study methodology (including revised and validated collection tools),
- The revised and validated work plan
- The first version of the detailed report
- The final version of the detailed report including two versions
- With explanation of all comments taken into account/not taken into account and the reasons
- A version without comments
- The final presentation on the study
- Contract length
The duration of the contract is 30 days of actual work. The work plan will be proposed by the consultant and will be subject to validation by RRI. This plan must take into account all stages of formative research.
- Specific Qualifications and Requirements
The study office will be responsible for the training, organization, conduct and reporting of the study. The firm will be under the supervision of the regional Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning coordinator and the Project Coordinator and will work in close collaboration with the entire RRI team.
The team leader should have:
- Postgraduate diploma in agriculture, sociology, WASH or another related field or other equivalent training;
- Demonstrated expertise in agriculture and knowledge of the principles of gender equality and social inclusion and issues related to women’s rights;
- Demonstrated expertise in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis – including formative research design, tool development, data collection and analysis, and reporting;
- Previous experience in the project areas and knowledge of local languages
- Good experience in using participatory approaches;
- Good knowledge of the Microsoft office pack for word processing and spreadsheets.
- Increased knowledge of data processing and analysis software
- Candidature
Applicants are invited to submit proposals in response to this request. Applicants may not involve or hold RRI or any of its employees responsible in the preparation and submission of their proposals. Likewise, RRI will not incur or reimburse any expenses related to the preparation of the proposal. Finally, RRI reserves the right to not respond to this request for proposal if this is deemed necessary or if this is contrary to the interests of the organization.
Applicants must submit their offers electronically only . Faxed documents or hard copies will not be considered or accepted.
- A Submission Letter , bearing the name and contacts of the candidate and the full name of the legal representative.
- A Technical Proposal , containing the following detailed sections:
- Curriculum vitae of key personnel: An explanation that shows how the personnel of the candidate firm or candidate are qualified for this consultation. If you wish to form an expert team, include a brief presentation of the team and the distribution of work among the people involved
- Working materials: An exhaustive list of the working materials that will be used as part of the mid-term evaluation and more specifically the data collection and analysis tools.
- Previous experience: a brief description of the company and its organization including appropriate references from any parent company and annexes, this includes details that demonstrate their experience and technical ability in implementing the technical approach/methodology and the detailed work plan.
- At least one example of a similar study or other documents written by members of the firm or person that demonstrates their ability to conduct studies as described in these terms of reference.
- At least two references of past services of similar work carried out as well as the contacts of the structures with which this work was carried out.
- A financial proposal , based on a lump sum including (fees, and other costs related to the mission in the targeted regions). To allow a better assessment of the proposed lump sum, the consultant must break down their lump sum by clearly indicating the costs planned for fees, travel costs and those allocated to daily allowances/per diem.
The cost will be a fixed cost including tax. Applicants must provide a detailed budget organized by heading of fees, transport costs, office expenses, communication etc., as well as individual item lines, different types of allowances (accommodation and catering), transport costs for travel, printing costs, meeting costs, etc.
Applicants must indicate the number of people, unit quantities, unit cost and total cost. Do not take into account a margin for unforeseen circumstances. Each category should be broken down into units and costs including explanatory notes to understand how each category and the total are calculated. All cost information must be expressed in CFA francs and US dollars.
Only pre-selected applications will be contacted for the rest of the process
Please send the documents listed below by email to the following address: burkinafaso@farmradio.org (with a copy igarba@farmradio.org) with the subject “Formative research of the 309-TUDITUALE project” no later than April 30 2024 at 00 GMT.
Female applications are particularly encouraged.
How to apply
Please send the documents listed below by email to the following address: burkinafaso@farmradio.org (with a copy igarba@farmradio.org) with the subject “Formative research of the 309-TUDITUALE project” no later than April 30 2024 at 00 GMT.