Terms of Reference for Data collection for Research in Narok County on Girls’ Education, Livelihoods and Conservation Project

1.Background

1.1 Background to Build Africa Kenya

Build Africa Kenya is an NGO affiliated to Street Child- UK. It aims to improve the quality of education and support livelihoods by developing the capacity of communities. Build Africa Kenya has worked with communities stretching across several regions in Kenya enabling school communities to improve the quality of education they provide for their children. Find Build Africa and Street Child on; https://build-africakenya.org/ and https://www.street-child.co.uk

2. Project Description

The Narok County Girls’ Education, Livelihoods and Conservation Project is a potential project to be implemented in Narok County. The general approach to the proposed project is:

a) A girls’ education component.

b) Strengthening livelihoods especially on nomadic pastoralism

c) Conservation and living in harmony with wildlife

2.1. Intended project goal

Project Goal: Support Girls in Narok County access education, improving retention, transition and completion rates through improvement of livelihoods of their parents and ensuring less human animal conflict between community and wildlife by creating mutual benefit of wildlife to the community.

2.2. Intended Objectives and Outcomes

The Narok Girls Education Projects seeks to:

• Support 5,000 girls within Narok County to access, be retained, transit and complete secondary education.
• Ensure 3,000 livestock farmers in Narok County improve their stock and earn better incomes.
• 3000 farmers in Nakuru County demonstrate relevant skills and knowledge in modern farming practices enabling them to develop their farms.
• Ensure the targeted farmers establish conservation initiatives that enable them to live harmoniously with wildlife, generating income from conservation activities as well as reduction of human-wildlife conflict.

3. Research Purpose

The purpose of the research is to develop data and evidence-based findings on the potential for improvement of girls’ education, the community supported approaches that can be implemented that compliments their livelihoods and reduces conflict between them and wildlife, thereby enabling them fully contribute to the education of their children as they also conserve the environment and live in harmony with wildlife. The research is also tasked with generating knowledge and statistics to inform the design and implementation of a girl’s education, community livelihoods and conservation projects at Build Africa Kenya. This will form the baseline upon which the project will compare progress.

The key research questions are:

a) What are the key barriers to girls’ education in Narok County?

b) What are the greatest challenges with nomadic pastoralism and how can these be mitigated?

c) How does existence of wildlife affect the community’s life and how can a harmonious relationship be developed?

The findings, learning and recommendations from the research will be used to report the potential project interventions that Build Africa Kenya/ Street Child can initiate in Narok County to mitigate these challenges.

4. Build Africa Kenya Evaluation Quality Standards

Build Africa Kenya works towards meeting evaluation quality standards in line with the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) criteria for evaluating development assistance, combined with the BOND Evidence Principles. The standards provide guidance to the standards that Build Africa Kenya and partners should seek to meet in conducting evaluations, including data collection.

The BOND Evidence Principles specifically focus on the quality of evidence within an evaluation. The standards are as follows:

• Voice and Inclusion: We present beneficiaries’ views on the effects of the intervention, and identify who has been affected and how
• Appropriateness: We use methods that are justifiable given the nature of the intervention and the purpose of the assessment
• Triangulation: We make conclusions about the intervention’s effects by using a mix of methods, data sources, and perspectives
• Contribution: We can show how change happened and explain how we contributed to it
• Transparency: We are open about the data sources and methods used, the results achieved, and the strengths and limitations of the evidence

Build Africa Kenya must aim to achieve the content and quality of evidence as outlined above.

5. Evaluation Approach and Methodology

The research has adopted a design that seeks to gather data that will support the design and approach of the proposed project. The Research will employ a mixed-methods approach that consists of a desk-based document review of project literature and records, capturing quantitative data through a questionnaire and qualitative data through Focus Group Discussions. This participatory component of the approach will support the research to develop findings that are evidence-based in the experiences, perceptions and lives of participants.

6. Study Methodology:

Desk Review & consultation within Build Africa Kenya.

• Review of existing public documents regarding Narok County on aspects of girls’ education, livelihoods and conservation.
• Discussion within Build Africa Kenya around the evaluation design

Development of data tools

• Based on the research design (approach, methodology and key research questions), the necessary data collection tools have been developed. These will include:

                              Tool 1: Focus Group Discussion for parents(men and women)

                              Tool 2: Focus Group Discussion for girls and boys

                              Tool 3: Key informant interviews with major stakeholders and government officials across the                                                  three key research areas/ dockets

Support to research/data collection team

• Build Africa Kenya will provide guidance to the independent research team on the research purpose, design and plan.
• Build Africa Kenya will be responsible for introducing the tools and the independent research team who are then tasked with piloting the tools in an internal training.

Field data collection

• Collect the data required to answer the key research questions. The data collection will include:
• Focus Group Discussions: The research team will conduct RRA/ FGDs with parents and students as well as carry out key Informant Interviews with relevant stakeholders. These discussions will include interactive, participatory methods of collecting data.

Data analysis & final report

• Data entry, cleansing and validation conducted by the research team/ Build Africa Kenya team.
• Data analysis conducted by the consultant. Quantitative data will be obtained, through an in-depth review in-depth desk review and analysis of existing and updated data and statistics across the three key research areas. The qualitative data will be analyzed using a content analysis technique to identify findings from the RRA/ FGDs and KIIs.
• Report write up. Final report will include both qualitative and quantitative data obtained.
• Tasks and deliverables

7. The required Consultancy Deliverables are:

• An Inception Report: should be a maximum of 5 pages, produced within 2 working days detailing the methodology; the schedule of activities and the tools for data collection and analysis.
• Draft Research Report: This should be logically structured, containing evidence-based findings, conclusions, any learnings and recommendations, and should be free of information that is not relevant to the overall analysis. The report should respond in detail to the specific tasks described above and should be a maximum 40 pages including annexes (including the TORs, data collection and analysis tools, List of participants, and any other document relevant to this research study).
• Hard copies of the completed data collection tools – to include extensive notes on the qualitative components.
• A full and final typed data set in English for both the quantitative and qualitative data collection
• Final detailed research report
• A summarized PowerPoint presentation for sharing with the donor, partners and other stakeholders

8. The Consultant will also be responsible for:

• Attending an inception meeting (remotely if required) with Build Africa Kenya staff to be introduced to the project research, and requirements of the data collection exercise.
• Reviewing the data collection tools with key Build Africa Kenya personnel to ensure a thorough understanding of the purpose and content of each tool. Explore the potential for mobile data collection methods and liaise with Build Africa Kenya on the feasibility of this for this exercise.
• An in-depth desk review of existing and updated data and statistics across the three key research areas of the consultancy and report on the same.
• Supervising and leading the data collection team to collect high quality data – this will amount to the completion of data collection tools in line with the samples provided.
• Supervise the data entry into the formats provided to an accurate and high standard
• Data analysis and reporting
• Final meeting for validation of findings

9. Build Africa Kenya will be responsible for:

• Preparing relevant documentation and making it available to the consultant
• Holding an inception meeting (remotely if required) with the consultant to provide background information and to finalize timelines and expectations
• Providing the data collection tools, and data entry format/ database with guidance for how to use if necessary.
• Respond to any queries or concerns regarding the data collection tools and/or exercise
• BAK to arrange the practice of administering the tools, the logistics for field travel, and to supervise data collection.
• BAK to mobilize relevant project communities in advance and to coordinate the field work to ensure to capture of high quality data from relevant sample of informants
• Data collection, entry and reviewing the final dataset and enquiring further where necessary
• Provide typed data to the consultant
• Making payments for the exercise as agreed in the contract
• Budget and timeline

Please submit a full budget for the Terms of Reference including costs associated with and including:

• An in-depth desk review of existing and updated data and statistics across the three key research areas, reviewing the data collection tools, coordinate data collection, data analysis and reporting.

All costs are inclusive of relevant taxes.

In line with the evaluation sampling methodology, it is anticipated that the exercise will take 6 days:

• 3 days in-depth desk review
• 3 days of reviewing data collection tools with ongoing coordination of data collection/support as necessary
• Development of a research report

The lead consultant will take charge of submission of final report and summarized highlights in PowerPoint presentation

10. Skills and qualifications of consultancy team

The data collection support team should consist of candidates who meet the following criteria:

• Demonstrable experience of leading high-quality data collection exercises (essential);
• Significant skills and experience in quantitative data collection and analysis (essential);
• Experience of collecting, analyzing and synthesizing qualitative data using a rigorous approach (essential);
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills (essential);
• Experience of overseeing and training data collectors, including providing a quality assurance function (essential);
• Able to reliably access the Internet, as well as relevant national policy/planning documents and surveys (essential);
• Experience of working in Kenya or East Africa (essential);
• Fluent in local language in both writing and speaking (essential)
• Fluent English in both writing and speaking (essential);
• Willingness to familiarize self with, and sign up to abiding by, Build Africa Kenya’s Child Protection Policy (essential).
• Experience of (access to) mobile data collection methods (desirable)
• Evident report writing skills
• Child Safeguarding

It is essential that the successful applicant familiarize self with, and sign up to abiding by, Build Africa Kenya/ Street Child’s Safeguarding Policy.

We reserve the right to conduct background checks for all shortlisted applicants in line with our child safeguarding policy. This may include collecting references from past employers or commissioning organizations.