Baseline Study

Terms of reference

• Background information:

DanChurch Aid’s and Norwegian Church Aid’s (DCA/NCA) Joint Country Program for Palestine (JCP) is implemented in a context of protracted crisis and long-term Israeli occupation that caused serious violations of human rights against Palestinians. Rights violations in the West Bank include physical and psychological abuse, restrictions on movement, limitations on access to water and electricity, confiscation of land, home demolitions, and destruction of agricultural fields among many others. In Gaza, a sharp deterioration in the humanitarian, human rights, security, and political situation caused by the siege and several rounds of military operations in the Gaza strip. The West Bank and the Gaza strip have been politically divided since 2007 and no elections have taken place for 16 years. This affects the livelihood opportunities and the Palestinian publics ability to participate in the decision-making processes that affects their lives.

In 2016, DCA and NCA merged their respective long-standing programmes in Palestine into a Joint Country Program (JCP) guided by the vision that: “Palestinians should enjoy equality, self-determination, democracy, as well as access to justice and accountability in accordance with International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law”. The JCP’s aim is to contribute towards this vision through four themes of work: Active Citizenship, Economic Empowerment, Humanitarian Assistance, and International Advocacy.

DanChurchAid (DCA) has jointly developed a project “East Jerusalem (EJ) Youth: Agents of Change – Phase II” with its partners, the Palestinian Vision Organization (PalVision) and its digital storytelling platform (Yplus), the Palestinian Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD), and 7amleh – the Arab Center for the Advancement of social media (co-applicants), and in coordination with ACT Alliance EU (associate).

The project will empower youth to take constructive non-violent action to convince Europeans more effectively about the need for their support to achieve justice and claim their rights. They will be equipped with digital content skills, advocacy tools, and networks to reach European audiences successfully. This will help European opinion and policy makers and public to take political action on Israel/Palestine aligned with values of human rights, international law,and democracy. Through the action, East Jerusalemites will get support to manage their digital rights violations, and a number of Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in EJ will have been provided with financial support to lift their advocacy work. In the long term, contributing to the resilience of Palestinian civil society in EJ. The action will further improve the digital outreach, financial management, procurement and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) capacities of the co-applicants. Through this action, PalVision will provide Yplus with the necessary support to be able to function as an independent organization in the future.

Overall objective: To protect the resilience, identity, and rights of Palestinians in EJ.

Output 1.1.: Palestinian and European youth and EJ CBOs have increased knowledge and capacity to raise awareness on the occupation and its impact on Palestinian human rights among European public, civil society and opinion and policy makers in Europe.

Output 1.2.: Awareness raising products are created and disseminated targeting European public, civil society, and opinion makers in Europe.

Outcome 1: Palestinian and European youth, and digital platforms effectively communicate about the occupation and its impact and the lack of compliance with international law to the international community.

Output 2.1: European policy and opinion makers are exposed to IHRL and IHL issues and regularly engage with a range of Palestinian, Israeli, and international stakeholders.

Outcome 2: European opinion and policy makers have increased understanding of the occupation and its impact on Palestinian human rights and prospects for sustainable peace and take action to promote policy responses in line with democratic values, human rights, and international law.

Target groups and final beneficiaries

Target groups are: 10 Palestinian youths (both females and males) from EJ, 16 European youths (females and male) of Palestinian descent), 600 East Jerusalemites (reporting on 7or platform), at least 3 CBOs operating in EJ (supported through a minimum of 6 Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) grants), at least 6 staff from the CBOs, 215 European policy and opinion makers, 2 Palestinian digital platform/institutions (YPlus and PIPD), 610 European public, civil society members and opinion makers and Palestinian diaspora community members (through in person awareness raising campaigns/outreach sessions); as well as a large online public audience in Europe (with anticipated 8,618,000[1]viewers though social media).

Final beneficiaries: it is estimated that the action, in the long term, will impact a broader range of other European opinion and policy makers, the Tech industry, European human rights defenders, civil society organizations through networks, coalitions, alliances etc., and the Civil Society in EJ in general. Ultimately, final beneficiaries are the Palestinian population in EJ, off- and online.

• contract purpose and Expected results

Purpose:

This is a performance baseline. It aims to establish clear benchmarks at the early stage of the action related to the outputs, outcomes, and results with respect to the logical framework.

The progress achieved by the project will be measured, and impact will be assessed against these benchmarks. The baseline will verify the validity of the indicators referenced in the logical framework and provide a value for each indicator. These indicators and values will be used to monitor and evaluate the project progress and the change that happened.

To the extent possible, the baseline data should enable DCA/NCA and its partner to identify results clearly attributable to the implementation of the project compared to results from interventions by other actors or other conditions.

The baseline survey will be part of a larger monitoring and evaluation approach. It is the basis of measuring change over time to the action’s outcome and impact indicators. The baseline will allow the project to measure impact accurately through the Mid-term and Final evaluations.

The baseline questions should closely be linked to the action objective – the baseline is there to show whether or not the projecty has achieved its aims. The baseline will also inform the questions asked during regular monitoring. DCA/NCA and the implementing partners will use this information to make sound strategic decisions for the project implementation and future programme development.

Results to be achieved by the Contractor:

The consultant/consultancy firm is expected to compile comprehensive information clearly disaggregated based on vulnerabilities, gender, age, people with disabilities (PwD’s), geographic divisions, socio economic groupings, etc. to facilitate the future evaluation of changes expected to be achieved by the project.

The survey will have two objectives:

1) To assess the current logical framework and its indicators (both quantitative and qualitative) and update them (if needed), so they are suitable for measuring the progress and actual change in response to the objectives/indicators of the project.

2) To update the logical framework by providing a baseline value for the indicator related to the expected results, outcomes, and the output level. The consultant/firm needs to assess the means of verification and update them (if needed), assessing means of verification and developing tools at this stage would be key for quality reporting throughout the project life cycle.

The Baseline Survey is based on the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Guide on baseline surveys (IFRC’s Guide).

Stakeholder Participation

The Consultant/consultancy firm must ensure that a wide range of stakeholders participate in the survey as respondents. These will include:

• Youth that fit the target profile of the project.
• The implementing partners’ staff/board, DCA/NCA staff, and donor’s staff (if applicable).
• Stakeholders with specific knowledge about International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and UNGP adherence, among others Brussels-based advocates and local IHL resource persons.
• ACT Alliance EU.
• Scope of the Services

This baseline survey should not last more than a total of 25 working days, including all necessary meetings and interviews to be conducted in both Jerusalem and Ramallah:

1. Literature review of the Action’s documents including (DCA Programme Baseline Guideline, DCA Evaluation Policy, Logical Framework, Project Document, DCA Gender Policy, Rights-based Approach, and others as specified by DCA). In addition, to documents and statistics about Jerusalem, and existing reports prepared by AIDA, Human Rights Watch and other sources specified by the consultant/firm.
2. A concise assessment of the implementing partners’ setup. To assess their capacity in terms of rights-based approach, gender equality and participation of rights holders. Also, to assess their capacity in handling complaints, the existence of HR policy and strategic plan, and their technical capacities in undertaking and participating in international advocacy-oriented work.
3. Preparations of baseline survey methodologies, research tools and sampling. The methodology has to be approved by DCA/NCA prior to implementation. It should include interviews with DCA/NCA staff, the implementing partners’ project staff, ACT EU, and donor’s staff (if applicable).
4. Data analysis (quantitative and qualitative) and submitting the inception and preliminary report.
5. Debriefing session with DCA/NCA staff, the implementing partners’ staff, and the donor staff (if available).
6. Final report.

The baseline survey will be carried out by the consultant/firm supported by the implementing partners’ staff, and DCA/NCA per the below division of roles and responsibilities.

• Roles and responsibilities of the consultant:

1. To develop the tools, methodology and detailed timeframe for collecting data. The methodology must include clear details on the approach the consultant/consultancy firm will take to identify the baseline.
2. To share tools and methodology with the implementing partners and DCA/NCA, for approval before the survey begins.
3. To implement the baseline methodology, including interviews with all relevant stakeholders and the administration of questionnaires, focus groups and one-to-one interviews in the field.
4. To communicate with stakeholders and to coordinate logistics when needed.
5. To explain the data in an appropriate statistical analysis and provide the raw data in an external document (annex).
6. To write a report detailing the findings and recommendations.
7. To share a copy of all data with the implementing partners and DCA/NCA.

• Roles and responsibilities of the implementing partners:

1. To review all baseline survey tools and methodology.
2. To review the report of the consultant and provide feedback.

• Roles and responsibilities of DCA/NCA:

1. To provide the consultant with the documentation pack.
2. To review all baseline survey tools and methodology.
3. To ensure that the report meets the required quality standards.
4. To provide feedback on the report and to approve.

• timing, logistics and facilities

The timeframe allocated to the baseline survey process and finalizing of the report is a maximum of 25 working days. The baseline survey process should be in the period between 1 February 2024 – 16 March 2024.

Technical and financial proposals should be submitted no later than 2:00 pm Jerusalem time on 24 Jan 2024, at the following email: [email protected].

Task

Responsibility

Deadline

DCA

Consultant/firm

1. Publication of Request for Proposals (including this ToR as Annex 1).

x

10 Jan 2024

2. Technical and financial proposal submitted to DCA/NCA

x

24 Jan 2024

3. Selection of the Consultant/Consultancy firm by the Procurement Committee and negotiation of contract

x

31 Jan 2024

4. Provision of initial documentation pack to the consultant/firm

x

1 Feb 2024

5. Initial literature review

x

5 Feb 2024

6. Inception Report submitted to DCA/NCA

x

10 Feb 2024

7. Feedback and approval of inception report.

x

14 Feb 2024

8. Research, field work and interviews.

x

21 Feb 2024

9. Debriefing session with DCA team (and partners as appropriate)

x

x

22 Feb 2024

10. Preliminary report/Baseline draft

x

27 Feb 2024

11. Feedback to the consultant

x

5 March 2024

12. Second draft baseline report

x

10 March 2024

13. Feedback to the consultant

x

13 March 2024

14. Baseline final draft

x

16 March 2024

Important note:

This opportunity is open locally and internationally, but DCA/NCA will not handle permit applications or travel logistics to Jerusalem. For international consultant/firm, it is crucial to have local staff available to attend in-person meetings with stakeholders and partners.

The consultants will be expected to cover the cost of transportation and logistics within the cost of the consultancyfee.
The consultant/firm will work remotely and is required to conduct interviews, focus groups, and meetings in the field in Jerusalem and Ramallah.

• reporting

1. Inception report that outlines the study design, tools, and detailed work plan, no later than 10 days after getting the approval on the offer. Signing the contract may come at a later stage.
2. Preliminary report: A draft report should be submitted to DCA/NCA electronically in Microsoft Word format. The format will be shared by DCA/NCA. Annexes should include the work schedule of the survey team; list of target beneficiaries and key informants interviewed; examples of tools (e.g., questionnaires, focus group discussion questions); case studies; relevant background information.
3. Both implementing partners and DCA/NCA will provide the consultant/consultancy firm with comments and feedback on the reports according to the timeframe template.
4. A debriefing session for DCA/NCA staff and the implementing partners’ staff should be conducted before the submission of the final report.
5. The final report will be submitted to both the implementing partners and DCA/NCA. The report will not be considered final until approved by DCA/NCA.
6. All reports and communications will be in English.

• QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

The survey will be conducted by an external consultant/consultancy firm. The consultant/firm is expected to fulfill the following requirements:

Required qualifications

• Preferably a master’s degree in social science or other related academic field, familiarity with statistical methods.
• Proven track record in undertaking baseline survey using both quantitative and qualitative methods and the cross-cutting issues such as Rights Based Approach and Gender.
• Proven track record in undertaking baseline survey for international NGO, as UN agencies, Human Rights organizations, EU, Church organizations, etc.
• Good reporting, writing, and communication skills, with specific reference to analytical reports and studies.
• Proven evaluation skills such as indicator development, sampling, participatory evaluation methodology, appreciative enquiry methods, focus group interviews, etc.
• In-depth knowledge of the Palestinian context.

Preferred qualifications

• Proven experience in conducting baseline surveys for media, social media, human rights, youth, and/or advocacy projects.
• Knowledge and understanding on Governance, Right to Participation, gender mainstreaming, international humanitarian law and Human Rights, social and political empowerment, youth participation and empowerment, and Organisational capacity development in Palestine.
• Knowledge of CHS standards and experience in the participatory approach.

How to apply

Date of issue:

10/01/2024

Reference no.:

88/2024

Contract title:

Baseline Study

Closing date:

24/01/2024 @ 02:00 p.m.

Contracting Authority:

DCA

Contact person: Nadine Bannourah

Tel: 0546193310

Fax: 02-5825638

Email: [email protected]

please contact us to get the full RFP document.