Terms of Reference (ToR): Consultancy Services for Conducting a Baseline Survey

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR): CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR CONDUCTING A BASELINE SURVEY FOR STRENGTHENING CIVIL SOCIETY IN NEPAL

ABOUT CECI

The Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI), founded in 1958, promotes sustainable and inclusive development worldwide. Committed to poverty reduction and gender equality, CECI empowers women, girls, and vulnerable communities through innovative solutions in leadership, economic inclusion, governance, climate resilience, and peacebuilding. With operations in 17 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, it has implemented over 350 projects, partnered with 400+ organizations, and engaged 440+ employees and volunteers globally.  Our key priorities include (1) Women and Girls' Rights – Advocating for equal opportunities, (2) Women’s Economic Empowerment – Strengthening skills for employment and entrepreneurship, (3) Climate Change Adaptation – Supporting communities in environmental resilience, and (4) Inclusive Governance & Peacebuilding – Promoting participatory governance in fragile contexts.  CECI collaborates with key partners to drive transformative, gender-inclusive approaches and scale best practices. Its efforts in research, innovation, and international cooperation foster sustainable solutions to global challenges. Since 1987, CECI has worked in Nepal across 66 districts within seven provinces, implementing 50+ projects in agriculture, MSMEs, governance, and gender equality, collaborating with governments, civil society, and the private sector.  Learn more at www.ceci.org.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

CECI is launching the "Strengthening Civil Society" initiative with Pro Public in Nepal. This regional project for Nepal (and the Philippines) aims to enhance equitable participation and representation in democratic processes. It will be implemented in 12 selected LGUs of Lumbini and Madhesh Provinces in Nepal, with the ultimate goal of improving the equitable participation and representation of women and marginalized groups within the democratic space in both Nepal and the Philippines.

The project will be implemented in Nepal's Lumbini and Madhesh provinces. During its implementation period, the project aims to reach 35,515 individuals and approximately 550,000 indirect beneficiaries in Nepal, of whom at least 60% of direct and indirect beneficiaries will be women. While the primary focus will be on local-level initiatives, the project also seeks to create a broader impact at the national level. It will engage a diverse range of stakeholders—rights-holders, duty-bearers, and responsibility-holders, including Women's Groups (WMGs)—specifically targeting Madhesis, Dalits, Dom, indigenous peoples in Nepal, and Muslim and LGBTQI+ communities. Additionally, the project will establish partnerships with key stakeholders, including governmental entities, human and women's rights commissions, civil society organizations (CSOs), government representatives, community leaders, elected officials, rights activists, and WMGs.    

CONSULTANCY INFORMATION

In this context, CECI plans to hire an independent consultant or consulting firm to conduct a baseline assessment, consult with key stakeholders and communities, identify baseline data, set target indicators, and integrate FIAP KPIs, Gender Equality, and SDG indicators into the Performance Measurement Framework (PMF). The consultant will also contribute to developing and drafting the Project Implementation Plan (PIP) sections and annexes according to the GAC prescribed format. The assignment will span 30 consecutive days, providing a focused timeline for the consultant to deliver assignments while managing travel to selected Local Government Units (LGUs) across Madhesh and Lumbini provinces in Nepal. The consultant will adhere to the key tasks outlined in the TOR.

SCOPE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

A baseline assessment will be conducted in collaboration with local stakeholders to evaluate the initial status of key indicators. This will establish a reference point for tracking progress throughout the project cycle. The assessment will support the measurement of output and outcome-level indicators and serve as a benchmark for monitoring the Strengthening CS project’s activities and its implementation progress against stated outcomes.  The baseline data will also capture interventions by local government units (LGUs), service providers, women’s groups, and civil society organizations (CSOs) within the target districts. This will help identify and establish baseline targets within the Performance Measurement Framework (PMF), facilitating progress monitoring towards project outcomes.  Refer to TOR for Key indicative baseline assessment questions.

METHODOLOGY

The baseline assessment will employ quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to gather relevant information from respondents. The baseline assessment will have to be implemented considering the gender-based analysis with an intersectional perspective (GBA+), which will also be carried out for each site targeted by the project. Harmonization of these studies will be necessary to ensure consistency and complementarity in their integration into the PIP. The consultant or consulting firm must outline their proposed methodology, covering aspects such as sampling approach, sample size, data collection tools, survey design, field administration, and reporting structure. The selected consultant or consulting firm will work closely with CECI and Pro Public to develop a detailed methodology.

CONSULTANT’S RESPONSIBILITIES

• Analyze official CECI and GAC documents related to the PIP and PMF to ensure compliance with baseline assessment requirements, methodologies, and fieldwork guidelines. 
• Perform a literature review on the project’s context, challenges, and themes, incorporating recent bibliographical and web-based references (ideally from the past five years) to enrich statistical and contextual data. 
• Design the methodology, including sampling strategies and data collection tools, and refine consultation tools to fit the local context. Conduct HHs surveys, interviews, and field visits with key informants, organizations, and communities. 
• Promote gender equality by ensuring full participation of women and female youth and strive for gender parity among consulted stakeholders. Include a comprehensive sample of marginalized groups in the project’s target area. 
• Process and interpret collected data, conduct quality assurance checks, and validate findings with stakeholders. 
• Prepare the baseline report, present key findings, and engage with CECI teams, Pro Public, local authorities, and beneficiaries to facilitate project planning. 
• Collaborate with CECI and Pro Public to communicate effectively with partner organizations and key stakeholders throughout the baseline assessment and PIP development process. 
• Assess the logic model, PMF, and relevant indicators of the PIP, ensuring alignment with GAC guidelines, Canada's Feminist International Assistance Policy, and key SDG and gender equality indicators. 
• Execute all tasks according to the approved timeline, ensuring the PIP is submitted within the deadlines.

TIMELINE AND DELIVERABLES

 Refer to TOR for Tentative Timeline and Deliverables.

CONSULTANT'S QUALIFICATIONS

• The Consultant should possess a graduate degree in social sciences, political science, human rights, development studies, international development, or a related field, focusing on the Indo-Pacific region, especially Nepal. 
• The Consultant must have strong knowledge of decentralization and local governance processes in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly Nepal. 
• The Consultant should have a minimum of 5-7 years of professional experience, including at least 5 years of relevant research experience in areas such as women’s rights, human rights of marginalized groups, political and civic engagement, and environmental rights, with a proven track record in research, monitoring, and evaluation. 
• Experience developing and managing FGDs, KIIs, and surveys is required. 
• Experience in conflict transformation, gender equality, and peacebuilding is essential. 
• Fluency in English and Nepali is required, and knowledge of other local languages spoken in the target areas is an asset. 
• Strong research and writing skills in English are necessary, as English writing skills are critical for this consultancy. 
• The ability to be flexible with time and work schedules while maintaining cultural sensitivity is needed. 
• Attention to detail and meeting tight deadlines (as outlined in the TOR) are essential. 
• Capability to recruit and train a network of local researchers to assist with the assessment and mapping process. 
• Ability to read, comprehend, and analyze large amounts of technical information, provide concise summaries, and explain its significance is required. 
• Knowledge and understanding of Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy and the Feminist International Assistance Gender Equality Toolkit for Projects are assets.

ETHICAL STANDARDS, CONFIDENTIALITY, AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS 

The Consultant or Consulting Firm must adhere to ethical standards throughout the assignment, including maintaining confidentiality of interviewee statements when required and avoiding judgmental comments about stakeholders. During and after the assignment, the consultant must not disclose any proprietary or confidential information related to the service without prior written consent from CECI. All materials and documents produced under this assignment will be the property of CECI.

APPLICATIONS

To apply, interested candidates (individuals or firms) are required to submit:

• A Curriculum Vitae (for individuals or teams);
• A technical proposal outlining the detailed methodology for the Baseline Assessment, demonstrating a thorough understanding of these TORs and a detailed calendar of implementation;
• A financial offer for completing the deliverables mentioned above with a detailed breakdown of costs for the studies (itemized consultancy fees/costs, itemized field data collection expenses, Itemized administrative expenses);
• Names and contact information of three references who can be contacted regarding recent relevant experience;
• A copy of previous reports of similar recent work undertaken and
• A brief cover letter to the following email addresses: cecinepal@ceci.ca (Nepal), marcelm@ceci.ca, and nancy.degraff@ceci.ca (Montreal), by 5 PM Friday, March 28, 2025 (Nepal Time). 

Consultants or firms seeking clarification on the TOR can send their questions to cecinepal@ceci.ca before the submission deadline. Only those selected consultants or consulting firms will be invited to formal discussions and contractual agreements with CECI. Please note that CECI reserves the right to reject any applications that do not meet the minimum standards specified in the TOR.

CECI's initiatives aim to address inequalities and foster sustainable development worldwide. The work ethic of our staff, volunteers, consultants, representatives, and partners must align with the organization’s values and mission. We encourage applications from women, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities, and other marginalized groups.

Download TOR here.

Only electronic submissions will be considered.