1     REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) OVERVIEW

• RFP No: T-CI-ET-2022-022
• RFP Title:  Need Assessment on Community Development Priorities  
• RFP Issued By: Cuso International - Ethiopia Office
• Issuance Date: December 9, 2022                     
• Proposal Submission Date: December 22, 2022
• Language of proposal: Technical and Financial Proposals must be submitted in English.

Instructions for Submission of Proposals:  All proposals should be submitted to the Cuso International Country Program office in Ethiopia via the following address:  

Cuso International Ethiopia Country Program Office,

H & M Building, 7th Floor (Around 22 Mazoria, In Front of Blue Bird Hotel), Yeka S.C, Woreda. 08, H# New map No.D.03/2580/01/3585 Addis Ababa I Tel # 011 659 0698

Awards:

It is anticipated that there will be one award. Issuance of this RFP does not constitute an award commitment on the part of Cuso International nor does it commit Cuso International to pay for costs incurred in the preparation and submission of a proposal.

2     TERMS OF REFERENCE

Background

Cuso International is a developmental international organization working both in Canada and around the world, working to reduce poverty and inequality through the efforts of volunteers, partner organizations and donors. Currently, Cuso International is implementing a program called Sharing Canadian Expertise for Inclusive Development and Gender Equality (SHARE). SHARE is an initiative that aims to the engagement of Canadians in international development and key global issues and enhance the performance of local partners to deliver more innovative, and environmentally sustainable development initiatives that advance youth empowerment and gender equality (GE).

Through SHARE, Cuso International will provide professional support and technical assistance for national partners to help them strengthen their organizational capacities to (i) deliver more innovative and environmentally sustainable development initiatives that advance gender equality; (ii) Integrate gender-transformative and human rights-based approaches; (iii)  test, pilot and scale up new, innovative solutions to development challenges and systematic barriers that hinder gender equality (iv) strengthen and develop coordination mechanisms with local, national and international platforms, networks and alliances (PNA) to advance gender equality agendas and advocacy efforts; and (v) develop effective mechanisms to share lessons learned and good practices among organizations and PNA.

3     Purpose of the Needs Assessment

Professional Alliance for Development (PADet), one of Cuso International partners, is planning to conduct a community needs assessment that serves as input for project formulation and enables to extend its outreach in Sebeta/Furi. Use the needs assessment findings to identify potential ideas for designing community-led initiatives and a social enterprise scheme aimed at self-sustaining PADet's programs.  The needs assessment helps to operationalize PADet’s strategy, action and setup measurable and realistic targets and change. 

The purpose of this undertaking is to identify the needs of the community and its challenges and recommend opportunities for capacity building for PADet as well as the community. The assessment will include population data: demographic, social, economic and other individual and family related data such as educational level, formal informal or traditional skills, family sizes and more. Collecting these data is to assist in the design of future programming in Sebeta, including the social enterprise scheme. The assessment will use methodologies that empower women and girls and encourage their participation in the exercise and ultimately achieving the result.  Information obtained will be incorporated into the project work plan and used to enrich project indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies and set implementation programs.

3.1 Core objectives of the assessment

The assessment findings serve as inputs for project formulation and enables PADet to extend its outreach in Sebeta/Furi. Moreover, to use the information to identify potential ideas for designing community-led initiatives and a social enterprise scheme aimed at self-sustaining PADet's programs.

Scope of the work, Outputs and deliverables

4.1       Scope 

In this needs assessment, the reach will be up to 100 beneficiaries (with appropriate and acceptable sampling) for the research out of over 30,000 population

1. The geographical scope covers Furi locality/neighbourhood and neighbouring kebeles/communities In Sebeta town, Oromia special zone, Oromia region specifically identify villages where the impact of poverty and target communities' vulnerabilities are more visible
2. Assess formulation of social enterprise in the target areas and related opportunities and potential risks
3. During selecting of sample target groups ensure vulnerable groups, such as women and girls are targeted
4. The assessment uses methodologies that actively engage vulnerable populations as an input in designing a social enterprise scheme.
5. The assessment will include the youth centres on inclusive accessibility for all youth/children in Furi/sebeta area.

4.2 Outputs

• Assessment conducted, reports submitted, conduct validation workshop and submit final report.
• The report should be gender responsive and captures the needs of vulnerable groups
• The report should incorporate how to establish strong relationship with vulnerable groups/ representing their voice to resolve the problems.

4.3 Results of the needs assessment

• It will assist to identify the local community's social and economic issues and priorities
• PADet and PADet leadership gain a road map for future development with the community as a well-designed, participatory, and empowering assessment process informs it.
• Alternative knowledge and skills in identifying key issues and priorities gained and shared among target groups and community partners.
• Help to develop a social enterprise scheme that improves quality of life and human dignity and protect security

4.4       Roles and responsibilities

• The consultant will use both primary and secondary data to gather the necessary information for the targeted community
•  The consultant will work closely with project steering committee.
• Assessment tools will be developed for running key informants and focus group sessions and desk reviews
• Analyse, articulate and validate, the assessment findings, and prepare survey report with recommendations.
• Organize and deliver validation workshop

4.5       Deliverables

• Conduct 4-5 FGD sessions three of the sessions will be dedicated for women /girls sessions; with 12-person participants/sessions, 60% will be females; the stakeholder validation workshop will include 60% women.
• Key informant interviews will be conducted
• Make sure female participation are maintained to a minimum of 50% and to pay special focus to identifying gender issues and response measures.
• Take into consideration the cultural and community limitations, that a 50% and plus of female participation is maintained in the survey process.
• Ensure the views, and idea of female is represented without bias, and those women, particularly vulnerable women/young girls are empowered to speak out while men and boys are supporting the process and implementation of identified priorities during the assessment

5. Reporting  

Key expected deliverables from the consultant;

1. The consultant shall after signing of the service agreement, a comprehensive and concise Inception Report that sets out the sampling strategy, and sample size, proposed data collection instruments and timeline for activities within seven days.
2. The Consultant shall produce a comprehensive and detailed draft report. This draft Report will be submitted to the PADet country program representative for review.
3. The lead consultant will conduct a validation / dissemination workshop for stakeholders to validate findings and feedback received from the assessment.

 6. Qualification and experience of the consultant

Consulting Firm: -The consulting firm should have the following qualifications and experience to carry out the assignment:

• The consultancy service will ideally be conducted by team of professional consultants, which are expected to demonstrate strong credential working in private, governmental, and international organizations.
• The team should consist of at least a minimum of three members with Masters’ degrees in the fields of social science, development studies, international development, public health, monitoring and evaluation, or other relevant disciplines with minimum of 10 years’ experience.
• Preferrable female consultant with special expertise in gender-based analysis and vulnerable community engagement.
• A demonstrated experience conducting need assessment and community assessments and developing community-based programs.
• Competent consultant who has experiences in gender equality and social inclusion related project implementation and baseline assessment.
• Excellent analytical skills and communication skills.
• Demonstrated excellent report writing skills in English.
• Fluent speaker, in both Oromiffa and Amharic.
• Strong commitment to deliver the assignment 

7. Time frame

The maximum duration of the study/report will be 60 days. The study and other deliverables (reports) will be commencing on/around January 1, 2023 and be completed by end of February 2023

A. SUPPLIER INFORMATION

Please provide the following information:

1. Company Name.
2. Address.
3. Phone and fax.
4. Contact person with email.

B. PRICING - Prices must be expressed in ETB

C. CONDITIONS OF TENDER

1. Cuso International reserves the right to deal with any tender of its choice or any or all parts of the tender and to purchase items from various tenders.
2. Cuso International is not bound to accept the lowest offer or any offer.
3. This request for tender is not a contract or an offer into a contract but is a request for a quotation for the goods/services indicated in this document. However, a contract will be established based on the tender decision.
4. Respondents are bound by their offer for a period of 10 days as from the closing date of bids.
5. Cuso International reserves the right to alter the dates of the tender timetable.
6. Cuso International will inform each respondent to the tender of the decision on their offer through a letter of engagement if successful, or otherwise by email.
7. Cuso International is not obliged to justify or explain selection to any respondent. Respondents are encouraged to contact Cuso International for any information required to submit a competitive bid.

D. Tenders submitted must be accompanied with:

• Renewed business license for the year 2015 E.C. VAT | TIN registration certificate.
• Company profile
• Evidence of past performance record on similar works and other relevant credential
• Tenders must be submitted in four (4) sealed envelopes, bearing the bidder’s official seal, and clearly marked TECHININCAL and FINANCIAL “Original” and “Copy”, and must include the bidders’ name, and contact address, as well as the Tender title and Tender Reference number
• Tenders must be submitted in the bid box prepared for this purpose at Cuso International, Ethiopia Country Office on December 22, 2022, before 2:00 P.M (Local time)
• Cuso International Ethiopian CO Committee and PADet representatives will open tender responses on the same day at 4:00 P.M. at its own discretion.
• Cuso International reserves the right to accept or reject this bid, in partial, or in its entirety.