Terms of Reference:

Research on community attitudinal change towards FGM/C as result of project interventions.

1. Background

Support community to challenge Female Genital Mutilation in Gabiley, district of Somaliland is an FGM/C project funded by ADELMAN Foundation and implementing by ActionAid International Somaliland (AAIS) in Udaan, Biyo-macaan, Gogol-wnaag, Taysa, Ijaara and Xidhinta villages under Gabiley District.

The aim of this project is to build and strengthen community awareness and public knowledge on the harmful effects of FGM and build a critical mass of citizens and activists that will advocate for the eradication of FGM in their communities and serve as change agents for other communities in the country. This is designed to achieve through capacity building of anti-FGM Champions, that comprise boys, men, girls, women, role models and community leaders, and will reflect a community approach wherein all the key populations are recruited to be part of this movement against FGM and will make sure young girls and women have community support. Dialogues and conversations amongst different generations will also be facilitated to create a shared understanding of the FGM practice and its inherent risk to the girl child and enhance chances of behavioral.

Dialogue sessions, establishing youth clubs and support young girls to be at the center of the villages leading door-to-door sensitization, that will be supported by boys in the youth clubs and identified community champions volunteers will be commenced to reach the desired goal of the project. The door-door sensitization activity will reflect a community approach, led by girls with the support of other community members to mitigate the risk which may be faced by the young girls are among the planned activities of the project. The project will directly target 6 communities in Gabiley and Hargeisa Districts all in Marodijeeh region of Somaliland.

1. Project Structure

The project is funded by ADELMAN Foundation and implementing by ActionAid international Somaliland in 6 villages under Gabiley and Hargeisa districts of Marodijeh Region.

1. Project Duration

The duration of the project period is three years. The overall project objective is to contribute towards the total abandonment of FGM/C in Somaliland.

3.1.               Specific Outcomes of the Project

The specific outcome of the project is:

1. To sensitize local level commitment to FGM/C abandonment
2. To campaign change in the social norm towards the abandonment of FGM/C at national and community level
3. To effective enforcement of legislation against FGM/C to limit the traditional practice.

Purpose

The purpose of the research is to assess the effectiveness of the project approach in these areas, to identify the real situation of FGM and to advise on the future activities those people needed.

4.1 Specific objectives for the baseline are to:

1. Assess the effectiveness of the project?
2. Document the prevalence of FGM/C across the project target communities.
3. Lessons learnt and recommendations for ActionAid to the project implementation to reach its desired outcomes.

5.Project Details

5.1 Project Indicators

This Research is required to produce data on the following indicators, for target communities, and disaggregated as specified.

1. Methodology

ActionAid International Somaliland welcomes Expressions of Interest that propose a participatory mixed – method approach suitable to achieve the Research objectives. The Research should utilize participatory methods and collect both qualitative and quantitative data. It is expected that review research will mainly be qualitative but can use a mixed methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data. The consultant shall make best use of existing documents and shall conduct individual interview/ focus group discussions with the relevant stakeholders and community groups.

The Research exercise will also seek to maximize the use of the project document and the planned outcomes/activities, providing further understanding on the nature of the project and its desired goal.

ActionAid International Somaliland expects the Research to be carried out in line with our Evaluation Standards. These Standards will be shared on request, but in practical terms require the evaluation and evaluator to consider:

Community voice and representation: it is essential that the Research reflects the voices of women and men that will be involved in the project. People should be consulted as part of the Research, and their voices included in the Research report as direct quotes

and case studies to be able to evaluate the progress of the project at end. In line with ActionAid’s mandate, they should prioritize women, girls, young boys, traditional leaders, women groups, and religious leaders.

Transparency and ethical standards: the evaluator should explain clearly to communities that will be engaged in the Research evaluation what the purpose of the exercise is, and how their information will be used. ActionAid’s ethical standards for research and data collection should be followed, including a risk assessment covering security risks to communities. As a minimum the evaluation should adopt the ‘do no harm’ principle. (Please use the consent form attached).

Consent Form.doc

Women’s rights: Women’s rights must be respected in all evaluations. All evaluations should seek to explore how women have been included by an intervention and the effect on gender relations. It is essential that women’s voices are heard clearly in the evaluation. The timing and location of evaluation activities and the composition of the evaluation team should be designed to maximize women’s ability to participate in the evaluation.

Transparency about methodology: The Research evaluation should include a detailed and transparent discussion of the methodology used and key decisions taken in designing and implementing the evaluation. This should include information about the sampling (approach to sampling, numbers of people/communities covered, how representative), what tools were used and why, methodological limitations and gaps.

Disaggregated data: data must be disaggregated in as much detail as possible. As a minimum this means disaggregation by age and sex. Where possible data should also be disaggregated by other relevant factors such as disability

1. Roles and Responsibilities

The selected consultant will be contracted by ActionAid Somaliland, and report to ActionAid Somaliland. Support provided by ActionAid Somaliland will involve introductory briefings with the consultant(s); providing contact details and introductions to key stakeholders; mobilizing community members to be involved in the review.

1. Tasks and Outputs

It is expected the project Research evaluation consultancy will involve the following tasks:

• Meet with Project team and other relevant staff for initial briefing and discussion of

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• Review project documentation (proposal, and log-frame.)
• Produce an inception report (including full methodology) and work plan for the final evaluation, and discuss schedule with ActionAid Somaliland
• Design data collection tools, including questionnaires and all data entry processes. This will also include qualitative data collection tools that will be adapted for different target groups as appropriate
• Develop research ethics and child protection protocols and appropriate response mechanisms Review/revise sampling strategy and draw up list of sampling points
• Produce a draft final evaluation report and produce the final evaluation report based on feedback received
• Verbal presentation of findings and recommendations in workshop/meeting(s) with ActionAid program team, partners and other CSO stakeholders (either in person, remotely, or through the provision of summary presentation material)

7.1 Specific outputs of the consultancy will be:

1. Inception report and work plan
2. Data collection methodology, including sampling strategy and data collection tools
3. Data analysis of quantitative and qualitative data
4. Summary slides of findings
5. Draft baseline evaluation report
6. Final project Research report
7. Oral presentation/meeting to ActionAid

All reports will be produced in English. The format of reports will be mutually agreed at inception phase.

1. Timeline and Budget

The Research evaluation is to be carried out from 20th July to 30th August 2022. If the timeframe is the only constraint for an interested and qualified applicant, we would be interested in reviewing the application and discussing alternative timeframes.