Request For Proposals (RFP) - Baseline Study for IJM Kenya Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Project

Background Information The background section includes the following details about the project: baseline summary, a brief overview of the organization, project objectives, project outcomes and sub outcomes, project interventions, organizational measurement framework and model. 1.1 Baseline Summary This is a Request for Proposal to conduct a baseline research study for the Violence against Women and Children project in Kenya. The study will be done nationwide covering all the eight regions/former provinces of the republic of Kenya. A summary of the project and the proposed study is highlighted on the table below: Name of Project Kenya Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC) Project Scope of the Study Kenya (This is a national study) Goal of the IJM Kenya VAWC Project 18 million women and children are protected from sexual violence. Project Outcomes Outcome 1: A performing criminal justice system that effectively enforces VAWC laws. Outcome 2: Increased victims and community reliance on the criminal justice system to provide justice and address VAWC. Key Partners and Stakeholders Criminal Justice Actors including the National Police Service, Judiciary, Office of the Director of the Director for Public Prosecution, Victim Protection Board, Witness Protection Agency, Directorate of Children Services (DCS), Ministry of Gender among other institutions of government, Civil society organizations, VAWC Survivors, Community Based Stakeholders, the faith-based Institutions (FBOs) among others Project Life span 2024 -2030 Purpose of this Baseline study This baseline assessment will be conducted to help establish baseline values for key program indicators of the IJM Kenya VAWC project Annex 1 . Anticipated Methods for data collection 1. Quantitative Data Collection Household Survey Case file reviews (Investigations, legal /courts, aftercare) Interviews with survivors 2. Qualitative Data Collection Key Informant Interviews Focus Group Discussions In-depth Interviews 3. Document review for secondary data collection Baseline Start and End Dates October 2025 - December 2026 Baseline Report to be Released December 2026 1.2 About International Justice Mission International Justice Mission (IJM) is a global organization of lawyers, social workers, community activists and other professionals in 29 countries who share the mission of protecting people in poverty from violence. We partner with local authorities to rescue and restore victims, hold perpetrators accountable, and help strengthen public justice systems. Started in 2001, IJM’s office in Kenya works to strengthen government capacity to deal with Police Abuse of Power (PAP), as well as Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC).IJM’s focus is to strengthen Kenya’s public justice system to protect people living in poverty from violence and provide support to affected individuals and their families. 1.3 Description of the Project The Kenya VAWC project contributes to IJM’s 2030 Vision to rescue millions, protect half a billion and make justice unstoppable. The project aims to protect 18 million women and children from violence in Kenya and is a part of IJM’s Africa VAWC program This is aimed to be achieved through the strengthening of the criminal justice system. IJM Kenya’s VAWC project focuses on ending all forms of sexual violence against women and children with a specific focus on intimate partner violence (IPV). The Constitution of Kenya guarantees the right to dignity and freedom from violence. Kenya has a comprehensive sexual and gender-based violence legal policy framework. The substantive law prescribing crimes and sentences relating to sexual violence against women and children is sufficiently detailed and criminal procedure laws and policies are well developed. 1.3.1. Overall Project Outcomes and Sub outcomes A. A performing criminal justice system that effectively enforces VAWC laws. Prosecutors and investigators effectively and efficiently bring VAWC cases to trial. Courts deliver just and timely rulings in VAWC cases. B. Increased survivors’ and community reliance on the criminal justice system to provide justice and address VAWC. Survivors of VAWC are protected and supported as they pursue justice. Survivors confidently report VAWC crimes. 2.0 Baseline Study Purpose and Objectives This baseline study will be conducted to help establish baseline indicators values for the Kenya VAWC Project across the four Protection domains. The list of project indicators is provided under Annex 1, while the project’s protection measurement domains are described in Annex 2. The study will provide a foundation for systematic tracking of the project over time to determine its progress towards the intended outcomes and goal of protection. Protection measurement does not only demonstrate how IJM’s Protection Model works but is also an accountability mechanism where protection claims are verified through data. The baseline research report will therefore describe the pre-intervention levels as well as establish the precise values of the project’s key M&E indicators [1] . 2.1 Study Objectives The baseline study will pursue the following research objectives: Establish the prevalence of VAWC at the national and regional levels in Kenya. Establish the degree of peoples’ reliance in the criminal justice system for protection from VAWC at the national and regional levels in Kenya. Determine the level of criminal justice system performance (at national level) in responding to VAWC cases in Kenya. Determine the level of stakeholders’ confidence (at national level) in the criminal justice system to protect people from VAWC in Kenya. 2.2 Study Questions The study will seek to address the following study questions: What is the prevalence of VAWC at the national and regional levels in Kenya? To what extent is the vulnerable population reliant (at national and regional levels) on the criminal justice system for protection against VAWC in Kenya? How is the performance (at national level) of the criminal justice system in its response to VAWC cases in Kenya? What is the level of stakeholder confidence (at national level) in the criminal justice system to protect vulnerable people from VAWC in Kenya? 3.0 Methodology The baseline study proposes a mixed-methods design, combining both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods to ensure comprehensive, reliable, and evidence-based findings. Primary and secondary data collection tools will include key informant interviews, focused group discussions, in-depth interviews, household surveys, document and case file reviews, among others. The research/consulting team is expected to propose a detailed methodology that guarantees the highest degree of rigor to ensure credible findings and recommendations. The research methodology should highlight data collection methods/approaches, data collection tools, sample population, sampling criteria, data analysis plans, mobile data collection and management plans, data collection team-training plan, data collection schedule, ethical considerations and quality assurance measures among others. 4.0 Key Roles and Responsibilities To successfully accomplish this assignment, various roles and responsibilities have been outlined and assigned as below: 4.1 IJM Kenya IJM will undertake the following roles: Provide consultant(s) with background documents, reports, and IJM Protection Measurement guidance documents for review and reference. Support communities and stakeholders’ sensitization and mobilization. Organize study Co-creation workshop Provide oversight in the entire baseline study while retaining objectivity. Coordinate data collection for selected Performance Standardized Indicators using IJM’s standardized tools Review and provide input in the consultant’s deliverables. Organize validation and dissemination workshops for the presentation of baseline study findings to stakeholders and staff. Review draft reports/ final research products and provide consultants with feedback. Ensure smooth flow of consultancy engagement processes including contractual obligations. Share the final baseline study report and other research products with all key stakeholders. 4.2 Consulting Firm/Research Partner The roles of the consultant(s) shall include the following: Conduct desk‐review of relevant program documents and other secondary sources. Develop and submit an inception report. Participate in the study co-creation workshop (virtual and in-person) with IJM and write the Co-creation workshop report. Develop study protocol, detailing the agreed upon study design, methodology, indicators, data-gathering tools, work plan schedule, etc. With the support of IJM, seek ethical approval from agreed IRB and research authorization from NACOSTI for the study alongside other administrative approvals. Coordinate data collection processes using agreed tools. Undertake recruitment and training of the data collection teams including, pre‐testing, and finalization of data collection tools. Collaborate with the IJM team in developing a detailed operational plan that will include all the key action items and milestones that each team needs to execute in the study. Develop all critical manuals and guidance documents to steer and guide at every important stage/phase of the baseline study. Such manuals and guidance shall include DQA guidelines, research assistant and FGD facilitators/moderators training manual, study implementation plan, guidance for reporting adverse events and referrals for psychosocial support as well as data analysis plan. Review, clean, safely store, and analyze data collected. Submit raw and clean analyzed quantitative and qualitative data collected from the study to IJM. Write one joint baseline study report as per an agreed template. Present preliminary findings and draft research report to program stakeholders for validation. Incorporate feedback from program stakeholders and submit the final baseline research study report together with all data files (raw and cleaned; audio and written) and presentation/dissemination products. 5.0 Key Deliverables Key deliverables for the baseline study will include the following: Inception Report The inception report will specify the baseline study purpose and objectives, contextual background information of VAWC in Kenya and the justice system, general methodology, timeline and deliverables. The consultant will develop and share an inception report based on the template and guidance provided by IJM Kenya. Co creation Report: Co-creation report detailing the discussions in the co-creation workshops and how feedback from the workshop will be integrated into the study protocol. Study protocol and data collection tools to be submitted for IRB approval. Ethical and Research approval of the study: The consulting team will work closely with IJM to acquire ethical and research approvals from relevant IRB and NACOSTI respectively before field work commences. Weekly reports: During the fieldwork period, the consulting team will regularly provide updates on the progress of data collection highlighting any logistical or technical challenges that may require immediate mitigation. Draft and Final Baseline study reports: The study reports (both draft and final) will be based on the outcomes of the field processes and outputs of qualitative and quantitative data analysis. The report is the primary product used to communicate findings to the key program audiences. The report will be done based on the template and outline provided by IJM Kenya covering such key components including executive summary, background, methodology, limitations, findings, lessons learned, conclusions/recommendations, references, and appendices. PowerPoint Presentation: After receipt of an acceptable draft baseline report, the consultants must disseminate the study findings to stakeholders for their input and feedback during the study validation workshop. The final report will thereafter be adapted after necessary reviews have been completed and presented for IJM and stakeholders’ feedback and validation. Popular version of the study report: A summary of the study report not exceeding 20 pages, excluding any potentially procurement-sensitive information shall be submitted (also electronically, in English) for dissemination among partners and stakeholders. Other study products to hand over to IJM Kenya at the end of the assignment shall include completed data collection and analysis plans; completed training modules/resources; completed data collection tools; submitted raw and cleaned data sets for qualitative and quantitative (in SPSS format(.sav) along with the dictionary of the variables) components with analysis outputs. 6.0 Baseline Study Timeframe This study is planned to take place between October 2025 and December 2026 and should be executed within a period of 14 months. The consultant(s) bidding for the assignment should give a clear workplan of how the study will be undertaken within the stipulated timeframe. 7.0 Reporting and Supervision The successful consultant (or team of consultants) will work under the supervision of the Senior MERL Manager-Kenya Program, but with close consultations with the Research Steering Committee and any other IJM staff deemed necessary by the Senior MERL Manager-Kenya Program. 8.0 Qualifications and Experience The prospective consultant/firm is expected to demonstrate a fulfillment of the following minimum qualifications: Demonstrable, thorough knowledge of the Kenyan criminal justice system. This should include good knowledge of the functions of the ODPP, National Police Service, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and Judiciary. Applicants should also be conversant with the work of Directorates of Children’s Services and Gender Based Violence Mitigation. Good mastery and experience of conducting program reviews, large scale evaluations and research studies within the governance and justice sectors in Kenya. Vast experience in developing research protocols and obtaining ethical approvals from IRBs. Excellent team management capacity, including appropriately qualified staff with technical and local language skills to execute research and evaluations. At least a master’s degree (especially the lead) in relevant disciplines such as law, public policy, governance, human rights, or any other relevant field. Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated experience in conducting similar program research studies or evaluations. The application should include reports from 2 sample assignments conducted in the last 3- 5 years together with their references. Strong analytical, report writing and presentation skills. 8.1 Application Requirements Bids should include the following: A letter of interest. A technical proposal (maximum of 15 pages) that summarizes the consultant’s interpretation of the RFP and a properly outlined methodology. The proposal should also have a detailed timeline and activity schedule for implementation of the assignment. If a team is proposed, the technical proposal should summarize the team composition, their technical capacities, and responsibilities of each member. A Curriculum vitae (CV) of the lead consultant (and core team members, particularly the lead Subject Matter Experts etc.) which should outline their qualifications and relevant experience with respect to this assignment. A financial proposal with a detailed breakdown of budget lines and costs (in Kenyan shillings) for conducting the study, including: Itemized Consultancy fees/costs Itemized field related and overhead expenses Two sample reports from similar assignments, conducted in the last 5 years with 3 clear referees (names and contacts) from those assignments. Up to date Certificate of Tax compliance 9.0 Annexes (If unable to access these will be made available on request) Annex 1 : Annex 1; List of Project Indicators Annex 2: Annex 2; IJM's Protection domains Annex 3: Annex 3; Proposal Evaluation Criteria

How to apply. Interested candidates are advised to send their bids via email to:[email protected] and copy [email protected] with the subject line entitled “KENYA VAWC Baseline study”. The applications must be received by COB August 18, 2025. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Any form of canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification. All enquires in relation to the RFP should be submitted through the same email addresses ([email protected] and copy [email protected]) before or by August 15th , 2025. To further strengthen engagement with potential applicants, we intend to host an online Q&A session on 15th August 2.30-3.30pm EAT, those interested to request the meeting invitation ahead of the session through the same email contacts. IJM is an equal opportunity employer.