BRCiS Consortium
KOBAC Project Evaluation
Terms of Reference
- Background Information
Building Resilient Communities in Somalia (BRCiS) is a consortium of national and international organizations â Action Against Hunger (ACF), Concern Worldwide (Concern), GREDO, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), KAALO, Save the Children, and Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) as lead agency. BRCiSâ objective is to work across the humanitarian-development divide, supporting marginalized communities in disaster-prone, rural Somalia to become more resilient to shocks and stressed, including as a result of climate change. BRCiS approach is contextually adaptive, focused on the specific shocks, needs, and priorities of individual communities. BRCiS was established in 2013 and is now implementing projects funded by multiple humanitarian and development donors in more than ten regions of Somalia.
The cumulative impact of climate-related disasters, conflict, and poverty has driven widespread displacement in Somalia, where nearly 20% of the population now lives in displacement. In Afgoye and Jowhar districts, displacement-affected communities (DACs) including both displaced persons and host communities face intensifying humanitarian needs and long-term vulnerabilities. In response, the Federal Government of Somalia has developed the National Solutions Pathway Action Plan (2024-2029), a multi-year strategy aligned with its National Transformation Plan (2025-2029) to support one million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in transitioning out of displacement through strengthened government leadership and durable solutions.
To build on past EU investments and consolidate government capacity for durable solutions management, the BRCiS Consortium, comprising the Norwegian Refugee Council, Concern Worldwide, and local partners WARDI and HIJRA, has partnered with the Federal Government of Somalia, particularly National Centre for Rural Development and Durable Solutions (NCRDS) to design a government-driven, area-based Action. Funded by the EU, the 36-month KOBAC (Capacity-building Opportunities for the Betterment of Displacement Affected Communities) project will be implemented in Afgoye and Jowhar starting February 2026, aiming to strengthen government forced displacement management capacity and multiply the effects of ongoing and future investments in the region.
KOBAC will support DACs alongside local, state, and federal authorities by working closely with NCRDS to achieve three interconnected outcomes:
- Outcome 1: Relevant national and local authorities coordinate and deliver inclusive urban services that are accountable to displacement-affected communities in secondary cities.
- Outcome 2: Mandated local authorities collaborate with DACs and the private sector to jointly design, deliver, and maintain sustainable urban infrastructure in high-displacement areas, fostering inclusive growth and long-term resilience.
- Outcome 3: DACs access livelihood opportunities directly linked to the operation, maintenance, and sustainability of services and urban infrastructure in high-displacement areas.
Rooted in a human rights-based approach, the Action places citizens' interests at the centre of Somalia's durable solutions agenda. DACs themselves are the primary target group, with all community members considered final beneficiaries through a non-discriminatory and inclusive approach aimed at delivering social cohesion.
This Terms of Reference (ToR) is designed to engage a qualified consulting firm to lead the performance evaluation for the KOBAC project. The ToR outlines the purpose and objectives of the consultancy, the scope of work, evaluation objectives, proposed methodology, expected deliverables, management arrangements, workplan, and the required qualifications and experience.
2. Purpose, objectives and scope of the evaluation
2.1 Purpose
This ToR seeks to engage a qualified consulting firm to develop the KOBAC project's performance evaluation framework, tools, and processes, applicable to the baseline, midline, and endline surveys, and to lead the baseline evaluation cycle under the overall strategic guidance of the NCRDS and BRCiS Consortium Management Unit (CMU). For the baseline phase, the consultant will provide technical support during data collection, conduct data quality assurance, undertake comprehensive analysis and produce the baseline evaluation report, with subsequent midline and endline evaluations to be contracted separately. Additionally, the consultant will co-facilitate the dissemination of baseline findings alongside NCRDS and BRCiS to relevant stakeholders, promoting learning and informing evidence-based decision-making. The evaluation framework will apply a contribution analysis lensârather than an attribution-focused study designâto assess the project's role in observed results, both intended and unintended, while explicitly accounting for contextual factors that may influence outcomes. Findings are expected to generate robust evidence to support adaptive management and strengthen stakeholder accountability.
2.2. Objectives
The primary objective of this assignment is twofold: first, to develop a comprehensive performance evaluation framework, tools, and processes for the KOBAC project â aligned with the NCRDS led National Solutions Pathway Action Plan (NSPAP), EU evaluation requirements, and relevant BRCiS Consortium projects evaluation framework, including AARAN and URBANISE â and applicable to the KOBAC baseline, midline, and endline surveys; and second, to lead the KOBAC baseline evaluation cycle. Under this ToR, the consultant will design the overarching evaluation methodology and all associated measurement tools, while implementation will be limited to the baseline phase. The midline and endline evaluations will be contracted separately, though the framework and tools developed under this assignment will be utilized for subsequent phases to ensure methodological consistency and longitudinal comparability. Baseline Survey Objectives:
- Establish pre-intervention benchmarks across KOBAC logframe KPIs, disaggregated by location, gender, age, and displacement status (IDP, returnee, refugee, host community), to serve as the foundation for subsequent midline and endline surveys. Given that Outcome 3 participants will not yet be identified at baseline, this phase will focus exclusively on population-level data collection for Impact, Outcome 1, and Outcome 2 indicators.
- Understand contextual factors and risks that may affect project implementation.
- Recognizing that major project interventions have been defined through extensive government and DAC consultations during the inception stage, provide actionable recommendations to ensure delivery approaches remain contextually relevant and aligned with project stakeholders' needs from the outset.
All KOBAC evaluation tools will be designed to ensure alignment with NCRDS's National Solutions Pathway Action Plan (NSPAP), EU evaluation requirements and standards, and BRCiS Consortium measurement approaches, particularly AARAN and URBANISE projects. These tools will be utilised for KOBAC baseline, midline, and endline assessment frameworks to facilitate seamless integration into subsequent evaluation reports. Throughout the development process, the consultant will consult with NCRDS and the BRCiS CMU to maximize alignment and interoperability with existing measurement tools.
Findings from the KOBAC baseline assessment will serve as a critical evidence benchmark for NCRDS, informing the project's contribution to the National Solutions Pathway Action Plan and strengthening government capacity in forced displacement management, while also equipping BRCiS and KOBAC implementing partners with established baseline benchmark and ensure planned activities remain aligned with evidence-based priorities and the prevailing project context
3. Evaluation Scope, Framework and Approach
The evaluation will cover baseline assessment of the project across project target locations in Afgoye and Jowhar districts. It will engage all relevant stakeholder groups, including displacement-affected communities (displaced persons and host communities), local authorities, state and federal government representatives, NCRDS and implementing partners.
Guided by the OECD-DAC criteria, specifically relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, and sustainability, the evaluation will focus on the project's performance across the following core domains: (i) institutional capacity of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and local municipalities to coordinate, monitor, and deliver inclusive durable solutions, measured via in-depth qualitative rubrics; (ii) self-reliance within displacement-affected communities (DAC), tracking enhanced access to basic services, Housing, Land, and Property (HLP) rights, and economic livelihoods for marginalized groups, alongside meaningful inclusion of youth and women; and (iii) social cohesion and collective action among DAC communities and (iv) the extent to which the project has strengthened the institutional and technical capacity of local authorities to sustainably operate and maintain the project-implemented green urban infrastructures.
Baseline Phase: Data collection will focus exclusively on population-level surveys for Impact, Outcome 1, and Outcome 2 indicators, as these measure community-wide changesâsuch as self-reliance, social cohesion, government capacity, tenure security, and perceptions of municipal inclusivityâthat apply to the general population in target locations regardless of direct project participation. Given that Outcome 3 participants (beneficiaries receiving intensive livelihood support, including business groups, food producers, and TVET graduates) will not yet be identified during the baseline phase, Outcome 3 baseline values will not be collected at this stage; instead, they will be captured through the participant registration tool in early Year 2, ensuring that pre-intervention benchmarks are established at the point of entry before any support is provided, thereby maintaining methodological rigor while aligning with the project's implementation timeline and operational realities
Cross-cutting themesâincluding gender equality, disability inclusion, social cohesion, and medium to long-term effects of capacity development initiativesâwill be integrated into the baseline.
4. Methodology.
Building on the guidance provided below, the consultant will propose a detailed performance evaluation methodology in their technical proposal, which will subsequently be refined during the inception phase in consultation with BRCiS, NCRDS and key stakeholders. The evaluation design will be guided by OECD-DAC criteria and grounded in contribution analysis, employing a longitudinal mixed-methods designâcombining quantitative household surveys with qualitative key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs)âto systematically track progress against logframe KPIs. The consultant(s) will also review existing NCRDS systems and BRCiS measurement survey tools to maximize consistency and interoperability. The following sections outline the proposed core methodological components that the consultant should incorporate and build upon in their proposal:
- Desk review of project documents, government frameworks, progress reports and monitoring data will inform all evaluation phases.
- Quantitative household panel surveys will track the same households over time, comprising:
- Direct participants (Outcome 3): Households receiving intensive livelihood support. Baseline values for this group will be captured during registration in early Year 2, not during the baseline survey.
- Indirect participants (Outcomes 1 and 2): Households accessing community-level services (e.g., infrastructure, education, health). Baseline data for this group will be collected during the baseline survey.
- Qualitative methods will include:
- Key informant interviews with government authorities, BRCiS partners, donor representatives, and community members.
- Participatory focus group discussions with displacement-affected communities (displaced persons, host communities, women, youth, persons with disabilities, and community leaders)
- Qualitative rubrics will assess the project's contribution to strengthening government capacity in leading inclusive durable solutions (KPI 1.1.)
- All quantitative and qualitative data will be triangulated and synthesized to produce one comprehensive report per evaluation phase (baseline, midline, and endline).
The methodology should prioritize adaptive learning, with findings structured to inform real-time program adjustments and future interventions.
The final methodology, including any adaptations, will be submitted for approval in the inception report.
5. Main Deliverables and Timeline
The consultant is expected to be onboarded by September 2026, with an inception report to be submitted by October 2026, followed by the rollout of baseline data collection in November 2026. A draft baseline report is expected by January 2027, and a dissemination workshop is tentatively scheduled for February 2027. Please note that this baseline workplan is provisional and subject to change; final dates will be discussed and agreed upon during the development of the inception workplan and considering post-El NiĂąo flooding impact
The consultant will deliver the following key outputs throughout the evaluation lifecycle. The consultant will use relevant BRCiS templates and formats where applicable, and all deliverables will be submitted in English, in editable electronic format (Power Point, Microsoft Word and PDF).
October 2026
Deliverable 1: Inception Report A detailed inception report outlining the evaluation methodology, evaluation questions, data collection tools, sampling strategy, fieldwork plan, stakeholder engagement approach, ethical considerations, limitations, a detailed workplan and additional specific measurement methods developed tools and guidance.
January 2027
Deliverable 2: Baseline Report A baseline report presenting pre-intervention benchmark data for Impact, Outcome 1, and Outcome 2 logframe KPIs at the population level, disaggregated by location, gender, age, and displacement status. The report will note that Outcome 3 baseline values will be captured separately during participant registration in early Year 2. The report will include analysis of contextual factors and risks, and actionable recommendations for adaptive management
Jan/February 2027
Baseline Validation and Dissemination Workshops Co-facilitate baseline validation and dissemination workshop to: (i) present preliminary findings, contextualise and validate findings, and gather stakeholder feedback; and (ii) share final findings, facilitate adaptive management discussions, and identify scalable approaches. Workshops will engage NCRDS, BRCiS, EU, government authorities, and other key stakeholders.
A concise PowerPoint presentation summarizing key findings, conclusions, and recommendations for each evaluation phase
Note: Timelines are indicative and may be adjusted in consultation with BRCiS to accommodate field realities, security considerations, or emerging project needs.
6. Management Arrangements and Workplan
Roles and Responsibilities
Evaluation Consultant
The evaluation consultant will be responsible for the following key tasks:
- Methodology and Tool Design: Lead the design of the evaluation methodology and all data collection tools, ensuring alignment with NCRDS plans, BRCiS evaluation frameworks and EU requirements, OECD-DAC criteria, and the contribution analysis framework. This includes developing Outcome 3 KPI assessment questionnaires for integration into the participant registration tool.
- Training and Capacity building: Provide training to BRCiS, NCRDS member staff on evaluation tools and methodologies prior to baseline data collection.
- Data Collection Oversight: Provide remote supervision of field data collection activities, including technical backstopping, data quality assurance, and oversight of enumerator performance. All field data collection will be led by implementing partners and government focal persons; the external evaluator will not undertake primary data collection in the field.
- Virtual Key Informant Interviews: Conduct virtual key informant interviews (approximately 8-10) with project stakeholders during the inception period, including NCRDS, BRCiS CMU, EU, Federal Government of Somalia (NCRDS), local authorities, and implementing partners, as part of the inception phase.
- Analysis and Reporting: Undertake data analysis and produce baseline evaluation deliverables as outlined in Section 5, including the inception report, baseline, and workshop materials.
- Workshop Facilitation: The consultant will co-facilitate in-person baseline training and final baseline findings validation and dissemination workshop as outlined below:
- Baseline Training (One Day, Mogadishu): The consultant will lead a one-day in-person training session in Mogadishu to orient NCRDS, implementing partners, and relevant stakeholders on the evaluation methodology, data collection tools, and quality assurance protocols prior to baseline field work.
- Baseline Validation and Dissemination Workshop (One Day, Mogadishu): The consultant will co-facilitate a one-day in-person baseline validation and dissemination workshop in Mogadishu alongside NCRDS and BRCiS to present preliminary baseline findings to project stakeholders, including government representatives, donors, and implementing partners. The workshop will serve as a platform for validating findings, discussing implications, and generating actionable recommendations for adaptive management.Field-Level Baseline
- Validation Workshops (Led by Implementing Partners): KOBAC implementing partners will lead separate validation workshops at the field level with project stakeholders, including affected communities and local authorities. These workshops will present baseline findings for contextual validation, gather community and local government perspectives, and capture field-level recommendations. Feedback and recommendations generated from these validation workshops will be systematically integrated into the final baseline report
- Compliance and Ethics: Adhere to EU, FGS and NRC data protection standards and Do No Harm principles, including NRC's Code of Conduct, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) policies, and data protection protocols. Relevant policies will be signed during the contracting process.
- Security and Logistics:
- The consultant is solely responsible for their own security at all times throughout the assignment. NRC may offer security guidance/briefing only upon the consultant's explicit request but assumes no liability for consultant security or logistical arrangements.
- For international firms only, NRC will provide limited in-country logistical support, including airport pickup and drop-off, upon prior request. All other travel and accommodation costsâincluding visa fees, taxes, flights, accommodation, and mealsâare the sole responsibility of the consultant and must b/e included in the financial proposal (see Section 7
BRCiS Consortium Management Unit (CMU)
- Serve as the primary point of contact for the consultant, overseeing contract management and ensuring timely delivery of all outputs by working closely with NCRDS.
- Facilitate stakeholder access, including implementing partners and communities.
- Review and approve all deliverables, including the inception report, evaluation reports, learning brief, and workshop materials.
- Manage logistics and budget for baseline training and dissemination workshops and stakeholder engagements
- Provide overall technical guidance and support through the BRCiS CMU MEL Manager, with additional input from CMU management team
- Integrate Outcome 3 KPI assessment questionnaires into the participant registration tool to capture baseline values during early Year 2.
National Center for Rural Development and Durable Solutions (NCRDS)
- Review and approve the evaluation Terms of Reference, methodology, and all evaluation and learning reports.
- Facilitate coordination with Federal Member State (FMS) and local authorities to enable joint project evaluation data collection with implementing partners and stakeholder participation.
- Co-lead dissemination workshops alongside BRCiS and the consultant, ensuring government perspectives are reflected.
- Support engagement of government representatives in project evaluation key informant interviews, validation workshops, and dissemination events.
BRCiS Members (NRC, Concern Worldwide, HIJRA, WARDI)
- Lead all field-based data collection activities for the baseline including household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews, in coordination with the coordination of the federal, state and local relevant authorities.
- Facilitate stakeholder access at community and district levels, including introductions to displacement-affected communities and other relevant actors.
- Provide contextual insights to inform evaluation design and analysis.
- Lead field-level baseline validation and dissemination workshops with project stakeholders including affected communities and local authorities to review preliminary findings, generate feedback for contextual validation, facilitate adaptive management discussions, and ensure evaluation results are effectively disseminated.
European Union (EU) â Donor
- Review and provide feedback on the evaluation Terms of Reference, methodology, and all evaluation and learning reports.
- Participate in key informant interviews as relevant to provide donor perspective on project design, implementation, and results.
- Engage in validation and dissemination workshops to review findings and contribute to learning discussions.
Estimated duration of the contract
A single contract will cover all phases (baseline-midline-endline) with phase-specific deliverables outlined in Section 5. The engagement is projected to commence in September 2026 and conclude in April 2027.
7. Application Procedures and Requirements
The interested consulting firms are expected to provide the following documentation:
- A cover letter introducing the consultants. The cover letter should introduce the team composition and specify the role to be played by each team member.
- A technical proposal, of no more than 20 pages, should articulate a clear and feasible approach to executing the assignment. It must include:
- A proposed performance evaluation framework and evaluation questions;
- Sampling methodology and data collection strategies;
- Data analysis approaches; and
- A detailed workplan with deliverables and associated timelines.
The proposal must demonstrate a thorough understanding of the Terms of Reference, should also clearly outline how the consultant will develop the specific measurement methods and tools requested under the evaluation's specific objectives. Crucially, the proposed approach must align with contribution-focused evaluation principles, distinguishing the project's contribution to observed changes from attributing impacts solely to the project. The proposal should also explicitly address how will make sure that the evaluation tools are aligned with NCRDS, BRCiS and EU requirements.
- Resume of each team member.
- Evidence of experience conducting similar assignments (At least two samples of similar work) is required.
- Proposed Budget: Provide a detailed budget in USD, indicating consultancy fees, logistics costs, and all other auxiliary expenses. Payment installments should be aligned with the delivery of key milestones, specifically the submission and approval of the inception report and the submission and approval of the baseline report following the dissemination workshop.
- Considering available project resources, proposals demonstrating cost-effective and streamlined approaches to achieving the objectives will be preferred.
Qualifications or specialized knowledge and/or experience required
The consulting firm and its team members must demonstrate:
- Advanced degree (PhD/Master's) in economics, development studies, urban resilience, climate adaptation, or related fields are required.
- Minimum of 5-8 years of demonstrated experience leading complex performance evaluations, with specific expertise in contribution analysis, OECD-DAC criteria, and mixed-methods research design is required
- Proven experience in designing and implementing longitudinal evaluations (baseline, midline, endline) for durable solutions, displacement, or humanitarian-development nexus projects is required.
- Strong understanding of forced displacement, durable solutions frameworks, urban services, and livelihoods in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
- Substantial research work in climate resilience or a related field with a geographical focus on drylands of the Horn of Africa and preferably in fragile context is required.
- Desirable: Previous experience in Somalia, experience evaluating EU-funded projects, and established presence in Somalia or partnership with local organizations.
- Only consulting firms are eligible to apply; individual consultants will not be considered.
Annex 1: KOBAC Logframe Key performance Indicators
Result: Impact
Indicator
1.# of migrants, refugee-returnees and internally displaced people or individuals from host communities protected or assisted with EU support (EURF/GERF 2.20, SDG 1) (disaggregated by sex, age, type of support and migratory status). Target 61,500 Data Source: ITT, narrative reports, progress reports
2.Self-Reliance index (SRI) Score of DAC households disaggregated by location, gender and displacement status. Target: TBD Data Source: baseline mid-term and endline evaluation reports
3.% of people in target population reporting strong social ties with diverse groups in DAC locations disaggregated by gender displacement status. Target: 80% Data Source: baseline, mid-term and endline evaluation reports, monitoring reports
Outcome 1
1.1. Government at Federal and municipality level performance score for leading and coordinating inclusive durable solutions processes, measured by a standardized assessment rubric at baseline and endline (Qualitative). Target: TBD Data Source: baseline and endline rubric evaluation reports
1.2. Percentage of displaced persons with secure tenure rights to land, with legally recognized documentation and who perceive their rights to land as secure, compared to the national average, disaggregated by sex, age group, type of tenure (SDG indicator 1.4.2). Target: 80% Data Source: baseline, mid-term and endline evaluation reports
1.3. DAC residentsâ perceptions score of municipal inclusivity and accountability in durable solutions planning and service delivery disaggregated by location, gender and displacement status. (BRCiS will develop and construct this new proposed perception composite index at inception phase). Target: TBD Data Source: baseline, mid-term and endline evaluation reports
Outcome 2
2.1. Proportion of completed urban infrastructure assets demonstrating sustained functionality and O&M compliance six months post-handover. Target: 90% Data Source: Post-construction assessment report, field visit reports, narrative progress reports
2.2. Proportion of government officials demonstrating improvement in urban infrastructure project management competencies following on-the-job training. Target: 70% Data Source: Pre-post training assessment reports, field monitoring reports
Outcome 3
3.1. Proportion of supported group-based businesses that are operational and reporting sustained revenue levels six months after receiving a start-up or growth grant. Target: 80% Data Source: Routine monitoring survey report and midline/endline
3.2. Percentage of trained peri-urban food producers who have adopted and are applying at least two Resilience Design practices in their food production. Target: 80% Data Source: Routine monitoring survey report and midline/endline
3.3. Percentage of employed TVET graduates who demonstrate sustained, skilled employment in urban infrastructure Operations & Maintenance (O&M) roles six months after placement. Target: 80% Data Source: Routine monitoring survey report and midline/endline