Consultancy for Outcome Harvesting and Qualitative Inquiry: Strengthening Community-Level Learning on the prevention of Child Wasting in the Mandera Triangle.

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Concern Worldwide is an international non-governmental humanitarian organization dedicated to the reduction of suffering and working towards the ultimate elimination of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest countries

Background and context

Concern Worldwide and local partners the Rural Agency for Community Development and Assistance (RACIDA) in Kenya, Pastoralist Concern in Ethiopia, and Lifeline Gedo in Somalia are implementing the Hanaano Programme with funding from Irish Aid (June 2024 – December 2026). ‘Hanaano’ means ‘to nurture’ in Somali language. The programme integrates livelihoods, WASH, natural resource management, social and behaviour change and gender equality and conflict sensitivity approach to reduce the prevalence of child wasting in agro-pastoral communities. Target communities span the cross-border areas of Mandera County (Banisa, Mandera East or Mandera North Sub-counties) of Kenya, the Somali Region of Ethiopia (Dolo Ado and Dolo Bay Woredas), and Gedo Region of Somalia (Belet Hawa and Dollow Districts). Key partners include national and local government authorities, Tufts University as well as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)

Purpose of the Consultancy

To ensure that the programme remains grounded in the lived experience of communities, particularly mothers and caregivers, this consultancy will undertake an outcome harvesting exercise combined with a qualitative review. The aim is to capture promising practices and identify gaps that hinder progress toward improved nutrition outcomes.

• Support the conducting of qualitative research with mothers and caregivers across a sample of Hanaano communities in the Mandera Triangle in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia

• Harvest outcomes and promising practices that contribute to improved nutrition and prevention of wasting.

• Identify key insights as well as barriers and gaps in relation to behaviour change, access to nutritious foods, caring practices, livelihoods, market access as well as water and sanitation practices

• Provide evidence-based recommendations to strengthen the programme’s Theory of Change and its delivery mechanisms.

Specific Objectives

• Document relevant community-level changes related to child nutrition, maternal care, food access, livelihoods, and hygiene/water management since the programme started.

• Understand how and why these changes have occurred (or not occurred), from the perspective of mothers and key community actors.

• Identify what is working well in Hanaano's design and implementation—across nutrition, livelihoods, gender, WASH, and social protection.

• Highlight missed opportunities or gaps in reaching the most vulnerable households and preventing wasting.

• Develop recommendations for enhancing effectiveness, including changes to programme activities, linkages, or support models.

• Contribute to learning under the Child Wasting Initiative, with clear documentation of findings and implications.

Methodology

The consultant(s) should use an immersive, qualitative, participatory, and gender-sensitive approach, aligned with Concern’s research standards. Key methods may include:

• Outcome Harvesting workshops/interviews with local staff, mother-to-mother group members, CHVs, community leaders.

• In-depth interviews and focus group discussions with:

  • Mothers/caregivers of children under 5

  • Fathers/male caregivers (optional)

Participatory tools to explore:

• Community observation and immersion (where feasible) to understand daily life, coping strategies, and household/community dynamics.

• Diet diversity and food access

• Livelihood strategies and access to markets

• Water chain management and daily routines

• Gender and intra-household decision-making

• Perceptions of services and behaviour change messaging

• Validation workshop with programme staff and partners to triangulate and reflect on emerging findings

Expected Deliverables of the Consultancy

1. Inception Report - Includes detailed methodology, sampling, tools, ethics protocol- within 2 weeks on contract start findings

2. Field Workplan – Agreed schedule of locations and participant groups- Before field work begins

3. Debrief Session- Powerpoint presentation of preliminary- post field work

4. Draft Report – Including emerging outcomes, promising practices, gaps and recommendations – By Mid November

5. Final Report – Revised after feedback; includes summary brief for programme teams and donors.

6. Learning Brief – 4-6 pages summarising key findings and recommendations – End of consultancy

Timeframe

The consultancy is remote and will take place between 25th August 2025, and 30th November 2025.

Essential and Desirable Experience/Qualifications

This assignment requires a consultancy team with at least one member having access to the Hanaano communities, ideally a female qualitative researcher with live experience in the Mandera Triangle. The ideal team will have:

• Proven experience in qualitative research, outcome harvesting, or participatory methods in complex contexts

• Expertise in nutrition, gender, WASH, or livelihoods programming

• Ability to engage with vulnerable women and caregivers sensitively and ethically

• Fluency in local language (Somali) and excellent written English

• Experience in producing clear, action-oriented reports and facilitating validation/learning workshops

• Understanding of cross-border dynamics and livelihood systems in the Horn of Africa

Working conditions

The consultant will work under the supervision of Concern’s Hanaano Programme Management Unit Director and will work closely with the Concern country (Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia) and partner teams.

Duty station will be home based.

For any travel outside of the consultant’s duty location, Concern will:

• Book flights and accommodation and cover the cost of these

• Provide transport to/from airport / work locations in destination location

Remuneration/Payment

The fee will be paid monthly against invoices issued by the Consultant, supported with activity report for the month of work completed and status of work which is on-going. Subject to withholding taxes. (5% withholding tax & 16% VAT where applicable for residents); (20% withholding tax & 16% reverse VAT for non-residents)

The location of the consultancy is flexible; however, the consultant is liable for any tax obligations in their home country.

Security

It is a requirement that the consultant will comply with [Kenya] security policy and in-country security procedures. Failing to comply will result in immediate termination of contract.

Required documentation with your proposal:

1. Company / Consultant profile

2. Certificate of Incorporation (firms) or National ID card (individual)

3. Valid Tax Compliance Certificate

4. PIN Certificate

5. Company / Consultant’s Profile

6. Certificate/reference information of previous undertakings of similar contracts with

7. NGOs/UN agencies

8. Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct etc. or what are the necessary provisions have you put in place to keep everyone safe in the course of your engagement

9. Attach copy of Certificate of Good Conduct or proof that you have applied for the same

10. Short one page timeline and proposal of how the work will be completed.

11. An up to date CV detailing relevant experience

12. A proposed daily rate inclusive of all costs for each consultant and breakdown of roles/responsibilities and days. Should be presented in Kenya Shillings & ensure you indicate VAT and withholding tax where applicable;

13. Availability for the period of the consultancy

How to apply

Interested candidates, who meet the above requirements, should submit their proposals by email to; Consultancies.Kenya@concern.net With the subject line “SR111669 – Consultancy for Outcome Harvesting & Qualitative Inquiry.” by 4:00pm on 21st July 2025.

Concern Code of Conduct and associated policies

Concern has an organisational Code of Conduct (CCoC) with three Associated Policies; the Programme Participant Protection Policy (P4), the Child Safeguarding Policy and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants from exploitation, and to clarify the responsibilities of Concern staff, consultants, visitors to the programme and partner organisation, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. In this context, staff have a responsibility to the organisation to strive for, and maintain, the highest standards in the day-to-day conduct in their workplace in accordance with Concern’s core values and mission. Any candidate offered a job with Concern Worldwide will be expected to sign the Concern Staff Code of Conduct and Associated Policies as an appendix to their contract of employment. By signing the Concern Code of Conduct, candidates acknowledge that they have understood the content of both the Concern Code of Conduct and the Associated Policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these policies.