Job description

BASELINE STUDY CONSULTANCY

Project Title:

Strengthening Food Security and Resilience of Vulnerable Groups in Choma District

Implementing Organisation:

Keepers Zambia Foundation, in partnership with Gesundes Africa, with financial support from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Assignment:

Consultancy services to design and conduct a baseline study for the project in eight target communities in Choma District, Southern Province, Zambia.

BACKGROUND

Keepers Zambia Foundation, in partnership with Gesundes Africa, is implementing the project “Strengthening Food Security and Resilience of Vulnerable Groups in Choma District” with financial support from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The project seeks to improve food security, access to safe drinking water, climate-resilient livelihoods, household nutrition practices and community resilience among vulnerable groups in eight communities in Choma District.

The project will rehabilitate and modernise six water points, support 1,000 women through Village Savings and Loan Associations and women’s nutrition groups, strengthen climate-resilient farming practices, and improve knowledge on safe water handling, hygiene, infant and young child feeding, and use of locally available nutritious foods.

PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY

The purpose of the consultancy is to establish baseline values for the project’s key indicators before full implementation. The baseline study will provide reliable quantitative and qualitative data against which project progress, outcomes and impact can be measured during implementation and at endline. The study will also generate practical recommendations to refine targeting, implementation approaches, monitoring tools and learning priorities.

SCOPE OF WORK

a. Review project documents, logical framework, indicators and relevant background information. 3

b. Develop an inception report, detailed methodology, sampling strategy, workplan and data collection tools.

c. Collect baseline data in the eight target communities in Choma District using appropriate quantitative and qualitative methods.

d. Assess current status of food security, household resilience, water access and functionality, WASH knowledge and practices, women’s savings and income activities, nutrition knowledge, climate-resilient agriculture practices, and community support structures.

e. Analyse data and produce baseline values for project indicators, disaggregated where relevant by sex, age, community and vulnerability category.

f. Facilitate validation of preliminary findings with Keepers Zambia Foundation, Gesundes Africa and relevant stakeholders.

g. Submit a final baseline report with findings, conclusions and actionable recommendations.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

1. Inception report including methodology, sampling framework, workplan and data collection tools.

2. Approved digital and/or paper-based data collection instruments.

3. Cleaned datasets and data collection records.

4. Draft baseline report for review.

5. Validation presentation summarising key findings.

6. Final baseline report incorporating feedback, including an executive summary, methodology, findings, indicator baseline table, conclusions and recommendations.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

a. Advanced degree in social sciences, development studies, agriculture, nutrition, public health, monitoring and evaluation, statistics or a related field.

b. Demonstrated experience conducting baseline studies, evaluations or mixed-methods research for development projects in Zambia or similar contexts.

c. Strong knowledge of food security, climate resilience, WASH, nutrition, women’s economic empowerment and community-based programming.

d. Proven ability to design sampling strategies, develop data collection tools, supervise fieldwork and analyse quantitative and qualitative data.

e. Excellent report-writing and presentation skills in English.

f. Knowledge of local languages spoken in Choma District will be an added advantage.

g. Consultancy firms or teams must clearly indicate the lead consultant and roles of all proposed team members.

DURATION AND LOCATION

The assignment is expected to be completed within 3 weeks following contract signing.

Fieldwork will take place in selected project communities in Choma District, Southern Province, Zambia. The consultant will be expected to work closely with Keepers Zambia Foundation (Head of Programmes & Planning & MEAL Officer) and relevant district stakeholders throughout the assignment.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Interested consultants or consultancy firms should submit a technical and financial proposal including the following:

· Understanding of the assignment and proposed methodology.

· Proposed workplan and timeline.

· Profile of the consultant or firm, including relevant experience.

· Curriculum vitae of the lead consultant and key team members.

· Two examples or references from similar assignments.

· Detailed financial proposal in Zambian Kwacha, including professional fees, field costs and any applicable taxes.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Criteria

Scores

1

Relevant experience in baseline studies, evaluations and mixed-methods research

30%

2

Understanding of food security, resilience, WASH, nutrition and women’s economic empowerment programming

25%

3

Quality and feasibility of proposed methodology and workplan

25%

4

Qualifications and suitability of proposed team

10%

5

Financial proposal and value for money

10%

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS

Submit by email to:  [email protected] with the subject line “Baseline Study Consultancy – Choma Food Security and Resilience Project” .

Deadline: 28 ^th August 2026, 17:00hrs .

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. Keepers Zambia Foundation reserves the right to accept or reject any application and is not bound to select the lowest financial proposal.