## Who is the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat?

ReDSS is a secretariat working on behalf of 14 international and national NGOs responding to forced displacement in East Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region. ReDSS was established in 2015 in response to a desire by the NGO community to be more proactive in shaping durable solutions policy and programming in the region. Our team works both at regional and country level and focusses on the translation of evidence and research into policies and programmes that can better deliver for displacement-affected communities. This is achieved through a range of activities, including convening key stakeholders at multiple levels to build consensus around collective actions; supporting new evidence generation through commissioning and undertaking research and analysis; and building the capacity of key actors through delivering training and developing tools and guidance among others.

## Project Background

The Kenya Evidence Platform (KEP) was established in response to a persistent gap within the displacement sector: the limited visibility and uptake of refugee-led and locally grounded research within refugee policy and programming processes in Kenya. Funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the three-year initiative (2023–2026) operates at the intersection of research, policy, and practice, with a focus on strengthening locally driven evidence generation and use.

Implemented by a consortium comprising the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat (ReDSS), the Refugee-Led Research Hub (RLRH), and Maseno University, KEP was launched during a significant period of policy transition in Kenya, including the implementation of the Refugee Act 2021 and the development and launch of the Shirika Plan. Within this context, the platform seeks to strengthen the role of refugee and Kenyan researchers in shaping evidence-informed approaches to refugee management and durable solutions.

KEP has supported a range of initiatives aimed at strengthening the refugee research ecosystem in Kenya. These include:

- Supporting refugee and Kenyan scholars to produce independent research papers and evidence products;
- Establishing and supporting the Forced Migration Research Network in Kenya (FOMREK) to strengthen coordination, mentorship, and collaboration among researchers;
- Conducting research trainings, coaching, and mentorship for emerging refugee and local researchers;
- Convening policy dialogues and engagement forums involving government, academia, humanitarian and development actors; and
- Producing and disseminating evidence products intended to inform refugee policy and programming in Kenya.

The platform primarily targets researchers with lived experience of displacement, Kenyan scholars, academia, policymakers, and actors involved in refugee policy and programming, particularly in Nairobi, Kakuma, and Dadaab.

Through these interventions, KEP aims to contribute to improved coordination around refugee research, increased availability and visibility of refugee-led evidence, stronger research capacity among emerging scholars, and more direct engagement between evidence producers and decision-makers within Kenya’s refugee management ecosystem.

## Purpose of the Consultancy

The primary purpose of this consultancy is to conduct a rigorous, utilization-focused endline evaluation. Given the absence of a formal baseline at project inception, the evaluation must serve three functions:

- **Accountability**: Verify the *extent* to which the project achieved its intended results per donor requirements as stipulated the Log Frame.
- **Baseline Reconstruction**: Create a retrospective "Proxy Baseline" to quantify the professional growth of researchers.
- **Learning**: Identify specific mechanisms that facilitated or hindered the "uptake" of refugee-led research in Kenyan policy and programmatic circles.

## Objective of the Consultancy

The specific objectives of the endline evaluation are:

- Assess Effectiveness & Impact: Determine the extent to which the platform increased the production of high-quality research by refugee and Kenyan scholars.
- Evaluate Policy and programmatic Influence: Trace the utilization of KEP evidence products (policy briefs, research papers, Evidence Mapping Report,) within government, humanitarian/development decision-making bodies and assess their influence (if any) of programme designs by non-governmental actors.
- Reconstruct Capacity Trajectories: Measure the change in technical research skills and professional networking among the 1st-time authors supported by the project compared to a non-treatment group.
- Analyse Systemic Localization: Evaluate the project’s contribution to increased visibility, credibility, and use of refugee-led and locally grounded research actors within Kenya’s refugee research and policy ecosystem.
- Provide Strategic Recommendations: Offer actionable insights for the Kingdom of the Netherlands and consortium partners on sustaining the platform’s gains beyond the current funding cycle.

## Methodology & Scope of Work

**NOTE: The Methodology shared here is not prescriptive, the applicants are encouraged to propose a different approach, integrate with other approaches that deliver the results the consultancy is looking for or adapt it altogether. If adapted, the consultants will be at liberty to refine it during the inception phase.**

This evaluation is expected to utilize a Theory-Based Evaluation (TBE) framework. TBE focuses on the "black box" of the project, analysing the causal chain to understand how and why change occurred. ReDSS is particularly interested in the below approaches:

- **Contribution Analysis**: Using "Process Tracing" to establish a plausible link between KEP’s activities and specific policy and/or practice shifts.
- **Outcome Harvesting**: To identify intended and unintended outcomes by "harvesting" evidence of change from stakeholders and working backward to determine KEP’s contribution.
- **Quasi-Experimental Comparison**: Using a Retrospective Pre-Test (RPT) design, the consultant will compare KEP participants against a comparison group of "*Non-shortlisted Applicants*" to reconstruct the missing baseline.

**Phased Scope of Work**

**The Note on the Methodology applies here as well.**

**Phase 1: Inception & Baseline Reconstruction (Days 1–25)**

- Document Review and "Publication Audit" of participants prior to Year 1.
- Finalization of the TBE Evaluation Matrix and RPT tools.

**Phase 2: Data Collection & Outcome Harvesting (Days 26–65)**

- Quantitative surveys (Participants vs. Non-shortlisted Applicants.
- Outcome Harvesting workshops and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with policymakers and academics.
- Bibliometric Analysis (citations and policy mentions).

**Phase 3: Analysis, Validation & Reporting (Days 66–90)**

- Triangulation of qualitative narratives and quantitative data.
- Member Checking validation session with refugee researchers.
- Drafting and finalizing the report and "Policy & Programme Influence Map."

## Deliverables

The Consultant will be requested to submit the following deliverables:

**Phase**

**Expected deliverables**

**Indicative description tasks**

**Maximum expected timeframe**

**Inception**

**Inception Report & Tools**

Detailed Workplan with Clear timelines, Literature review, finalized Theory-Based Evaluation Matrix, and Retrospective Pre-Test tools.

25 days

**Fieldwork**

**Raw Data & Interim Update**

Completion of KIIs, surveys, and Outcome Harvesting.

40 days

**Analysis and Reporting**

**Draft Evaluation Report**

Initial analysis of contribution and capacity gains of KEP.

15 days

**Final**

**Final Report & Learning Brief**

Integrated report Final Report, clean dataset, and 3-page learning brief.

10 days

## Duration, timeline, and payment

The Endline Evaluation will be conducted in a period of **90** days, spread over **4** calendar months to ensure proper data collection, analysis and reporting. Payment schedule will be defined in the contract.

## Proposed Composition of Team

ReDSS is accepting applications from; firms, consortiums, partnerships or individuals with proven experience in: Theory-Based Evaluations (TBE) and Conducting Evaluations in Kenya. The firm should demonstrate collective capacity across the following functional areas:

- **Lead Evaluator:**
- Minimum of a Master’s Degree (PhD preferred) in Evaluation, International Development, Economics or Social Sciences.
- At least 10 years of experience in Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL), with a proven track record of leading end-line evaluations for I/NGO projects.
- Demonstrated experience in **Reconstructing Missing Baselines** using retrospective methodologies.
- **Qualitative Specialist:**
- Advanced degree in Public Policy, Political Science, or related field.
- Documented expertise in **Theory-Based Evaluation (TBE)**, **Contribution Analysis**, and **Outcome Harvesting**.
- Proven ability to conduct interviews with high-ranking government officials and academics within the Kenyan "Durable Solutions" ecosystem.
- **Research Associates:**
- A minimum of 3 years of experience in social research or community-based monitoring.
- Fluency in relevant local languages and a deep understanding of the cultural nuances within the Nairobi, Kakuma, or Dadaab research contexts.
- Prior training in **Research Ethics** and the "Do No Harm" principle.
- **Data Analyst:**
- Advanced proficiency in statistical software (SPSS, Stata, or R) and Qualitative Analysis tools such as Nvivo and Atlas ti.
- Experience in **Bibliometric Analysis** (tracking publications and citations) and managing quasi-experimental datasets.

## Eligibility, Qualification, and Experience Required

The desired qualifications for the firm/consortiums, partnerships of individuals are:

- Advanced degree in Statistics, Monitoring and Evaluation, Development Studies, Economics, Social Sciences, or related fields; with extensive experience in research and data management.
- Should have at least 5 years’ experience in conducting end-line surveys/evaluations, with a proven track record related to assessment of Research-based or evidence generation projects.
- At least 5 years of proven Experience conducting baseline Evaluations for projects with no registered baseline data.
- At least 5 years of proven experience with Theory-Based Evaluations, Outcome harvesting and contribution analysis.
- A deep thematic understanding of the Displacement Contexts in Kenya, **Refugee Act 2021** and the **Shirika Plan**.
- Proven ability to deliver high-quality, "utilization-focused" reports within strict timelines.
- The evaluation team should demonstrate meaningful inclusion of researchers with lived experience of displacement, either as research associates, advisors, or core team members.
- Experience with evaluations commissioned by bilateral donors, including Kingdom of the Netherlands (DGIS) -funded programmes, is an added advantage.
- Excellent data analysis, presentation, and visualization skills.
- If a firm, should be registered under the Laws of Kenya.

## Technical supervision

The selected consultant will work under the supervision of:

- *ReDSS Kenya Manager.*
- *ReDSS Kenya Learning Specialist.*

## Location and support

Submissions for this consultancy are open to bids for firms with team members based in Kenya. Ideally the (lead) consultant and the team members will be based in Kenya.

The Consultant(s) will provide her/his/their own computer and mobile telephone.

What ReDSS will provide access to:

1. Evidence and knowledge products that have been produced by the Kenya evidence Platform (KEP) in the past 3 years and the affiliated Forced Migration and Research Network in Kenya (FOMREK).
2. Participants database for KEP activities over the years by all the 3 partners.
3. Indicators Performance tracking Table and the Log Frame and Theory of Change (TOC).
4. Annual Reports submitted to the donor for Year 1 and 2 and any activity-specific reports needed.
5. Policy Makers, Academics and other Stakeholders Mapped by the consultants; ReDSS will support access to these actors.

## Travel

The Consultant will be expected to arrange for his/her own transportation, meals, and accommodation in the field areas (Nairobi, Kakuma, Dadaab) for data collection. The consultant is also expected to make adequate provisions for this in the Financial Proposal.

## Evaluation of Bids

Only the shortlisted firms will be contacted for an interview with the panel to ensure their understanding of the consultancy services.

**Technical Qualifications (Refer to Invitation letter)**

For the award of this project, the evaluation criteria below will govern the selection of offers received. The evaluation is made on a technical and financial basis.

Bid by the consultant(s) should include the following information:

- 2-3 samples of Endline Evaluation Reports for consultancies relevant to this work.
- Methodology outline
- Detailed workplan
- Budget

The financial offer will then be weighed against the technical offer. The total cost of the financial offer including tax should be mentioned in the DRC Bid Form annex A.2, within the budget breakdown.

**Note: DRC is a VAT Withholding agent appointed by KRA**

**Financial Evaluation**

**Requirements**

The financial proposal should be in USD with a breakdown of budget covering consultancy fees and all related expenses to implement the activities of the consultancy, including incidentals and all logistical requirements. The quoted price will be subjected to **20% withholding tax** for Kenya non-residents and **5% withholding tax** for Kenya residents, consider this in your quote.

All bids that pass the Technical Evaluation will proceed to the Financial Evaluation. Bids that are deemed technically non-compliant will not be financially evaluated.

**Proposals failing to meet the above minimum requirements will not be considered further.**

**DRC will conduct reference checks from at least 1 previous work as an additional mandatory requirement.**

**Data protection and confidentiality**

While executing this assignment, the consultant and all the parties involved shall ensure effective protection of confidential and sensitive data and information in conformity with the humanitarian and protection principles and to applicable legal data protection standards. All data collection and processing activities shall be executed in accordance with the following principles:

- **Safeguarding** individuals’ personal data is a crucial part of humanitarian mission to protect the lives, integrity and dignity of beneficiaries and participants and is fundamental in the provision of protection response and humanitarian aid.
- **People-centred and inclusive**: Evaluation activities will respect the interests and well-being of the population and stakeholders, in all relevant phases of the evaluation and which activities must be sensitive to age, gender, and other issues of diversity.
- **Do No Harm**: Evaluation activities must include a risk assessment and take steps, if necessary, to mitigate identified risks. The risk assessment must look at negative consequences that may result from data collection and subsequent actions.
- **Defined purpose and proportionality**: The purpose must be clearly defined and explained to the participants in the data collection process.
- **Informed consent and confidentiality**: Personal information may be collected only after informed consent has been provided by the individual in question and that individual must be aware of the purpose of the collection. Further, confidentiality must be clearly explained to the individual before the information may be collected. Consent must be genuine, based on the data subject’s voluntary and informed decision.
- **Data protection and security**: The evaluation process must adhere to international standards of data protection and data security.

**TERMS & CONDITIONS**

DRC will evaluate proposals and award the assignment based on technical and financial feasibility in line with DRC Procurement guidelines. DRC reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal received without disclosing reasons to applicants and is not bound to accept the lowest bidder.

**CONFIDENTIALITY & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY**

All information presented, obtained, and produced is to be treated as DRC’s property and is considered confidential for all other purposes than what is outlined in these terms of reference.

All materials, transcripts, reports, and digital assets developed under this consultancy will remain the sole property of DRC/ReDSS. The firm will hand over all editable files, documentation, data sets and report upon completion.

1. ICRC Handbook for Data Protection in Humanitarian Action, UNHCR’s Policy on the Protection of Personal Data of Persons of Concern, DRC’s Operational Handbook regarding data security and management of hardware, Protection Information Management Principles and the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).