Terms of reference (TOR) for feasibility study _@arche noVa, Ethiopia

1.       Background and Rationale

arche noVa (AN) is a German NGO working in emergency relief, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and long-term development in over 15 countries all over the world. In Ethiopia, AN has been active since 2017 and has established a long-standing partnership with Ethiopian NGOs, particularly the Organization for Welfare and Development in Action (OWDA) and Aid for Integrated Development (AID). Together, the partners have implemented more than 15 humanitarian and development projects in Ethiopia and Somaliland, mainly with GFFO and BMZ funding.

OWDA, established in 1999, brings extensive experience in humanitarian and development programming, strong community networks, and in-depth knowledge of the local context. AID, established in 2022 as a women-led organization, focuses on gender equality, protection, and social inclusion, ensuring that the perspectives and needs of women, girls, and other vulnerable groups are integrated into project planning and implementation.

The proposed partnership combines AN’s international technical and programme management expertise with the strong local presence, community acceptance, and implementation capacity of OWDA and AID. This partnership model promotes local ownership, effective coordination, context-sensitive programming, and sustainable results.

As part of the project development process, AN, OWDA, and AID intend to commission an independent feasibility study to assess and validate the initial project design and proposed interventions in Degehmadow and Gursum districts. The study will examine the relevance, feasibility, effectiveness, potential impact, and sustainability of the proposed interventions, while identifying key opportunities, risks, prerequisites, and potential areas for improvement.

The feasibility study will include a review of relevant literature and existing assessments, as well as primary data collection through Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and

consultations with communities, government institutions, civil society organizations, private-sector actors, and other relevant stakeholders. It will also assess existing interventions and stakeholder capacities to identify gaps, opportunities for coordination, and potential duplication.

The findings will be used to refine the project design, strengthen the proposed interventions, inform investment decisions, and ensure that the final project proposal is evidence-based, contextually appropriate, technically feasible, and sustainable.

2.       Purpose of the Consultancy

The overall objective of this consultancy is to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study and compile the findings into a structured feasibility study report to provide the organizations with a sound basis for developing a project proposal, by identifying project prerequisites, opportunities, constraints and risks and provide practical recommendations for optimizing the project’s technical, operational, institutional, financial, and sustainability aspects for anticipated BMZ project titled: Integrated Strengthening of Climate Resilience, WASH, Food Security, and Livelihoods for Pastoralist Communities in the Somali Region, Ethiopia.

Specifically, the consultancy seeks to:

Assess the overall feasibility of the proposed project and examine whether the planned intervention approach can realistically achieve the intended results under existing contextual, institutional, and socio-economic conditions;

Identify potential risks and assumptions that may affect project implementation and outcomes, and propose mitigation measures;

The feasibility study should critically review and provide independent, evidence-based recommendations to improve the planned project in terms of the criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact, sustainability dimensions, compatibility as well as with existing partner initiations.

3.       Deliverables and Expected Outputs

3.2 .Expected Outputs

The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:

Inception Report, including detailed methodology, work plan, and stakeholder mapping;

Draft Feasibility Study Report (maximum 30 pages) prepared in accordance with the template provided in Annex

Final Feasibility Study Report, incorporating feedback from AN and relevant partners; Annexes, including references, tools, and supporting documentation used during the study.

Virtual workshop Presentation (Key Summary Report) and submission of data sets (both qualitative and quantitative if any)

4.       Feasibility Study Question

Following are the objectives of the proposed study structured along DAC criteria and identified data needs to strengthen the conceptualization of the project and DAC Questions for assessing the feasibility (minimum requirement by donor) of the suggested project concept. If possible, the study should follow the structure set out below and provided by the Donor. The key questions don’t need to be used in total. They are intended to provide guidance and should be seen as a set of questions from which to select the priority questions.

Relevance – To what extent is the planned project doing the right thing?

Will the planned project approach address a key development problem or a significant develop mental bottleneck in the partner country or region?

Are the focus, priorities and objectives (approach) of the planned project clearly defined and aligned with the beneficiaries?

To what extent do the intervention objectives and design adequately take into account the specific needs of the beneficiaries and any structural obstacles in the project region, partner/institution, or policy programs?

Are the norms and standards of the approach compatible with those of the beneficiaries?

Is the project designed to be conflict-sensitive (Do No Harm Principle)?

Coherence – how suitable is the intervention?

How consistent are the planned activities with human rights principles (inclusion, participation), and any conventions or relevant standards/guidelines?

To what extent do synergies and connections exist between the planned project and other interventions by the same stakeholder (organisation) and other stakeholders?

What similarities or overlaps exist between the beneficiaries and projects implemented by other stakeholders in the same context? To what extent does the intervention add value and avoid duplication?

Effectiveness – which project approach is best for achieving the objectives?

Are the cause-effect relationships (including assumptions) plausible? What negative effects might arise?

Is the chosen methodological approach suitable and sufficient for achieving the project objective?

Are alternatives required?

At what level (multi-level approach) do you anticipate implementing additional measures to increase effectiveness?

How will changes be measured? What indicators (fields) are most suitable?

Efficiency – is the proposed project’s planned use of funds a cost-effective method to achieve its objectives?

To what extent can the planned measures be implemented with the envisaged funds and personnel in the proposed time period?

To what extent can the envisaged spending be allocated cost-effectively, and are the investments, operating expenses and personnel in proportion to the intended goals?

Impact (significance) – what contribution does the planned project make to achieving higher-level development policy impact?

What particular contribution does the project objective (outcome) make to the overall objective (impact)?

To what extent does the planned project build structures, set examples and have a broad impact?

On what levels will norms or structures be changed?

Sustainability – to what extent will the positive impact remain once the project has ended (without additional external funding)?

How can the sustainability of the results and impact be ensured and strengthened (structurally, economically, socially and ecologically)?

What long-term capacities will be established in the beneficiaries to enable them to continue the implemented measures independently?

What positive changes (role behaviour, mechanisms, networks, etc) will be of long-term benefit to civil society?

What personal risks for those implementing the project, or institutional or contextual risks, may influence the sustainability of the project? How can these be minimised?

5.       Methodology

The methodological design of the feasibility study and appropriate approaches of investigation will be proposed by the consultant given an opportunity to choose a methodology that is considered most suitable for this study, including the preferred/possible qualitative and quantitative tools to be employed and the approaches to carry out geophysical measurements within the study area. The consultant will share the proposed design, tools and methodology in the inception report, and present the design for approval from AN and its partners.

6.       Time Frame

The duration of the consultancy is 20 days from the date of contract signing. The assignment will include:

• An inception phase, including desk review and finalization of methodology;
• Field visit and consultations and stakeholder engagements;
• Data analysis and drafting of the feasibility study report;
• Review and finalization of the report, incorporating feedback from AN and project partners.

The consultant shall submit a detailed work plan and timeline as part of the inception report, outlining key activities and deliverables, which will be subject to approval by AN prior to the start of field activities.

7.       Payment Schedule

Consultants are requested to submit a competitive financial proposal for the full scope of services outlined in these Terms of Reference (ToR). The proposed financial offer should clearly indicate the total consultancy fee and any applicable costs related to the assignment.

The payment will be made in full (100% of the agreed contract amount) upon submission and final approval of the Feasibility Study Final Report by arche nova (AN).

The consultant will be expected to submit the Inception, Investigation, and Analysis Reports as part of the agreed scope of services and deliverables. These interim reports will be reviewed and approved by AN as inputs to the subsequent phases of the assignment; however, no separate payments will be made against these interim deliverables.

The final payment will therefore be released only upon the satisfactory completion of the assignment, submission of all required deliverables, and final approval of the Feasibility Study Final Report by AN.

Required Expertise and Qualification

The feasibility study consultancy is open to invited consultancy firms. Interested firms are required to submit both technical and financial proposals for the assignment.

The Consultant must demonstrate:

• Proven professional capacity and relevant experience in consultancy services;
• A strong track record in conducting feasibility studies and related consultancy assignments for national and international NGOs, particularly those funded by major international donors;
• Demonstrated experience in German Government / BMZ-funded feasibility studies or projects will be a strong advantage.
• Relevant thematic experience should include one or more of the following areas:

1. WASH;
2. Livelihoods and economic empowerment;
3. Environmental health;
4. Inclusion, disability, and work with marginalized and mobile populations, including IDPs, and pastoralist communities.
5. In-country experience of a similar context in Ethiopia with at least 3 project/consultancies carried out in the past 5 years.
6. Proof of education (university degree in a relevant subject)

Use of innovative technologies in data collection

The consultancy firm must assign a team with proven professional qualifications and practical experience relevant to the scope of the study. All proposed experts should demonstrate strong analytical, report writing, and stakeholder engagement skills. The firm must also demonstrate willingness and capacity to comply with AN’s safeguarding, child protection, and related ethical policies, as well as AN’s applicable policies.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria:

arche nova reserves the right to negotiate with the preferred consultant before contract award.

MODE OF APPLICATION

Applicants who meet the above profile should submit the following documents to the address provided below:

Cover letter – maximum 1 page:

• Introducing the candidate and interest in the assignment.
• Information regarding the proposed timeline (actual dates) for the assignment and your consultancy rates.

Detailed Technical and financial proposal not exceeding 10 pages:

• This should provide information on key aspects of the tools and methods the consultant proposes to use for this assignment.
• The document should demonstrate that the applicant understands what needs to be done and the possible deliverables.
• It should also include professional fees, and all costs must be quoted in Euro and broken down into details (no lump sums, no contingencies, etc.)

Proposed team structure:

• CV(s) of all the key personnel that will undertake the consultancy with qualifications and previous experience
• One page overview of the proposed team structure including key roles and names of proposed team.
• Example of previous work.

Please provide 3 examples of previous work. This should be an assignment done in the last 3 years and include the contacts of the organization or person you worked for on this assignment. It is mandatory to attach the written endorsement (testimonial) per work example.