TERMS OF REFERENCES
Annual Survey for ICSP Project
Project Title:
Irelands Civil Society Partnership (ICSP) – Improved socio-economic status for Women, Youths and Marginalised groups in Zambia.
Partner Organisation/s:
Nutri-Aid, Women for Change and Young Women Christian Association.
Geographical Coverage:
Gwembe, Namwala, Mongu and Kaoma.
Project Implementation Period:
1st of January 2023 to 31st December 2027.
Timeframe for Annual Survey:
(30th days) with the final report on 31st December 2025
Background:
Oxfam is a global movement dedicated to fighting inequality to eliminate poverty and injustice. From local communities to the global stage, we collaborate with people to drive lasting change, grounded in a firm commitment to universal human rights. Embracing diversity and building our advocacy on solid evidence and experience, we stand firmly against poverty and injustice in all forms. A feminist approach underpins Ireland’s Civil Society Partnership (ICSP) for a Better World—a five-year program funded by Irish Aid and active in seven countries: DRC, Malawi, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Under this program, Oxfam is implementing the "Improved Socio-Economic Status for Women, Youths, and Marginalized groups" project, working alongside three partners: Young Women Christian Association (YWCA), Women for Change (WFC) and Nutri Aid Trust Zambia (NAT).
YWCA leads the implementation of the Gender Justice theme in Western Province, while WFC takes the lead in Southern Province. NAT spearheads the Agriculture and Food Systems theme across all four districts. The program collaborates closely with existing community and government structures in these districts to deliver sustainable, context-responsive interventions. The ICSP project, active in Mongu, Kaoma, Namwala, and Gwembe districts, aims to directly reach 15,600 individuals from vulnerable households, including those led by women, youth, and elderly individuals.
These areas were chosen due to the various vulnerabilities faced by residents, particularly women, youth, and marginalized groups. Challenges in these districts include high poverty rates, limited educational attainment, restrictive cultural and social norms, unsustainable agricultural practices, and minimal economic activity. Additionally, the harsh impacts of climate change—droughts, floods, and prolonged dry spells during the rainy season—have severely affected these communities, many of whom rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. To address these socio-economic challenges, the project also engages men and boys, traditional leaders, local government structures, and other stakeholders within the targeted communities.
The project's development objective is to enhance and expand nexus adaptation measures that support resilient food security, gender justice, and environmentally sustainable rural livelihoods. The ICSP Programme for 2023-2027 aims to achieve three thematic impacts, each incorporating elements of our strategic change goals. This approach builds on lessons learned from evaluations of our previous Irish Aid-funded programs, PGII and HPP, which highlighted that our strongest results were achieved through synergies across program themes.
Impact 1: Food and Income Security. People experiencing poverty and most vulnerable to shocks, conflicts and crises have sustainable and equitable access to food and livelihoods.
Impact 2: Rights, Accountability, and Protection. People experiencing poverty and most vulnerable to shocks, conflicts and crises are able to claim and access their rights to well-being, peace and security without fear.
Impact 3: Enhanced Humanitarian Action and Local Leadership. Systems and structures that prevent and respond to shocks, conflict and crises are inclusive, locally driven and informed by the needs, rights, and vulnerabilities of those furthest behind.
In addition, the ICSP has an inter-related impact area connected to the other 3 impact areas through a dotted line, integrating a nexus approach across all programming and systems to reduce humanitarian need.
Impact 4: Integrating a Nexus Approach in programmes and systems. People experiencing poverty, conflict and most vulnerable to shocks are better served by a nexus approach to HR, peacebuilding, and development.
Purpose of the Annual Survey
The 2024/25 financial year presents an ideal opportunity to assess the project’s implementation progress, allowing us to gather valuable data for the Year 3 ICSP annual report. In line with the program’s commitment to transparency and accountability, Oxfam is seeking a consultant to conduct a comprehensive survey. This survey will measure progress against key indicators, capture both qualitative and quantitative data, and provide insights to guide future programming.
Objectives
1. Data Collection: Gather reliable quantitative and qualitative data on the Impact areas as presented in the results framework across the four districts. Ensure data disaggregation beyond Age and Sex, include women, youths and the marginalized.
2. To assess the extent to which Indicators have been achieved: Assess the status of indicators per impact area and outcome level results.
3. To capture insights from a range of stakeholders, including beneficiaries, local partners, and duty bearers, regarding their experiences and perceptions of the program's impact.
4. To provide a detailed analysis of findings to inform the annual ICSP report - highlighting successes, challenges, and areas for improvement.
Scope of work
The consultant will include but not limited to the following tasks:
1. Document Review: Assess the evidence and knowledge base generated over the period 2023 to 2024 constituting project baseline, monitoring and assessment reports, activity reports, year 1/2 annual reports, 2024 annual survey report, Results Framework, quarterly reports, ICSP Newsletters and any other relevant project documents.
2. Inception Report: the report will include a detailed approach to the survey, including the data collection tools, methodology and workplan. The inception report will be discussed and approved before the commencement of data collection.
3. Data Collection: Consultant(s) will also collect primary quantitative and qualitative data relevant to the project based on approved tools ensuring that they are adequate to collect data in line with the results framework (any changes to the data collection process in the field must be approved by Oxfam before effecting it).
· Proposed Sample Design: The sample for the project should be cross-sectional starting from the Macro to the Meso being the targeted districts. The sampling frame ought to be done in consultation with Oxfam.
· Implementing the survey: Based on the sample frame, the consultant will develop plans for implementing the survey. The consultant will be accountable for all field operations.
4. Data analysis/reporting: based on primary data and secondary data collected, the Consultant(s) will analyze data and come up with a draft report based on the agreed template. The consultant is expected to submit cleaned data together with the final report.
5. Finalization: Presentation of survey report findings. After addressing the first comments, the consultant is expected to present the final report on 31st December 2025 and support the donor report consolidation by 18th December 2025.
Deliverables
1. Provide an inception report outlining the approach, data collection plan and outlining proposed methodology including:
· A sampling strategy that ensures representation from the entire ward (not just direct participants) to measure broader impact, with a clear plan for the deliberate inclusion of people with disabilities.
2. Pre-test tools, orient, train, and lead study team (ensure to work with MEAL team on the project). Data collection tools developed/used by consultants made available to Oxfam for future use.
3. Establish projects incorporation of people with disabilities.
4. Clean data set and ensure that they are interactive for use.
5. Analyze data and prepare draft report.
6. Updated Results Framework populated with the survey findings. The ‘observations’ column should be used extensively to provide context, explain successes or challenges or stories of change relevant to each indicator.
7. Present findings and then submit final report using the RF as its backbone (not more than 30 pages)
8. Practical Recommendations and support. Beyond the report the consultant will provide:
· Actionable recommendations which should include but not limited to; improving gender integration In Farmer field schools, strengthening macro level advocacy, enhancing Feeback mechanisms, breaking down overall target reach of 15,600 by agreed disaggregation’s.
· Direct support to project team in consolidating donor report, specifically in updating scorecards and refining narrative based on survey findings.
9. Assess knowledge levels of safeguarding within the project.
Ethical Considerations
The consultant must adhere to Oxfam’s Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct, and ethical research standards. Data collection must ensure confidentiality, informed consent, and sensitivity to gender and GBV concerns.
Timelines
Please send your expression of interest by Friday 28th November 2025. The assignment is expected to start by 3rd December 2025 with final report ready by 31st December 2025.
Qualifications and Expertise
The consultant(s) or consulting firm should have the following qualifications and expertise:
· Demonstrated experience in qualitative and quantitative research, clear understanding of development projects research approaches.
· Technical expertise in using complex data design to support mixed methods analysis and ability to use survey software such as STATA and Sampling approaches for better requirement capture of the study.
· The consultant must have a minimum of a master’s degree in social sciences from an accredited institution with a minimum of 5 years’ proven experience of conducting similar assignments in Zambia or SADC.
· Strong communication and report writing skills.
· Demonstrated ability to engage with stakeholders and local communities.
Submission of proposal
Interested consultant(s) should submit technical and financial proposal detailing how they will undertake the assignment. Attach up-to-date CVs of the core team as annexes. Proposals should be submitted to the address below in electronic form ONLY and must be clearly indicated ‘Annual Survey for ICSP project: Improving the socioeconomic status for women, youths and marginalised groups in Zambia’ by 17:00 hours local time on 28th November 2025.
All correspondence for the consultancy should be addressed to:
Email: Zambialogistics@oxfam.org.uk
