Terms of Reference (ToR)

Baseline Assessment Consultant for Sida Global CSO Programme

Timeline: 8 December 2025 – 15 February 2026

Location: Hybrid, with possible travel to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and Ukraine

Background

LM International (Läkarmissionen) is a Swedish Global Foundation that has been working since 1958 to save lives, empower people and advance everyone's right to a dignified life in a sustainable world.

LM International is rolling out a three-years CSO Strengthening Global Programme funded by Sida, entitled “Autonomy in Action: Advancing Civil Society Capacity for Sustainable Impact.” It will be implemented in ten countries across four continents, namely:

• Africa – Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Sudan and Somalia
• Latin America – Guatemala, Honduras, Paraguay
• Middle East – Yemen
• Europe - Ukraine

The overall objective of the programme is to strengthen local civil society organizations (CSOs) to become resilient, autonomous, locally anchored and transparent leaders who drive effective interventions and collaborate to foster independent, pluralistic spaces for social development and poverty reduction. It will be structured around four interlinked Work Packages to enable coherent implementation across diverse contexts and maximize synergies between learning, practice and innovation. The programme focuses on three of LM’s thematic areas (education and training, health and wellbeing, livelihoods and food security) and integrates Sida’s five perspectives on development (poverty, human rights-based approach, gender equality, climate change and environment, conflict).

Objective

LM International seeks a qualified consultant to lead the design, implementation and reporting of a comprehensive baseline assessment to:

• Review and improve the programme’s results framework for coherence and relevance,
• Integrate the lessons learned and review values and progress markets from RISE final evaluation
• Establish baseline values and propose realistic yearly targets for key programme progress markers, as outlined in the programme’s results framework,
• Review the partners’ assessments outcomes in relation to the baseline progress markers,
• Provide actionable recommendations to inform program design, improve implementation and refine monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL) systems,
• Work with the team to integrate the baseline values, targets and progress markers to the project management system.

By generating context-specific insights and credible baseline data, the consultancy will contribute to a stronger, data-driven and more adaptive programme. It will support strategic decision-making, improve alignment with local realities, facilitate partners’ exchange and learning, enhance accountability to stakeholders, and lay the groundwork for continuous learning and evidence-based implementation throughout the programme cycle.

Scope of Work

Key responsibilities include:

Design and planning

• Review programme documents (proposal, results framework, MEAL plan, prior assessments)

• Propose a mixed-methods approach aligned with programme progress markers and donor requirements, ensuring the incorporation of Sida’s five perspectives

Data collection and analysis

• Collect disaggregated baseline data (by gender, age, disability) using appropriate methods and tools
• Apply inclusive, gender-sensitive and ethical data collection practices
• Analyse socio-economic, environmental and institutional contexts
• Compare findings against programme’s goals, outcomes, progress markers, targets, assumptions,

Stakeholder engagement and validation

• Identify and engage key stakeholders throughout the process
• Organise validation workshops to review preliminary findings
• Incorporate stakeholder feedback into final deliverables

Deliverables

• Short inception report outlining methodology, sampling framework, data collection tools, risk mitigation plan and workplan
• Finalised programme’s results framework showing progress markers, baseline and target values, assumptions, data sources and alignment with the programme’s theory of change
• Report with key findings, data tables, initial analysis and preliminary recommendations
• Country summaries highlighting key findings, challenges and recommendations tailored to each context and alignment with LM country strategy
• Instructions to harvest data for reporting at an aggregated level
• MEAL trainings for country teams
• MEAL integration in LIME.

Qualifications and requirements

• Advanced degree in development studies, social sciences or related field
• Minimum 5 years of experience conducting baseline assessments or evaluations in development/humanitarian settings
• Proven expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies
• Experience with digital MEAL tools (e.g. LIME or similar platforms)
• Experience in fragile or conflict-affected settings
• Familiarity with LM International’s thematic areas: education, health, WASH, livelihood
• Strong understanding of Sida’s five perspectives: poverty, human rights, gender equality, climate change and environment, conflict
• Fluency in English and at least fluency in one of the following languages: Swahili/Spanish/Arabic/Ukrainian.

Ethical considerations

The consultant must adhere to internationally recognized human rights and safeguarding standards. This includes ensuring voluntary participation, informed consent, confidentiality and the protection of individuals and groups in vulnerable situations throughout the assessment.

Reporting & Supervision

The consultant will report to the Sida Key Account Manager, and work in close coordination with the LIME Manager, Program Managers, and MEAL Managers, under the steering and the supervision of the Director of Global Programs.

Payment and contract terms

Payment will be structured around agreed deliverables and milestones.

Estimated budget

50,000 EUR

The consultant should provide a financial proposal including professional fees, travel and any other relevant costs.

Application Process

Interested consultants/consulting firms are invited to submit:

• Technical Proposal (understanding of the assignment, approach, methodology, composition of the team, work plan, timelines).
• Financial Proposal (budget with cost breakdown).
• CVs of key personnel
• At least two references from similar assignments.

Shortlisted consultants will be interviewed by a panel.

Deadline for submission: 28 November 2025