Summary of the Consultancy Services

The Terms of Reference is for a VAT-registered firm based in Tanzania to provide consultancy services to Hand in Hand Eastern Africa (TZ) by conducting a baseline evaluation of the “Empowering Rural Women Entrepreneurs” Project in Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions.

• Consultancy Title: Consultancy Service for Baseline Survey for the “Empowering Rural Women Entrepreneurs” Project
• Geographical Location: Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions
• Appointment Type and Duration: Fixed Term Contract
• Expected Commencement Date: 8th December 2025
• Application Deadline: 5th November 2025

Introduction

Hand in Hand Eastern Africa Tanzania (HiHEA TZ) is a registered Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in Tanzania, headquartered in Arusha. It is part of the Hand in Hand network, which supports marginalized, vulnerable poor rural and peri-urban smallholder farmers (80% women) to lift themselves out of poverty through enterprises and job creation. Since starting in 2016, the organization has:

• Mobilized over 73,000 members into various projects.
• Created or enhanced 44,635 enterprises.
• Generated 66,118 jobs.

The Hand in Hand model focuses on:

• Setting up or mobilizing self-help groups as savings groups.
• Delivering enterprise skills through training.
• Promoting financial access.
• Providing linkage to broader markets.

HiHEA TZ operates six branches in Arusha, Moshi, Kilimanjaro, Dodoma, Singida, and Meatu (Simiyu).

Project Description

The Empowering Rural Women Entrepreneurs project aims to foster long-term sustainable development in Arusha and Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, by empowering 10,000 members from marginalized communities, particularly women. The project uses a holistic approach integrating:

• Entrepreneurship training.
• Gender equality initiatives.
• Climate resilience strategies.

The project leverages Hand in Hand Eastern Africa – Tanzania’s proven entrepreneurship model to address economic empowerment barriers, focusing on inclusive and resilient businesses. The approach includes a four-step model:

• Social mobilization to form Self Help Groups (SHGs).
• Business training to equip participants with entrepreneurship and financial skills.
• Access to credit through partnerships with pro-poor financial institutions.
• Linkage to markets.

The project also incorporates:

• A gender-transformative approach to address women’s challenges in business ownership, such as decision-making power, resource access, and balancing household and community roles. Gender training will be delivered through SHG sessions and community events with gender-focused partner NGOs.
• Climate resilience training in sustainable farming techniques, including drip irrigation, soil conservation, and agroforestry, to mitigate climate change impacts on agriculture and livelihoods.

Evaluation Methodology

Hand in Hand seeks an external evaluator to assess the project’s baseline conditions before implementation. The evaluator’s responsibilities include:

• Designing the evaluation approach and methodology.
• Planning fieldwork.
• Conducting data collection (preferably in-person).
• Ensuring data quality, cleaning, and analysis.
• Writing evaluation reports, including designing data visualizations where relevant.

The evaluation’s primary stakeholders are 10,000 project members (80% women, 20% men), divided into:

• Cohort 1: 3,200 members
• Cohort 2: 6,800 members

The evaluator must:

• Use a mixed-methods approach, focusing on project effectiveness per the project indicators.
• Ensure all relevant project indicators are addressed, with results disaggregated by gender where possible.
• Align data collection tools and analysis with the indicator definitions and guidance in the project MEL Plan.

Data

All primary data collected must allow disaggregation by:

• Gender of the respondent.
• Age.
• Business sector.

Additional requirements include:

• Data triangulation using available secondary data for deeper insights.
• Access to project documentation, including the project members’ list, to support the evaluation.
• Adherence to Hand in Hand Eastern Africa’s data protection and privacy policy, minimizing collection of non-essential personally identifiable information and ensuring secure data storage and transfer.
• Exploration and ethical mitigation of any personal or professional biases among those collecting or analyzing data.

Ethical Considerations

The evaluation must adhere to ethical principles, including:

• Openness of information provided.
• Sensitivity to gender, inclusion, and cultural contexts.
• Reliability and independence of findings and conclusions.
• Confidentiality of information and data protection.
• Informed consent from all respondents.

Objectives of the Evaluation

The evaluation aims to:

• Provide a reference for project indicators to inform program planning, track progress, and monitor implementation.
• Supply data for monitoring and evaluating project changes.
• Assess the measurability of selected indicators for future evaluations.
• Shape expectations and communication strategies for the project.
• Draw recommendations to strengthen evidence-based generation for the project.

Hand in Hand will provide supporting documents, including:

• Project proposal narrative, logic model, and MEL Plan.
• List of project self-help groups and participants for sampling.
• Data collection tool (survey) with standard questions.
• Evaluation report template.

Scope of Work

The consultant’s tasks include:

• Conducting a desk review of project documents to understand design, objectives, and goals.
• Developing the evaluation approach, methodology, sampling plan, fieldwork plan, and analysis plan.
• Adapting Hand in Hand’s standardized data collection tool templates to align with survey questions and MEL Plan indicator definitions.
• Planning fieldwork logistics with Hand in Hand.
• Selecting and training research assistants/enumerators and supervisors, including developing manuals and reference materials.
• Pre-testing and finalizing the quantitative data collection tool, incorporating Hand in Hand’s approved changes.
• Supervising data collection, ensuring quality control and adherence to research ethics.
• Conducting data quality checks (high-frequency checks, spot checks, and back checks).
• Collating, cleaning, and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data per the MEL Plan’s indicator guidance.
• Preparing a draft evaluation report (Draft Zero and Draft One) using Hand in Hand’s standardized template.
• Submitting raw, cleaned, and processed anonymized datasets (.xlsx or .csv for quantitative; .docx, .csv, or .xlsx for qualitative) alongside the Draft Zero report.
• Incorporating Hand in Hand’s feedback into draft reports.
• Holding a validation workshop (physical or virtual) as requested.
• Submitting a final evaluation report meeting Hand in Hand’s professional, publishable quality standards.

Reports below expected standards will require further revisions by the consultant.

Deliverables

• Inception Report: Clear plans for sampling, enumerator selection/training and supervision, fieldwork logistics, data analysis, and ensuring data quality and research ethics (max 10 pages). Deadline: 10th Jan 2026
• Adapted Data Collection Tools: Corresponding to project indicators and evaluation objectives/questions. Deadline: 14th Jan 2026
• Draft Zero Evaluation Report: Using Hand in Hand’s standardized report template (max 30 pages, excluding annexes). Deadline: 21st Jan 2026
• Data Analysis and Draft Zero Submission: Including submission for Hand in Hand’s review, factual corrections, and feedback. Deadline: 28th Jan 2026
• Draft One Evaluation Report: Incorporating feedback from Draft Zero. Deadline: 9th Feb 2026
• Validation Workshop and Final Report: Facilitating a workshop with HiHEA (TZ), presenting key findings via PowerPoint, and submitting the final report. Deadline: 17th Feb 2026

Qualifications

The consultant(s)/firm must demonstrate:

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in research, evaluation, and assessments in international/community development, livelihoods, women’s economic empowerment, agriculture, or value chain projects.
• Lead consultant with a master’s or Ph.D. in statistics, social sciences, rural development, or a related field.
• Proven track record in evaluations of similar scope, themes, and geography.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills, including designing and using appropriate data collection and analysis methodologies.
• Proven ability to ensure data quality, data protection, and adherence to ethical standards.
• Ability to synthesize data and findings, drawing robust, relevant insights, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Strong writing skills for clear, concise, analytical reports.
• Skills in designing effective data visualizations adhering to best practices.
• Experience recruiting, training, and supervising research assistants for data collection.
• Experience conducting data collection in rural Tanzania.
• Excellent organizational skills for planning, coordinating, and executing fieldwork logistics.
• Strong attention to detail with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Familiarity with gender- and culturally sensitive research approaches.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Swahili.

Submission of Proposals

Interested consultants/firms must submit proposals responding to this Terms of Reference, including:

• A short outline of the evaluation design and methodology, including proposed sampling plan, data collection methods, and analysis methods (max 5 pages).
• A proposed workplan and timeframe for the evaluation, including the number of consultants and days (max 2 pages).
• A summary of relevant past performance, describing how previous assignments relate to this one in location, scope, theme, and deliverables (max 1 page).
• A description of ensuring data quality, research ethics, and gender- and culturally sensitive approaches (max 1 page).
• Anticipated challenges and dependencies affecting the assessment, with mitigation plans (max 1 page).
• A summary of the most relevant skills and experience of proposed consultant(s), including their roles and responsibilities (max 1 page).
• CVs (max 2 pages each) for each proposed consultant as an annex.
• A detailed fee quote with a breakdown of consultant time and logistical expenses (max 2 pages).

Proposals are limited to 10 pages (including cover and contents page, excluding annexed CVs). Proposals exceeding this limit may not be considered. Submit proposals in electronic format (.pdf or .docx) to procurement@handinhandea.or.tz by 5th November 2025.

Note: CVs, cover letters, or general applications without a full proposal meeting these requirements will not be reviewed.

Assessment and Award Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on best value for money, considering:

• Response to the scope of work outlined in the Terms of Reference.
• Demonstrable experience of the consultant(s).
• Value for money.

Shortlisted applicants may be invited for an interview and asked to provide references or work samples. If you do not hear back within three weeks after the application deadline, consider your application unsuccessful.

Contact Information

• Organization: Hand in Hand Eastern Africa (TZ)
• Address: P.O. Box 7152, Arusha, Tanzania
• Telephone: +255 743 720 805
• Email: info@handinhandea.or.tz