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Terms of Reference (ToR)
Baseline Survey
Project: Climate Resilient Agriculture for Food Security and Transformation – Zambia (CRAFT), with a special focus on women and children
Implementing Organization: New Apostolic Church Relief Organization (NACRO)
Project Partner: NAK-karitativ & BMZ
Project Duration: 01 October 2026 – 30 September 2029
Proposed Survey Period: 09 November 2026 to 30 December 2026 (including preparation, training and 20 district-level fieldwork days)
Project Area: Western Province (Mongu & Nalolo), Southern Province (Choma & Kalomo)
The New Apostolic Church Relief Organization (NACRO) is a faith-based Non-Governmental Organization established in 2002 and registered in Zambia under the NGO Act. NACRO implements development programmes in education, health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), household income, nutrition and food security, and disaster mitigation, with gender equality and climate resilience integrated as cross-cutting themes.
NACRO, in partnership with NAK-karitativ, is implementing a three-year project titled “Climate Agriculture for Food Security and Transformation (CRAFT), with a special focus on women and children.” NACRO intends to undertake a baseline survey at the beginning of the project to establish reference values for key indicators, understand the prevailing conditions of target households and institutions, and inform project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
The project is designed to strengthen food security, livelihoods and climate resilience among rural communities in Western and Southern Provinces. The project design identifies droughts, floods and unpredictable rainfall as important challenges affecting agricultural production, household income, nutrition and access to water. Many households depend on rain-fed agriculture, have limited livelihood diversification and experience seasonal food shortages and unreliable water access.
The project will support smallholder farmers through climate-smart and conservation agriculture, diversified and drought-tolerant seed, demonstration plots and Farmer Field Schools, improved access to water for domestic use and small-scale irrigation, school horticulture gardens, nutrition education, water-point management arrangements and stronger disaster-management structures.
Project goal
To contribute to improved food and income security and strengthened climate resilience among rural populations, with a special focus on women and children.
Main outcomes / result areas
The purpose of the baseline survey is to provide evidence to guide NACRO in planning and implementing project interventions, targeting beneficiaries, prioritizing activities, validating project assumptions and targets, and strengthening monitoring and evaluation throughout the project implementation period. The findings will guide evidence-based decision-making, support the validation of project targets and assumptions, and provide a basis for adapting implementation strategies to the needs and circumstances of the target communities.
To establish baseline values for the project’s key outcome and output indicators and document the prevailing food security, livelihood, agricultural, water, school nutrition and disaster-management conditions in the target communities.
The survey team shall:
The survey will cover household, farmer, school and institutional/community levels. The project design identifies approximately 2,000 smallholder farmer households (about 10,000 people), 6,600 learners in 22 schools, four District Disaster Management Committees and water-point management structures.
The Project will be implemented in Southern Province and Western Province. In Southern Province the districts covered will include Choma and Kalomo while in Western Province the districts include; Mongu and Nalolo.
| Component | Baseline information to be collected |
| Household food security | Months of adequate food provisioning, seasonal shortages, food sources and coping strategies. |
| Dietary diversity and nutrition | Food groups consumed during the defined recall period, including legumes, vegetables and animal-source foods. |
| Livelihoods and income | Main income and livelihood sources, crop and livestock production, off-farm activities, seasonality and market access. |
| Climate-smart agriculture | Current knowledge and practice of minimum tillage, crop rotation, mulching, early planting, potholing, manure/compost, agroforestry and drought-tolerant seed use. |
| Water access | Main water sources, year-round reliability, collection time, domestic and productive use, functionality and maintenance arrangements. |
| Farmer learning | Existing farmer groups, demonstration plots, Farmer Field Schools, extension services and training exposure. |
| School gardens and nutrition | Garden functionality, crop diversity, links to school feeding, meal availability, nutrition education and hygiene knowledge. |
| Disaster risk management | DMC membership, meetings, action plans, risk assessment, early-warning dissemination, resources and community engagement. |
| Water-point management | Existence and functionality of committees, maintenance planning, records and user participation. |
| Gender and inclusion | Participation and access disaggregated by sex, age and disability where appropriate; barriers affecting women and vulnerable groups. |
The baseline survey shall assess the project’s key indicators across household food security, dietary diversity, water access, climate-smart agriculture, school gardens, nutrition, disaster risk management, and gender and social inclusion. The table below distinguishes between assumptions in the project design, baseline measurements to be established through data collection, and approved project targets. Before finalizing the data collection tools, the consultant shall prepare an indicator matrix specifying each indicator’s definition, unit of analysis, numerator and denominator where applicable, data collection tool, recall period, disaggregation requirements and scoring criteria. All design assumptions and targets shall be verified against the approved project results framework. Particular attention shall be given to distinguishing dietary diversity from food security, water reliability from water safety, CSA knowledge from actual adoption, and committee existence from functionality.
| Result Area | Design Assumption (Unverified) | Baseline Indicator / Measurement Approach | Project Design Reference / Target |
| 1. Household Food Security | Households reportedly have adequate food for approximately 5–6 months per year. | Number and percentage of households with adequate food availability for different numbers of months per year. Unit: household. Tool: household questionnaire. Recall period: previous 12 months. | At least 1,200 of 2,000 households (60%) should have adequate food for 10–12 months annually. |
| 2. Household Dietary Diversity | Households reportedly consume 2–3 food groups, mainly maize. | Average number of food groups consumed and percentage of households consuming five or more food groups. Unit: household. Tool: dietary diversity questionnaire using an approved food-group classification. Recall period: previous 24 hours. | Improved dietary diversity, with a target of five or more food groups, subject to confirmation of the approved indicator definition. |
| 3. Reliable Year-Round Water Access | Fewer than 20% of households reportedly have reliable year-round water access. | Number and percentage of households meeting approved water reliability criteria, including seasonal availability, interruptions and domestic/productive uses. Unit: household and water point. Tools: household questionnaire and water-point checklist. Recall period: previous 12 months. Water quality shall be assessed separately where required. | At least 1,200 households should access reliable water through project-supported systems. |
| 4. CSA Knowledge and Adoption | Existing farmer knowledge and adoption levels have not been verified. | Assess farmers’ knowledge of CSA practices separately from actual application of practices such as minimum tillage, conservation agriculture, soil and water conservation, and organic manure use. Unit: farmer/household. Tools: knowledge assessment, farmer questionnaire and observation checklist. | At least 1,200 households should demonstrate increased knowledge and practical adoption of drought-resilient farming. Confirm whether the target requires both outcomes. |
| 5. Demonstration Plots and Farmer Learning Sites | The design refers to 13 demonstration plots and 26 demonstration gardens. | Number, location and functionality of existing sites, including crops grown, management and learning activities. Unit: site. Tool: site observation checklist and interviews. | Confirm whether 13 plots and 26 gardens are separate targets or a discrepancy in the project design. |
| 6. School Gardens | Existing school garden coverage and functionality have not been established. | Number and percentage of target schools with functional gardens, crop diversity and links to school feeding. Unit: school. Tools: school questionnaire and observation checklist. | 22 school gardens established or improved. |
| 7. Learner Nutrition, Hygiene and Resilient Farming Knowledge | Existing learner and teacher knowledge levels and school feeding arrangements require verification. | Assess learner and teacher knowledge of nutrition, hygiene and resilient farming, alongside school feeding frequency and availability. Unit: learner, teacher and school. Tools: knowledge assessment and school checklist. | Approximately 6,600 learners expected to benefit from improved knowledge. Confirm the precise indicator definition. |
| 8. District Disaster Management Committees (DMCs) | The functionality of the four target DMCs has not been verified. | Assess committee functionality, meeting regularity, action plans, implementation, resources, coordination and community engagement. Unit: committee and community. Tools: functionality checklist, document review and interviews. Review records for the previous 12 months where available. | Four DMCs strengthened; 80% implementing action plans; quarterly meetings and updated plans; 70% of communities regularly engaging. Clarify how the 80% target applies to four DMCs without changing the approved target. |
| 9. Water-Point Management Committees | The number and functionality of existing committees are unknown. | Number of existing committees and percentage meeting approved functionality criteria covering meetings, records, maintenance, financial management and responsiveness to breakdowns. Unit: committee. Tools: functionality checklist and document review. | Ten water-user committees established and functioning, with at least 80% functional. Define the functionality threshold and denominator. |
| 10. Gender, Disability and Social Inclusion | Women, children and persons with disabilities are priority groups, but existing participation and access require assessment. | Measure participation and access to project interventions, training, agricultural support, water services and decision-making structures. Disaggregate by sex, age and disability where appropriate. | At least 1,000 female farmers among 2,000 targeted farmers. Confirm the definition of a female farmer and relevant inclusion indicators. |
Note: The project targets the establishment or improvement of 22 school gardens across 22 schools and the establishment or use of 13 Farmer Field Schools (FFS) or demonstration gardens for farmer learning and demonstration purposes. These targets shall guide baseline data collection, implementation monitoring and subsequent evaluation.
The consultant shall submit the completed indicator matrix to NACRO for approval before finalizing the data collection tools. Any inconsistencies in the project design, including the demonstration plot targets and the interpretation of the 80% DMC action-plan target, shall be documented and clarified with NACRO before fieldwork. Approved indicator definitions, calculation methods, recall periods and scoring criteria shall guide baseline measurement and subsequent monitoring and end line evaluation.
The baseline shall use a participatory mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative techniques.
The survey team shall review relevant documents, including:
The survey team is expected to use:
The consultant shall propose a scientifically defensible sampling methodology and sample size based on the confirmed project districts, eligible household population, required precision and available resources. The methodology shall specify the confidence level (95%, unless otherwise justified), margin of error, design effect, non-response allowance, sample size calculation, district and provincial allocation, and respondent selection procedures. NACRO shall confirm whether statistical precision is required at project, provincial or district level.
The sampling frame shall be validated with NACRO and relevant stakeholders, ensuring transparent selection and adequate representation of women and vulnerable households. The consultant shall clarify whether all target schools and committees will be assessed or sampled and explain the selection of schools, learners and teachers. The methodology shall also address sampling weights, missing data, non-response and triangulation of quantitative findings with qualitative evidence. NACRO shall approve the sampling plan before fieldwork begins.
The consultant shall submit an executive summary, a comprehensive baseline report and a clear baseline indicator table presenting indicator definitions, baseline values, and data sources and approved project targets. The reporting package shall include the fieldwork-completion dataset, final cleaned dataset, data collection tools, indicator calculation sheets and supporting annexes, including the sampling methodology, data collection instruments and relevant fieldwork documentation.
All reports and datasets shall be submitted in editable formats agreed with NACRO. Indicator calculations must be transparent, reproducible and consistent with the approved indicator matrix. NACRO shall consolidate feedback from relevant stakeholders and communicate comments to the consultant for incorporation. The final report length, donor reporting format, submission schedule and acceptance criteria shall be agreed with NACRO during inception and documented in the inception report.
| Deliverable | Description |
| Inception report | Understanding of the TOR, confirmed scope, methodology, sampling and sample-size justification, work plan, indicator matrix and quality assurance arrangements. |
| Data collection tools | Household questionnaire, KII and FGD guides, school and institutional checklists, observation forms and consent scripts. |
| Fieldwork completion and cleaned dataset | Completed survey, cleaned quantitative dataset, data dictionary, qualitative notes/summaries and data-quality log. |
| Preliminary findings presentation | Initial results against key indicators, emerging issues and implications for project start-up. |
| Draft baseline report | Findings, analysis by indicator and district, respondent profile, gender/inclusion analysis, limitations, conclusions and recommendations. |
| Final baseline report | Revised report incorporating NACRO feedback, final baseline indicator table and actionable recommendations. |
| Clean dataset and annexes | Final dataset, tools, sample distribution, fieldwork schedule and relevant supporting documentation. |
Proposal Requirements
Consultants or consulting firms shall submit separate Technical and Financial Proposals. Both proposals must be clearly structured and address the requirements outlined below.
8.1 Technical Proposal
The Technical Proposal shall include:
8.2 Financial Proposal
The Financial Proposal shall provide a detailed and itemized budget covering professional fees, enumerator costs, travel and accommodation, fieldwork logistics, data collection and processing, report preparation, and any other relevant costs. The proposal shall clearly state the total cost and applicable taxes, in accordance with the submission requirements specified in the consultancy advertisement.
8.3 Reporting Deliverables
The successful consultant shall produce one consolidated baseline report covering all four districts, with separate district-level findings and comparative analysis between Southern and Western Provinces.
The lead consultant or survey team should possess:
The baseline survey will cover four districts: Choma and Kalomo in Southern Province, and Mongu and Nalolo in Western Province. The consultant shall allocate five working days to each district, providing a total of 20 working days for district-level field data collection. The schedule below is indicative and shall be confirmed during inception. Working days are counted from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. Travel and mobilization, data validation, reporting and NACRO review shall be accommodated without reducing the allocated fieldwork days.
| Activity | Working Days / Period | Revised Indicative Dates |
| 1. Inception meeting, confirmation of indicators and sampling plan | 2 working days | 9–10 November 2026 |
| 2. Enumerator training, tool finalization and pilot testing | 2 working days | 11–12 November 2026 |
| 3. Travel and mobilization to Choma District | 1 working day | 13 November 2026 |
| 4. Field data collection – Choma District, Southern Province | 5 working days | 16–20 November 2026 |
| 5. Travel and mobilization to Kalomo District | 1 working day | 23 November 2026 |
| 6. Field data collection – Kalomo District, Southern Province | 5 working days | 24–30 November 2026 |
| 7. Travel and mobilization to Mongu District | Allowance to be confirmed during inception | 1–2 December 2026 (indicative) |
| 8. Field data collection – Mongu District, Western Province | 5 working days | 3–9 December 2026 |
| 9. Travel and mobilization to Nalolo District | Allowance to be confirmed during inception | 10 December 2026 (indicative) |
| 10. Field data collection – Nalolo District, Western Province | 5 working days | 11–17 December 2026 |
| 11. Data validation, cleaning and field debrief | 2 working days | 18 and 21 December 2026 |
| 12. Preliminary findings presentation | Within 3 working days after fieldwork and initial data validation | By 22 December 2026 |
| 13. Draft baseline report and dataset submission | Within 7 working days after fieldwork completion and data validation | By 30 December 2026 |
| 14. NACRO review and consolidated feedback | Period to be agreed during inception | To be agreed with NACRO |
| 15. Final report and complete dataset submission | Within 5 working days after receipt of consolidated NACRO feedback | Date to be agreed with NACRO |
Scheduling notes:
The baseline survey assignment will be conducted by an independent consultant, who will be supported by the NACRO team throughout the assignment. The consultant will lead the technical aspects of the survey, while NACRO will provide coordination and logistical support, facilitate access to relevant stakeholders and communities, and review the deliverables.
The consultant will be responsible for:
NACRO will support the consultant by:
The consultant will remain accountable for the independence and technical quality of the survey, sampling, data management, and analysis and reporting. NACRO’s support will not compromise the voluntary participation of respondents or the accuracy and impartiality of findings.
Proposals shall be evaluated using a combined technical and financial assessment, with 70% allocated to the technical proposal and 30% allocated to the financial proposal. The evaluation shall be conducted in accordance with NACRO’s approved procurement procedures.
The technical proposals shall be assessed against the following criteria:
| No. | Technical Evaluation Criteria | Weight |
| 1 | Understanding of the Terms of Reference | 20% |
| 2 | Methodology and Technical Approach | 35% |
| 3 | Relevant Experience and Qualifications | 30% |
| 4 | Quality and Completeness of the Proposal and Work Plan | 15% |
| Total Technical Score | 100% |
The technical score shall be converted to a weighted score out of 70 points. NACRO shall specify the minimum qualifying technical score, if applicable, in accordance with its procurement procedures. Only proposals meeting the approved threshold, where applicable, shall proceed to financial evaluation.
Financial proposals shall be assessed for cost competitiveness, completeness, accuracy and compliance with the requirements of the Terms of Reference. The financial evaluation shall be conducted in accordance with NACRO’s approved procurement procedures.
The final score shall be calculated by combining the weighted technical and financial scores as follows:
Final Score = Weighted Technical Score (70%) + Weighted Financial Score (30%)
The consultant or firm with the highest combined score shall be recommended for contract award, subject to compliance with NACRO’s procurement procedures, satisfactory verification of submitted information and the required approvals.
The minimum qualifying technical score, financial scoring formula and any other applicable evaluation conditions shall be confirmed by NACRO before publication of the Terms of Reference.
ANNEX 1: DETAILED BASELINE INDICATOR MEASUREMENT MATRIX
This annex provides the detailed measurement framework for the baseline survey. The consultant shall use it to develop the data collection tools, establish baseline values and assess progress against project targets. Indicator definitions, measurement methods and calculation procedures shall be validated with NACRO during the inception phase and aligned with the approved project results framework.
| No. | Result Area | Baseline Indicator and Measurement | Project Design Reference / Target |
| 1 | Food Security | Number of months in which households have adequate food provisioning; proportion of households reporting adequate food provisioning for 10–12 months; and proportion reporting year-round food security. The consultant shall clearly distinguish these measures when collecting and analyzing data. | At least 1,200 households targeted to achieve adequate food provisioning for 10–12 months. The baseline shall establish the current situation against which progress will be measured. |
| 2 | Dietary Diversity | Number of food groups consumed by household members during the agreed recall period, including the proportion of households consuming five or more food groups. The recall period and food-group classification shall be agreed with NACRO. | Project target: households consuming five or more food groups, subject to confirmation against the approved project indicator framework. |
| 3 | Access to Water | Proportion and number of households with reliable water access throughout the year for domestic and productive activities. Assess water sources, seasonal availability, frequency and duration of interruptions, and intended uses. Water reliability shall be assessed separately from water safety; water quality testing shall be included where required by the project design. | At least 1,200 households targeted for reliable water access. |
| 4 | Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) | Proportion and number of farmers demonstrating knowledge of specified climate-smart agriculture practices and proportion currently applying those practices. Knowledge and actual adoption shall be measured and reported separately. | At least 1,200 households targeted for increased CSA knowledge and practical adoption. |
| 5 | School Gardens and Farmer Learning | Number of functioning school gardens, schools with gardens, and Farmer Field Schools (FFS) or demonstration gardens established or supported. Assess garden functionality, use for practical learning, crop production and maintenance arrangements. | Target: 22 school gardens across 22 schools and 13 Farmer Field Schools or demonstration gardens for farmer learning and demonstration purposes. |
| 6 | School Nutrition, Hygiene and Agriculture Knowledge | Number and proportion of learners demonstrating knowledge of nutrition, hygiene and school gardening/agricultural practices, using an agreed assessment method. Results should be disaggregated by sex and other relevant characteristics where feasible. | Approximately 6,600 learners targeted to benefit from improved knowledge. |
| 7 | Disaster Risk Management | Number of District Disaster Management Committees (DMCs) in place and their functionality, including the existence and updating of action plans, frequency of meetings, implementation of planned actions and community engagement. Functionality criteria shall be agreed with NACRO. | Four DMCs targeted for strengthening; 80% targeted to implement action plans. The interpretation and calculation of the 80% target shall be confirmed against the approved project results framework. |
| 8 | Water-Point Management | Number of water-point management committees established and proportion meeting agreed functionality criteria. Assess committee composition, meeting frequency, maintenance arrangements, and financial management where applicable, and responsiveness to breakdowns. | Ten committees targeted, with at least 80% expected to be functional. The functionality criteria and denominator shall be agreed with NACRO. |
| 9 | Gender and Inclusion | Number and proportion of women and men participating in project-targeted farming activities, training and relevant community structures. Where feasible, disaggregate data by age, disability and other relevant vulnerability characteristics. | Project targeting includes at least 1,000 female farmers among 2,000 targeted farmers, subject to confirmation against the approved project results framework. |
Measurement and Reporting Requirements
The consultant shall prepare an indicator reference sheet or measurement matrix for NACRO’s approval before finalizing the data collection tools. For each indicator, this shall specify the operational definition, unit of analysis, numerator and denominator where applicable, data source, collection method, recall period, disaggregation requirements and calculation procedure.
The baseline report shall present the measured baseline values alongside the corresponding project targets. Project targets are reference points for subsequent monitoring and evaluation; they shall not be presented as baseline findings. Any inconsistencies or ambiguities in the approved project indicators or targets shall be documented and referred to NACRO for clarification rather than resolved through unapproved changes.
New Apostolic Church Relief Organization (NACRO) – Zambia
Plot No. 109A, Marrapodi,
Villa Lima Garden,
Off Manchinchi Road,
P.O. Box 32297,
Lusaka, Zambia.
Interested consultants or consulting firms are invited to submit their Technical Proposals and Financial Proposals to cxxxxxxxxx@nacrozmz.com, copying lxxxxx@nacrozmz.com
All proposals must be submitted by 17:00 hours Zambia time on Wednesday, 4 November 2026. Late submissions may not be considered, in accordance with NACRO’s approved procurement procedures.