CBM Consultancy to Conduct Feasibility Studies for a BMZ project in Uganda At Christian Blind Mission

Project Name: Resilient Livelihood for Economic Inclusion among Refugees and Host Communities in Uganda.

Country/Region: West Nile / Northern Uganda

Partner Organisation: Community Empowerment for Rural Development (CEFORD) and St. Josephs’ Hospital Kitgum (SJH)

Planned Project Start Date: July 2025

Study Puprpose: The requested consultancy aims to assess the feasibility of a proposed project of CBM, Community Empowerment for Rural Development (CEFORD), and St.Josephs’s Hospital Kitgum (SKH) to systematically check the extent to which the project approach can plausibly achieve the planned changes under the existing framework conditions.

Commissioning organisation/contact person: Christoffel-Blindenmission Christian Blind Mission e.V. Uganda Country Office, Plot 4, Upper Kololo Terrace. P.O. Box 5280, Kampala

Study duration: 30 days

1. Background of the feasibility study

Community Empowerment for Rural Development (CEFORD) and Christian Blind Mission (CBM) would like to propose a project to the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), which aims to reach “Improved access to financial services, health care and standard of living for refugees and host communities with focus on persons with disabilities”.

The proposing organisations are:

CEFORD is registered as a not-for-profit National Non-Governmental Organization to operate in Uganda. Founded in July 2000, CEFORD aims to provide capacity development services that build the resilience of disadvantaged women, men, youth, children, and their groups/organizations to realize their rights and improve their wellbeing. CEFORD implements projects in the sectors of Livelihood, Education, Community Health, Community Governance, and Protection.

St. Josphs Hospital Kitgum is a private, not for profit Hospital that belongs to Gulu Archdiocese Lincenced by The Uganda Medical and Dental Practitioners Council and accredited by the Uganda Catholic Medical Bureau ( UCMB); The Radiology and Imaging Department is licensed by Uganda Atomic Energy.

The hospital offers a number of services ranging from general OPD services (Private outpatient, Antenatal and HIV/AIDS Treatment and Care Support), orthopedic, minor and major surgeries, Eye Health Care, and Dental Services. The hospital is both a training institution (Certificate in Enrolled Nursing and Midwifery), an Intern Centre (Doctors, Nurses, Midwives and Pharmacists). The Hospital has departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Orthopedic, and Eye Health headed by Doctors of Special Grade (Specialists).

CBM is a Christian international development organisation, committed to improving the quality of life of people with disabilities in the poorest communities of the world irrespective of race, gender, or religious belief. CBM’s approach to Disability-inclusive Development is the framework of all its initiatives and the key theme that drives activities and the impact of its work. It believes that this is the most effective way to bring positive change to the lives of people with disabilities living in poverty and their communities. Through our disability-inclusive development approach, we address the barriers that hinder access and participation and actively seek to ensure the full participation of people with disabilities as empowered self-advocates in all development and emergency response processes.

2. Description of the project

The Bidibidi and Palorinya settlements in the West Nile and Palabek settlement camp in northern Uganda face severe socio-economic and health challenges that exacerbate the vulnerability of both refugees and host communities. Key issues include:

• Economic Vulnerability: High poverty levels coupled with rising inflation increase economic vulnerability and psychological tensions. This is further aggravated by consecutive poor food harvests due to climate variability and high post-harvest losses at both farm and household levels.
• Dependence on Humanitarian Aid: Many refugees still rely heavily on humanitarian food aid from organizations such as WFP, highlighting significant livelihood challenges and a lack of sustainable economic opportunities.
• Healthcare Access: There is poor access to basic general health care within the refugee camps and host communities, significantly affecting overall well-being.
• Lack of Specialized Health Services: A substantial number of refugees with eye-related and physical disabilities or other type of (long-term) impairments lack adequate access to specialized health services. Persons with disabilities remain among the most neglected and socially excluded groups, often invisible in refugee assistance programs. They face significant barriers in accessing mainstream assistance due to attitudinal, physical, and social obstacles.
• Exclusion of Persons with Disabilities: Persons with disabilities are often not identified or counted in refugee registration and data collection, excluded from mainstream assistance programs, and forgotten in the establishment of specialized services. They are also ignored in the appointment of camp leadership and community management structures. Their potential contributions are seldom recognized, and they are frequently perceived as a burden rather than a resource*.*
• Interruption of Community Support Mechanisms: Traditional community coping mechanisms, such as extended families and caregivers, often break down during displacement. This loss of caregivers leaves persons with disabilities extremely vulnerable and exposed to protection risks.

Target area

• Yumbe and Obongi/Moyo , Palabek /Lamwo districts
• The target population is 70% refugees and 30% host community members and the allocation per settlement is 50:50. The household average size count is 5 person/HH. People with disabilities constitute 54.8%.

Target group: Refugees and Host Communities in 3 Refugee settlement camps of West Nile and Northern Uganda (Bidibidi, Palorinya and Palabek).

Overall and project objective, results and possibly key activities

Overall objective: To enhance inclusive economic independence for refugees and host communities with a focus on persons with disabilities, caregivers, and vulnerable families by 2029.

Project objective: Improved access to livelihood opportunities, financial services, and(primary) health care for refugees and host communities with a focus on persons with disability in targeted communities of Yumbe and Obongi/Moyo, Palabek /Lamwo districts.

Sub-objective 1: Improved health among the refugees and host community members

Main Activities:

• Facilitate community awareness raising about disability and eye care management within the targeted refugee settlements using the available information dissemination platforms and avenues.
• Provide assistive devices such as 3D Printed prostheses and orthosis, mobility aids including white canes for totally visually impaired persons in the refugee settlements.
• Conduct 20 Integrated screening outreaches( 4 per year) to provide, eye care, therapeutic and rehabilitation, and support to the physically and visually impaired persons.
• Train 1200 (240 persons for 5 years) Primary health care workers in the identification, diagnosis, treatment, or referral of persons presenting with both physical disabilities and visual impairments.
• Training of 960 (240 teachers per year) in the identification, and screening eye eye-related issues as well as physical disabilities through school screenings.
• Sub-objective 3: Improved standard of living for refugees and host communities through vocational skills training for youths, Block farming, and Value Chain Development.

Total Budget: 593.846 EUR

Sub-objective 2: Improved standard of living for refugees and host communities through vocational skills training for youths, Block farming and Value Chain Development.

Main Activities:

• Market scan for potential gaps, suppliers/ customers
• Identify and select youth for skills training
• Orientation for potential employers/ trainers
• Attachment of trained youth to identified trade owners.
• Provide start up kits for self-employment youth
• Provide training in good agricultural practices by the community development officers and agricultural field extension workers.
• Linking all the registered groups to government programmes like parish model development plan, disability livelihood fund and youth livelihood fund.
• Support artisans with training materials
• Training fee for artisans
• Establishment of block farms
• Support block farms with assorted inputs
• Develop and support competitive Business plans.
• Vetting Business plans.
• Linking the Block farmers with private sectors

Total Budget: 470.788 EUR

Sub-objective 3: Improved access to financial services for refugees and host community with focus on persons with disabilities, caregivers through linkages to financial institutions and Community Managed Saving Groups inclusive of people with disabilities (CMSG).

Main Activities:

• Identify and mobilize potential members for CMSG
• Establish and register CMSGs
• Purchase start up kits for members of CMSGs.
• ToT sessions for financial literacy trainers
• Exposure visits to successful groups for learning
• Mapping of Micro Finance Institutions and banks
• Train CMSGs in business selection, planning, and management.
• Provide saving kits for the established groups
• Interest financial institutions into a medium-term of the project once CMSGs are operating successfully and members have businesses and IGAs.
• Link CMSGs to appropriate and available formal financial institutions.
• Establishment of a complaint and feedback desk and awareness creation

Total Budget: 312.800 EUR

3. Purpose of the feasibility study

The project is currently in its development phase and CBM is seeking to recruit a consultant to conduct a feasibility study to assess the feasibility of the proposed project and systematically check the extent to which the project approach can plausibly achieve the planned changes under the existing framework conditions.

It should provide CBM and its partner(s) with sufficient information on the project opportunities and risks as well as concrete recommendations for improving the project concept. The study will be submitted to BMZ together with the project proposal.

As a first step, the study should provide an assessment on the following:

• Situation and problem analysis at the macro, meso, and micro level
• Assessment of the local partner organization
• Analysis of target groups and key stakeholders at the macro, meso and micro level

All three of the above listed components include a systematic gender analysis through specific questions and request for gender disaggregated data which is a vital part of the feasibility study.

It is important to note that the study should be complementary to any assessments/field research/information already available to CBM and its partner).

Based on this, the study should assess as a second step:

• The feasibility of the project concept against the OECD/DAC criteria of relevance, coherence, efficiency, effectiveness, potential impact and sustainability.
• The inclusiveness of the project, i.e. the active participation of persons with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups such as women, girls, the Indigenous population, and their representative organisations in all aspects of the project.

This assessment will be made based on a first draft of the impact chain and indicators, description of activities, and a draft budget to be made available by CBM and the partner organization.

4. Questions of the feasibility study

4.1 Initial situation and problem analysis

• Frameworks and laws:
  • Inclusion of people with disabilities is key to the project, which laws and frameworks in regards inclusion of people with disability should be guiding the implementation?
  • The project wants to strengthen gender equality, which laws and frameworks in regards to gender equality should be guiding the implementation?
  • In regards to access to health care, what are the rights and frameworks existing for refugees?
  • Which frameworks and laws are regulating access to labor market for refugees?
• Given the fact that many crises-affected households continue to be dependent on humanitarian assistance, how can long-term development approaches (already) come in and be successful (and reduce dependence on humanitarian aid)?
• In the context of the living situation of Refugees in Bidibidi, Palabek, and Palorinya Settlements, does the design of the project consider the relevant problems and situation of the target groups?
• What are the key problems/barriers related to livelihood/food security and access to health for people with disabilities and women?
• What are the main economic activities and sources of income for refugees and host communities
• Regarding the planned livelihood activities, are those feasible, looking at the current income situation and food insecurity of (vulnerable) households? Which challenges do you see here?
• Do we see successful Community Managed Saving Groups approaches from other actors in the region? Which challenges do we see with existing approaches to Community Managed Saving Groups?
• Which Value chains exist and can be recommended? (e.g. Cassava, Maize, Rice, Sunflower, and high-value horticultural crops such as tomato, cabbage, green paper, and okra)
• What is the relationship between the private sector actors such as the financial institutions, suppliers, distributors, buyers, and Artisans, and the refugees and their host communities?
• Who will run and manage the block farms – who owns the land that block farms will be developed on?
• For the technical vocational skills, which are the most viable enterprises? For what specific sectors?
• Is a focus on “green and ecological skills” recommended? What would this concretely mean?
• Regarding access to healthcare: the project is meant to focus on eye care and physical rehabilitation. Would you recommend keeping the focus on these two areas or are there other relevant areas such as MHPSS, which should be included? If yes, how?
• What specialised health services are lacking for persons with disabilities in these communities?
• How accessible are existing healthcare services?
• Protection is usually an important aspect of CBM’s work – what are the main protection concerns for the crises-affected persons and how can we increase their protection through the planned project? (Either through an adaptation of planned activities or by adding additional activities)
• Which are conflicts within the communities in the settlements but also between refugees and host communities, the project needs to be aware of and take into account?
• What connects and divides refugees and host communities and refugees and refugees of different ethnicities?
• To enhance gender equality within the project, what are the main barriers that need to be addressed?
• To enhance disability inclusion what are the main barriers for refugees, persons with disabilities, and women/girls for participating in the different activities that need to be addressed? Please be as concrete as possible, it can be different barriers for different groups/activities.
• Which institutions, networks, umbrella organisations and social mechanisms are existing in the settlements and can be built upon? Are there organisations for people with disabilities and women’s organisations? Which ones?
• Which community support systems do exist?
• What gaps exist in providing care for the vulnerable groups?
• How can community-based problem-solving capacities be strengthened?
• What are the decision-making forums existing in Bidibidi, Palabek, and Palorinya settlements and the host communities? Are people with disabilities and women represented in those and are their voices being heard? How can their participation in making decision-making process be strengthened?
• How do community members perceive refugees and the impact on their livelihoods and resources? What are the views of refugees regarding integration and relationship with host communities? What activities could promote social and mutual understanding between refugees and host communities? What traditional or formal conflict resolution mechanisms exist in communities and how can these mechanisms be strengthened or supported through the project?

4.2 Local project implementing partner organization in the partner country

• What is the capacity and experience of the partner in managing similar projects?
• Which capacity building need do CEFORD and SJH have, in technical areas as well as organisational capacities or methodological competencies to better implement the planned project?
• Which capacity-building measures do CEFORD and SJH need to strengthen their capacities in relation to gender equality and inclusion approaches (e.g., training in human rights and women’s rights and in participation of people with disabilities)?
• Please explain how CEFORD and SJH are interacting with Organizations of people with disabilities, women’s organizations, market actors relevant to block farming and VCD, and other actors in the area and in which networks CEFORD is active, which cluster meetings they attend regularly. How could the engagement and collaboration with other actors be further strengthened within this project?
• How do CEFORD and SJH engage with and mobilise community members?

4.3 Target groups and key stakeholders (at micro, meso, and macro level)

• Describe the composition of the target group (gender, age, ethnicity, language, refugee/IDP/Returnee/Host Community, etc.).
• Which groups need to be involved in project planning and implementation?
• Which are the key stakeholders (governmental/OPDs/ women’s organization local market and private sector actors, TVETS, etc; regional/district level) and how do they need to be involved in the project? Are there convergences or conflicts of interest between them?
• What partnerships exist between INGOs, local NGOs, market / private sector entities, and government in addressing the needs of the target group?

4.4 Assessment according to DAC Criteria

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

• To what extent do the project objectives and design adequately consider the specific needs of the target groups and structural obstacles in the project region, partner/institution, and policy programmes?
• Is the project designed in a conflict-sensitive and gender-sensitive way (Do-No-Harm principle)?

Coherence – How well does the intervention fit?

• How coherent are the planned activities with human rights principles (inclusion, participation), conventions, and relevant standards/guidelines?
• How coherent are the planned activities with relevant response plans or strategies of the government (local development plans and policies) and key humanitarian actors such as UNHCR?
• To what extent are there synergies and linkages between the planned project and other interventions by the same actor (organisation) and other actors? To what extent does the project add value and avoid duplication?
• Are the proposed activities and interventions culturally appropriate and accepted by target communities?

Effectiveness – Which project approach can best achieve the objectives?

• Is the chosen approach appropriate to the context and sufficient to achieve the project objective? Are alternatives necessary?
• At which level (multi-level approach) are additional measures needed to increase effectiveness to be envisaged?
• How can envisaged changes be measured? Which indicators are most suitable for this?
• Are there specific needs of target groups that can be adequately addressed only by including specific activities just for them (e.g., the creation of protected spaces only for women/girls who have experienced sexual violence)?

Efficiency – Does the use of funds planned by the project appear economical in terms of achieving the objectives?

• To what extent can the planned measures be implemented with the budgeted funds and personnel in the planned duration?
• Are there opportunities for leveraging additional resources or partnerships to enhance efficiency?

Impact – To what extent has the planned project the potential to contribute to the achievement of overarching developmental impacts?

• To what extent has the planned project the potential for systematic change of norms and/or structures (also considering gender perspective)?
• How will the project contribute to economic independence and overall well-being of the target group (particularly persons with disabilities)
• What innovative approaches will the project employ to achieve its objectives?

Sustainability – To what extent will the positive effects (without further external funding) continue after the end of the project?

• How can the sustainability of the results and impacts be ensured and strengthened (especially with the strong focus on humanitarian aid in the targeted regions)? (structural, economic, social, ecological)?
• What long-term capacities are built up in the target group to be able to continue the implemented measures on their own?
• Which personal risks for the implementers, institutional and contextual risks influence sustainability and how can they be minimised?
• Which community support systems are being strengthened?
• How does the project consider environmental sustainability and resilience to climate variability?

Safeguarding

• How can the project design include safeguarding as cross-cutting issue? Are safeguarding practices strengthened? What else could be included to further strengthen safeguarding?

4.5 Recommendations

Based on the main findings and the assessment according to the DAC criteria, the consultant should provide concrete recommendations for the project concept. These recommendations should be within the thematic and financial scope of what the project aims to achieve. They should be practical and implementable.

In particular, the following should be addressed:

• Recommendations on any components, measures, approaches that might be missing or not fitting in the project concept.
• Recommendations regarding any components or measures where potential negative effects have been identified.
• Recommendations on the impact matrix of the project:
• Anything that can strengthen the effect chain of the project.
• Recommendations on indicators demonstrating progress.

5. Scope of the feasibility study

5.1 Stakeholders

The consultant will work closely with all partners, including the CBM and (partner organisations) and (relevant local government/non-government agencies). The consultant will report to the CBM team (Uganda Country Director). The consultant will execute his/her mission in complete independence and will receive only general instructions by CBM, justified by the necessities of the independent collaboration between the parties and the orderly execution of the confined tasks.

5.2 Geographical Scope

The study shall analyse the situation in Lamwo, Moyo, and Yumbe districts (Bidibidi, Palabek and Palorinya) Refugee settlement camps and Host Communities.

5.3 Documents to be reviewed

General

• Uganda Country Refugee Response Plan: Detailed planning (2024-2025)

CBM Documents

• Partner Assessment
• Project Idea Tool
• Evaluation reports current project

5.4 Methodology

Independent of the methods to be used, there are mandatory mechanisms that must be adhered to during the entire process:

• Participatory and inclusive
• Safeguarding of children and adults at risk
• Data Disaggregation (gender/age/disability)
• Data Security and privacy (informed consent)
• Application of Washington Group Short Set of Questions

The evaluator is expected to cooperate with National Union of Persons with Disabilities of Uganda (NUDIPU); CBM will establish the contact, please budget for persons with disabilities to be co-investigators.

The evaluator is expected to use a variety of methods to collect and analyze data. Participatory methods should be used to collect qualitative and quantitative data. The consultant shall indicate the methodology he/she intends to use in his/her offer.

5.5 Limitations

Please consider the rainy season in the region during the time of the study. Please also have in mind that access to the Refugee settlements is restricted and a permit is required. CEFORD and CBM will be supporting in getting the permission.

6. Deliverables and schedule

6.1 Deliverables

• Inception report including proposed data collection tools and feasibility study question matrix (matching feasibility study questions with data collection tools);
• Final report (max. 30 pages without annexes) according to CBM’s report template and in an accessible format;
• Any data sets collected/analysed and other documents related to the feasibility study;
• A summary Power Point Presentation highlighting main findings and recommendations;
• Presentation of findings and recommendations in a validation workshop.

6.2 Time Frame and schedule

The study is expected to start August 15th, 2024, taking 30 days. An itemized action plan should be submitted with the expression of interest.

7. Application and selection procedure

7.1 Skills and Experience of Study Team

The consultant should have the following attributes among others:

• Academic Degree in economics, social science or related field
• Proven record of carrying out similar studies in refugee context Uganda
• Track record in designing and conducting quantitative and qualitative studies; feasibility studies
• Experience in undertaking research with remote and marginalized communities; refugees
• Knowledge of international regulations and national statutes for persons with disabilities
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including ability to facilitate and work in a multidisciplinary team
• Strong analytical skills and ability to clearly synthesize and present findings
• Ability to draw practical conclusions and to prepare well‐written reports in a timely manner and available during the proposed period
• Ability to speak the following languages: English, Swahili, Arabic
• Safeguarding Policy: As a condition of entering into a consultancy agreement the evaluators must sign the CBM’s or the partner organisation’s Safeguarding Policy and abide by the terms and conditions thereof.

7.2 Expression of Interest

The consultant is expected to submit a technical and financial proposal including

• a description of the consultancy firm,
• CV of suggested team members,
• an outline of the understanding of these TORs and suggested methodology, and
• a detailed work plan for the entire assignment.
• A detailed budget for the expected assignment shall include all costs expected to conduct a disability inclusive and participatory study, and taxes according to the rules and regulations of the consultants’ local tax authorities.

CBM reserves the right to terminate the contract in case the agreed consultant/s are unavailable at the start or during the assignment.