Terms of Reference (TOR) for Advocacy for Long-term Financial Inclusion Sustainability Study for the Swedish Funded SDACKED Project in Kenya
Who is the Danish Refugee Council?
Founded in 1956, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading international NGO and one of the few with a specific expertise in forced displacement. Active in 40 countries with 9,000 employees and supported by 7,500 volunteers, DRC protects, advocates, and builds sustainable futures for refugees and other displacement-affected people and communities. DRC works during displacement at all stages, in the acute crisis, in displacement, when settling and integrating in a new place, or upon return. DRC provides protection and life-saving humanitarian assistance; supports displaced persons in becoming self-reliant and included into hosting societies; and works with civil society and responsible authorities to promote protection of rights and peaceful coexistence.
DRC has been operational in Kenya since 2005 and one of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) largest implementing partners in refugee response. DRC is present in Garissa (Dadaab & Garissa), Turkana (Kakuma, Kalobeyei & Lodwar), Nairobi, Isiolo, Lamu, Marsabit and Mandera counties.
Purpose of the Consultancy
The Advocacy for Long-term Financial Inclusion Sustainability is to be carried out twice within the four-year implementation of the Swedish-funded Supporting Displacement-Affected Communities in Kenya with Entrepreneurship Development (SDACKED) project. The first study (baseline) is planned for the month of July 2025 and the second one (end-line) will be carried out in April 2026. It is preferred that the same consultancy firm is involved in both studies. The goal of this study is to demonstrate refugees’ positive contribution to the economy of Kenya. The study shall be conducted In Nairobi, targeting urban refugees.
Background
According to UNHCR, as of May 2025, Kenya was hosting 853,074 registered refugees and asylum seekers, with 114,280 residing in urban areas like Nairobi. The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) through the SDACKED project, has been supporting micro-entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. This has been done through informal savings & loans structures known as Community Savings and Loans Associations (CSLAs) since 2015. While CSLAs offer initial financial support, many entrepreneurs struggle to access additional capital outside of these groups, hindering their growth due to financial and accessibility barriers. Despite these challenges, the Refugee Act 2021 offers potential for meaningful market participation and easier access to financial services with the recognition of Refugee Identity Cards as valid documentation. Banks however remain reluctant to finance displaced communities due to perceived risks. Beyond legal and banking hurdles, entrepreneurs face difficulties obtaining identification documents, lack knowledge on formal financing processes, do not have all the required KYC (Know Your Customer) documentation to open bank accounts and access financial products and services. To address these challenges, DRC is implementing a comprehensive approach to support entrepreneurs, enhance financial inclusion, and foster sustainable business growth. Partnering with the Swedish government, DRC is implementing the SDACKED project whose objective is the development of an inclusive entrepreneurship system across Kenya to support increased financial inclusion and inclusive economic participation of refugees and hosting communities.
Objective of the Consultancy
The consultant is expected to conduct Advocacy for Long-term Financial Inclusion Sustainability study with a focus on the contribution of urban refugee entrepreneurs to the economy of the areas where they reside and the general economy of Kenya.
The specific objectives of the study are:
- To analyze the monthly business incomes of sample urban refugees and explore their contribution to the government tax revenues.
- To sample urban refugee entrepreneur households and evaluate their consumption patterns in line with payment of government taxes including value added tax.
- To evaluate the barriers and enablers to the contribution of urban refugees to the economy of Kenya.
- To assess the use and impact of loans acquired from financial institutions and CSLAs by the urban refugee entrepreneurs and how they translate to transformation of Kenya’s economy.
The general responsibilities of the consultant are:
• Review of SDACKED project documents and other secondary literature to guide in the preparation of an Inception Report.
Ÿ Preparation of data collection tools for review and feedback.
• Develop the advocacy data collection schedule and select respondents to participate in interviews. DRC shall provide support in identifying the relevant respondents as required by the consultant.
• Conduct data collection in line with data protection regulations and perform data quality checks to ensure its accuracy, validity and integrity.
• Conduct data cleaning, processing and analysis.
• Prepare, submit a draft report and other products for review and feedback.
• Validate findings with DRC i.e. preliminary presentation of the reports.
• Submit final report and annexes.
Ÿ Be available to conduct the end-line study on the last year of the project April 2026.
Scope of Work and Methodology
Scope of work including DRC’s area of support
The study will target refugees living within the 6 clusters of the project in Nairobi and its metropolitan areas: Kawangware, Kasarani A (Kasarani & Mwiki), Kasarani B (Githurai and surrounding areas), Kasarani C (Kayole and surrounding areas), Eastleigh and Kitengela. A representative sample of the urban refugees will be drawn from existing database of the SDACKED project, and shared with the consultant. The SDACKED Project Manager and the MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation Accountability & Learning) team at the country from the Urban offices will be responsible for the overall coordination of the study with the consultant to ensure timely and quality output. DRC will provide relevant documentation and background information, approve data collection tools and report, participate as key informants, support in mobilizing urban refugees, provide consolidated feedback/guidance on draft reports and mobilization of SDACKED project stakeholders during the validation workshop.
Deliverables
1. Inception report (describing):
• A detailed methodology on how the information and data will be collected and analyzed. The conceptual framework should be included as part of the methodology.
• A detailed sampling framework for location, respondents and relevant documents for review.
• A detailed plan of action on quality control measures to be applied.
• Detailed work plan and indicative work load.
• Presentation on the methodology, sampling, data collection tools and plan of action.
2. A draft study report, submitted for review by DRC Kenya.
3. Final report- A comprehensive report that highlights the findings and practical recommendations (incorporating feedback from DRC).
4. A final study report submitted to DRC Kenya after working on the comments.
5. One validation workshop to present key findings and recommendations to DRC and her stakeholderes. The workshop should be attended by all the key players in the industry including financial institutions, the Department of Refugee Services (DRS), KCB Bank, KCB Foundation and other stakeholders.
6. Annexes including:
• Data sets (raw data, photos, etc.)
• Validation workshop presentation.
The consultant should develop the following in the report:
- A methodology on how the information and data will be collected and analyzed. The conceptual framework should be included as part of the methodology.
- A detailed sampling framework for location, respondents and relevant documents for review.
- A detailed plan of action on quality control measures to be applied.
- Detailed work plan and indicative work load.
- Presentation of the methodology, sampling, data collection tools and plan of action.
- Develop the data collection schedule and select respondents to participate in interviews.
- Conduct data collection.
- Perform data quality checks to ensure accuracy, validity and integrity of data collected.
- Conduct data cleaning, processing and analysis.
- Prepare and submit a draft report and other products for review and feedback.
- Validate findings with DRC i.e. preliminary presentation of the reports.
- Address feedback and submit final report and annexes on the fourth year of the assignment.
- Present key findings and recommendations to DRC and other stakeholders for validation
- Presentation of the final study report.
The Consultant will provide the documentation by email to the SDACKED Project Manager, copying all relevant project staff.
Duration, Timeline, and Payment
The total expected duration to complete the assignment will be no more than 21 working days
The consultant shall be prepared to complete the assignment no later than 1st August 2025.
Proposed Composition of Team
- Lead Consultant/Project Manager (should have an advanced degree in Community Development, Sociology, Microfinance, Economics, Law, Communication or related fields).
- Enumerators.
- Data Clerks.
Eligibility, Qualification, and Experience Required
Essential:
• The consultancy firm / individual consultant is registered under the Laws of Kenya.
• At least 5 years’ experience in conducting research, with proven track record in conducting related assessments in CSLA models, micro-enterprise development and financial inclusion.
• Advanced degree in Community Development, Sociology, Microfinance, Economics, Law, Communication or related field.
• Excellent spoken and written communication skills in English and Kiswahili. Knowledge of the following languages spoken by refugees is a plus: French, Somali, Oromo, Kinyamulenge.
• Good data collection, analysis, presentation and visualization skills.
• Excellent skills and ability to articulate ideas in a clear and accurate manner including the ability to prepare reports.
- Evidence of past similar assignments, particularly working with marginalised/displaced populations
Desirable:
• Working experience with refugees in Nairobi or any other urban setting is an added advantage.
• Strong interpersonal and analytical skills with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relations.
• A solid understanding of Kenya’s economic and cultural context especially in refugee space.
• Consultant living/ working within the Nairobi metropolis.
Technical Supervision
The selected consultant will work under the supervision of:
Sammy Kitula – SDACKED Project Manager
Location and Support
The assignment will be coordinated from the DRC Eastleigh Urban Program office. The Consultant will use his/her own computer and mobile telephone. The Danish Refugee Council, the SDACKED Project Manager will be responsible for the overall coordination of the study with the consultant to ensure timely and quality output. DRC will provide relevant documentation and background information, approve data collection tools and report, participate as key informants, support in mobilizing community level stakeholders, provide consolidated feedback/guidance on draft reports and mobilization of stakeholders for the validation workshop.
Travel
The Consultant will be expected to arrange his/her own transportation to the field areas therefore make adequate provision for this in the Financial Proposal.
Submission Process
Interested applicants who meet the requirements are invited to submit an expression of interest including:
- A suitability statement including CV(s) of participating consultant(s) with details of qualifications, skills and experience.
- Technical proposal that summarizes understanding of the TOR, methodology and tools to be used.
- Work plan indicating the activity schedule.
- Financial proposal providing cost estimates and consultancy fees. Financial proposal should consider the responsibilities of the Consultant.
- A sample report presented for a previous consultancy assignment conducted in the recent past.
- Contact details of three organizations that have recently contracted the Consultant to carry out consultancy assignments.
The proposals must be submitted as Microsoft Word/PDF/Excel file, ideally packaged in a Zip folder. Proposals must be submitted to the following address tender.ken@drc.ngo with “DRC Kenya- Advocacy for Long-term Financial Inclusion Sustainability” in the subject line.
Evaluation of Bids
All bidders will be scored on a scale from 1 – 10 for each of the below criteria and will be assessed for profile and qualifications (document 1), technical approach (document 2), any similar experience (document 3). Bids will be scored according to the criteria below for the initial screening:
Based on the initial screening, DRC Kenya will invite selected bidders for an interview. DRC Kenya will conduct reference checks from at least 2 previous works as an additional and mandatory requirement.
Please find complete bidding documents in this link RFP 00346298 PROVISION ADVOCACY FOR LONG-TERM FINANCIAL INCLUSION SUSTAINABILITY STUDY CONSULTANCY
How to apply
Bids can be submitted by email to the following dedicated, controlled, & secure email address: tender.ken@drc.ngo
When Bids are emailed, the following conditions shall be complied with:
- The RFP number shall be inserted in the Subject Heading of the email
- Separate emails shall be used for the ‘Financial Bid’ and ‘Technical Bid’, and the Subject Heading of the email shall indicate which type the email contains
- The financial bid shall only contain the financial bid form, Annex A.2
- The technical bid shall contain all other documents required by the tender, but excluding all pricing information
- Bid documents required, shall be included as an attachment to the email in PDF, JPEG, TIF format, or the same type of files provided as a ZIP file. Documents in MS Word or excel formats, will result in the bid being disqualified.
- Email attachments shall not exceed 4MB; otherwise, the bidder shall send his bid in multiple emails.
- Documents should NOT be submitted via links, WeTransfer, or any other external file-sharing platforms
Failure to comply with the above may disqualify the Bid.
DRC is not responsible for the failure of the Internet, network, server, or any other hardware, or software, used by either the Bidder or DRC in the processing of emails.
DRC is not responsible for the non-receipt of Bids submitted by email as part of the e-Tendering process.
Bids to be submitted ONLY in electronically.