NORSAAC

“THE REFERENDUM WE WANT” PROJECT

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)

Conduct a Survey to Map Out and Profile the Interest, Knowledge and Awareness of CSOs, Membership Associations, Media, Minority Tribes and PWDs around the Regional Reorganization Referendum

Principal

NORSAAC

P.O Box TL 2425

Tamale

Tel: +233501303000/3

Website: www.norsaac.org

Email: info@norsaac.org

 

 

INTRODUCTION

NORSAAC is an empowerment for change non-governmental organization committed to women and young people in the Northern Region of Ghana. Dedicated to championing an improved quality of life for empowered women, girls, youth, and marginalized groups asserting their rights, NORSAAC actively engages in community and policy-based work in the following four areas: Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights, Gender and Governance, Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Development, and Education.

Our Approach to Empowerment for Change is that, NORSAAC works closely with communities, community structures, and target groups to empower individuals in asserting their rights through increasing their knowledge base and widening the depth of information made accessible. The organization further engages these groups, along with additional stakeholders, to influence community-level change. These changes come in the form of:

1) Provision of quality services.

2) Altering community norms, beliefs and practices.

3) Influencing gatekeepers of the decision-making process in homes, communities and formal structures.

NORSAAC commits itself to these changes in order recognize the rights of women and youth who participate in decision-making processes that directly affect them as individuals.

 

THE REFERENDUM WE WANT PROJECT

NORSAAC secured funding from STAR GHANA to implement a project “The Referendum We Want” in Ghana. In this project “The Referendum We Want”, NORSAAC seeks to  galvanise CSOs (Local CBOs/NGOs, labour unions, organised groups including artisanal and PWD groups) to appreciate issues and happenings in the referendum processes so that their views can be solicited for national level advocacy in shaping the referendum as per the needs of the people. “The Referendum We Want” also proposes the use of a Cluster concept in working with national level NGOs (both STAR-Ghana grant and non-grant partners) who have interest in the referendum. This is to aid processes of building uniform and informed CSOs demands and engagements processes in the referendum as well as ensure a collective impact making.

“The Referendum We Want” project is strategically designed to connect citizens to national level policy makers on the planned referenda in Ghana. It seeks to influence national level discourse and actions using evidence from Northern Ghana. The three regions of the north (Northern, Upper East and Upper West) will serve as evidence gathering points for drawing on issues and engaging selected institutions and policy makers at the national level for responses and influencing. CSOs targeted in the various regions will be expected to cascade their engagement activities to their district level structures to ensure a better outreach.

This project seeks to build capacities of CSOs, achieve inclusion and effective participation of citizens in the upcoming regional re-organisation and election of MMDCEs referenda and particularly advocate for the recognition and inclusion of women, youth, and minority tribes in the democratic processes involving the referenda exercises. The nation is preparing for series of referenda that will undoubtedly affect the economic and social lives of its citizens; particularly in areas that will experience regional re-demarcations. Every citizen therefore deserves to know the processes well to effectively exercise his/her democratic rights in the process. It is therefore important to build the capacity of CSOs, membership and organised groups to have access to information, and knowledge on the referendum process and how to influence its outcomes.

 

Outcome and Objectives the Project

The overall outcome of the project is to contribute to enhanced local governance in Ghana through an inclusive and citizen-led referendum. To this effect, the project aims to achieve the following objectives:

Objective 1: To strengthen the capacity of CSOs and membership organisations from the 3 regions of the North to plan and engage relevant state and non-state actors towards a popular; citizen-led Referendum exercise

Objective 2: To increase the voice and participation of Ghanaian citizens in the upcoming referendum processes

Objective 3: To increase the responsiveness of the relevant state institutions and Commissions to embrace citizens concerns as well as secure the inclusion of women, the youth and minorities in the composition of structures for the referendum exercise:

Project Strategies

The project has three (3) broad interrelated strategies:

Strategy 1: Mobilization and information sharing within CSOs on the referendum regarding the need for active participation

Strategy 2: Joint advocacy with media and CSOs on inclusive referendum

Strategy 3: Strategic engagements with referendum commission/committees, the ministry and

 

Project Advocacy Targets

Parliament (and its relevant subcommittees)

The Constitutional Review Implementation Committee

Ministries of Regional Re-organization and Development; and Local Government and Rural Development.

The Commission established to supervise creation of additional regions.

The Electoral commission

Regional Coordinating Councils

The Information Service of Ghana

The National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE)

District Assemblies

 

The survey

The survey is to map out and profile the interest, knowledge and awareness of CSOs, membership associations, media, minority tribes and PWDS around the regional reorganization referendum.

 

Findings from the Survey

Findings from the survey will be used to;

• Strengthen the capacities of existing CSOs working on local governance on issues surrounding the referendum and its fallouts in each region

• Facilitate processes to understand the interest of membership/artisanal associations, minority tribes and non-literate PWDs in the referendum and use findings to enhance their capacity and participation in the referendum process

• Facilitate outreaches to organized membership/ artisanal associations, minority tribes and non-literate PWDs in each region on the referendum

 

 

Methodology   

An external consultant who will lead the study team and will work under the supervision and support of NORSAAC and its partners will conduct the survey: The consultant is  expected to come up with a detailed methodology for conducting the survey, taking into consideration the local context. The consultant will develop appropriate tools and will propose an appropriate     sampling methodology and size that is statistically valid and cost effective. The sample size     and proposed tools will be discussed and approved by NORSAAC before the commencement of the survey. The study should employ both quantitative and qualitative  methods. The following data collection methods should be given due consideration while designing the research    methodology.

1. Secondary data collection that will involve review of specific project start up documents, monitoring  and evaluation  framework, other  literature,  documents and studies from    NORSAAC , STAR Ghana, government  departments and other NGOs
2. Primary data collection of both qualitative and quantitative data.

• Focus group discussions with selected membership associations, PWDs and women groups

1.  Key informant interviews with government and election bodies (regional and district levels).

 

The researcher will analyse the collected data and produce a draft report, which will be presented    to NORSAAC, before producing a final report encompassing the comments and additions.

 

 

Outline of the Survey Report 

The survey report will contain the different elements mentioned below:

• Cover page
• Table of contents
• An executive summary that can be used as a document in its own right. It should include the major findings of the survey and summaries, conclusions and recommendations.
• The objectives of the survey

The main question or central survey question and derived sub-­‐questions.

• A justification of the methods and techniques used
• Eventual limitations of the survey.
• A presentation of the findings and the analysis thereof (including unexpected, relevant findings). All key priority areas above should be addressed, paying attention to gender issues.
• Conclusions, which will analyse the various research questions. Conclusions have to be derived from findings and analysis thereof.
• Recommendations should be clearly related to conclusions but presented separately Recommendations should be practical and if necessary divided for various actors or stakeholders.

Report appendices that include:

• The terms of reference.
• The technique used for data collection
• The list of questions used and interview guide
• List of documents and references

 

 

Survey Duration and Reporting

20 calendar days will constitute the survey period; an estimated five days to prepare relevant   tools and review documentation, ten days  for  data  collection, five  days for  compiling the    information gathered, analyse, draft and complete the  survey report.

The consultant will arrange for a feedback meeting to share a draft of the survey report with the project-implementing partners. A final report will then be provided after including the comments. Probable date for the survey to commence will be on 25^th October 2018.

 

Profile of Consultant(s)

The consultant(s) should have the following qualifications/expertise:

• Post graduate degree in political science, economics, business, law, or others as may be relevant
• 10 years’ experience of carrying out programme baselines, surveys and research
• 10 years’ experience and knowledge of governance, human rights, gender and participatory development programmes.
• Knowledge of country context
• Experience of working with local communities and non-­‐governmental organizations.
• Experience in the design and use of participatory methods for assessment and evaluation.
• Excellent writing, editing, attention to detail and organizational skills
• Fluency in English

 

 

 

Survey Fees and Modalities of Remuneration

The consultant and NORSAAC will agree on the remuneration rate per person/day. Charges    related to taxes, mission allowances for fieldwork and secretarial fees are to be borne by the    consultant.

As part of this negotiation process, the consultant should propose the fees s/he wishes to     charge noting that NORSAAC will cover the transportation costs to and from the field     assignments, and accommodation during the fieldwork.

Remuneration will be calculated on basis of days the researcher has worked. The consultant    hired for the execution of this work will be granted a maximum advance of 50% of the overall amount agreed in the contract. The balance will be released after presentation and approval of   the final report.

 

To Apply

To    apply, send    Technical     and Financial     offers     addressed     to the

Executive Director and    should    be    received    no   later    than    16^th October, 2018 by 2359GMT.

Address    for    email    submission:

info@norsaac.org

Address    for    postal    submissions:

P.O BOX TL 2425

TAMALE, N/R

 

The Offer should contain:

• A letter of interest addressed to the Executive Director
• A Technical offer showing the interpretation of the TOR and indicating a detailed proposed methodology for the work demanded
• A CV of the consultant or consultancy firm showing previous relevant experience
• A detailed financial offer (expressed in Ghana Cedis indicating the cost required for undertaking of the work required)

Email submissions should include ‘Expression of Interest to Conduct Survey’ in the subject box