Terms of Reference (ToR) Operational Research and Learning Partnership Caafimaad Plus Consortium

Title: Operational Research and Learning Partnership Caafimaad Plus Consortium

Location: 31 districts across Banadir, Bay, Bakool, Galgaduud, Gedo, Lower Shabelle, Lower Juba, Middle Shabelle, and Mudug regions

Tentative time of Consultancy: 30 June 2026– 31 May 2027 (Renewable subject to performance, availability of funding)

Key Working Contacts: Caafimaad Plus Consortium Management Unit

Background

Caafimaad Plus is a multi-partner consortium comprised of five INGOs namely; Action Against Hunger, Concern Worldwide, International Medical Corps, SOS Children’s Villages, and Trocaire in partnership with six National organizations – Shabelle Development Community Organization (SHADCO), Juba Foundation, Lifeline Gedo, WARDI, SAMA and Youthlink Somalia. The Consortium implements integrated emergency health, nutrition, protection, and WASH services at facility and community levels across 31 districts in 9 regions of Central and South . Most parts of Somalia, particularly the Central and Southern regions have been disproportionately affected by climatic shocks, conflicts, and internal displacements that have affected the vulnerable populations especially women, children and people in hard-to-reach locations.

As part of its commitment to adaptive programming, learning, and evidence-informed decision-making, the consortium seeks to engage and operations research and learning partner to lead various research and evaluation activities, that will inform implementation, develop capacity, facilitate strategic learning, and inform practice and policy across key stakeholders.

Purpose of the Assignment

The objective of this partnership is to generate, analyse, and disseminate high-quality evidence to inform programme design, adaptation, and scale-up. The research and learning partner will support learning, monitoring, and evaluation across the consortium, ensuring the translation of findings into practical programmatic and policy recommendations. This partnership will also strengthen adaptive learning by combining formal research with iterative action research cycles that enable continuous adjustment to context and practice.

3. Objectives

The research and learning partnership will aim to:

1. Generate high-quality, context-specific evidence on the effectiveness, efficiency, and scalability of the consortium’s interventions
2. Strengthen the use of real-time monitoring/evaluations and survey data for adaptive decision-making within the consortium and among national stakeholders
3. Facilitate strategic learning through feedback loops, reflection workshops, and cross-partner knowledge exchange
4. Enhance monitoring and evaluation systems, including baseline, endline, real-time evaluations (RTE), and outcome assessments
5. Support policy engagement and dissemination through publications, policy briefs, and participation in national and global learning platforms

Scope of Work

The selected partner will be responsible for leading or supporting the following activities:

a. Community-Based Surveillance

• Design and implement longitudinal community-based surveillance systems
• Conduct regular follow-ups and rapid assessments to monitor trends in nutrition, mortality, and health

b. Evaluation Activities

• Design and implement baseline, endline, and Real-Time Evaluations (RTEs), as well as process evaluations
• Ensure methodological rigor and participatory approaches

c. Outcome and Effectiveness Studies

• Conduct mixed-methods studies to assess programme outcomes using designs such as randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cluster randomized trials, quasi-experimental studies, before-and-after studies, longitudinal cohort studies, and process evaluations combining quantitative outcome measurement with qualitative exploration of participant experiences, implementation processes, and contextual influences.
• Identify drivers of change, as well as barriers and facilitators to service uptake

d. Nutritional Surveys

• Design and implement nutritional surveys (SMART, SQUEAC, SLEAC or other coverage surveys) to measure the reach and coverage of nutrition interventions.

e. High-Level Data Analysis

• Perform advanced analysis of routine and research data
• Support data interpretation, visualization, and evidence-based decision-making

f. Ethical Approval

• Develop research protocols and secure ethical approvals from relevant review boards
• Ensure adherence to ethical standards, including informed consent, confidentiality, and safeguarding

g. Strategic Learning, Dissemination and Policy Engagement

• Facilitate learning through workshops, briefs, and other knowledge-sharing platforms
• Present research and learning findings to stakeholders in national and international forums
• Work with the consortium to develop peer-reviewed publications and policy briefs
• Embed adaptive learning systems that integrate field insights into real-time decision-making

Duration and Timeline

This will be a multi-year partnership, that will be executed on an annual basis. Renewal/ extension will be contingent on funding availability and outcome of performance reviews.

Reporting and Coordination

The research partner will report to the Caafimaad Plus Consortium Management Unit (CMU) and Technical Working Group (TWG) to ensure alignment and uptake of findings.

Team Composition

The research and learning partnership should bring together a multidisciplinary team that includes:

• A renowned international/ regional organization, preferably affiliated to an institution of higher learning.
• A reputable University/ academic institution in Somalia with research orientation
• Strong experience in operational and action research in fragile settings
• Proven expertise in adaptive learning and participatory methodologies
• Combine local contextual knowledge with international analytical expertise
• Demonstrate commitment to strengthening locally-led research systems in Somalia
• Demonstrated capacity of skilled personnel of various cadres in Somalia with ability to deploy in the Caafimaad+ supported districts at a short notice

Desired Qualifications

Education

• PhD or MSc in Public Health, Epidemiology, Nutrition, Health Economics, or a related field. This is required for both the leads of the international/ regional institution, as well as the local Somalia university.

Experience

• More than 10 years of experience in research in humanitarian contexts
• Demonstrated expertise in conducting health and nutrition surveillance/assessments in Somalia or similar context. A minimum of five relevant reports and/or peer-reviewed publications must be provided as evidence.
• Demonstrated experience conducting outcome, effectiveness, implementation, or operational research studies using mixed-methods, experimental, quasi-experimental, or longitudinal designs. A minimum of five relevant reports and/or peer-reviewed publications must be provided as evidence. The proposed team must have successfully designed and implemented a minimum of five trials (including randomized controlled trials, cluster randomized trials, stepped-wedge trials, or other experimental studies) in Somalia, demonstrated through trial registrations and/or peer-reviewed publications.
• Experience working with consortia in Somalia context. Applicant must provide reference letters from the different consortia as evidence of engagement.
• Expertise in developing interactive tools for mortality and nutrition information systems
• Demonstrated partnership with research oriented Local (Somalia) University or similar institution of higher learning
• Strong and high-level experience in building and maintaining partnerships and a drive to achieve results for impact
• Excellent academic writing skills demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications in renowned journals.
• Proven track record with evidence of presenting research and operational learning findings at high-level conferences, technical workshops, webinars, and through policy briefings.
• Demonstrated active participation and technical engagement in national and international technical coordination and advisory bodies related to health, nutrition, mortality, food security, or humanitarian response.

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent written and spoken English; Very good knowledge of Somali language is an asset
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, including advanced experience in epidemiological and operational research methods.
• Understanding of the Somalia health system and cluster coordination mechanisms
• Ability to access and work with communities across diverse regions in Somalia

Required Supporting Documentation

Applicants must submit:

1. Evidence of community-based surveillance experience through relevant reports and/or peer-reviewed publications from Somalia
2. Evidence of implementation of at least five trials (e.g., RCTs, cluster RCTs, or similar experimental studies) demonstrated through trial registrations, and/or peer-reviewed publications
3. Academic publications related to health, nutrition, WASH, protection, or related sectors authored or co-authored by proposed team members.
4. Letters of reference from different consortia in Somalia
5. Presentations delivered at national, regional, or international conferences, technical forums, or webinars demonstrated through abstracts, or presentation materials.

Conditions of Work

The consultant(s) will work in districts within the nine Caafimaad+ supported region of Banadir, Bay, Bakool, Galgaduud, Gedo, Lower Juba, Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, and Mudug regions. Travel to these locations will be subject to security clearance by consortium partners’ security leads.

Administrative responsibilities:

• This will be discussed and mutually agreed upon between Caafimaad+ consortium and the selected Consultant.

Submission Guidelines

Interested applicants who meet the above requirements should submit the following:

• CVs of team members detailing the relevant qualifications and experience. This applies to the Regional/ International institution and the local university
• Teaming agreement between the international institution and local university
• References: Telephone and email contacts of at least three previous clients who can validate technical expertise.
• A technical document proposing activities to be undertaken in line with the consultancy request. This will include the objectives of each proposed activity, methodology, timelines, estimated budget, and deliverable(s).
• A detailed work plan indicating the sequencing of the proposed activities.
• Samples of reports/ publications as detailed in the section ‘Required Supporting Documentation’ above.

How to apply

Applications should be sent to the following email address: procurement@so-actionagainsthunger.orgwith the subject as CONSULTANCY- OPS RESEARCH and LEARNING PARTNERSHIP.

Submission Deadline: 10 June 2026