Baseline survey consultancy – CEJG Phase 5 project | Catholic Diocese of Zanzibar | December 2025

Terms of reference (ToR): Baseline survey for communities empowerment for justice and governance (CEJG) – Phase 5 project

(1 September 2025 – 31 August 2028)

Implementing organization

Catholic Diocese of Zanzibar – Development Department
P.O. Box 294, Zanzibar
Shangani Street, Behind Shangani Post Office

1. Background and context

The Development Department of the Catholic Diocese of Zanzibar serves as the Diocese’s social development arm, with a mandate to promote self-empowerment, dignity, and improved quality of life among marginalized and vulnerable populations, regardless of gender, faith, ethnicity, or social status.

Guided by the Church’s social teaching and human rights principles, the Department implements integrated development interventions aimed at advancing:

• Access to justice

• Inclusive and accountable governance

• Quality education

• Health services

• Sustainable socio-economic empowerment

Through long-standing engagement with communities, local authorities, and civil society actors, the Department has established itself as a credible partner in addressing structural inequalities and social exclusion in Zanzibar.

In partnership with MISEREOR (the Catholic Bishops’ Organization for Development Cooperation, Germany), the Development Department is preparing to implement a three-year initiative titled “Communities Empowerment for Justice and Governance (CEJG) – Phase 5 Project”, covering the period from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2028.

This phase builds on the achievements, best practices, and lessons learned from four previous phases of the WIDGAD programme, which contributed to:

• Increased legal awareness

• Strengthened community governance mechanisms

• Improved access to justice for vulnerable groups

• Enhanced socio-economic participation of women and youth

Phase 5 seeks to consolidate these gains while responding to emerging challenges and persistent development gaps identified through recent needs assessments and stakeholder consultations.

Project location and community context

The project will be implemented in five selected Shehias of North B District, Zanzibar:

• Mkataleni

• Misufini

• Majenzi

• Mahonda

• Kitope

These Shehias are predominantly rural and peri-urban and are characterized by:

• High levels of poverty

• Weak infrastructure

• Limited access to essential public services

• Heavy reliance on informal economic activities such as small-scale farming, fishing, and petty trade

Recent assessments indicate entrenched socio-economic inequalities, low legal awareness, weak governance and accountability structures, and limited civic participation, particularly among women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

Key social and environmental challenges

The project area faces multiple social challenges, including:

• High prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV)

• Child neglect

• Early marriage

• School dropouts, especially among adolescent girls and children with disabilities

Access to justice is constrained by stigma, fear of retaliation, bureaucratic barriers, and limited awareness of legal aid and paralegal services.

Youth unemployment and underemployment further exacerbate vulnerability and social exclusion. Environmental pressures such as climate change, coastal erosion, deforestation, and inadequate waste management threaten livelihoods and community resilience, particularly for households dependent on natural resources.

2. Purpose of the baseline survey

The baseline survey aims to establish benchmarks and reference values for key project indicators against which progress, outcomes, and impact of the CEJG Phase 5 Project will be measured throughout the project lifecycle.

Specifically, the baseline will:

• Generate quantitative and qualitative data on the current status of human rights awareness, governance participation, education access, and economic empowerment

• Validate and refine assumptions drawn from the 2025 Needs Assessment

• Inform project implementation strategies, targeting, and prioritization

• Provide a credible reference point for mid-term and end-line evaluations

• Meet MISEREOR’s monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) requirements

3. Objectives of the baseline survey

The baseline survey will aim to:

1. Assess the level of human rights awareness and legal literacy, including access to and utilization of paralegal and legal aid services

2. Determine the current status of governance structures, including women’s and youth participation, accountability mechanisms, and community engagement

3. Establish baseline data on inclusive education, particularly school attendance and access for girls and children with disabilities

4. Assess the level of economic empowerment of women and girls, including access to income-generating activities and financial resources

5. Identify gender, age, and disability-related disparities across the five target Shehias

6. Provide disaggregated data to inform inclusive and rights-based project interventions

4. Scope of the baseline survey

The baseline survey will generate comprehensive quantitative and qualitative data to establish benchmark values for key CEJG Phase 5 Project indicators.

4.1 Geographic scope

The survey will be conducted in the following Shehias of North B District, Zanzibar:

1. Mkataleni Shehia

2. Misufini Shehia

3. Majenzi Shehia

4. Mahonda Shehia

5. Kitope Shehia

These locations were purposively selected based on documented socio-economic vulnerabilities, prevalence of GBV, weak governance and accountability structures, education disparities, youth unemployment, and environmental risks.

The survey will cover:

• Households

• Community institutions (schools, legal aid/paralegal units, governance structures)

• Key stakeholder groups, including women’s groups, youth networks, persons with disabilities, community leaders, and local government representatives

4.2 Thematic scope

• Human rights and access to justice

• Governance and civic participation

• Inclusive education

• Economic empowerment

• Environmental and climate-related vulnerabilities

4.3 Target population

The survey will focus on:

• Women and girls (18–49), particularly GBV survivors

• Youth (18–35), unemployed or excluded from governance

• Adolescents and children with disabilities (6–17)

• Community leaders and local government representatives

5. Key baseline indicators

All indicators will be disaggregated by sex, age, disability status, and Shehia where applicable.

Human rights and access to justice

• Percentage of community members aware of their legal rights

• Proportion of respondents demonstrating knowledge of basic legal rights, GBV laws, and available legal aid/paralegal services

• Number of GBV cases reported per Shehia

• Number of GBV survivors accessing legal aid services

• Number and types of unresolved legal disputes

Governance and participation

• Percentage of women and youth in leadership and decision-making roles

• Number of existing community-led governance initiatives

• Level of community satisfaction with local governance structures

Inclusive education

• Percentage of children with disabilities attending school

• Number of schools with disability-friendly infrastructure

• Number of teachers trained in inclusive education methodologies

Economic empowerment

• Number of women engaged in income-generating activities

• Access to financial services and vocational training

• Ability of GBV survivors to follow up cases due to economic independence

6. Methodology

The consultant(s) shall propose a mixed-methods approach, including:

• Household surveys using structured questionnaires

• Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with community leaders, paralegals, teachers, and local government officials

• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with women, youth, and persons with disabilities

• Review of relevant secondary data (government reports, school records, legal aid registers)

The methodology must be:

• Participatory and gender-sensitive

• Inclusive of persons with disabilities

• Ethical, confidential, and compliant with safeguarding and GBV research standards

7. Roles and responsibilities

7.1 Consultant(s)

• Design data collection tools aligned with project indicators

• Collect, analyze, and interpret baseline data

• Produce a comprehensive baseline report

• Present findings and recommendations to stakeholders

7.2 Development department (Catholic Diocese of Zanzibar)

• Provide overall coordination and oversight

• Facilitate community entry and stakeholder engagement

• Review and approve tools and reports

8. Deliverables

Expected deliverables include:

1. Inception report with methodology, sampling, and work plan

2. Data collection tools (questionnaires, FGD and KII guides)

3. Clean and analyzed dataset

4. Draft baseline survey report

5. Final baseline survey report incorporating feedback

6. Presentation of findings to project stakeholders

9. Duration and timeline

The baseline survey is expected to be conducted within 6–8 weeks, covering:

• Tool development and piloting

• Data collection

• Data analysis

• Reporting and dissemination

A detailed timeline shall be proposed by the consultant.

10. Consultant qualifications

The consultant or firm should demonstrate:

• Proven experience in baseline or evaluation studies for governance, human rights, or development projects

• Strong expertise in gender, GBV, inclusive education, and economic empowerment

• Experience working with vulnerable populations in Zanzibar or similar contexts

• Strong analytical, report-writing, and facilitation skills

11. Ethical considerations

The baseline survey must adhere to:

• Informed consent

• Confidentiality and data protection

• Do-no-harm principles, particularly when engaging GBV survivors and children

12. Reporting and approval

The final baseline report will be submitted to the Development Department of the Catholic Diocese of Zanzibar and shared with MISEREOR for review and approval.

13. Application and submission procedures

Interested and qualified consultants or firms are invited to submit their application, technical proposal (including an inception report), and CVs through:

• Email: [email protected]

• Hand delivery: Development Office, Catholic Diocese of Zanzibar, Catholic Church compound at St. Joseph’s Cathedral (Minara Miwili), Zanzibar

Deadline for submission: 5 January 2026 at 15:30 PM
Late submissions will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

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