REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR MULTI-CLUSTER NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN SOMALILAND
Posted 3 days ago
- Tender description
1 Context and rationale
1.1 About SOS Children’s Villages
SOS Children’s Villages is the umbrella organisation for the global federation of 136 national SOS Children’s Villages associations, working in more than 2500 programme locations worldwide. We work together with a single vision: every child belongs to a family and grows with love, respect and security. Uniquely, we provide long-term, family-like care for children who have lost parental care (alternative care service), and we work with vulnerable families and communities to help strengthen them and prevent child abandonment (family strengthening service, FS). SOS alternative care is usually organised in the form of a cluster of SOS families, where each SOS parent cares for small group of children.
SOS Children’s Villages in Somaliland shares vision with SOS CV International and beliefs that every child belongs to a family and grows with love, respect and security. To realize this, SOS SX builds families for children in need, help them shape their own futures and share in the development of their communities.
SOS Children’s Villages was established in Somaliland in 1999, and it started first operations in Sahil region. Currently, SOS Children’s Villages Somaliland implements programs in all regions of Somaliland ranging from childcare, child protection, youth empowerment and participation, education and humanitarian interventions. SOS Children’s Villages in Somaliland is operational in all regions of Somaliland: (Maroodi-jeeh, Togdheer, Sahil, Sanaag, Awdal and Sool), and it had a good relationship with many stakeholders, including government institutions, local authorities at national, regional and district levels, INGOs, LNGOs and local communities, as well as other CSOs who are in and out of the operational area.
1.2 Description of programme location
Somaliland, a self-declared autonomous region in the Horn of Africa, continues to face significant development challenges. As of 2023, approximately 54.4% of the population lives below the poverty line, with poverty rates reaching 78.4% among nomadic communities and 65.5% in rural areas1. The region’s youth, comprising about 70% of the population2, experience high unemployment rates, estimated at around 65%, leading to increased vulnerability and negative coping mechanisms.
Somaliland has endured consecutive droughts over the past five years, culminating in the most severe drought in four decades between 2020 and 2023, which affected 7.8 million people across Somalia3. These climatic shocks have devastated livelihoods, particularly among pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities, leading to widespread displacement to urban areas.
Children under five years old are among the most affected by these crises. As of 2024, an estimated 1.6 million children aged 6–59 months in Somalia are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition, necessitating urgent treatment. The compounded effects of malnutrition, lack of clean water, and inadequate sanitation have led to increased susceptibility to diseases among children4.
In Somaliland, there are a significant number of socially and economically vulnerable and excluded populations. Among the most disadvantaged groups are the large numbers of OVCs, most of whom are affected economically, socially and psychologically. Generally, children in Somaliland face many challenges including lack of parental care, poverty, lack of clean water, recurrent diseases, and lack of
protection including their basic rights to quality education, health, nutrition, participation and proper shelter.
Given these multifaceted challenges, a comprehensive multi-cluster needs assessment across all regions of Somaliland is imperative to inform targeted humanitarian and development interventions.
1.3 Rationale and overall objective of the needs assessment
This multi-cluster needs assessment provides an objective analysis of the target group’s needs and present stakeholders in each NA program/interventions. For both new and ongoing programme interventions a needs assessment should be carried once per programme cycle (i.e. every 3-5 years, in line with the SOS Results Based Management Approach) in order to guide SOS staff on whether the organisation is the best placed stakeholder to respond in a certain community, and to provide up-to-date information on context and most crucial needs of the target group. The recommendations provided in the needs assessment report are essential to develop tailored services and interventions and thus are the basis to develop a programme concept.
1.3.1 Objectives of the Multi-cluster Needs Assessment
As the needs assessment will cover all the six regions of the country (Borama, Dila, Zaylac, Lughya, Hargeisa, Gabiley, Dara-salaam, Salaxley, Baligubadle, Sabawanaag, Berbera, Madheera, Sheikh, Burao, Oodweyne, Caynabo, Ceerigaabo, Ceel-afweyn and Gar-adag) and will focus on different clusters including Care, Education, Food Security and Livelihoods (FSL), WASH, Health, Nutrition, and Protection, it will also incorporate a strong Gender and Diversity Inclusion (GDI) lens to ensure that the specific needs and vulnerabilities of girls, boys, children with disabilities, and other marginalized groups are adequately identified and addressed. Following are the main objectives of the assessment:
Provide information on the socioeconomic status (poverty rates, demographic data like population, # of children and youth population, livelihood sources, protection concerns, literacy levels, health issues) of the target population in target locations.
Create a deep understanding of the magnitude and root causes of natural hazards in all study regions.
To assess the availability, accessibility, and quality of alternative care arrangements for children—specifically Kafala, kinship care, foster care, and institutional care—to inform child protection programming and policy.
Assess the current situation (economic, social, cultural and political) of OVCs and young people and identify their priority needs, focusing on their protection and Care.
Analyse the current situation of families/children who are at risk of losing parental care and their priority needs.
To assess the availability, accessibility, and quality of essential services for OVCs and their caregivers across all regions of Somaliland
To assess the extent to which existing services and programs are inclusive and responsive to gender and diversity needs, with a focus on identifying gaps in access, participation, and outcomes for girls, boys, children with disabilities, and other marginalized OVC groups.
To determine the prevalence and severity of acute and chronic malnutrition among children under 18, particularly OVCs, and identify gaps in nutrition services and interventions.
Assess the protection risks faced by children, youth, women, and other vulnerable community members, as well as the availability and accessibility of existing protection services.
To evaluate access to inclusive and quality education for OVCs, including availability of learning materials, qualified teachers, and protective learning environments.
To assess the protection risks OVCs and face including violence, neglect, child labour, early marriage, abuse, separation from caregivers.
To identify the current food security status and coping strategies among OVC households and determine the extent of livelihood disruptions due to climate shocks or displacement.
To analyse the availability and functionality of safe water sources, sanitation facilities, and hygiene practices in both urban and rural communities, especially among vulnerable child-headed or guardian-less households.
To map the availability and capacity of service providers (segregated by location and service provided) across the six sectors (health, nutrition, education, FSL, WASH, and protection) and their ability to respond to the specific needs of OVCs.
To provide actionable recommendations for multi-sectoral programming and coordination, aimed at strengthening household resilience and coordinated social support.
2 General information on request for proposals
The bidders are welcome to submit their proposal for a needs assessment in the location of Maroodi-Jeeh, Awdal, Sahil, Togdher, Sanaag and Sool regions. This bid is open to all national and international suppliers (independent consultants or companies) who are legally constituted and can provide the requested services. The bidder shall bear all costs of the bid; costs of a proposal cannot be included as a direct cost of the assignment. The proposal and all supplementary documents have to be submitted in English Financial bid needs to be stated in US Dollars.
Attachments
Somaliland MSNA ToR RFP-FInal
.pdf
How to apply
Process of Submission of Bids
To facilitate the submission of proposals, the submission duly stamped and signed can be done electronically in PDF format and sent toprocurement@sos-somaliland.org electronic submissions preferred.
The titles of submitted documents should clearly state “Technical proposal for multi-cluster needs assessment in all regions of Somaliland, by the company/consultant title” and “Financial Proposal for multi-cluster needs assessment in all regions of Somaliland, by the company/consultant title”. Please make sure that the technical and financial proposals are handed in separately (financial proposal to be sealed in a closed envelope or a separate PDF file in case of electronic submission. During the process of evaluation, technical bids will be opened and evaluated first. The financial part of those proposals, which are shortlisted after evaluation of the technical proposal, will be opened in a second step.
2.2 Documents to submit
Bid submission / identification form
Previous experience format
Price schedule form (to be sealed in a closed envelope or a separate PDF file)
Technical proposal
CVs of the research team member(s) including current geographical location(s)
Three references (at least two of them must be familiar with your work)
An example of a recent/relevant evaluation report.
Company registration (valid license).
2.3 Deadline for submission
The proposal has to be received by latest on 3 June 2025, by the end of the day. Proposals received after the deadline will not be considered.
2.4 Modification and withdrawal of bids
Proposals may be withdrawn on written request prior to the closing date of this invitation. Any corrections or changes must be received prior to the closing date. Changes must be clearly stated in comparison with the original proposal. Failure to do so will be at bidder’s own risk and disadvantage.
2.5 Signing of the contract
SOS Children’s Villages will inform the successful bidder electronically and will send the contract form within 3 weeks after closure of the bid submission deadline. The successful bidder shall sign and date the contract, and return it to SOS Children’s Villages in Somaliland within seven calendar days of receipt of the contract. After the contract is signed by two parties, the successful bidder shall deliver the services in accordance with the delivery schedule outlined in the bid.
Please note that the multi-cluster needs assessment will follow a modular approach with optional contracting of module B and C (see terms of reference).
2.6 Rights of SOS Children’s Villages:
Contact any or all references supplied by the bidder(s);
Request additional supporting or supplementary data (from the bidder(s));
Arrange interviews with the bidder(s);
Reject any or all proposals submitted;
Accept any proposals in whole or in part;
Negotiate with the service provider(s) who has/have attained the best rating/ranking, i.e. The one(s) providing the overall best value proposal(s);
Contract any number of candidates as required to achieve the overall evaluation objectives
2.7 Evaluation of proposals
After the opening, each proposal will be assessed first on its technical quality and compliance and subsequently on its price. The proposal with the best overall value, composed of technical merit and price, will be considered for approval. The technical proposal is evaluated on the basis of its responsiveness to the Term of Reference (TOR). Bidders may additionally be requested to provide additional information (virtual presentation or phone interview) to SOS Children’s Villages on the proposed services.
The criteria for selection are:
Method: The proposed method for evaluating the programme is suitable
Timetable/work plan: The timetable/work plan is realistic and meet the needs of the programme
Cost: The cost of the proposal is reasonable and feasible, given the other aspects of the proposal
Experience: The training and experience of the consultants in evaluations and recommendations from organisations for which the consultant(s) has previously worked