Consultancy Services for Capacity Building in Qualitative Research Training for the BRCiS Consortium MEL Team.

BRCiS Consortium

Qualitative Research Training

Terms of Reference

1. Background and Context Information
2. 1 BRCiS Consortium Overview

Building Resilient Communities in Somalia (BRCiS) is a consortium of national and international organizations – Action Against Hunger (ACF), Concern Worldwide (Concern), GREDO, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), KAALO, Save the Children, and Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) as lead agency. BRCiS’ objective is to work across the humanitarian-development divide, supporting marginalized communities in disaster-prone, rural Somalia to become more resilient to shocks and stressed, including as a result of climate change. BRCiS approach is contextually adaptive, focused on the specific shocks, needs, and priorities of individual communities. BRCiS was established in 2013 and is now implementing projects funded by multiple humanitarian and development donors in more than ten regions of Somalia[1].

1. 2 BRCiS Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Working Group

BRCiS Consortium MEL Working Group plays a central role in maintaining consistency and effectiveness in monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) across the Consortium. It standardizes MEL frameworks, tools, and reporting systems while driving collaboration, learning, and adaptation (CLA) to strengthen adaptive management. The group leads the implementation of the Consortium MEL plan, which includes monitoring project progress and contextual factors, community engagement and feedback, documenting lessons learned, conducting impact evaluations (both quantitative and qualitative), and reporting findings. Additionally, it tracks progress against the MEL plan, identifies capacity gaps, and organizes learning sessions to promote continuous improvement and accountability throughout the Consortium.

Capacity gap assessment of the Consortium MEL Working Group identified few development needs, with qualitative research skills emerging as a key priority. Targeted training in qualitative methods will strengthen the MEL group’s analytical capabilities by enhancing skills in data collection, analysis, and reporting. This capacity building will enable the team to better capture nuanced program insights. This will improve evidence-based decision-making, and advance adaptive management practices. Ultimately, these strengthened competencies will contribute to more responsive, contextually informed, and impactful programming across the Consortium.

2. Purpose, Objectives and Scope

2.1 Purpose

To strengthen the qualitative research capacity of the BRCiS MEL Working Group, BRCiS seeks to engage an experienced consultant to deliver comprehensive, in-person training on qualitative research methods. The objective is to equip MEL staff particularly those involved in qualitative data collection, analysis, and reporting, with the necessary skills to generate high-quality, contextually relevant qualitative data to inform evidence-based programming and decision-making.

The consultant will deliver the training in two progressive phases/sessions:

• Foundational Qualitative Skills (Session 1): This session aims to equip MEL team members, especially field staff, with essential foundational and intermediate skills in qualitative research. It will cover key competencies such as understanding the principles of qualitative study, building rapport with interview participants, conducting in-depth and semi-structured interviews, managing the interview process, effective notetaking, recording, translation, and transcription. Participants will also learn how to organize and structure qualitative data and apply basic coding, preliminary thematic analysis, and reporting techniques.
• Advanced Qualitative Skills (Session 2): Designed for senior MEL staff, this session will deepen participants’ expertise in advanced qualitative research design and implementation. It will focus on selecting appropriate qualitative methodologies and sampling strategies, developing robust research questions and interview guides, and effectively organizing large volumes of qualitative data. The training will also cover advanced coding techniques, application of analytical frameworks, and the synthesis of findings into high-quality qualitative reports.

2.2 Training Scope

The primary objective of this training is to enhance and expand participants’ existing qualitative research skills, covering both foundational and advanced concepts, methodologies, and practical applications.

Session One: Foundations of Qualitative Research: This session will focus on strengthening core competencies in qualitative research, including:

• Introduction to Qualitative Research: Differences between qualitative and quantitative research, appropriate contexts for using qualitative methods and ethical considerations in qualitative research.
• Qualitative Research Design: Developing qualitative interview questions, sampling techniques (purposive, snowball, etc.) and designing interview guides, FGDs, and observation tools.
• Data Collection and Qualitative Interview Process Techniques: Essential techniques for qualitative data collection, including conducting in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews (KIIs). Effective rapport building, managing interview dynamics, and using strategic probing to gather rich, meaningful data. Best practices for notetaking and audio recording, along with methods to ensure the accuracy, consistency, and overall reliability of the collected data.
• Data Cleaning & Organization: Transcribing and anonymizing data, structuring qualitative data for analysis and introduction to qualitative data management tools (e.g., MS Word, Excel, Atlas.ti, NVivo, etc)
• Basic & Intermediate Data Analysis: Thematic analysis (inductive & deductive approaches), coding techniques and identifying patterns and themes (preferred software is Atlas.ti)
• Reporting: Structuring a qualitative report, presenting findings with quotes and narratives

Session two: Advanced Qualitative Research Techniques

This session will build on foundational knowledge and introduce advanced methodologies and tools for rigorous qualitative research including:

• Advanced Study Design: Mixed methods approach, triangulation of data sources and longitudinal qualitative research.
• Advanced Data Analysis such as framework analysis, narrative and discourse analysis and using software for complex coding (preferred software is Atlas.ti)
• Advanced Reporting, visualization and dissemination: Writing qualitative report for different target audiences, developing case studies and storytelling with data and interactive dashboards for qualitative findings
• Workshop & Practical Application: Hands-on exercises with real project data and peer review and feedback sessions.

3.0 Consultant Scope of work

The consultant will design and deliver a structured, hands-on training program covering qualitative research design, data collection, cleaning, analysis, and reporting using best-practice methodologies and tools. The consultant will:

• Conduct in-depth consultations with BRCiS to identify specific qualitative research capacity gaps and tailor the training approach accordingly.
• Design a structured, competency-based training curriculum for both foundational (Session 1) and advanced (Session 2) modules.
• Develop and deliver two-tiered training modules (Session 1: Foundational; Session 2: Advanced).
• Provide 3 months of post-training support to session 1 participants, including virtual check-ins and feedback on applied work.
• Provide 3 months of post-training mentorship to Session 2 participants to ensure sustained application.

4.0 Training Delivery Methodology

The consultant should utilise the below training methods. However, consultants can suggest best ways of delivering the training in their technical proposal.

• Employ interactive, participatory training with real-world case studies and role-playing
• Hands-on exercises using qualitative data software and relevant qualitative analysis tools (Atlas.ti)
• Group discussions and peer feedback
• Post-training support (for session 1 participants) and mentorship (for session 2 participants)

5.0 Key Deliverables

The Consultant will provide the following outputs for both training sessions (Session 1 & Session 2): –

• Inception Report outlining customized training curriculum aligned with BRCiS MEL needs, post training support/mentorship plan, training methodology (interactive/practical approach, tools to be used), detailed work plan with timelines, roles and responsibilities of trainer/participants.
• Full training package including PowerPoint slides (pre-formatted with BRCiS branding), participant handouts (exercises, briefs, checklists) and reference toolkit.
• Training Delivery: Facilitation of both sessions by the agreed schedule:
• Session 1 (4 days): Foundational qualitative skills
• Session 2 (5 days): Advanced qualitative applications
• Final Training Report covering key outcomes and participant competency gains, detailed post training support and mentorship approach and outcomes, challenges and mitigation strategies and recommendations for sustaining skills

N.B: Each session will have the same deliverables

1. Qualitative Training Deliverables, Timeline and Roles

Training Sessions & Key Activities

Phase1 – Inception

Timeframe- Mid-August 2025

Key Tasks

– Desk review: MEL documents
– Stakeholder engagement

– Training materials

Deliverables

Inception Report including training curriculum, materials and workplan

Phase2: Session 1: Foundational qualitative skills (4 days)

Timeframe: Late August 2025

Key Tasks

– Completion of Session one

– Post Training Support

Deliverables

– Training delivered

– Final Training Report

Phase3: Session 2- Advanced qualitative applications (5 days**)**

Timeframe: Late Nov 2025

Key Tasks

– Completion of Session two

– Post Training Support

Deliverables

– Training delivered

– Final Training Report

N.B: All the above table timelines are tentative and may change during the inception phase.

7.0 Management Arrangements and Workplan

Roles & Responsibilities

• Consultant:
• The Consultant will conduct a comprehensive review of BRCiS MEL documents and engage with key stakeholders to assess specific qualitative research capacity gaps. Based on this assessment, they will develop and deliver a tailored two-phase training program (Session 1: foundational skills; Session 2: advanced applications), supported by customized training materials and practical exercises. Following each session, the Consultant will provide three months of post-training support and mentorship to reinforce skills application. The role encompasses end-to-end responsibility for all deliverables outlined in Section 4, including the inception report, training materials, facilitation, and final reporting.
• Consultants must adhere to NRC’s Code of Conduct and data protection protocols. Consultant will sign these documents during the contracting process.
• BRCiS: BRCiS Consortium Management Unit (CMU) will oversee the consultant’s contract deliverables, ensuring adherence to timelines and quality standards, while facilitating training logistics including venue coordination, participant mobilization, and material provision. CMU will review and approve all training outputs (inception reports, session materials, and final reports) to ensure alignment with BRCiS MEL frameworks, liaise with Consortium partners to ensure inclusive participation, and collaborate with the consultant post-training to track skill application and integrate feedback into future capacity-building initiatives. BRCiS CMU MEL manager will be supervising this consultant with other CMU team and Consortium MEL Working Group Support.

8.0 Estimated duration of the contract

A single contract will cover all sessions (session 1 &2) with phase-specific deliverables outlined in Section 5. The engagement is projected to commence in August 2025 and conclude in March 2025; however, work will not be continuous over this whole period of time.

9.0 Official travel involved

The selected consultant is required to travel to Mogadishu, Somalia to facilitate both training sessions:

Consultants will cover all travel and accommodation costs including visa, tax, flight costs, accommodation and meals, and NRC will support in-country transportation, security and administrative support for international firms only. All travel and accomodation and travel-related budget should be included in the financial proposal.

10. Application Procedures and Requirements

The interested consulting firms are expected to provide the following documentation:

1. A cover letter introducing the consultants. The cover letter should introduce the team composition and specify the role to be played by each team member.
2. A technical proposal of no more than 10 pages outlining how to execute the task with a clearly proposed training curriculum, methodology, and timelines. The proposed training curriculum and methodology should demonstrate a clear understanding of the Terms of Reference.
3. Resume of each team member.
4. Evidence of experience conducting similar assignments (Samples of similar work) is required.
5. Proposed budget indicating consultancy fee, logistics cost and all other auxiliary costs in USD. The proposed budget should clearly separate costs/activities for each phase of the consultancy as detailed in Section 5 of this TOR.
6. Considering available project resources, proposals demonstrating cost-effective and streamlined approaches to achieving the objectives will be preferred.

Qualifications or specialized knowledge and/or experience required from the team members and the firm

• Advanced degree (PhD/Master’s) in social science, development studies, statistics, or related fields are required.
• Minimum 7 years of proven experience in designing and conducting qualitative research, preferably in humanitarian, development, or resilience-focused programs is required.
• Technical proficiency in qualitative data analysis software (both NVivo and ATLAS.ti) and mixed-methods research approaches are required.
• Demonstrated experience in delivering high-impact training on qualitative research methods for NGOs, UN agencies, or similar institutions are required.
• Ability to develop tailored curricula for diverse skill levels (foundational to advanced) and adapt content to multicultural contexts.
• Strong facilitation skills, with a track record of using interactive, participatory methodologies (e.g., case studies, role-playing, hands-on coding exercises).
• Familiarity with Somalia’s humanitarian/development context or similar fragile settings is preferred.
• Submission of at least two samples of similar assignments (e.g., training reports, qualitative research studies) is required.
• Experience working with consortia or multi-stakeholder initiatives is preferred.
• Consultant firm is preferred over an individual consultant.

[1] https://www.nrc.no/brcis