Terms of reference for the external consultant for baseline assessment and results framework operationalization

Project: Together Towards Solutions - Strengthening Responses to Violence against Women and Girls in Serbia through Survivor Participation, Inclusivity and Digital Resilience (SOLVE)

Implementing organization: NGO Atina, Serbia

Call publication: 6 November 2026 | Application deadline: 16 November 2026, 5:00 PM (Belgrade time)

Assignment period: 20 November 2026-25 January 2027

Duty station: Serbia; desk-based work and consultations as agreed with Atina

Funding: SOLVE project, UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women and Girls (administered by UN Women).

1. Background

SOLVE is a four-year initiative implemented by NGO Atina to strengthen survivor-centered services, digital safety and responses to technology-facilitated violence against women and girls (TF VAWG), community-led prevention, institutional practice, and collective advocacy in Serbia. Its approach is feminist, trauma-informed, participatory and attentive to women and girls facing intersecting forms of exclusion, including survivors of trafficking and gender-based violence, migrant and refugee women, Roma women and girls, and girls in care settings.

During inception, SOLVE will establish baseline values and feasible measurement methods for its results framework. The current Results and Resources Framework (RRF) describes the project goal, four outcomes, nine programmatic outputs and one management output; indicator fields require operationalization. The approved project proposal also contains draft indicators and targets that should be reviewed rather than assumed final.

2. Purpose of the assignment

The consultant will conduct a proportionate, rigorous and ethically sound baseline assessment and support Atina in operationalizing a coherent, measurable results framework. The work must generate defensible starting values, clarify indicator definitions and sources, identify realistic data collection approaches, and provide an evidence base for subsequent monitoring and endline comparison. It is not a programme evaluation or a large-scale population prevalence study.

3. Specific objectives

1. Review the approved SOLVE programme document, Results and Resources Framework (RRF), theory of change, proposed indicators and targets, existing monitoring tools, and relevant secondary data to ensure coherence and alignment with the project's intended results.

2. Map the project goal, four outcomes and associated outputs against the proposed indicators, identifying any gaps, overlaps or inconsistencies. Develop clear operational definitions, including units of measurement, numerators and denominators where applicable, disaggregation requirements, data sources, collection methods, frequency and responsibilities.

3. Establish credible baseline values for relevant outcome and output indicators, distinguishing between measured values, documented administrative starting points and indicators for which reliable baseline data are not yet available. Clearly identify methodological limitations and propose feasible approaches to address outstanding data gaps.

4. Review the project's theory of change and underlying assumptions, particularly the pathways linking survivor-centred services, digital resilience, community-led prevention, institutional capacity strengthening and survivor leadership to the intended outcomes. Identify contextual factors and risks that may influence the achievement and measurement of results.

5. Assess the starting conditions for survivor safety, agency and digital resilience; community prevention capacities; institutional referral and response practices; and meaningful survivor participation and collective advocacy. Ensure that the proposed measures capture changes in outcomes and practices, rather than relying solely on activity and service-delivery figures.

6. Review the quality, completeness, reliability and suitability of existing programme and administrative data for establishing baseline values, including potential gaps, inconsistencies and biases.

7. Recommend realistic, evidence-based targets for the four-year implementation period, drawing on baseline findings, historical performance, programme capacity and contextual considerations, subject to ATINA and UNTF review and approval.

8. Develop practical and ethically appropriate data collection instruments, indicator reference sheets and a GMS-ready indicator matrix. Ensure that definitions, measurement methods and reference periods support consistent monitoring and meaningful comparison between baseline and endline assessments.

9. Recommend feasible arrangements for ongoing monitoring, including data collection responsibilities, frequency, quality assurance procedures and mechanisms for documenting changes, emerging risks and lessons learned throughout implementation.

4. Scope and methodology

The consultant will develop and implement a proportionate, rigorous and ethically sound mixed-methods approach, appropriate to the scope, duration and available resources of the assignment.

The methodology should prioritize existing evidence, secure aggregate programme and case-management data, relevant secondary sources, document review and focused key-informant consultations. Limited participatory consultations may be undertaken where necessary, feasible and approved by ATINA.

The methodology should address the following:

a. Results framework and theory of change review

Review the coherence of the project's goal, four outcomes, nine programmatic outputs and one management output, including the proposed indicators, targets and assumptions. Identify gaps or inconsistencies between the approved programme document and the current RRF and recommend adjustments for consideration by ATINA and UNTF.

b. Baseline measurement and data sources

Identify appropriate data sources and measurement methods for each relevant indicator. Assess the availability, completeness, reliability and suitability of existing programme records, monitoring data, institutional documents and secondary evidence.

The consultant should clearly distinguish between pre-intervention conditions, administrative starting points and information collected after implementation began. Where reliable baseline values cannot be established, the consultant should explain the limitations and recommend feasible alternative approaches.

c. Sampling and stakeholder representation

Develop a justified sampling and consultation strategy that reflects the project's intervention locations, target populations and relevant stakeholder groups.

The methodology should consider how the perspectives of marginalized women and girls, community partners, institutional actors and other relevant stakeholders can be reflected without creating unnecessary safeguarding risks.

The consultant should document sampling decisions, exclusions, limitations and potential sources of bias. The assessment is not expected to produce nationally representative findings.

d. Outcome-level measurement

Recommend appropriate approaches to assessing changes in survivor safety, agency, digital resilience, community prevention capacity, institutional referral and response practices, and meaningful survivor participation.

Measurement should be distinguished between programme reach, service delivery, changes in knowledge and capacity, and changes in behaviour, practice or outcomes.

Where direct measurement is unsafe or impractical, the consultant should identify appropriate alternatives and explain their limitations.

e. Baseline and endline comparability

Specify how each outcome indicator can be measured consistently throughout implementation and at endline, including definitions, reference periods, instruments, data sources and analytical approaches. The consultant should identify indicators that require repeated measurement, establish appropriate reference points and document any limitations affecting future comparison.

f. Data quality and triangulation

Assess data completeness, consistency, validity, reliability and potential bias. Where feasible, triangulate findings across multiple sources and distinguish verified evidence from estimates or qualitative judgments.

g. Ethical and safeguarding considerations

All data collection must comply with ATINA's safeguarding, confidentiality, data-protection and survivor-centred protocols, applicable Serbian law, and relevant UNTF/UN Women requirements. The consultant must not presume access to identifiable case files or direct contact with survivors.

Any proposed engagement with survivors, minors or women exposed to heightened risk requires ATINA's prior safeguarding approval, a clear do-no-harm justification, accessible informed consent, voluntary participation without consequences for service access, and appropriate referral or support arrangements. Participants must not be asked to recount traumatic experiences solely to establish baseline values. Group consultations must not expose survivor status or other sensitive identities.

Disaggregation by age, disability, migration status, location and other relevant characteristics should be considered only where safe, lawful, meaningful and analytically defensible. Small cells and potentially identifying combinations must be suppressed. The inception methodology must specify research questions, sampling rationale, data collection methods, consent procedures, data handling, quality assurance, limitations and a realistic workplan.

 

5. Expected deliverables and indicative timetable

Deliverable 1: Inception report and methodology

Indicative deadline: 30 November 2026

The inception report will include:

• Review of the approved programme document, RRF and theory of change.
• Preliminary mapping of results and indicators.
• Proposed research questions, methodology and sampling approach.
• Data source mapping and initial assessment of data availability.
• Proposed measurement methods and tools.
• Ethical and safeguarding arrangements.
• Data quality assurance measures.
• Workplan, responsibilities, limitations and feasibility considerations.

Deliverable 2: Data collection and preliminary indicator matrix

Indicative deadline: 11 December 2026

The consultant will submit:

• Documentation of data sources and consultations undertaken.
• Preliminary baseline values and reference periods.
• Indicator definitions, units, disaggregation and proposed measurement methods.
• Initial assessment of data quality and evidence gaps.
• Preliminary target-setting rationale.
• Identification of indicators requiring additional measurement or methodological decisions.

Deliverable 3: Draft baseline report and GMS-ready RRF matrix

Indicative deadline: 11 January 2027

The draft package will include:

• Baseline findings organized around the project goal, outcomes and relevant outputs.
• Analysis of starting conditions, contextual factors and assumptions.
• Assessment of methodological limitations and data quality.
• Proposed baseline values, targets and measurement methods.
• Recommendations for strengthening outcome monitoring.
• Draft indicator reference sheets and data collection instruments.
• Proposed arrangements for ongoing monitoring and end-point comparability.

ATINA will share the draft baseline report and proposed RRF updates with the UNTF project manager for review before finalization.

Deliverable 4: Final baseline package and handover

Indicative deadline: 22 January 2027

The final package will include:

• Revised baseline assessment report.
• Clean, GMS-ready indicator matrix.
• Indicator reference sheets and metadata.
• Final data collection instruments and guidance.
• Practical monitoring arrangements, including responsibilities, frequency and quality assurance procedures.
• Anonymized or aggregate supporting datasets, where appropriate.
• Documentation of methodological decisions, outstanding data gaps and limitations.
• Concise technical handover to ATINA's programme and MEAL staff.

The consultant will participate in a technical validation discussion with ATINA to review the proposed indicators, baseline values, targets and monitoring arrangements before finalization.

Dates are indicative and may be adjusted in consultation with ATINA to accommodate the UNTF review process. Any change to the agreed consultancy period will require a separate agreement.

ATINA remains responsible for agreeing final RRF updates with UNTF and entering approved information into GMS.

Where certain baseline values cannot be reliably established within the assignment period, the consultant will document the data gaps and provide a practical, time-bound plan for completing the necessary measurements during project implementation. Atina will coordinate any subsequent data collection beyond the agreed consultancy scope.

Atina will submit the draft baseline report and proposed RRF updates to UNTF for review. The timetable allows for Atina’s internal review and donor feedback, including the year-end holiday period. If Atina receives donor comments after the agreed final deliverable date, it will coordinate any further follow-up unless additional consultant support is separately agreed.

6. Report and indicator matrix requirements

The baseline report should be concise, analytical and directly relevant to programme implementation, monitoring and future evaluation. It should include:

• Executive summary, purpose and scope of the assessment.
• Overview of the programme's theory of change, results framework and intended outcomes.
• Methodology, sampling, data sources, ethical safeguards and limitations.
• Baseline findings structured around the project goal, four outcomes and relevant outputs.
• Assessment of existing data quality, gaps and limitations.
• Analysis of contextual factors and assumptions that may influence programme implementation and results.
• Recommendations for indicator operationalization, target-setting, monitoring and endline comparison.
• Practical implications for programme implementation, adaptive management and learning.

Indicator matrix requirements

The consultant will prepare an indicator register aligned with the approved programme document and supplied RRF.

For each indicator, the matrix should specify:

• Results level and corresponding outcome or output.
• Indicator wording and operational definition.
• Unit of measurement and calculation method, including numerator and denominator where applicable.
• Baseline value and reference period.
• Baseline status, distinguishing measured values, documented zero, unavailable information and non-applicable indicators.
• Data source and collection method.
• Required and feasible disaggregation.
• Frequency of measurement and responsible party.
• Proposed targets and supporting justification.
• Data quality considerations and limitations.
• Requirements for consistent measurement and endline comparison.
• Unknown values must not automatically be recorded as zero.
• The consultant should also provide practical instruments and concise guidance for future data collection, including procedures for documenting methodological changes and maintaining consistency over time.
• All findings and supporting materials must be presented in a non-identifying manner. No raw personally identifiable survivor information may be included in deliverables.

7. Ethical standards, confidentiality and ownership

• The consultant must comply with ATINA's safeguarding, confidentiality, data-protection and survivor-centred protocols, applicable Serbian law, and relevant UNTF/UN Women requirements communicated by ATINA.
• The assessment must apply feminist, trauma-informed and do-no-harm principles throughout its design, implementation, analysis and reporting.
• Participation in consultations must be voluntary and based on accessible, informed consent. Refusal to participate or withdrawal must not affect access to services or support.
• The consultant must assess and minimize risks associated with the collection, storage, analysis and presentation of sensitive information, including risks of identification, retaliation, stigma and digital exposure.
• Data must be collected only where necessary, stored securely with restricted access, and transferred, retained or deleted according to ATINA's instructions and applicable requirements.
• The consultant must report any ethical concern, safeguarding incident, or risk of identification immediately through ATINA's designated procedures.

All commissioned deliverables, instruments and materials will be provided to ATINA. Any external use or publication requires prior written permission.

8. Coordination and quality assurance

The consultant will report to the designated SOLVE project focal point and work closely with ATINA's programme and MEAL staff. ATINA will facilitate approved access to relevant documents, existing monitoring information and stakeholders, and will review proposed instruments before data collection.

Quality assurance will include:

• Review and approval of the inception methodology before data collection.
• Verification of indicator definitions, data sources and calculation methods.
• Review of data quality, limitations and proposed targets.
• Technical validation of preliminary findings and monitoring recommendations.
• Documentation of methodological decisions and unresolved issues.
• Review of the draft baseline report and RRF matrix before finalization.
• ATINA will consolidate comments and submit the draft baseline report and proposed RRF updates to UNTF for review.
• The consultant will incorporate agreed feedback and provide a clear record of revisions and outstanding methodological issues.

ATINA remains responsible for programme implementation, safeguarding, final decisions on monitoring arrangements and obtaining UNTF agreement on changes to the results framework.

9. Required qualifications

• A university degree in social research, monitoring and evaluation, gender studies, human rights, social policy or another relevant field.
• At least five years of relevant professional experience, including baseline assessments, results framework development or monitoring and evaluation of comparable programmes.
• Demonstrated experience in operationalizing results frameworks, developing measurable indicators and establishing credible baseline values.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills, including sampling, data quality assessment, triangulation and analysis of incomplete or limited evidence.
• Experience developing practical monitoring tools and methods that support baseline-to-endline comparability.
• Substantial understanding of violence against women and girls, trafficking, survivor-centred and trauma-informed practice, intersectionality and ethical research.
• Ability to apply safeguarding and confidentiality requirements when working with sensitive programme data and vulnerable populations.

Familiarity with technology-facilitated gender-based violence, community-led prevention, institutional referral systems and survivor participation is considered an advantage.

Excellent analytical writing skills in English and the ability to conduct consultations in Serbian or arrange competent, confidential interpretation.

10. Application and selection

Application procedure and deadline

Interested candidates are invited to submit the following documents:

A CV highlighting relevant assignments.

A brief technical proposal (maximum 3 pages) outlining the proposed methodology, ethical considerations and a feasible work plan covering the full assignment period.

A financial proposal specifying the total gross consultancy fee and any anticipated expenses.

An example of previous relevant work or a professional reference.

Applications should be submitted by email to Zorana Parezanović at zorana.parezanovic@atina.org.rs no later than 16 November 2026, at 5:00 PM (Belgrade time).

The email subject line should read: “SOLVE baseline assessment - application”.

Selection criteria

The project team will select the most suitable candidate, subject to the available budget, using the following criteria:

Relevant qualifications and at least five years of professional experience (20%).

Experience with similar baseline/MEAL assignments and evidence of previous work (25%).

Methodological quality and feasibility of the proposed approach (30%).

Safeguarding and survivor-centred expertise (15%).

Financial proposal (10%).

Atina may request additional clarification or invite shortlisted candidates for an interview.

Atina expects to complete selection by 18 November 2026, with contracting planned before the assignment begins on 20 November 2026.

Only the selected candidate will be notified. The selection and contracting process will follow Atina’s applicable procurement rules and donor requirements.