Conducting a Feasibility Study for the Project (Binti Kiongos)

 
Conducting a Feasibility Study for the Project “Advancing Young Women’s Participation, Leadership, and Economic Inclusion through Strengthened Local Organizations in Kenya” (Binti Kiongos)
1.    Introduction

The Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) is an internationally active development organisation, founded in 1991. Its goal is to advance the potential of the largest youth generation in history, contributing to a sustainable population development. DSW enables young people in East Africa to access youth-friendly health information and modern contraceptives and advocates on a political level for the right to bodily self-determination, particularly for young women and girls. DSW implements projects in four East African countries (Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya), among others in cooperation with independent local partner organisations. In Europe, DSW is represented in Hannover, Berlin and Brussels, from where it coordinates its international project work and policy advocacy.

2.    Background

In Kenya, young women continue to be excluded from equal participation in social, economic and civic life due to entrenched gender inequalities, restrictive social norms, and limited access to leadership opportunities, vocational skills and financial resources. These barriers are particularly pronounced in Mombasa, Kwale and West Pokot Counties and are compounded by limited sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and continued exposure to gender-based violence (GBV), while civil society actors are increasingly operating under pressure.

DSW, together with local partner organisations, plans to implement the project “Advancing Young Women’s Participation, Leadership, and Economic Inclusion through Strengthened Local Organizations in Kenya”, known as Binti Kiongos (“Young Woman Leading”). The project will be submitted for funding to the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Outcome: Supported by three strengthened partner youth organisations, 6,300 young women (15–24 years) in Mombasa, Kwale and West Pokot increasingly participate actively and self-determinately in social, economic and civic life.

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• Output 1: Three partner youth organisations have strengthened organisational and technical capacities, including systems, policies and processes for gender-responsive SRHR and SGBV programming.
  
• Output 2: 6,300 young women (15–24 years) have strengthened leadership and advocacy capacities as well as access to mentorship and peer support structures.
  
• Output 3: 900 young women (15–24 years) have strengthened vocational, entrepreneurial and financial capacities and are linked to market and financial support structures.
  
• Output 4: Young men, community actors and government structures have strengthened capacities to promote gender equality, prevent SGBV and address barriers related to SRHR.
  

Planned measures include organisational development of the Junior Partners, transformative leadership, life-skills and civic education training, mentorship and peer support, advocacy at county level (e.g. Gender Technical Working Groups, county budget processes), a market-driven skills assessment with apprenticeships, entrepreneurship training, Youth Savings and Lending Associations and market and financial linkages, community dialogues, media initiatives, male-allyship dialogues, and national multi-stakeholder advocacy with the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC). The organisational development measures build on the results of the organisational capacity assessment (OCA) that has already been carried out with the Junior Partners.

Target groups include 6,300 adolescent girls and young women (15–24 years), 2,100 per county. In Mombasa they live mainly in urban informal settlements; in Kwale in rural and peri-urban areas; in West Pokot in remote rural and pastoralist communities where FGM and early and forced marriage remain prevalent. The Junior Partners also directly benefit from the project through strengthened capacities.

 
3.    Purpose and Scope of the assignment

As part of the proposal development process and in line with the donor’s requirements, DSW commissions an independent feasibility study. It gives DSW and its partners a sound basis for finalising the project design. The study has five objectives:

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• Geographical scope: The feasibility study will be conducted in Mombasa, Kwale and West Pokot Counties and at national level, with representatives of relevant governmental bodies and county government departments and with the participating organisations.
  
• Feasibility and relevance: assess whether the project concept responds to the needs of the target group and can be implemented as planned in the given context, timeline and budget, using the OECD DAC criteria of relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability.
  
• Context and initial situation: provide a sound understanding of the situation of young women in Mombasa, Kwale and West Pokot Counties, including the state of civic space, and project-relevant data on the initial situation for the results of the draft impact matrix.
  
• Partners and stakeholders: assess the partnership structure between DSW, YSW and the three Junior Partners, and the wider landscape of actors and programmes in the project areas.
  
• Impact matrix: validate the results chain, assumptions and indicators, and establish initial values and recommend realistic target values for each indicator, by county.
  
• Risks and recommendations: identify the key risks and recommend concrete adjustments to the project concept, the impact matrix and the planned measures.
  

The detailed tasks are set out in the Tasks section (5.1) below.

4.    Methodology

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• The study should combine qualitative and quantitative methods and follow a participatory approach that reflects the needs of the target group and ensures stakeholder involvement.
  
• The quantitative component should cover the whole target group (young women aged 15–24) in the selected target communities of the three counties, with a sample that provides credible values for each county and for the project as a whole.
  
• Recent and relevant secondary data (e.g. KDHS, county statistics, other studies in the project areas) should be used wherever suitable, with primary data collection filling the remaining gaps. Sources, dates and limitations must be stated.
  
• The study must establish an initial value and recommend a realistic target value for every indicator of the impact matrix (outcome and outputs). Placeholder or zero values are not acceptable. Where an indicator, as currently formulated, does not allow a meaningful initial value to be established, the consultant should propose an alternative formulation.
  
• The consultant may propose additional or innovative tools and approaches (e.g. outcome harvesting) that strengthen the evidence base for the recommendations.
  
• The study should build on and avoid duplicating existing assessments (in particular the due diligence assessments and the organisational capacity assessment (OCA) already conducted with the Junior Partner organisations) and focus on remaining open questions. It does not replace the market-driven skills assessment planned during project implementation.
  
• Ethical considerations must be addressed throughout, especially when working with young women and other vulnerable groups. This includes informed consent (and parental consent for participants under 18), confidentiality, safeguarding and referral pathways for disclosures of GBV. The consultant is responsible for obtaining any required research licence and ethical clearance, and for handling all personal data in line with the Kenya Data Protection Act, 2019; the time needed should be reflected in the work plan.
  

5.    Tasks and Deliverables
5.1 Tasks

Task

Context and Initial Situation Analysis

·         Desk review of relevant policies, county plans, programme reports, studies and available data from government and development partners about young women in Kenya, with specific focus on Mombasa, Kwale and West Pokot.

·         Multi-level problem analysis (micro, meso, macro) of the needs of young women regarding participation, leadership, economic inclusion, SRHR and GBV, and of prevailing social norms.

·         Collection of project-relevant data on the initial situation of the target group for each indicator of the impact matrix, by county.

·         Mapping of local capacities, existing structures and mechanisms the project can build upon, as well as gaps in the system.

·         Consideration of conflict dynamics, cultural and environmental factors and previous development measures in the region.

Stakeholder and Partner Analysis

·         Identify and engage key stakeholders, including young women, young men, parents, community and religious leaders, county and national government actors, and other civil society organisations.

·         Assess YSW and the three Junior Partners regarding their roles, resources and competencies for project implementation.

·         Evaluate the formal agreements and ownership structures between DSW, YSW and the Junior Partners.

·         Identify and analyse any gaps in collaboration and coordination.

·         Map other actors and programmes working on similar issues in the three counties, identify synergies and confirm whether all official preconditions and authorisations for project implementation are in place.

Shrinking Civic Space Analysis

·         Prepare a dedicated chapter analysing shrinking civic spaces in the target regions of Kenya.

·         Document evidence of restrictions affecting civil society and local actors.

·         Assess how the proposed intervention could contribute to the protection or expansion of civic space, including through capacity strengthening, networking and collaboration, promotion of inclusion and equality, support to democratic participation, and the defence of rights.

Project Concept Evaluation

·         Analyse the proposed project design against the OECD DAC criteria, and specifically assess the proposed impact matrix against these criteria.

·         Review the results chain, assumptions and indicators: are the indicators relevant and measurable with the planned data sources?

·         Derive realistic initial and target values for each indicator from the situation found, taking into account the project’s duration, budget and reach, and advise on how targets should be formulated so that they remain meaningful over the project period.

·         Review and refine the proposed intervention model (transformative leadership and civic education, mentorship and peer support, apprenticeships and Youth Savings and Lending Associations, community dialogues and male allyship, county and national advocacy).

·         Assess the project’s alignment with local needs, national strategies and relevant standards.

·         Assess whether the project can be implemented within the proposed timeline, budget and staffing, considering the regional and technical context.

·         Identify the key contextual, operational and safeguarding risks, including economic instability, social inequalities and restrictions on civic space, and propose mitigation measures.

·         Evaluate the potential of the project to address gender inequalities, SRHR challenges, GBV and barriers to economic inclusion.

Recommendations, Modifications and Reporting

·         Provide actionable recommendations to strengthen the full proposal, including implementation strategies, partnership arrangements, improvements to the impact matrix (indicators, target values, means of verification), monitoring considerations and risk mitigation measures.

·         Base the recommendations on the analysis and on stakeholder feedback, with a focus on enhancing the project’s effectiveness, sustainability and coherence.

·         Reporting: produce a feasibility study report, including an executive summary, methodology, key findings, analysis and recommendations, following the BMZ report structure for feasibility studies, which DSW will share after the selection of the consultant.

5.2 Deliverables

No

Deliverable

Due date

1

Inception report (incl. desk review of key documents, detailed methodology and sampling approach, work plan and draft data collection tools)

27 November 2026

2

Final data collection tools, pre-tested, and field work plan

4 December 2026

3

Field work and analysis (survey, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, site visits with YSW and the three Junior Partners)

7 December 2026 – 22 January 2027

4

First draft feasibility report (followed by review and comments from DSW, YSW and the Junior Partners, 25 – 29 January 2027)

25 January 2027

5

Presentation of findings at the Proposal Development Workshop (virtual or in person), with a focus on the impact matrix and indicators

Week commencing 1 February 2027

6

Final feasibility report (max. 30 pages excl. annexes)

8 February 2027

6.    Supporting Documents

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• DSW and the partner organisations YSW, MQ, KIOTA and KAYEC will provide relevant documents needed by the consultant, including background papers on the project regions and relevant national strategy documents.
  
• The first proposal package, including the narrative, budget and logframe (impact matrix) including the indicators.
  
• The results of the OCA and due diligence assessments of the Junior Partners.
  
• The list of the selected target communities (including youth clubs and schools), agreed with the local authorities.
  
• Various BMZ guidelines including “Guide to conducting feasibility studies”, “Guide to project applications” and “Protecting and Expanding Civic Space Worldwide”.
  

7.    Skills and Experience

DSW invites applications from Kenya-based independent consultants, teams of consultants and consulting firms. One team member acts as team leader and is responsible for the quality and timely delivery of all products. Together, the team must bring the following qualifications.

Team leader (mandatory)

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• Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in social sciences, public health, gender studies, development studies, economics or a related field.
  
• At least 7 years of experience in applied research or evaluation in development cooperation, including at least two feasibility studies, evaluations or comparable assessments completed as team leader.
  
• Proven experience in developing and reviewing logical frameworks and results matrices, defining SMART/RACER indicators and quantifying indicators with survey data.
  
• Sound knowledge of the Kenyan context regarding gender equality, SRHR, GBV, youth participation and the economic inclusion of young women, as well as of civil society and civic space in Kenya.
  
• Excellent analytical and report-writing skills in English, demonstrated by reports for international donors.
  

Team as a whole (mandatory)

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• Experience in quantitative survey design, sampling and statistical analysis (e.g. Stata, SPSS or R), including digital data collection (e.g. KoBoToolbox, ODK).
  
• Experience in qualitative and participatory methods (key informant interviews, focus group discussions) with adolescents and young women, including trauma-informed approaches when addressing GBV.
  
• Experience in assessing the capacities of community-based and youth-led organisations.
  
• Fluency in English and Kiswahili, and the ability to work in the languages spoken in the target areas.
  
• Female researchers and enumerators for interviews and group discussions with young women.
  
• Knowledge of Kenyan research ethics and data protection requirements and of safeguarding standards.
  
• Availability for the full assignment period (23 November 2026 – 8 February 2027), including field work in Mombasa, Kwale and West Pokot Counties.
  

Assets

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• Experience with BMZ-funded or other German development cooperation projects and with the OECD DAC criteria.
  
• Experience in analysing civic space and the operating environment of civil society.
  
• Networks and field experience in coastal Kenya and in West Pokot.
  
• Experience with innovative participatory methods (e.g. outcome harvesting).
  

All team members must be independent of DSW, YSW and the Junior Partner organisations and must not have been involved in designing the project. Any potential conflict of interest must be disclosed in the application.

8.    Work plan and submission

Budget: The total budget available for the assignment is EUR 25,000, inclusive of all fees, travel, data collection, translation and all applicable taxes (including VAT and withholding tax). Payments will be made in instalments against approved deliverables: 30% upon approval of the inception report and 70% upon approval of the final report.

Timeline: The assignment runs from 23 November 2026 to 8 February 2027; the due dates of all deliverables are set out in section 5.2. The work plan should take the holiday period at the end of December into account, and proposals that allow field work to start earlier are welcome. The selection process follows this timeline:

Selection step

Date

Publication of the ToR

20 October 2026

Deadline for applications (applications are reviewed on a rolling basis)

8 November 2026

Shortlisted applicants invited to interview

By 12 November 2026

Interviews at the YSW office in Nairobi

19 – 20 November 2026

Consultant selection and notification

20 November 2026

Contract negotiation and signing

23 – 25 November 2026

8.1 Application Requirements:

The application should include the following:

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• A technical proposal (max. 10 pages) setting out the understanding of the assignment, the proposed methodology including the sampling approach, the approach to research ethics, safeguarding and research authorisation, and a work plan in line with the timeline above.
  
• A financial proposal in EUR within the budget stated in section 8, broken down by daily fees and number of days per team member, enumerator costs, travel, data collection and other costs. Proposals that omit essential cost categories, or underestimate or overestimate realistic expenses, will be considered non-compliant.
  
• Detailed and updated CVs of all proposed team members, indicating each person’s role in the assignment.
  
• A minimum of two (2) sample reports of comparable assignments, at least one of them led by the proposed team leader.
  
• Two professional references for the team leader.
  

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• For consulting firms, a certificate of registration or incorporation; for individual consultants, a copy of the national ID. All applicants: KRA PIN certificate and a valid tax compliance certificate.
  
• A signed declaration of independence and absence of conflicts of interest.
  

Interested applicants are requested to submit their application with the reference “Feasibility Study – Binti Kiongos Kenya” clearly indicated in the email subject line to: evaluation@dsw.org. The deadline for application is 8th November 2026, 23:59 East Africa Time. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submission is encouraged. All applications received by the deadline will be considered equally.