Alliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture-CIAT (The Alliance)
Terms of Reference
The Scope of the Endline Evaluation for a Business Acceleration for Youth Project
| Start Date | 26th January 2026 |
| Closing Date | 7th February 2026, 12:00pm |
1. Project Background and Context
The Business Acceleration for Youth Project is a four-year (2021-2025), innovative project led by the Alliance of Bioversity International and International Center for Tropical Agriculture-CIAT (The Alliance). Framed around a resilience-led sustainability strategy, the project aims to strengthen the resilience of youth led business start-ups in Balaka, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Machinga, Mangochi, Mulanje, Thyolo, Nsanje and Zomba, through the delivery of business incubation services creating growth-orientated, sustainable firms able to secure and effectively utilize investment.
Nationally, the project is supporting Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) through the delivery of bespoke technical support, industry specific expertise, mentorship and access to finance. The purpose of these activities is to accelerate and invest in youth-led and youth centric MSMEs that result in job creation, greater access to financing, diversified incomes, a more inclusive private sector and improved household resilience in targeted districts.
In support of the project’s objectives, working through partners the project has delivered business incubation services to approximately 450 youth owned start-ups. Additionally, 61 MSMEs participated in our business acceleration program.
The Alliance is calling for proposals from experienced consultants to conduct an independent project endline evaluation that will primarily involve evaluating the project’s overall performance, outcomes, and impact against the initial baseline conditions and stated objectives (in-line with the M&E results framework).
2. Purpose of the Evaluation
The primary purpose of the endline evaluation is to support accountability to stakeholders and funders, learning that includes extracting lessons learned and best practices, and evidence-based decision making for guiding future program design.
3. Key Evaluation Objectives
The evaluation will focus on the following objectives:
3.1 Impact and Effectiveness: The final outcomes and impact on the target population, and the extent to which the project achieved its specific objectives
3.2 Efficiency: The relationship between project inputs (costs, time) and outputs/outcomes, including cost-effectiveness.
3.3 Relevance and Sustainability: The continued alignment with participants and stakeholder needs, and the likelihood of benefits continuing after project closure (financial, institutional, social, environmental).
3.4 Cross-Cutting Themes: The integration and results related to Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), and environmental considerations.
4. Scope of the Evaluation
4.1 Technical Scope: While the evaluation will cover the entire timeframe of the project and assess results against the baseline and the results framework, priority should be given to the analysis of the project’s outcomes against objectives
4.2 Geographic Scope: The evaluation will cover all project implementation areas including Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Lilongwe, Machinga, Mangochi, Mulanje, Mzimba, Nkhotakota, Thyolo, Nsanje and Zomba and a representative sample will be drawn where applicable.
4.3 The evaluation will assess overall impact on business performance of MSMEs and start ups in relation to business formalization, revenue growth and job creation which can be attributed to the business development services, which have been delivered on behalf of the project by service providers. If the BA4Y project were to have a second phase, what would be the essential design considerations?
4.4 The evaluation will assess the impact of our grants program for both start-ups and the MSMEs on business performance in terms of revenue growth, employment creation and business sustainability. If the BA4Y project were to have a second phase, what would be the essential design considerations?
- Methodology
The consultant is expected to propose and apply a mixed-methods approach, ensuring methodological rigor and comparability with baseline framework and intended project outcomes/goals. The methodology should include, but not be limited to, the following components:
5.1 Desk Review: Review of project documents including proposal narrative, logframe/results framework, baseline/midline reports, existing literature, and context data.
5.2 Quantitative Data Collection: Household/beneficiary surveys using specific valid confidence levels and sampling techniques, designed for statistical comparison with baseline data to measure change.
5.3 Qualitative Data Collection: Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with staff, partners, and officials; Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with beneficiary groups (disaggregated as needed); and direct observations.
5.4 Participatory and Validation Methods: Community self-assessment techniques and a validation workshop with stakeholders to review preliminary findings.
5.5 Data Analysis Plan: Strategies for quantitative (statistical) and qualitative (thematic) analysis, including triangulation of data sources to ensure validity and assess attribution.
5.6 Business Performance Analysis: Methodologies to assess the business performance of supported MSMEs post intervention for firms that received technical support or technical support combined with matching grants.
- Deliverables
The consultant will be responsible for delivering the following outputs:
6.1 Inception Report: Detailing the refined evaluation methodology, detailed work plan, and data collection tools.
6.2 Finalized and tested data collection tools including survey instruments, interview guides.
6.3 Cleaned datasets including raw data, codebooks and analysis scripts.
6.4 Comprehensive Final Report including an executive summary, methodology, findings, conclusions, actionable recommendations, and documented lessons learned and best practices. Annexes should include data collection tools and TOR.
6.5 Presentation(s) or dissemination workshops which will be organized by CIAT, but the consultant will share findings with stakeholders (CIAT and other relevant stakeholders in the sector).
6.6 Case studies/ Stories of Change for communication and knowledge management.
- Roles and Responsibilities: Identifying the key stakeholders involved, such as:
- External Consultant/Firm: Lead the independent evaluation, design and implement data collection, analysis the data, and prepare all reports and deliverables.
- Project Management Team: Provide logistical support, facilitate access to documents and beneficiaries, and support stakeholder introductions.
- M&E Team: Share baseline, project indicators, and supporting methodology alignment with the project design.
- Timeline and Duration
The estimated duration of the assignment is six (6) weeks, with an anticipated start date of 24 February 2026. A detailed timeline with milestones will be agreed upon during contract negotiation.
- Payment Schedule and Milestones
| Milestone and Percentage Contract Value | Means of Verification
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| Milestone 1: Contract signature (15%) |
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| Milestone 2. Development of survey and interview tools (30%) |
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| Milestone 3. Conduct surveys and interviews (30%) |
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| Milestone 4. Completion of appraisal report (25%) |
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- Budget, Financial Requirements and Assessment of Bids
Interested consultants are required to submit a detailed cost proposal in local currency. The Alliance will apply withholding tax as required by law. Bids from competing firms will be assessed separately on their proposed technical approach and their value for money proposition.
- Technical Proposal and Submission Requirements
Interested consultants or firms must submit a technical proposal electronically by midday 7th February 2026 to the following email address: businessacceleration4youth@outlook.com. Please indicate in the subject “Response to BA4Y Request for Project Endline Evaluation”.
The submission to include:
- CV of the proposed Project Manager
- CVs of other key personnel
- Detailed assignment workplan (physical and remote delivery approach)
- Proposed data analysis techniques
- Evidence of similar assignments previously undertaken
- Business registration and valid tax clearance certificates
- Formal references may be requested prior to final contracting