Terms of Reference for Transcription Services for the Longitudinal Research Data Collection

INTRODUCTION TO ACTIONAID

ActionAid is a global justice federation working to achieve social justice, gender equality, and poverty eradication. ActionAid strives to strengthen the capacity and authority of people living in poverty and exclusion, particularly women, to assert their rights. We work with communities, people’s organizations, women’s movements, groups and networks, social movements, and other allies to overcome the structural causes and consequences of poverty and injustice. We connect the work we do at the community level with broader efforts and struggles for justice at every level to make the most impact on a truly, equitable, and sustainable world.

BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW

Support to the Africa-Led Movement (ALM) to End FGM/C is an ambitious project implemented by ActionAid International Somalia and Somaliland that aims to achieve an accelerated reduction in the practice of FGM/C in Somaliland. The program is funded by the UK government (FCDO) and under the banner of The Girl Generation.

The project has a vision of a world free from Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) by 2030, which is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The importance of eliminating FGM/C is reflected in Target 5.3 of the SDGs:” Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilations.

The project targets social and gender norms underpinning FGM/C through long-term, comprehensive, and collective community engagement, which is essential to eradicating the practice. ALM is based on the evidence that social movements must be built from the ground up.

As part of data collection activities, the program aims to roll out periodic longitudinal discussion sessions where information is collected among community narrators regarding shifts in attitudes and norms they have observed within their communities. These sessions are performed quarterly or every six months during the implementation of the project.

As part of the monitoring activities of the project, qualitative interviews were conducted by researchers with the project narrators in the targeted locations (Sool and Sanag) who captured changes that

happened in their communities during the program interventions. These interviews were captured in audio format with the local language.

OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTANCY

ActionAid International Somalia and Somaliland intends to engage qualified individual consultants to provide transcription services to the audio recordings of the qualitative interviews collected during the longitudinal research under the Support to the Africa-Led Movement (ALM) to End FGM/C project.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES:

1-  Translate and transcribe all the audio interviews collected during the data collection process.

2-  Ensure accurate transcription of the gathered data.

3-  Present the transcribed data in written form (word document)

TRANSCRIPTION METHODS:

The consultant will use verbatim transcription which means that he/she will write every single word including pauses, the expression of emotions such as anger and laughter, or any other form of emotions.

TIME FRAME:

This assignment shall be executed within a maximum of 10 days, commencing after signing the contract.

The consultant will ensure the high quality and accuracy of the entire document before submission.

PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICATION

The consultant is expected to provide the following documentation:

•      A cover letter introducing the consultant.

•      A technical proposal of not more than 2 pages outlining how to execute the service with a clear methodology, and timelines.

•      The proposed methodology should demonstrate a clear understanding of TOR.

•      Resume of the consultant.

•      Evidence of experience conducting similar services.

•      Proposed budget indicating consultancy fee in USD.

All applications should be addressed to [email protected] before 11 November 2023 referencing ‘Transcription Services for the Longitudinal Research Data Collection’ in the subject of the email.