Scalability Diagnostics, Evidence Synthesis and Learning Products for Selected SOS Children's Villages Projects

Applying the IES Scalability Pathway to assess project’s scale readiness, synthesise evidence and learning, develop recommendations and learning products

1.      Background

SOS Children’s Villages is a global federation working to ensure that children and young people who have lost, or are at risk of losing, parental care can grow with the relationships, support and opportunities they need to thrive. Member Associations (MAs) implement programmes in diverse contexts and require practical approaches to strengthen programme quality, use evidence, capture learning and increase the reach, depth and sustainability of impact.

The Innovation, Evidence & Scale (IES) Unit supports MAs and partners to move intentionally from priority challenges and promising solutions towards stronger evidence, continuous learning and appropriate scale. The IES Scalability Pathway provides a common framework with different routes to scale a project or programme, it sets out phases, innovation routes, evidence and learning roadmaps, quality gates and a toolkit for this progression.

Evidence and learning are integral to every phase of the Pathway. Evidence supports decisions on whether and how a project should be improved, adapted, replicated or positioned for wider influence. Learning helps make project experience accessible and useful to practitioners, leaders, partners and decision-makers.

 This consultancy will support the practical application of the IES Scalability Pathway by helping selected MAs assess where their priority projects currently stand within the pathway, review and synthesise existing evidence and learning and make recommendations to strengthen evidence generation to support scalability. Through a structured diagnostic process, the consultancy will provide practical recommendations to inform project improvement and decision-making on pathways to scale. In addition, it will consolidate key evidence, learning and lessons from each project into accessible learning products that can support knowledge sharing, reflection and future programme development.

2.      Objectives

2.1. General

Strengthen the capacity of selected Member Associations to determine where their priority projects stand within the IES Scalability Pathway, assess and synthesise existing evidence and learning and develop project-specific recommendations and learning products for each selected project.

2.2. Specific

• Review and assess available documentation for the 5 selected Member Associations’ focus projects (one project per country).
• Map each focus project's position within the IES Scalability Pathway and identify the evidence and learning currently available and critical gaps.
• Synthesise existing evidence and learning and develop project-specific recommendations on evidence generation priorities and pathways to scale.
• Develop at least 1 learning product for each focus project to capture and communicate key evidence, lessons learned and recommendations.

3.      Scope and methodological approach

The consultancy will be supervised by the Innovation, Evidence & Scale (IES) Unit of SOS Children’s Villages International, which will provide strategic guidance, access to relevant framework documents and project information, consolidated feedback, and coordination with participating Member Associations (MAs).

The proposed approach should be guided by the following principles:

• Project maturity: projects at different stages will require different approaches, for example, early-stage projects may have limited evidence available and require a focus on identifying priority evidence needs, while more mature projects may require deeper synthesis of existing evidence and learning to inform scalability decisions.
• Locally owned processes: MA teams should be actively involved in the review and validation of diagnostics and the development of learning products.
• Language and format: the consultant should adapt the products to language needs, English is the principal working and reporting language, but French support is required or should be covered through the proposed team/translation arrangements.
• Context sensitivity: ensuring that analytical approaches, recommendations and learning products are relevant and applicable across diverse organisational, cultural and programme contexts.

This consultancy covers the 5 priority projects agreed under the Innovation, Evidence, Learning and Scale (IES) Scalability Pathway workstream:

MA and project

Maturity

Short description

Cambodia: Advancing Care Reform

Starting

Strengthens the social service workforce, care-experienced youth participation and support for care leavers, while generating evidence to improve family-based care and inform national child protection policies.

Bangladesh: Floating Gardens

In progress

Supports flood-prone families to develop climate-resilient livelihoods through floating agriculture, strengthening food security, household income, child wellbeing, positive parenting and community cooperation.

Togo: Sexual Exploitation Prevention

Advanced

Prevents and responds to sexual exploitation of children and young people through community engagement, awareness, capacity-building and stronger local protection and safeguarding mechanisms.

Ghana:

PUNBO

Advanced

Strengthens smallholder farmers’ livelihoods, food security and resilience through agricultural support, financial literacy, market linkages, gender equality and child protection interventions.

Burundi:

Nkingira Nkure Neza

Advanced

Strengthens community-based systems to prevent violence, neglect and family separation while promoting children’s rights, inclusive education, family resilience and protection for vulnerable children, including children with disabilities.

The expected activities include:

Phase 1. Inception, preparation and review

• Participate in an induction with IES to align on the Scalability Pathway, scope, roles, timeline, available documentation and expected results.
• Review the draft Scalability Pathway and the 5 focus projects’ documentation. 
• Propose and agree with IES a detailed workplan and schedule.

Phase 2. Project positioning and scalability diagnostics

• Review and synthesise all the available 5 focus projects’ documentation. This will be done through desk review of the materials available in each country as well as interviews with country teams.
• Assess each project against the IES Scalability Pathway.
• Identify available evidence and learning assets and diagnostic critical gaps for each focus project.
• Facilitate findings’ validation discussions with IES Team and each MA.

Phase 3. Evidence synthesis, recommendations and learning products

• Synthesise evidence and learning identified through the project review.
• Develop project-specific recommendations on scalability and future evidence generation priorities.
• Provide actionable recommendations for IES on the refinement of the Scalability Pathway
• Validate recommendations with the IES Team and each MA.
• Develop at least one learning product for each focus project tailored to each MA’s needs for use.
• Compile all the information into a concise final report.

3.1. Expected deliverables

The consultancy is expected to deliver the following products:

4.      Detailed schedule of deliverables

The consultancy is expected to run from October to December 2026.

Deliverable

Key considerations

Indicative timeline

Approval criteria

Indicative payment*

Deliverable 1: Inception report and workplan

Clear methodology, activities, review points, timeline and MA engagement

By W1 of October, 2026

Workplan is align with the Terms of Reference (ToR) and have a realistic timeline

20%

Deliverable 2: Focus projects’ scalability and evidence diagnostics 

For each focus project, the consultant will prepare a diagnostic report including:

·     Assessment on project positioning within the IES Scalability Pathway, against relevant pathway phases and criteria

·     Summary of available evidence and learning assets

·     Identification of evidence gaps, strengths and limitations

·     Analysis of implications for scalability

·     Recommendations for progressing along the Scalability Pathway;

The diagnostic should include both a visual assessment matrix and a concise narrative explaining the rationale, findings and recommendations.

By W1 of November, 2026

Diagnostics are evidence-based, aligned with the IES Scalability Pathway, supported by documented rationale, clearly identify gaps and priorities, include actionable recommendations, and are validated by IES and the respective MAs.

30%

Deliverable 3: Focus projects’ learning products

One learning product developed for each focus project, tailored to each MA’s needs, synthesising key evidence, lessons learned, promising practices and recommendations identified through the consultancy process. The format should be agreed with IES and the respective MA, but may include:

·     learning briefs

·     lessons learned reports

·     good practice summaries

·     project case studies

·     evidence-to-action briefs

·     project learning summaries for internal or external audiences

Products should be concise, user-friendly and designed to facilitate knowledge sharing, reflection and future programme development.

By W1 of December, 2026

Learning products are tailored to the intended audience and purpose, accurately reflect the evidence and learning generated through the consultancy, are clear, accessible and well-structured and are reviewed and approved by IES and the respective MAs.

All products are delivered in editable formats.

30%

Deliverable 4:  Final report

Consolidated overview of the consultancy process and results, cross-project synthesis of key findings, lessons and trends and recommendations for the MAs on their focus projects and the IES Team on the practical application of the Scalability Pathway.

By W3 of December, 2026

Report is comprehensive, coherent, evidence-based, actionable and approved by the IES Team

20%

*The percentages above are indicative and may be adjusted during contracting. Payments will be linked to the satisfactory completion and approval of the respective deliverables.

5.      Duration of the Consultancy

The consultancy is expected to run from early October to December 2026 and will be implemented fully virtually. The exact level of effort across the different phases and deliverables should be proposed by the consultant as part of the technical and financial proposal.

The consultant should have sufficient availability and flexibility to facilitate working sessions and meetings at times suitable for participants joining from different regions and time zones. 

6.      Consultant profile

The consultant, consultancy team or organisation should demonstrate the following qualifications and experience:

• At least 7 years of proven competency (record of previous experience) in evidence generation, evaluation, MEAL, organisational learning or adaptive programme management in international development or social impact.
• Strong qualitative and quantitative analytical skills, with demonstrated ability to syntheses and interpret evidence from multiple sources and translate findings into actionable recommendations.

• Experience in leading reviews, assessments and diagnostics across multiple projects, countries and partners, adapting methodologies to different operational contexts and levels of programme maturity. A good understanding of child rights and issues affecting vulnerable children and their families.

• Familiarity with scalability or innovation-to-scale frameworks is an advantage.
• Excellent written and spoken English, French is an asset.

Applications may be submitted by individual consultants, consultant teams or consultancy organisations. Team applications should clearly describe roles and quality assurance.

7.        Safeguarding, Ethics, Confidentiality and Data Protection

The consultant will be required to comply with applicable SOS Children’s Villages policies and standards, including the Child and Youth Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct and Anti-Fraud and Anti-Corruption Guideline.

No direct interaction with children or young people is currently foreseen within the scope of this consultancy. However, all methodologies, examples and materials developed should reflect the organisation’s commitment to safeguarding, meaningful stakeholder participation, inclusion and ethical programme development.

The consultant may receive access to internal SOS Children’s Villages documents and resources. All non-public information made available during the consultancy must be treated as confidential and used exclusively for the purposes of this assignment.

Any personal or organisational information processed during the consultancy must be handled in accordance with applicable SOS Children’s Villages data protection requirements.

8.        Intellectual Property

All final products developed within the scope of this consultancy, including adapted methodologies, training curricula, training materials, facilitation resources, templates, reports and the Innovation Challenge concept package, shall be provided to SOS Children’s Villages International upon completion of the assignment.

SOS Children’s Villages International shall hold the rights to use, reproduce, adapt, modify and further develop materials produced specifically under this consultancy.

Where the consultant proposes the use of existing third-party or proprietary methodologies, tools or materials, these must be clearly identified in advance, including any applicable restrictions on their future use or adaptation by SOS Children’s Villages International.

9.      Fees

The maximum available budget for the consultancy is EUR 25,000, including professional fees, applicable taxes and any other costs required for the virtual implementation of the assignment. Applicants are requested to submit a financial proposal including the proposed total lump-sum fee for the assignment and applicable taxes, an indicative number of consultancy members, estimated days and daily rate and a breakdown of costs by deliverable.

Financial competitiveness and overall value for money will be considered as part of the selection process.

Payments are expected to be linked to the satisfactory completion and approval of the deliverables. The indicative payment schedule may be adjusted and agreed during contracting.

No international or national travel is foreseen within the scope of this consultancy.

10. Submission and evaluation of proposals

Interested applicants are requested to submit:

• an interest letter, describing the previous services and products relevant to this Terms of Reference
• curriculum vitae of the consultant or key members of the proposed consultancy team and its services catalogue, in case of consultancy organisations, with contact information of previous clients relevant to this Terms of Reference
• a technical proposal, outlining the proposed approach and methodology and realistic work plan with timelines in accordance with this Terms of Reference
• a financial proposal, including the number of staff involved, the number of days and daily rate, the total lump-sum amount and applicable taxes.

The submission of proposals duly stamped and signed can be done electronically in PDF format to Tesfatsion.Abrham@sos-kd.org and Jessica.Ugalde@sos-kd.org no later than 21 September 2026. Applications may be submitted by individual consultants, consultant teams or organisations.

Proposals will be assessed for technical compliance and quality before price, with selection based on overall value. Criteria include a suitable and differentiated methodology, realistic workplan, reasonable cost, and relevant experience in evidence generation, MEAL and learning systems. Shortlisted bidders may be invited to provide further information or attend an interview.

Only proposals meeting the requirements outlined in these Terms of Reference will be considered. SOS Children’s Villages International may invite shortlisted applicants to an interview as part of the selection process.