ToR - Onboarding a consultant for Baseline- field data collection in Karnataka

About SELCO Foundation:  

SELCO Foundation’s mission is to create a platform of solutions that uses sustainable energy as a catalyst  to bridge environmental sustainability and poverty alleviation. With holistic development as the primary  focus, the organization strives to create equitable societies, where services are accessed by all  communities. The interventions of SELCO lead to a sustainable delivery model of essential services like  livelihoods, education, and health till the last mile. (Read more about SELCO here:  http://www.selcofoundation.org/)  

Summary of the project:  

SELCO Foundation (SF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing energy poverty and empowering marginalized communities. As part of our monitoring and evaluation efforts for the fiscal year 2024-2025, SF is seeking to onboard Field Data Collection Consultants to assist in data collection activities across various districts of Karnataka. 

Objective:  

The primary objective of this engagement is to ensure accurate and timely data collection from the  field, which will be crucial for monitoring the progress and impact of SF's initiatives. 

Field Survey Locations  
 

The process of on-boarding Consultant / Field surveyor to conduct a baseline study to collect data from  multiple locations in Karnataka.
Scope of Work/Assignment 
The Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks 
• Participating the training sessions to ensure to equipped with the necessary skills and  knowledge to carry out data collection activities effectively. 
Field Data Collection:  
Consultants will collect data related to SF's projects and initiatives in their respective districts of  residence. 
• Collaborate with SF's Monitoring and Evaluation team for clarifications or additional support  during data collection. 
• Visiting intervention sites within a specified timeframe (one month from the date of inception)  to collect baseline data. 
 • Ensuring the accuracy and completeness of data collection at each intervention site.
• Submitting a clean and organized dataset to SF upon completion of data collection. 
Responsibilities 
The field data collection team is expected to possess the following expertise: 
• All Consultant / field surveyor, including enumerators, must use their personal Android phones  for data collection. 
• Data Quality Assurance: Ensure the accuracy and completeness of collected data by adhering  to prescribed data collection protocols and guidelines provided by SF. 
• Ability to maintain the integrity and quality of collected data. 
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality throughout the data collection process.
• Strong coordination skills to ensure effective teamwork and project management. • Submit collected data within specified deadlines communicated by the SF Monitoring and  Evaluation team. 
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data quality. 
• Field enumerators must be prepared to ascend rooftops using temporary ladders or other  supporting items in the absence of staircases to assess the quality of solar energy unit  installations. 

These specific requirements are crucial for ensuring efficient data collection and accurate  evaluation of the installed solar energy units. 

Training Program 
The SELCO Foundation will organize a 4-day training program (comprising 2 days of classroom  sessions, 1 day of field practice, and 1 day of review) in the respective zones for field enumerators  and field supervisors. SELCO Foundation experts will lead the training sessions on the questionnaire  and survey solution app. A field practice visit to nearby livelihood sites will be organized in SF. 
Data collection 
• Uphold data integrity, accuracy, and consistency across all interventions. 
• Ensure that field enumerators and supervisors strictly safeguard the login credentials of the  survey solution app. 
• Provide daily updates on the progress of data collection through the tracker sheet.
• Promptly communicate challenges and issues encountered during data collection to the SF  Point of Contact. 

 Timeline:  
• The engagement will cover the period of the fiscal year 2024-2025, starting from April 2024  and concluding in March 2025. 

Qualifications 
• Excellent interviewing skills, particularly in the social and developmental sectors.
• Prior experience in conducting data collection and research activities. 
• Proficient verbal communication skills in the local language. 
• Flexibility and willingness to travel independently to various locations. 
• Basic computer literacy and data entry skills. Prior experience with android data collection  apps will be advantageous. 
• Minimum educational qualification of Graduation and above. 
• Proficiency in the local language and familiarity with the geographical area of the assigned  district. 
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data quality.