Consultancy for the Baseline Study
Terre des Hommes Netherlands is seeking a qualified consultant(s) or agency with strong experience in child protection and project evaluation to lead a baseline study for our project, “GOOD for Sustainable Future (Getting Out Of Devadasi system and prevention from further dedication).”
This role requires a deep understanding of socio-cultural issues and a passion for creating sustainable change, aiming to prevent the sexual exploitation of children by addressing the centuries-old Devadasi system in North Karnataka, India.
About Terre des Hommes Netherlands
Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH NL) protects children by preventing and stopping child exploitation, and by empowering children to make their voices count.
Our strategic ambition is that by 2030, Terre des Hommes Netherlands is a catalyst for systemic change to stop child exploitation. We do this by empowering children and their communities, connecting them with those who have the power to enact change, and utilising our knowledge and expertise to co-create sustainable, evidence-based solutions.
Terre des Hommes Netherlands focuses on 3 Thematic Programmes: Sexual Exploitation of Children (SEC), Worst Forms of Child Labour (WFCL) and Child Protection in Humanitarian Crisis. For each of these forms of child exploitation, we are developing and implementing projects and programmes through local partners, mainly in Asia and Africa.
About the Project
The Devadasi system, a long-standing practice in North Karnataka, continues to leave young girls vulnerable to sexual exploitation, trafficking, and multi-generational poverty. Despite legal prohibitions, socio-cultural stigmas and economic constraints perpetuate this harmful tradition, trapping families in cycles of marginalisation.
Since 2022, the Empowerment for GOOD project by Terre des Hommes Netherlands has reached 5,356 at-risk girls and 504 boys across 163 villages. Through child-led advocacy, policy engagement, and economic empowerment, the project has strengthened community resilience and catalysed systemic change. However, persistent challenges necessitate continued intervention.
The next phase aims to deepen impact by fostering leadership, expanding education access, and strengthening community-led efforts to eradicate the Devadasi system, ensuring a sustainable future for affected children and their families. This baseline study will be a crucial first step in measuring the project’s success and refining its indicators.
About the role
The consultant(s) or team will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive baseline study to establish data for all project indicators. The study will serve as a reference point against which progress can be measured and evaluated throughout the project cycle.
Specifically, the baseline study will serve to;
- Establish a baseline data for project indicators. The baseline study will collect data that will be the starting point for change measurement, confirming baseline values for all outcome indicators.
- Provides an opportunity to refine indicators. The baseline study will help to refine indicators to track progress towards achieving desired outcomes. This may be through determining the extent to which certain indicators can be easily measured.
- Inform intervention phasing. The baseline study provides data that guides the phasing and targeting of project interventions.
The study will employ a combination of quantitative surveys to measure key project indicators and qualitative methods such as focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) with a range of stakeholders, including children, families, community members, government officials, and law enforcement.
For detailed information, please refer to the Terms of Reference document.
Requirements
The consultant(s) engaged to undertake the assignment must fulfil the following requirements:
- At least a Master’s degree in a relevant area such as child protection, development studies, sociology, etc.
- At least 6 years of experience in leading project evaluations, including baseline studies with at least one on SEC, CL, HA
- Advanced level of English.
- High professional level of writing reports and using advanced statistical analysis programmes such as SPSS, Stata, etc.
- Experience in providing training to data collection teams.
- Have team member(s) with knowledge of the local context and language.
How to Apply
We invite interested individuals and agencies to submit the following application documents:
- Technical proposal (max. 10 pages) outlining their motivation for the application, the methodological approach and the resources required (documents, survey questions, FGD and KII checklists, etc).
- A proposed activity schedule/work plan with a time frame.
- CVs of the lead consultant and the team members.
- Two recent reports that were written by the Lead Consultant.
- Financial proposal detailing evaluators’ itemised fees, data collection and administrative costs.
Please address queries and applications to the Country Director of TdH NL (Dr. Thangaperumal Ponpandi, at the following email address: p.thangam@tdh.nl.
The deadline for applying is 27th August 2025.
Our Commitment
Terre des Hommes is committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation. Therefore, people of all gender identities, sexes, sexual orientations, races, colours, religions, cultures, abilities, etc. are encouraged to apply for this position.
We are dedicated to preventing and eradicating any type of misconduct, including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, any other type of misuse of power, lack of integrity or financial misconduct. All offers of employment will therefore be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which include a valid criminal record check, terrorism finance checks, and/or integrity screenings/references relating to misconduct and disciplinary actions in prior employment.
Terre des Hommes Netherlands is particularly committed to keeping children and vulnerable individuals safe, and has zero tolerance on (child) abuse. Every TdH NL employee is bound by the TdH NL Code of Conduct that describes the expected behaviour by staff, in particular with regards to Safeguarding children and (young) adults in our programmes. Child safeguarding measures are part of our selection and recruitment process. By submitting your application, you accept that Terre des Hommes Netherlands will conduct such pre-employment screening for successful candidates.
