Perception Survey for The Jenga Mama Project – Amboseli, Kenya

KenyaPerception Survey for The Jenga Mama Project – Amboseli, KenyaOrganizationInternational Fund for Animal WelfarePosted 6 Aug 2025 Closing date 18 Aug 2025BackgroundSince 2021, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has been implementing the Jenga Mama Project in the Amboseli region of Kenya. The project was developed in response to the dual challenges of poverty and environmental degradation, particularly affecting women in communities bordering wildlife conservation areas. Its primary goal is to empower women economically and socially through access to vocational training, startup capital, business mentorship, and continuous support in developing sustainable income-generating activities.

The name Jenga Mama meaning “Build a Woman” in Kiswahili reflects the project's belief that when women thrive, families and entire community’s benefit. The project specifically targets women who are vulnerable or marginalized, many of whom previously depended on unsustainable or exploitative sources of income. By equipping them with practical skills and resources, the project helps reduce economic dependence on nature based and wildlife-related resources, thus promoting harmony between people and nature.

As part of its broader conservation goals, Jenga Mama also serves as a strategic initiative to strengthen community buy-in for conservation efforts, by showing tangible benefits linked to protecting wildlife and ecosystems. The approach integrates conservation awareness and community resilience, aiming for long-term behavioral and economic shifts that align with IFAW’s mission. Now, After More Than Three Years Of Implementation, IFAW Seeks To Measure How The Project Is Perceived By Both Direct Beneficiaries Primarily Women Who Participated In The Training And Enterprise Development And The Wider Community, Including Local Leaders, Men, Youth, And Other Residents.

This Perception Survey Will Provide a Valuable Opportunity ToAssess the relevance, effectiveness, and acceptance of the project;Identify unintended outcomes (positive or negative);Understand the extent to which the project has influenced community attitudes toward conservation;Gather practical insights to strengthen or scale the initiative. The findings will feed into strategic learning and adaptive programming within IFAW. While not a full-scale impact evaluation, this perception survey will serve as a cost-effective way to assess the project's footprint, offering qualitative and quantitative feedback to guide future planning and investment.

Objectives of the SurveyThe Main Objective Of This Survey Is To Assess Perceptions Of The Jenga Mama Project Among Beneficiaries And Community Members. Specific Objectives IncludeGauge beneficiary satisfaction with the project. Understand the perceived impact on livelihoods, empowerment, and community dynamics. Explore awareness and perceptions among non-beneficiaries. Identify gaps, challenges, and suggestions for improvement. Scope of WorkThe consultant or firm will be responsible for developing and refining the survey tools, including questionnaires and interview guides, to ensure they are contextually appropriate and aligned with the objectives of the study.

They will conduct data collection from a representative sample that captures a broad spectrum of perspectives. This will include direct beneficiaries of the Jenga Mama Project primarily women who participated in the program as well as members of the wider community such as men, youth, local leaders, and business owners. In addition to survey data, the consultant will facilitate a minimum of three focus group discussions (FGDs) to gather deeper insights into community perceptions, values, and lived experiences related to the project.

They will also conduct key informant interviews (KIIs) with relevant stakeholders who have been involved in or observed the project’s implementation and outcomes. The consultant will be expected to analyze both quantitative and qualitative data systematically to identify trends, perceptions, and impact narratives. Based on this analysis, they will produce a comprehensive report that presents the findings clearly and offers practical recommendations for improvement, adaptation, or scale-up of the Jenga Mama Project.

MethodologyA mixed-methods approach will be employed to ensure a comprehensive understanding of how the Jenga Mama Project is perceived by both direct beneficiaries and the broader community. This approach combines the strengths of both quantitative and qualitative methods to capture a fuller picture of the project’s outcomes and impact. The quantitative component will involve structured surveys targeting a statistically valid and representative sample of individuals, including both women who have directly benefited from the project and members of the wider community.

These surveys will generate measurable data on key indicators such as awareness of the project, satisfaction with its services, perceived changes in household income or livelihood stability, and attitudes toward women’s empowerment and conservation. The data collected will allow for disaggregation by variables such as age, gender, location, and beneficiary status to identify trends and patterns across different groups. The qualitative component will complement the surveys by delving deeper into people’s experiences and perceptions.

This will include a series of focus group discussions (FGDs) with different community segments such as women beneficiaries, men, youth, and local leaders as well as key informant interviews (KIIs) with stakeholders including project staff, vocational training providers, community elders, and local government representatives. These sessions will explore topics such as changes in social norms, perceived value of the project, barriers faced by women during or after training, and community-level shifts in attitudes toward conservation, project caused residence relocation from the rural areas to urban centers.

The consultant will be responsible for proposing the final methodology, including sampling strategies and data collection tools. However, the approach must adhere to key principles. It must be inclusive, ensuring the participation of diverse voices across gender, age, and social groups. It must also be geographically representative, covering different areas within the Amboseli region where the project has been implemented. Lastly, the methods and tools used must be culturally appropriate designed and delivered in ways that are respectful, accessible, and easily understood by local communities, including the use of local languages and consideration of traditional norms and practices.

DeliverablesInception Report-Methodology, sampling frame, data collection tools-Week 1Data Collection-Fieldwork (interviews, FGDs, KIIs)-Weeks 2–3Draft Report-Initial findings and analysis-Week 4Validation Workshop-Presentation of findings to IFAW and stakeholders-Week 5Final Report-Incorporating feedback, including data annexes-Week 6DurationThe assignment will take 6 weeks, beginning from the date of signing of the contract. Qualifications And ExperienceThe selected individual/firm must demonstrate: Proven experience conducting perception or impact evaluations, especially in rural African contextsProven experience in conducting participatory qualitative and quantitative studies.

Knowledge of gender-sensitive and participatory research methodsFamiliarity with conservation-livelihood projectsAbility to work in Maasai-speaking communities (local enumerators preferred)Strong analytical and reporting skillsHow to applySubmission of ProposalsInterested Consultants/firms Must Submit The FollowingTechnical proposal (max 7 pages) elaborating widely on the methodology. Financial proposal as an annex of the technical proposal. Work plan as an annex of the technical proposal. CVs of key personnel an annex of the technical proposal. At least two references an annex of the technical proposal. Two examples of similar work conducted in the last 3 years. The above should be submitted to supplierea@ifaw.

org and copy eomondi@ifaw. org with the subject as ‘PERCEPTION SURVEY FOR THE JENGA MAMA PROJECT’ not later than CoB 18th August 2025Job detailsCountryKenyaCity Nairobi SourceInternational Fund for Animal WelfareTypeConsultancyCareer categoryMonitoring and EvaluationYears of experience5-9 yearsThemesClimate Change and EnvironmentGenderShare Share this on Facebook Share this on X Post this on LinkedIn