TERMS OF REFERENCE - Business Beyond Barriers Project (Ref No: HIHEA/03-2026/MEAL)

Ref No: HIHEA/03-2026/MEAL

Project Title: Business Beyond Barriers Project

Type of Assignment: Baseline Evaluation

Location of project: Kenya - Kajiado & Narok Counties

Tanzania - Kilimanjaro & Arusha Regions

Type of Applicants: Firm Only

Assessment Period: 90 days

BACKGROUND

1. Organizational background

Hand in Hand operates in a network where the partner organizations are independent organizations, with their own board and locally employed staff. The Hand in Hand (HIH) global footprint is already in; India, Tanzania, South Africa, Afghanistan, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda with support offices in Hand in Hand International (London) and Hand in Hand Sweden. These organizations operate with a mission to work for the economic and social empowerment of marginalized women, youth and men and therefore the society by supporting the creation of sustainable Enterprises and Jobs.

To facilitate enterprise creation, HIH uses a 4-step enterprise development model that entails seven training modules that starts with set-up or mobilizing self-help groups that act as savings groups, delivering enterprise skills through training, enhancing financial management as well as financial access and

providing linkage to broader markets. While entrepreneurship is the strategic focus of HIH, the work is complemented by efforts in thematic areas that increase resilience to climate change, promote advocacy and human rights, and enhance gender mainstreaming, regenerative agriculture and circular economy.

1.1 About the project

The Business Beyond Barriers Project is a three-year intervention focused on engaging and strengthening democratic grassroots civil society structures, including 855 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) small groups of 15-20 members and 16 Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), positioning them as platforms for learning and as key drivers of positive change. This project aims at empowering marginalized communities in Kenya and Tanzania. Through entrepreneurship training and support, the project will equip over 17,100 individuals (Kenya;12,100 Tanzania;5,000) with the skills to establish enterprises, leading to the creation of over 15,000 jobs. To ensure effective delivery of project objectives, the project will be implemented in two cohorts within the three years of implementation.

By integrating enterprise development with awareness of rights and advocacy initiatives, the project will further enhance socio-economic empowerment at the individual, household, and community levels, fostering resilience and sustainable livelihoods. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the project seeks to create a sustainable future through strengthening civil society and empowering rights holders, working toward objectives such as increased income and savings, gender equality, strengthened capacity to claim rights and participate in decision-making, climate change adaptation and lifelong learning.

1.2 Key Intervention Components:

a. Economic and Social Empowerment:

Establishing 11,970 enterprises and generating 15,561 jobs to enhance socio-economic rights for individuals at the bottom of the economic pyramid.

b. Strengthening resilience and adaptation against climate and financial shocks.

Providing Rights Way Forward (RWF) training to 25,600 individuals, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to advocate for their rights and drive positive community change and development. Developing 112 locally recruited Advocacy Champions to address cultural barriers hindering women's participation in business and decision-making processes.

c. Increased Awareness of Human Rights:

Through Right(s) way forward methodology, community members will be capacity build to become more aware of the gender dynamics in their communities that limit income opportunities for women.

Additionally, community-led discussions at local events will raise awareness on the benefits of gender equality and equity. The project incorporated strategic gender components addressing barriers barring equitable participation of women in economic empowerment initiatives. This includes issues on women decision making on business income, production, access to credit, access to and legal ownership of resources such as land or other assets and the triple roles of women hampering success in women-led enterprises.

d. Enterprise Acceleration:

Supporting 300 enterprises to scale up operations, increase sales and net incomes, generate 600 new jobs, and stimulate local economic growth.

e. Capacity strengthening

Supporting partner organizations and CBOs to build capacity within their organizations with the goal of creating stronger, more self-sufficient and effective civil society actors. The project integrates Hand in Hands focus on economic empowerment with key development principles such as; human rights, gender equality, environmental sustainability, climate resilience and conflict sensitivity, to ensure long-term and sustainable impact and results. A core aspect of the initiative is partnership and capacity building, including south-to-south knowledge exchange which strengthens the collaboration between the implementing partners in Kenya and Tanzania.

f. Adult Literacy

Due to high illiteracy rates among the target group (especially among the women) the project embeds a

component to promote adult literacy. Once the members have reached a determined level in the curriculum, they will participate in a proficiency test set by the governmental run Directorate of Adult and Continuing Education (DACE) and upon passing, they will receive a certificate. The members will also participate in campaigns to raise awareness about the importance of literacy for being able to claim rights and contribute to a sustainable future.

1.3 Project Goal

The overall goal of the project is to support and promote empowered and resilient communities rising out

of poverty and contributing to a sustainable future. This will be achie