INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR ANIMAL WELFARE TENDER AUGUST 2025
| REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL |
PERCEPTION SURVEY FOR THE JENGA MAMA PROJECT – AMBOSELI, KENYA
Closing date:18 Aug 2025
Background
Since 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 to:
- Assess 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 Survey
The main objective of this survey is to assess perceptions of the Jenga Mama Project among beneficiaries and community members. Specific objectives include:
- Gauge 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 Work
The 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.
How to apply
