CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES - UNITED STATES CATHOLIC CONFERENCE OF BISHOPS

TENDER FOR HIRING AN INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT / FIRM TO CONDUCT A MULTISECTORAL COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT AT RUSIZI (RWANDA) AND BUKAVU (DRC) BORDERS

TENDER FOR HIRING AN INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT / FIRM TO CONDUCT A MULTISECTORAL COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT AT RUSIZI (RWANDA) AND BUKAVU (DRC) BORDERS.

CRS-Rwanda 009 – FY26 – TN/2026

1. About Catholic Relief Services (CRS)

Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS works to save, protect, and transform lives in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development works are accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance, and peacebuilding. The Country Program implements its projects through local and international partners, with strong coordination/collaboration with Government of Rwanda structures. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has been working in Rwanda since 1961. CRS Rwanda’s key programing areas include youth empowerment, agriculture, early childhood development, economic strengthening, justice, and peace building. To achieve this, CRS collaborates with the government of Rwanda, donors, the Catholic church, private sector, and civil society organizations. 

2. About Promoting Shared Prosperity in Cross border Trader Project 

Cross-border trade (CBT), particularly under the African Free Trade Continental Agreement (AfCFTA), stands as a pivotal driver for Africa’s economic transformation and regional integration. In the Great Lakes Region, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have made boosting intra-regional trade and achieving the African Free Continental Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) key priorities, which remains critical to supporting the transition from land-locked to land-linking economies, strengthening regional economic integration, and boosting shared prosperity for all. However, small scale cross-border traders (SSCBTs) are at risk of being left behind from national progress made on trade, due to a number of factors including gaps in existing policies and regulatory frameworks, barriers in accessing services, high rates of informality, and the difficult and sometimes insecure contexts in which they work.

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is implementing Promoting Shared Prosperity in Cross-Border Trade (PSP-CBT) project , which aims to enhance and scale up cross-border trade between Rwanda and DRC to support greater regional economic integration and boost shared prosperity, while ensuring that SSCBTs can materially capture the benefits of this trade and are not left behind. Catholic Relief Services, as the Implementing Partner, will contribute to the implementation of the project at the community-level in border districts. By addressing the economic, social, and psychosocial needs of SSCBTs particularly women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

3. Purpose of the Consultancy /Firm

CRS seeks to hire a skilled and experienced individual consultant / firm to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment to better understand the current socioeconomic and psychosocial needs, capacity-building gaps, digital access gaps, and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response needs of small-scale cross-border traders operating between Bukavu -DRC and Rusizi -Rwanda.

The findings will inform the design and implementation of targeted, inclusive, and evidence-based interventions under the PSP-CBT project. The assessment will generate actionable recommendations aimed at strengthening livelihoods, enhancing protection mechanisms, and promoting equitable participation in cross-border trade.

4. Scope of work 

The primary target population includes small-scale cross-border traders (SSCBTs) operating at Rusizi- Rwanda and Bukavu -DRC border posts who are not yet organized into Savings and Internal Lending Communities (SILC/VSLAs), or cooperatives, special emphasis will be placed on youth (aged 18–30), women SSCBTs, and persons with disabilities.

Other stakeholders to be consulted during implementation include border officials, local authorities, trader associations, financial service providers, civil society organizations, and community-based protection actors to ensure inclusive engagement and coordinated action. The assessment will be conducted in Rusizi- Rwanda and Bukavu – DRC. Data collection will be dependent on samples which reflect gaps that currently exist within IOM and Partner Understanding.

The project will directly support:

• 350 SILC group members
• 2,000 community members through targeted engagement activities
• 250 SSCBTs as peace ambassadors.
• 20,000 individuals reached through awareness-raising campaigns on both sides of the border (Rusizi and Bukavu).

The consultant will be responsible for:

• Designing a comprehensive and gender-sensitive assessment methodology and tools including samples that reflect current gaps in data in both sides,Rusizi -Rwanda and Bukavu -DRC.
• Collecting quantitative and qualitative data on:
  • Socioeconomic current conditions and livelihood challenges
  • Access to finance and business development services
  • Skills gaps and training needs
  • Psychosocial status and protection concerns
  • GBV risks, prevention, and response mechanisms
  • Digital literacy and capacity gaps
• Analyzing existing policies, regulatory frameworks, and support systems affecting SSCBTs.

• Identifying barriers to the participation of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in cross-border trade and access to services.

• Providing practical and evidence-based recommendations to inform:
  • Livelihood strengthening interventions
  • Capacity-building programs
  • GBV prevention and response initiatives
  • Gender Equality and Women, and youth Empowerment strategies.

5. Expected deliverables.

• Submission and Validation of Inception report
• Data collection tools.
• Field data collection and Stakeholder Consultations
• Data analysis and approved report
• Preliminary Findings report
• Draft Needs Assessment Final Report
• Presentation and validation of findings
• Facilitate the dissemination session.
• Get required permissions and approvals from appropriate authorities in Rwanda and DRC.

6 .Qualifications for the Consultancy and Required Experience:

Education and Experience

• Advanced academic degrees (MS, MPH, PhD) in relevant fields such as Economics, Social sciences, Development Studies, Gender Studies, International Development, Digital Development, Public Policy, or related fields.
• Proven expertise in development research and assessments, including multisectoral studies across areas such as livelihoods, socioeconomic, youth development, digital access, GBV prevention and responses, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS.)
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience conducting socioeconomic research, needs assessments, and program evaluations in low-resource or fragile settings.
• Strong knowledge and application of gender equality, protection programming, and GBV prevention, with experience in participatory and inclusive research methodologies.
• Experience in service mapping, gap analysis, and evidence-based recommendations, supporting program design and policy frameworks.
• Deep understanding of monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) principles, and cross border programs.
• Demonstrated capacity to manage field data collection and analysis, including logistics, stakeholder engagement, and ethical compliance (human subject protections and conflict of interest protocols).
• Excellent analytical and writing skills, with attention to detail in producing high-quality reports, tools, and guidance documents.
• Strong coordination and collaboration skills, ability to meet deadlines, and capacity to work effectively both on-site and remotely.
• Alignment with organizational values and ability to work inclusively within diverse teams.
• Experience developing evidence-based recommendations, intervention frameworks, and training content based on assessment findings.
• Experience in the Great Lakes region (Rwanda–DRC) is considered an asset, particularly where it includes expertise in cross-border trade and regional market integration.
• Language proficiency: Fluency in English is required; fluency in Kinyarwanda, Swahili and/or French is highly desirable.
•  The consultant must be a Rwandan.

7. Proposal Submission Requirements

Interested consultants must submit the following:

• Technical Proposal (maximum 6 pages): Demonstrating understanding of the Terms of Reference, proposed methodology, and detailed workplan.
• Financial Proposal: Itemized budget including daily rates and all estimated expenses.
• CV(s) of Key Personnel and organizational profile (if applicable).
• Examples of Previous Work: At least three reports from similar evaluations led by the proposed personnel.
• Professional References: Contact details for three references, including:
  • Name
  • Position
  • Organization/Company
  • Phone number
  • Email address
  • City, State, Country
• Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest.
• Important Note: Applications missing any of the above requirements will not be considered.

8. Timeframe 

The overall duration of assignment will be conducted over a period of 2 Months. from the date of the contract signing. The consultant will work on a deliverable-based arrangement, and payments will be made upon submission and approval of agreed milestones.

9. Reporting and Working language. 

The consultant will report directly to the CRS, designated technical team, all reports/documents should be produced in English, and French.

10. Length of the bid document 

Interested bidders should submit technical and financial proposal documents that do not exceed 10 pages maximum without annexes.

11. Evaluation Criteria

11.1. Evaluation criteria and methodology

The consultant /firm will be selected using the quality and cost-based selection and the evaluation will be conducted against the following criteria:

11.2.  Administrative Evaluation

Applicants must provide the following:

1. Legal registration and operation in Rwanda. 
2. At least one page of company profile (for consultant firms)
3. A copy of full registration certificate (RDB certificate), if applicable
4. Data Controller/Processor certificate provided by the National Cyber Security Authority
5. VAT and/or tax clearance certificates, if applicable.
6. At least three completion certificates of similar services.
7. Submission of required documents as listed above.

11.3. Technical and Financial Evaluation

N.B : The minimum technical score for the consultant to pass the technical stage is 70%.

• Tw = % Weight of technical score (70%)
• Fw = % Weight of financial score (30%)
• The financial score for each consultant/firm will be calculated using the following formula: the financial weight is 30%.
• Financial score (FS) = (LF x 100)/ Fi
• LF = The lowest financial proposal.
• Fi = The proposal to be evaluated. 

Financial evaluation

• The winning consultant/firm will be determined by combining the technical score and financial score as per the following formula:
• Final score (S): (TS x Tw%) + (FSxFw%) where:
• S= Final score
• TS = Technical score
• FS = Financial score
• Tw = % Weight of technical score (70%)
• Fw = % Weight of financial score (30%)
• The cost should be inclusive of required taxes (15% WHT or 18%VAT Tax)
• Validity of the quotation should be 90 days
• The bid should be signed by company’s legal representative
• All consultants must quote in Rwandan Francs

11.4. Price schedule

12. Ethical Considerations and Safeguarding

The consultant must adhere to:

• Informed consent from participants
• Confidentiality and data protection
• Protection of vulnerable populations
• Safe handling of GBV-related disclosures
• Compliance with CRS safeguarding policies

13. Intellectual Property

• All data, reports, and materials produced under this assignment remain the property of Catholic Relief Services (CRS).
• The consultant/firm may not publish or share data without written authorization.

14. Confidentiality

All documents and data will be treated confidentially and used solely to facilitate this assignment. 

15. Clarifying Questions and CRS Response

Prospective bidders may submit any clarification questions to rwandabids@crs.org.Responses will be provided to any known prospective bidders.

How to apply

Bid written in English addressed to the attention of the Country Manager of CRS Rwanda Program Office must be submitted to the following e-mail address “rwandabids@crs.org” no later than April 21 , 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Kigali time. The title of the email must include: “CONSULTANT/FIRM TO CONDUCT COMMUNITY NEED ASSESSMENT FOR PROMOTING SHARED PROSPERITY IN CROSS BORDER TRADE IN RUSIZI – RWANDA AND BUKAVU DRC. And the application should be combined in one (1) document in PDF format. A late submission will not be considered.

Done at Kigali, April 8, 2026.

Charlotte K. Batanage

Acting Country Manager