Posted Mon, Jul 15, 2024 11:39 AM

Terms of Reference (ToR) For Contracting Data Collection Services at the NESG

Terms of Reference (ToR) For Contracting Data Collection Services at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG)

Project Title: Business Confidence Survey (BCM) & Business Confidence Index (BCI)

1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) is a non-profit, non-partisan private sector organisation with a mandate to promote and champion the reform of the Nigerian economy into a modern, globally competitive, sustainable, inclusive, and open economy. Over the years, due to the limitations of conventional economic data, business surveys have emerged as a valuable alternative, offering timely insights into economic activity ahead of official data releases. These surveys are essential for creating leading indicators of economic activity. To bridge the gap caused by the delayed release of significant economic data, the NESG is launching a Business Confidence Survey (BCS) and Confidence Index (BCI). This monthly survey gathers qualitative data from businesses across Nigeria, addressing various economic aspects such as output levels, employment, profitability, consumer demand, and the impact of policies.

The NESG Business Confidence Survey and Confidence Index will address the problem of insufficient and lapses in economic data releases. The BCS/BCI will provide information from all categories of firms (Large, medium and small firms). The survey will use the questionnaire design as the data instrument. The questionnaire will collate qualitative information (such as assessing the current situation and production capacity, production constraints and expectations about future production) and activity-specific information for various economic sectors.             

The goal of BCS/BCI is to gather qualitative data to monitor sector-specific business conditions, track short-term developments, identify critical issues impacting businesses, and assess policy changes’ economic impact in Nigeria. The monthly survey outcomes will create an index system to gauge Nigeria’s business confidence levels, reflecting current business conditions and guiding future intentions. The Activity uses two impact indicators that cut across components to measure progress toward this goal:

• Policymakers and business managers will better understand the economy’s current state and prospects.
• The BCS/BCI will enable stakeholders to make more informed decisions with the available information.

 

2. ABOUT THE BCS MONTHLY ASSIGNMENT

This Terms of Reference (ToR) document refers to services of a firm/individuals to perform data collection activity with selected partners and stakeholders and monitor/ensure the respondents fill the Business confidence survey forms provided by the NESG. The assignment will be a monthly activity, collating data and information from business establishments (any entity with a physical presence, regardless of ownership, legal structure, size, or nationality of ownership) operating in Nigeria for at least three years and across fourteen (14)[1] states in the six geo-political zones, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Data will be collected during visits to sampled project stakeholders and market actors that fall into any of the business establishments’ categories mentioned above. After selection, the service provider will receive the project logic model, MEL plan and data collection instruments. The targeted number of responses for the monthly BSC is 1,000. Hence, the selected data service firm will conduct an online survey on the five (5) strata of economic sectors, namely, Agriculture, Manufacturing Industries, Non-Manufacturing Industries, Services, and Trade. Each stratum must contain a minimum of 50 establishments to meet the target of 1,000 responses.

The Business Confidence Survey will take approximately 8 minutes to complete per person.

3. SCOPE OF WORK FOR A LOCAL DATA COLLECTION FIRM

The NESG is seeking a local research or data services firm with experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection to collaborate on the monthly Business Confidence Survey. The chosen firm will handle all data collection processes and begin activities in August 2024

Key responsibilities of the local data collection partner include:

1. Instrument finalisation:  The local data collection firm will be required to assist the NESG Research team with a survey distribution strategy across the 14 selected states.  The NESG will provide the survey tool. However, the firm will conduct a final review to check for the appropriateness of the language used in the instruments. It can translate the questions related to the local dialects used in the specific programme communities. The local data collection firm will be responsible for digitalising and uploading the survey onto data collection tablets.
2. Enumerator recruitment and data collection training: The local data collection service firm will identify and recruit data collectors (firms will identify the total number needed based on the data collection caseload described in this ToR) who will be responsible for collating the qualitative data for NESG BCS targeted indicators. The local firm will ensure that qualified data collectors are present. Based on enumerator assessments, a final team of selected enumerators will be determined from the full group of trainees.

 

The local firm will be responsible for developing a Data Collection Guidance note for review by the NESG Research team prior to training. The firm will also print the data collection instruments (questionnaire) for training, incorporate (and translate) any revisions to instruments following training and pilots, and print all instruments for data collection.

 

 Pilot survey tool: The local data collection will conduct a small pilot exercise to ensure an existing survey tool is approximately adapted for the local context and target population and that the survey has been effectively transferred onto the tablet. The local research firm will be responsible for coordinating the logistics of the pilot exercise, including identifying appropriate participants for the quantitative survey pilots and providing feedback to the NESG Research team on how to modify the survey.  

 

 Qualitative data collection: The local research firm must ensure a successful rollout of data collection, contact with each respondent selected, and complete all surveys. The firm will coordinate all logistics for qualitative data collection of validated surveys (most significantly, travel to and from the evaluation sites in appropriate vehicles for the local conditions).

 

This may imply the firm may have to collect up to 10 percent more to achieve the required number of effective surveys. Surveys will be administered orally in the local language across the country, as not all respondents will be literate. The NESG will provide the precise timing, location, and firms to be surveyed before data collection. The survey supervisor(s) will ensure that all surveys are completed correctly prior to leaving each evaluation site and that data is stored securely. The research firm will also be responsible for ensuring all research ethical standards are followed, such as obtaining informed consent, clearly explaining that participants have complete choice in participating in the research and respecting participants who wish to withdraw or discontinue surveys.

 

 Data entry and cleaning: The local data collection firm is responsible for entering all data collected under this evaluation. This includes double-entry of all survey data. Daily data quality checks are required. Survey data must be entered in Excel files. The data collection firm will be responsible for developing a data entry template which will be responsible for developing data entry template which NESG Research will review. Supervisor(s) will conduct thorough data checks and submit to NESG a final, clean dataset. The data collection firm will also prepare and deliver a codebook to accompany the final dataset/database and is expected to submit all paper questionnaire responses. The firm will draft weekly progress reports and submit them to the Project Lead to update him on the data collection processes. Also, the survey results will be reviewed and validated in close coordination with the project lead.

 

Expected Deliverables and Milestones

• Data Collection Guidance created, translated, and presented to the NESG.
• Qualitative enumerators recruited for data collection training.
• Training of data collectors co-led by the data collection firm and the NESG Research Team.
• Explain the objectives of surveys and their procedures to respondents, including appropriately gaining informed consent where respondents agree to participate.
• Deliver questionnaires to respondents’ firms to collect information and data.
• Double-check information on survey forms to ensure accuracy and verify if all questions were answered. All 1000 surveys double-entered into the MS Excel template.
• Identify and report any issues that may arise while attempting to obtain valid data
• Maintain confidentiality throughout the whole process.
• Participate in on-the-job training and pre-testing of data collection tools before the commencement of the survey.
• Respond to queries raised by the Research team on the submitted data, recontacting respondents as required.
• Weekly written data collection progress reports during the process of collection.
• Final data collection report for qualitative data collected from the six geo-political zones.

NB: Any additional final milestones and deliverables will be set in the contract that is signed with the selected firm.

 

4. COMPETENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

 Qualifications for Lead Consultant

• The Data Services provider must be located in Nigeria
• Must have a recognised University Degree in Economics, Data Science, or Statistics.
• Must demonstrate excellent fluency in English and any other Nigerian language
• Must demonstrate a high level of experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative surveys in Nigeria in line with international best practices
• Must demonstrate experience in high-level data cleaning, data entry and familiarity with various data analysis programmes
• Must demonstrate experience collecting sensitive data from survey respondents

 

 Qualifications for enumerators

• All data collectors should have (at a minimum) a higher national diploma and experience conducting applied research and evaluations.
• Survey experience is required for qualitative enumerators. Enumerators should be male and female, as data collection will be with male and female participants.

 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTION

• A detailed proposal outlining the methodology, tools, and analysis plan is needed. The proposal should be divided into technical and financial parts.
• Include details of the firm’s experience conducting research in Nigeria. Your expertise in this region is crucial to the success of our project.

-        The technical submission will contain:

• A summary of the proposed methodology;
• A suggested work plan & timeframe (including dates for submission of first draft and final report);
• A detailed CV of the lead consultant containing experience and profile of the organisation.
• Proof of financial management: Please include the CVs of financial management staff and at least two references who can speak to their success in managing budgets.

• The financial submission, a crucial aspect of your proposal, will describe the estimated cost for the consultancy in detail.

 

Payment

The contracted firm will be paid in tranches based on the delivery of agreed-upon outputs at the different project milestones set in the finalised agreement (MoU).

 

Prospective companies should apply to the email address info@nesgroup.org and copy  research@nesgroup.org before July 19, 2024. Please ensure the subject line is denoted with the heading: NESG BCS Data Collection Services Application: ‘Name of Data Collection Company’. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

 

 

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[1] Kano State, Kaduna State, Bauchi State, Adamawa State, Abuja FCT, Plateau State, Niger State, Lagos State, Ogun State, Oyo State, Anambra State, Abia State, Delta State, Rivers State