Ground Truth Solutions (GTS) seeks the services of a data collection organisation to conduct quantitative perception survey across Sudan. This research project, “Strengthening humanitarian response efforts through community-led evidence”, aims to generate community-driven evidence on how mutual aid, national and international assistance intersect to meet community priorities, shape wellbeing and social cohesion, as well as people’s suggestions for how aid could be improved. This research will begin with a co-design phase (this will be conducted by a separate entity and not within the scope of this TOR) with community members, mutual aid actors, and local leaders, which will shape the exact research focus and scope. It is anticipated that the research will explore themes such as: people’s perceptions of aid and support, barriers and access to aid and support, community capacities and engagement with support systems including mutual aid, national and international humanitarian aid systems, and community suggestions for improvement. By centring these perspectives, the project will highlight community-defined priorities and practical recommendations for strengthening support systems in ways that align with local realities.
Duration: 5 months – August 2026 – December 2026
Location: Sudan (specific states to be selected by mutual agreement)
Reports to: Programme Manager
About Ground Truth Solutions
Ground Truth Solutions (GTS) is an international, non-governmental organisation dedicated to ensuring the priorities of people affected by crisis are systematically considered in humanitarian and climate action, from individual responses to systemwide humanitarian reform. Evidence and ideas gathered through rigorous research and inclusive dialogue enable crisis-affected communities to actively shape the decisions that impact their lives. Headquartered in Austria, GTS works globally as an independent advocate, collaborating closely with local partners who share our vision.
About the project
Objective
The proposed survey has the following main objectives:
- To provide robust, dynamic and actionable data on how crisis-affected communities across Sudan are experiencing the humanitarian response, their priorities and their suggestions for how aid could be improved.
- To ensure this research is guided by and relevant to both crisis-affected communities and local and mutual aid actors, for sustainability and uptake.
- To translate, with humanitarian actors across the response, this data into actionable insight which drives a more effective, coherent and people-centred response.
The consultancy
Scope of work
GTS seeks the services of a data collection organisation to conduct perception surveys with community members. The perception survey will be designed by Ground Truth Solutions following a co-design phase with community members (August 2026) and consultations with key actors. The coding and design of the survey will be done by GTS, with the selected data collection partner reviewing and providing suggestions and contextual inputs.
The findings from the survey will be used to generate insights and recommendations for civil society, humanitarian actors and donors to turn community insight into a more effective, coherent and relevant humanitarian response.
For our work in Sudan, the collaboration with the selected data collection partner will include a research scoping and design phase and a data collection phase.
In particular, we are looking for partners that can conduct the following activities.
1. Short research scoping & design phase
The selected data collection partner will contribute to defining the geographic scope of the research based on their presence and network, as well as provide insight on the accessibility and feasibility of conducting the research in specific locations across Sudan. The selected data collection partner is responsible for obtaining the necessary approvals for data collection and ensuring all appropriate measures are taken to ensure the safety of both enumerators and participants in the process.
The partner will conduct a short scoping phase, which is intended to provide insight and evidence to guide the selection of the most relevant target groups in selected locations and support in identifying a diverse cross section of the population. Along with GTS, the partner will contribute to the scoping phase through informal calls with relevant community actors and local NGO staff to help validate assumptions and contribute to the design of the survey.
2. Data collection phase
2.1. Quantitative Data Collection
The selected data collection partner will work with GTS on the design of a quantitative survey, support with sample design (see paragraph 2.3), conduct enhanced questionnaire testing, data collection (face-to-face surveys), and translation of any open-ended responses into English. The partner will:
a. Collaborate with GTS as requested in designing the survey tools (including translation of survey questions from English into relevant Sudanese Arabic and any relevant dialects).
b. Appoint, train (with GTS support), and manage a team of capable enumerators in different states in Sudan with appropriate education levels and experience in collecting quantitative data.
c. Ensure that enumerators have or are provided with materials and training they need to enable them to complete the assignment within the timeframe, including training on collecting data with SurveyCTO and the survey provided by GTS. GTS will provide a ‘Training of Trainers’ which will elaborate on the survey purpose, as well as remote data quality checks GTS will conduct.
d. Ensure a robust mechanism is in place for participants to file complaints or reports of enumerator misconduct and that enumerators understand and sign the GTS code of conduct.
e. Test the survey through both cognitive testing, in which a small number of interviews are carried out to test the understanding of certain questions in the survey, and pilot phase, in which all enumerators will be expected to record a small number of surveys. Training and interviews guides for the cognitive interviewing will be provided by GTS.
f. Ensure enumerators submit data in a timely manner and share with us brief daily updates where necessary on progress and/or challenges experienced in the field. This includes engaging with GTS’ feedback from daily quality checks and addressing any issues promptly.
g. Demonstrate that they can work safely and ensure the wellbeing of the enumeration team based on precedents and have a security protocol in place for any potential security incidents.
h. After data collection, ensure enumerators complete the enumerator feedback form to provide their feedback and experiences with the data collection process (anonymous).
i. After data collection, participate in a joint analysis session with GTS to discuss and validate the preliminary findings from the quantitative data.
Potentially (based on enumerator experience):
j. Conduct dialogue sessions with community members to share the findings of the research and ask for their reflections and input.
2.2. Quality Assurance for Quantitative Data Collection
We expect that quality assurance measures will be taken by our data collection partner to ensure that the data quality is of a high standard and accurately captures the opinions of people. In addition, GTS undertakes detailed data quality checks each evening of data collection, providing feedback in writing by the end of the day. These checks include evaluation of GPS data as well as evaluation of the time each interview takes and the content of responses to ensure adequate time and care is being taken for each interview. Additionally, we review the open-ended question responses and response patterns. We expect the selected partner to engage with feedback and deal with any issues that arise, which may include retraining of individual enumerators, and in some cases removal of enumerators who underperform.
In addition to co-developing enumerator training materials that reflect the enhanced questionnaire testing, the data collection partner will submit around 4 data points per enumerator for quality assurance prior the start of the data collection in each district according to the GTS format guidelines, which will not be part of the final data set. This entails the pilot testing.
2.3. Survey methodology and sample design
The selected data collection partner should be able to provide input and support on designing a sampling methodology and strategy based on available sources of information and mitigating any operating constraints in the different locations. The data collection partner will use the sampling approach defined by GTS to ensure randomisation, which will include requiring enumerators to visit specific GPS coordinates, and interviewing people at these coordinates within a given geographic boundary.
There will usually be around 30-35 questions, including some demographic questions. Questions will include multiple choice, binary/Likert scale and open-ended questions.
Sample size: 500 in each state, 6 states in total (3,000 interviews total). Interviews should be conducted with men and women above the age of 18, using a random sampling approach.
Target group
People in need living in Sudan, both people who receive aid (including recipients of aid and support from mutual aid initiatives) and those who don’t/haven’t, in selected district, 18+ years old (general population)
Geographic scope
To be defined with research partner
Survey mode and size
Face to face survey, 500 per state, 6 states total
Questionnaire length
30-35 questions
Deliverables
- Verification and translation of survey tool.
- Completion of cognitive testing and pilot stage – sharing feedback with GTS.
- Completion of face-face data collection.
- Submission of translated open-ended questions.
- Participation in co-analysis session with GTS.
- Participation in an end of data collection debrief, to discuss challenges faced and any research limitations to be included in the report.
- Completion of enumerator survey.
Timeline
Data collection must be completed by 30 November 2026, and all deliverables submitted by 15 December 2026. A detailed work plan will be agreed upon at the beginning of the consultancy.
Do no harm and risk mitigation
The data collection partner must clearly indicate how the data will be collected in a responsible manner. It must ensure that all risks for respondents have been carefully identified along with mitigation measures to prevent any harm is caused to people directly or indirectly involved.
How to express your interest
Relevant experience & skills
- Proven experience with conducting large-scale representative quantitative surveys
- Staff members with proven experience and strong background in survey and sample design and quantitative methodology
- Excellent spoken and written English and Arabic
- Excellent communication and reporting skills
- Experience working with civil society organisations and humanitarian actors
- Experience with research in the field of social sciences, international development, humanitarian action, or any other related area of study/equivalent experience.
How to apply
Interested candidates are required to apply before 30th of July 2026 at 23:59 at the following address [email protected] indicating in the subject line the following: ‘Quantitative Data Collection – Sudan 2026’.
The application must include:
- A brief cover letter and CV / organisational profile.
- A brief narrative proposal outlining a proposed methodological approach (maximum of 5 pages) including the six states you propose and have access to, the deliverables and tasks; and expected number of days/weeks each task will take.
- A financial proposal, (maximum of 2 pages) detailing the breakdown of costs, including staffing. The applicant must provide a budget for conducting 500 interviews per state, in 6 states (total 3000 interviews), and clearly show the number of districts covered.
- A detailed workplan of activities
- 1 page (or more) on your experience working on similar projects (i.e.: prior publications and at least two references – please add contact details of your focal point with previous partners), with short description on how previous experience and projects were relevant to the current assignment. For previous experiences, please provide details on number of interviews conducted, dates and geographical coverage.
More Information
- Job City Sudan
