TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR)
Agency onboarding for Baseline Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) Study
| Project location | Panipat, Haryana |
| Primary target group | Approximately 2,000 textile recycling unit workers and their families |
| Assignment | Baseline KAP study to inform WASH and SBCC interventions |
1. Background
Water For People is an international non-profit working across nine countries to bring safe water and sanitation to four million people. Water For People is implementing the H&M Foundation-supported “From Factory Floors to Healthy Homes” project in Panipat to improve access to safe and equitable WASH services for textile recycling workers and their families. The project combines WASH infrastructure improvement, behaviour change and community-led systems strengthening.
The project proposal identifies challenges including limited access to safe and reliable drinking water, groundwater contamination, inadequate sanitation, low adoption of safe hygiene practices, weak operation and maintenance systems, limited access to formal services, and gender-specific concerns including menstrual hygiene and privacy. Migrant workers are a key priority group.
2. Purpose of the Assignment
Water For People seeks an experienced research agency/consulting firm to conduct a baseline KAP study among targeted textile recycling workers and their families. The study will establish a clear evidence base for programme design, identify priority behaviours and audience segments, understand barriers and enablers, and generate baseline values for relevant project indicators.
3. Objectives
- Assess knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and current practices related to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
- Assess drinking-water access, safety, storage/handling, sanitation, hand hygiene and menstrual hygiene practices.
- Identify behavioural, social, cultural, economic, gender and contextual barriers and enablers.
- Understand differences among key groups, including women/men, migrant/non-migrant workers and onsite/offsite accommodations.
- Assess perceptions of WASH facilities, service quality, reliability, safety, privacy and maintenance.
- Assess awareness and access to relevant government WASH services/entitlements, where applicable.
- Understand awareness of WASH governance, ownership, O&M responsibilities and willingness to participate.
- Generate baseline values and practical recommendations for the project’s SBCC and community engagement strategy.
4. Scope of Work
| Component | Key tasks |
| Inception & desk review | Review project proposal and available project information; finalise research questions, KAP framework, methodology and workplan. |
| Sampling | Develop and justify statistically appropriate sample size and sampling strategy; propose relevant sub-group disaggregation. |
| Tool development | Develop quantitative questionnaire, qualitative guides and observation checklist; translate, pilot and finalise tools with Water For People. |
| Quantitative KAP survey | Conduct worker/household interviews covering priority WASH behaviours, service access, barriers/enablers, gender/MHM and selected health-related indicators. |
| Qualitative research | Conduct selected FGDs/KIIs/IDIs with workers, women, landlords/caretakers, recycling unit owners/supervisors, other relevant stakeholders, and government stakeholders (as relevant). |
| Observation | Assess selected drinking-water, sanitation and handwashing facilities and relevant WASH conditions to triangulate survey findings. |
| Analysis & reporting | Clean and analyse quantitative data; conduct thematic qualitative analysis; triangulate findings and identify priority behavioural insights. |
5. Key Areas of Enquiry
The final tool should be concise and agreed with Water For People. Indicative domains include:
- Drinking-water source, availability, reliability, perceived quality/safety and treatment practices.
- Safe water storage and handling practices.
- Toilet access, use, cleanliness, privacy, safety, functionality and maintenance.
- Handwashing knowledge, critical moments, availability of soap/water and reported practice.
- Menstrual hygiene management, including access to materials, privacy, water, sanitation and disposal.
- WASH-related illness/symptoms using an agreed recall period; no disease diagnosis is required.
- WASH ownership, O&M, caretaker/user-group arrangements and reporting of faults.
- Access to government/local WASH services and barriers faced by migrant workers.
- Trusted communication channels, information sources, digital access and preferred messengers.
- Gender, equity and inclusion considerations across worker and family groups.
6. Methodology & Sampling
A mixed-method approach is expected, combining a quantitative KAP survey with qualitative enquiry and structured observation. The agency shall propose the sample size and sampling design in its technical proposal, including assumptions, confidence level, margin of error, design effect where applicable, expected non-response and proposed stratification/clustering. The final sample will be agreed with Water For People.
The field team should include appropriately trained female investigators for interviews involving women and sensitive menstrual hygiene/gender questions. The methodology should be practical for the migrant-worker context and ensure adequate representation of priority groups.
7. Data Quality, Ethics & Safeguarding
- Standardised enumerator training, field supervision and daily data-quality checks.
- Back-checks/re-interviews and documented data-cleaning procedures.
- Informed consent, voluntary participation and confidentiality for all respondents.
- Private and culturally appropriate administration of sensitive questions.
- Secure storage and restricted access to participant data; no unauthorised sharing of identifiable information.
- Clear documentation of limitations and potential sources of bias.
8. Deliverables
| S.N. | Deliverable | Indicative timeline |
| 1 | Inception report: methodology, KAP framework, sampling/sample-size calculation, tools, field plan and analysis plan. | Within 1 week of contract |
| 2 | Draft tools and final approved tools. | Before fieldwork |
| 3 | Fieldwork completion and quality-assurance report. | After fieldwork |
| 4 | Clean quantitative dataset, codebook/data dictionary and qualitative data documentation. | After data cleaning |
| 5 | Draft KAP report and presentation of findings. | 2–3 weeks after fieldwork |
| 6 | Final KAP report incorporating feedback and actionable programme/SBCC recommendations. | Within 1 week of feedback |
| Overall study to be completed in 3 months |
9. Expected Final Report
- Executive summary and study background
- Objectives, research questions and methodology
- Sampling and respondent profile
- KAP findings across key WASH domains
- Gender, MHM, migrant-worker and equity analysis
- Behavioural barriers and enablers
- Communication/SBCC insights and audience segmentation
- Triangulation with qualitative and observation findings
- Baseline indicator table
- Conclusions and actionable recommendations for project implementation
- Study limitations and annexes, including tools and codebook
10. Agency Qualifications & Experience
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in KAP, WASH, public health, social/behavioural research or comparable baseline studies.
- Demonstrated experience in mixed-method research, sampling, quantitative and qualitative analysis.
- Experience with migrants, informal, industrial-workers or vulnerable populations is desirable.
- Experience translating behavioural research into SBCC/programme recommendations is desirable.
- Strong field-management, data-quality, safeguarding and data-protection systems.
- Ability to conduct research in Panipat and communicate in relevant local languages.
- Proficiency in English for reporting and presentation.
11. Proposal Requirements
- Agency profile and relevant experience.
- Understanding of the assignment and detailed methodology.
- Proposed sample size and sampling strategy with justification.
- Data quality, ethics, safeguarding and data-protection approach.
- Workplan and timeline.
- Team structure and CVs of key personnel.
- Detailed financial proposal in INR, inclusive of all assignment-related costs and applicable taxes.
12. Evaluation Criteria
| Criteria | Indicative weight |
| Understanding and methodology | 25% |
| Relevant research experience | 20% |
| Sampling, data quality and analysis | 20% |
| Field approach and workplan | 15% |
| Financial proposal/value for money | 20% |
13. Timeline, Budget & Payment
The agency should propose a detailed timeline from inception through final report. The study will be undertaken during the early implementation phase in October 2026 so that findings can inform the project’s WASH and SBCC activities. Overall timeline for the study will be from 7th October 2026 till 7th December 2026. Agencies should submit an all-inclusive financial proposal in INR. Payment will be made against accepted deliverables, with the final milestone-based schedule agreed in the contract.
14. Submission Details
Proposal (technical and financial) to be sent at Indiacareers@waterforpeople.org.Proposal to be received by 30th September 2026.
Job Email ID: Indiacareers(at)waterforpeople.org
