Afrobarometer is seeking a National Partner (NP) in Ethiopia to conduct a nationally representative sample survey of the adult population (n=1,200) for Round 11, scheduled for 2026/2027.

REQUEST FOR IDS FOR AN AFROBAROMETER 

NATIONAL PARTNER IN ETHIOPIA TO CONDUCT AN ROUND 11 SURVEY

Afro barometer is inviting bids from organisations interested in serving as the National Partner (NP) for Ethiopia. Under the direction of Afrobarometer, the selected NP will conduct a nationally representative sample survey of the adult population in Ethiopia. In addition to conducting an Afrobarometer survey, the successful bidder will act as Afrobarometer's representative in Ethiopia for the duration of the partnership and

will be required to participate in Afrobarometer meetings, workshops, and other capacity-building and management activities.

Background

Afrobarometer conducts a comparative series of public-attitude surveys covering approximately 40 countries each two-year "round". Round 11 is taking place in 2026/2027. Based on representative national samples, the surveys measure citizen attitudes to democracy and governance, markets and civil society, and a range of related topics. The surveys are repeated on a regular basis to allow comparisons over time and across space.

Afrobarometer is dedicated to three main objectives:

• to produce scientifically reliable data on public opinion in Africa.
• to build institutional capacity for survey research in Africa.
• to broadly disseminate and apply survey results.
• The Afrobarometer Network is a consortium of independent survey research institutions based mainly in Africa, comprising:
• Core Partners that provide leadership to the Network and technical assistance to NPs on survey management, research design, fundraising, publication, and the dissemination of survey results.
• National Partners in each participating country, who are responsible for survey fieldwork and dissemination of survey results at the country level.
• Support Units that provide technical and capacity-building support to the Network.

The results of Afrobarometer surveys are directly incorporated into the policy process to inform public debate on democracy, governance, and other policy and development issues. We aim to reach diverse audiences, including decision makers in governments and parliaments, policy advocates, civic educators, journalists, researchers, donor agencies, investors, and ordinary citizens who wish to become better informed about African perspectives on a range of political, economic, and social issues.

For further information on Afrobarometer, please visit www.afrobarometer.org.

Purpose of this request for bids

Afrobarometer is currently seeking a National Partner in Ethiopia to implement the Round 11 survey with a sample size of n=1,200 in the country in 2026 or 2027. Afrobarometer reserves the right to renew this partnership for up to two additional rounds (Round 12, expected to be conducted in 2027/2028, and Round 13, expected to be conducted in 2029/2030), contingent upon a formal assessment of the National Partner's performance in Round 11 and the availability of funds for supplementary surveys

Successful applicants will enjoy the benefits of a partnership with a network that is recognized as a premier provider of public-opinion data in Africa. Membership in the Afrobarometer Network offers opportunities to forge fresh alliances with like-minded organisations across the continent, facilitating the dissemination of findings and analyses on national and global platforms, and gaining access to training programmes aimed at enhancing skills in survey design, quantitative analysis, communication, and associated areas.

All Afrobarometer surveys are implemented in strict accordance with the protocols outlined in the latest version of the Afrobarometer Survey Manual, available at http://www.afrobarometer.org/surveys-and-methods.

Interested organisations are advised to carefully review the Afrobarometer Survey Manual prior to submitting their bids, as it outlines the full scope of our protocols, practices and expectations of partner organisations. In particular, this includes protocols regarding:

• sample design
• questionnaire development and translation
• fieldworker recruitment
• fieldworker training and questionnaire pre-testing
• data collection and fieldwork quality control
• data cleaning and management
• analysis and dissemination of results

National Partner responsibilities

In close consultation with the supervising Afrobarometer Core Partner, and in accordance with the Network's protocols, the successful Afrobarometer National Partner will be expected to conduct a nationally representative survey in Ethiopia with a sample size of 1,200 respondents. This will include the following duties:

1. Identify and access census databases required for designing a nationally representative sample, and work in conjunction with the Afrobarometer sampling specialist and the national statistics office to draw the sample and to procure maps and other materials necessary for implementation of the survey.

2. Indigenise the generic Afrobarometer questionnaire to suit local settings, work with Afrobarometer surveys and communications teams to develop country-specific questions to be included in the questionnaire, and translate the questionnaire into relevant local language(s) according to Afrobarometer protocols.

3. Solicit a sufficient number of tablets for fieldwork that satisfy the specifications outlined in the Afrobarometer Survey Manual.

4. Recruit fieldworkers with the required qualifications and appropriate language and fieldwork skills and train them to collect data from households using tablets.

5. Select and train field supervisors to monitor fieldwork and oversee fieldwork quality control.

6. Pre-test and make agreed-upon modifications to the questionnaire.

7. Develop a survey logistics plan.

8. Manage all aspects of fieldwork in strict adherence to a timetable developed in consultation with Afrobarometer.

9. Ensure quality control of data collection in the field.

10. Prepare reports on sampling and fieldwork methodology.

11. Contribute to the preparation of a Summary of Results in conjunction with Afrobarometer technical advisers.

12. Prepare basic analyses of key findings.

13. Plan and execute, with Network technical support, an effective communications programme that includes stakeholder analysis, public dissemination events, published papers, press releases, dispatch and social media support to disseminate survey findings to the media, nongovernmental organisations, government officials, legislators, the donor community, and other identified stakeholders.

Bids

Bids should include the following:

1.A description of the personnel to be used on the survey. Please list the qualifications and experience of each class of personnel and provide the curriculum vitae of the principal investigator and any other senior management personnel, including the person(s) responsible for sampling and data management. Also include the planned number and qualifications of field interviewers and field supervisors.

2. A detailed description of the survey experience (with supporting documentation) of the designated lead researchers within the organisation, particularly in conducting surveys involving nationally representative samples.

3. A description of proposed approaches for a) fieldwork training, and b) fieldwork implementation and supervision, including quality control measures to be implemented at each stage.

4. An estimated budget showing costs for each of the following elements:

a. Personnel: name, position, number of days and daily rates (for principal investigator, field supervisors, fieldworkers, drivers, and any other specialists, including, but not limited to, translators and samplers)

b. Travel: vehicle rental (cost per day), air, bus, or boat tickets (where applicable), fuel (estimated mileage), lodging (number of days and daily rates), meals/per diem (number of days and rate), insurance (required)

c. Supplies and services: printing, office supplies, field supplies, etc.

d. Other direct costs: training, maps, venue hire, translations, etc.

5. Demonstration (with evidence) of the analytical and writing skills of the researcher(s) who will contribute to the development of publications from survey findings is required.

6. Demonstration of the organisation's communications capacity, including its abilities to engage with media, the public, and other stakeholders and potential users of the data, and to coordinate and host effective public disseminationevents.

7. Demonstration of the organisation's language capacity, including its ability to speak and write in English.

Submission of bids

The deadline for submission of bids is the close of business on 2 August 2026.

Bids should be delivered by e-mail to:

Samuel Balongo, Afrobarometer Project Manager (East Africa), Institute for Development Studies (IDS), University of Nairobi

e-mail: sbalongo@afrobarometer.org and

Anne Okello, Afrobarometer Assistant Project Manager (East Africa), Institute for Development Studies (IDS), University of Nairobi

e-mail: aokello@afrobarometer.org

Questions and requests for additional information should be directed to Samuel Balongo by 26 July 2026.

Applicants can also visit www.afrobarometer.org for more information.

Tender details

• Deadline: 2026-08-02
• Bid closing time: 17:00
• Bid opening: 2026-08-02 17:00
• Bid opening (note): No Specific Opening date and time
• Region: Addis Ababa
• Publishing entity: Afrobarometer
• Published: Jul 19, 2026
• Posted at: 2026-07-20T09:33:32.000Z