Consultancy Assignment for Documenting lived experiences of urban communities in Nepal facing an unp

Oxfam in Nepal

Oxfam has been working in Nepal since the early 1980s undertaking various development initiatives addressing the poverty and injustice faced by women and other socially and economically excluded groups. The level of Oxfam's engagement increased substantially after restoration of democracy in 1990 as it became easier for civil society to work in the new political environment. Over the years, Oxfam has worked in partnership with local civil society organisations and the government to promote rural livelihoods, and vulnerable communities' resilience to climatic shocks and disasters. It has also significantly contributed to empowering community people, especially women, to; negotiate with people in power, influence decision making processes, claim rights and essential services to which they are entitled, demand accountability on the part of duty bearers and engage larger masses in advocacy efforts. Oxfam also worked closely with UNHCR in providing assistance to Bhutanese refugees during the 1990s. Oxfam and its long term programme partners believe that the underlying structural causes and drivers of poverty must be addressed if improvements in peoples's lives are to be broad and lasting. Poverty is not one-dimensional; nor is it purely local in its causes and solutions. Therefore, Oxfam's work addresses not only material and technical change, but also the related economic, social, institutional and policy changes which are necessary to end poverty and achieve development and wellbeing. The Oxfam Nepal Vision is: The people of Nepal are empowered and work together to attain a life of dignity with justice and equal rights for all. The Overall Nepal Programme Goal is: to improve the well being of vulnerable people through strengthening their participation in development and governance processes and reducing poverty and suffering.

Details / requirements:

Terms of Reference (ToR) for

Hiring a consultant for Documenting lived experiences of urban communities in Nepal facing an unpredictable and unpreventable massive earthquake

 

Background

Asia is exposed and vulnerable to a wide range of natural and manmade hazards and this vulnerability is compounded by poverty. Most Asian countries are developing, but multiple disasters, big and small, are producing long standing impacts that become blockers of development. 

 Oxfam’s vision is a just world without poverty and we work in contexts of new and changing risk. Our desired outcome is resilient and sustainable development. Oxfam defines resilience as ‘the ability of women, men, and children to realize their rights and improve their well-being despite shocks, stresses, and uncertainty. In order to attain this, Oxfam continues to work with communities and partners to implement its DRR and CCA programs at the local and national levels across Asia to protect human well being and promote positive change amidst crisis and challenges from major disasters over the years.

 In Oxfam, we value a coordinated approach to achieve resilience in the Region. The Oxfam Asia Resilience Hub (ARH) operates as the cross-affiliate mechanism that supports technical capacity, cross linkages, knowledge and learning that leads to increase quality and growth of Oxfam’s programming at country and regional levels. It undertakes high-quality, trans-disciplinary research to generate new knowledge on climate change and adaptation.

 While varied stakeholders and institutions work with the poorest in Asia to overcome the impacts of disasters and climatic variations, the Asia Resilience Hub finds an opportunity for significant learning and documentation of the transformations of vulnerable communities after mitigation and disaster risk reduction programs.

Objectives of the Assignment

This research is primarily aimed at developing documentation of how communities that received resilience building support in Earthquake prone areas of Nepal and were transformed (or not) to become less affected by shocks, stresses and uncertainties. This research will draw out evidence based recommendations from a community perspective.

This study will find out the state of play with regards to social norms and practices of the community in preparation for the “Big One” in peri-urban local communities in Western Region of Nepal. These communities are assumed to have received some interventions on earthquake preparedness. 

Nepal ranks 4th in experiencing disastrous impacts of climate change; 11th most at risk of Earthquake; and 13th most at risk of severe flooding. In 2015, a massive 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the country affecting 1/3 of its population. Oxfam was able to reach 1,087,400 people in 26 districts by providing life saving relief while ensuring gender justice, food and economic justice and building resilient communities through DRR and CCA programs. Diverse aid organizations like Oxfam continue to build back better in anticipation of another tremendous tremor in the same area. The 2015 earthquake suddenly stopped at 11km before the surface, thus further rupture up to the surface will cause a similar or stronger earthquake than 2015. Currently, the government of Nepal has developed a National Strategy for Resilient Urban cities in anticipation to future risks and hazards. 

Emerging lessons from previous disasters also contribute to the improvement of mitigation and preparedness interventions of the authorities, international and local humanitarian organizations. With this as a backdrop, this study wants to see the level of awareness and participation of peoples: men, women and the youth and how they are able to contribute to the overall resilience of their respective communities. The case studies will capture the following:

  • How vulnerable communities feel about the impending threat of a massive earthquake in their areas. To evaluate if awareness led to positive action or concrete interventions or maintained status quo.  
  • How the respondents absorb and adapt to the interventions and mitigation programs of the government, international communities and stakeholder. 
  • Behavior changes that occurred or did not occur? –from the respondents (community) and responder (resilience actors, scientists, development workers) perspective. - 
  • Need to also check role of government and state actors in incentivizing positive changes.

Each case study shall comprise of 8-10 pages including photos and illustrations that will show recommendations and information. Case studies format shall follow Oxfam branding guidelines and will be able in print and online.(Living on the Line: Case Studies on the Lived Experiences of Urban Communities in Nepal Facing a Threat of Unpredictable and Unpreventable Massive Earthquake).

Scope of Services and Tasks and Activities to be completed

The consultant is responsible to document lived experiences of urban communities in Nepal facing an unpredictable and unpreventable massive earthquake in coordination with government line agencies and implementing partners. The consultant should be responsible to develop research framework, methodology and work plan as required.

Expected Deliverables

The consultant needs to submit report on lived experiences of urban communities in Nepal facing an unpredictable and unpreventable massive earthquake. The proposal must contain research framework, field visit plan, detail methodology and budget plan.

  • Secondary data collection on preparedness and response in an area 
  • Coordination meeting with district stakeholders and key persons in community level
  • Documentation of preparedness and response practices in local level through focused group discussion
  • Analysis of respondents feedbacks 
  • Documenting best practices and interventions and social changes
  • Discussion and verification with the team

Reporting Line Manager

This work is to be delivered to the Program Manager-DRR CCA, Oxfam in Nepal and overseen by the Program Director-SDD.

Scope outputs will be signed off by Program Director-SDD in order to ensure full delivery and timeliness.

Duration: Start date and completion date

The estimated input of the consultant is 30 days. The assignment is expected to start on  3rd week of August.

Detail Budget breakdown

 All amounts in NRP

S.No.

Particulars

Unit

Unit price

Total price

1

Consultancy Fee amount (including field visit and data analysis)

 1

 

 

 

Researcher fee

1

 

 

 

Field visit cost

1

 

 

2

Value added tax

%

13%

 

 

Total Consultancy budget in NPR including all taxes

 

 

 

Terms of Payment

100% budget will be paid upon the submission of final report as per this Terms of reference with full satisfaction evaluated by hiring manager

Documents for submission

  • VAT registration certificate 
  • Tax clearance certificate 
  • Company registration certificate
  • Agreed time sheet of all involved consultants upon completion of project – signed by consultant and hiring manager
  • Detailed work plan – agreed by consultant and hiring manager
  • Detailed budget sheet with breakdown – agreed by consultant and hiring manager
  • Actual invoices to claim for expenses as per mentioned in the contract 

Confidentiality / Non disclosure

All material issued in connection with this ToR shall remain the property of Oxfam and shall be used only for the purpose of this procurement exercise. All information provided shall be either returned to Oxfam or securely destroyed by unsuccessful applicants at the conclusion of the procurement exercise.

During the performance of the assignment or at any time after expiry or termination of the Agreement, the Consultant shall not disclose to any person or otherwise make use of any confidential information which s/he has obtained or may in the course of this agreement relating to partner organization/Oxfam, the respondents or otherwise.

The consultant will be required to sign a non disclosure / confidentiality agreement as part of their undertaking of this work. 

Intellectual property, Copyright, and Ownership of all prepared information

The Consultant shall retain all rights to pre-existing (background) intellectual property or materials used by the Consultant in the delivery of this study. All arising intellectual property, ideas, materials, processes or processes formed in contemplation, course of, or as result of this study shall be passed to Oxfam without restriction.

The Consult shall warrant that all arising Intellectual Property, materials and/or products produced in pursuit of this study shall be original, and shall not infringe on any third party’s claim. All technical or business information, in whatever medium or format, originated, collated or prepared by or for the Consultant in contemplation, course of, or as result of this assignment shall be transferred to Oxfam without restriction on completion and shall not be used by the Consultant for any other purpose without express written permission of Oxfam’s Head of Programme Funding.

Copyright of all arising documents, data, information or reports produced by the Consultant under this agreement shall belong to Oxfam and will be passed to Oxfam without restriction. Such documents, data, information and reports shall not be used by the Consultant for any other purpose other than in conjunction with this assignment, without the express written permission of Oxfam’s Head of Programme Funding.

Response 

The Consulting VAT Registered Individual/Firm should submit a proposal to Oxfam by 14th August 2017 via mail to recruitment_nepal@oxfam.org.uk, clearly mentioning the title of assignment in their email subject line.

Overview

Category Consulting & Professional Services
Openings 1
Experience Please check details below.
Education Please check details below.
Posted Date 04 Aug, 2017
Apply Before 14 Aug, 2017
City Lalitpur