Consultancy for reviewing the existing early warning systems used by communities in Mahakali river b

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)

Hiring a consultant for reviewing the existing early warning systems used by communities in Mahakali river basin

 

Background

Oxfam is implementing Water Governance in the Mahakali river basin of Nepal. The program aims to reduce poverty and marginalization of vulnerable river basis communities through increased access to, and control over, riverine water resources on which their livelihoods depend. 

 

The expected outcomes of the program are outlined below.

•    Government policies & practices at all levels of water resource management are more inclusive of community concerns and meet national & international standards

•    Practices of private sector respect community access to water resources actively contributing to reduced conflict

•    CSOs increasingly participate in or influence transboundary water governance, women’s inclusion and resolution of water conflicts

•    River basin communities’ increasingly trans-boundary water governance policies and processes Increased participation & influence of women in transboundary water governance, policy, and processes

In this scenario, numbers of organizations have worked in Mahakali watershed area and have installed the early warning system in those watershed areas. The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) platform for the promotion of Early Warning has identified four key elements of a complete and effective early warning system. These four components are a) Risk knowledge and scoping, b) Community Based Monitoring and Early Warning c) Dissemination and Communication d) Response Capacity and Resilience

However, there is no proper documentation and study on these key elements and a total number of early warning system installed including their effectiveness in the community. Thus, the assigned research will help us to understand the current state of early warning system in the Mahakali river basin of Nepal.

 

Objectives of the Assignment

The overall aim of the study is to understand the effectiveness of early warning systems used by communities in the Mahakali river basin of Nepal and identify and document their shortcomings.

Specific objectives are:

-    To document existing early warning systems in the Mahakali river basin of Nepal

-    To understand the functionality and gaps of existing early warning systems 

-    To provide recommendations to build strong early warning systems 

Must consider convergence and geography to have the greatest impact and excellent Value for Money, while reaching the poorest and most marginalized in communities. It will include identifying and looking at work in more concentrated areas to attain greater efficiencies and impact in programming, monitoring, and verification. 

Must strongly consider gender and the experience of marginalized girls and women in all analysis and review work, in liaison with the Oxfam Nepal team’s colleagues working on gender and governance.

Scope of Services and Tasks and Activities to be completed

The overall scope of this consulting assignment is to review the existing early warning system in the Mahakali river basin in coordination with implementing partners.

Activities will include, but may not be limited to, the following: 

-    Secondary data collection on existing early warning system 

-    Coordination meeting with community people and existing stakeholders

-    Documentation on the good cases of existing early warning system

-    Analysis of the existing system including gaps 

-    Recommendation for better early warning system

-    Coordination meeting with Department of Hydrology and Metrology

-    Discussion and verification with the team

Expected Deliverables

1.    Assessment and detailed review of early warning system 

2.    Recommendations and options for strengthening existing early warning system

3.    Outline effective ways to improve the early warning system in Mahakali basin

4.    Coordination with the communities, government agencies, and approval from the those groups

5. Detail report outlining existing early warning system and recommendation for the improved early warning system in the area with estimated cost 

Reporting Line Manager

This work is to be delivered to the Project Coordinator, Oxfam in Nepal and overseen by the Team Leader and Program Manager

Scope outputs will be signed off by Program Manager to ensure full delivery and timeliness.

Duration: Start date and completion date

The estimated input of the consultant is 15 days (5 days per week). The assignment is expected to start on 1st June and be finalized by no later than 30 June 2017.

 

Detail Budget breakdown

All amounts in NPR

S.No.

Particulars

Unit

Days

Unit price

Total price

1

Consultancy Fee amount

1 person

15

 

 

2

Assistance consultant

1 person

10

 

 

3

Travel- airfare

2

2

 

 

4

Travel local (Dhangadi to Kanchapur to Baitadi to Dadeldhura)

1

7

 

 

5

Coordination meeting with stakeholder ( partner and communities)

8

1

 

 

 

Value added tax

%

 

13%

 

 

TOTAL CONSULTANCY BUDGET IN NPR INCLUDING ALL TAXES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Terms of Payment

The budget will be dispersed as per the following.

a.20% upon the signing of the contract

b.Final payment (80%) on completion of the assigned tasks.

The last instalment will be paid upon the submission of assignments ( includes all reports indicated in expected deliverables) as per these Terms of reference with full satisfaction evaluated by hiring manager. 

 

Documents for submission

  • Company Registration Certificate
  • VAT registration certificate 
  • Tax clearance certificate of FY 2072/73
  • 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 nondisclosure/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, the 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 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 28 May 2017 via mail to recruitment_nepal@oxfam.org.uk, clearly mentioning the title of assignment in their email subject line.

 

Job Overview

Category Consulting & Professional Services
Openings 1
Salary Rs. 0 / Hour
Experience Please check details below.
Education Please check details below.
Posted Date 23 May, 2017
Apply Before 29 May, 2017
City Lalitpur