Consultant- Endline study of Urban WASH and CBDRR

Terms of Reference

for 

Conducting End Line Study of Urban WASH and Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction in Kathmandu Valley and Urban Risk Management in Western Terai Municipalities 

1.    Background

Nepal is vulnerable to multiple hazards and the country is ranked the eleventh in terms of earthquake risk. After the earthquakes in Chile and Haiti, the issue of Earthquake risk has come to the forefront of the agenda of both the Government of Nepal and the international aid community in Nepal. The vulnerability is higher in Kathmandu as it is a major city situated in a highly active seismic zone, has very high population density, inadequate/unsafe infrastructure and limited disaster management systems. In addition, the city lies on a pre-historic lake-bed and the soft sediments are expected to amplify the damage from a major earthquake.

Lives of thousands of residents of Kathmandu are at risk as the level of preparedness for earthquakes among the government and people in Kathmandu is low. Some initiatives like the establishment of the National Emergency Operating Centre (NEOC) and capacity building of security forces have been initiated by the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, very limited attention is given toward building the capacity of local people. Merely identifying open space and demarcating them as IDP camp sites is not sufficient preparation for a response. As water is the primary need in the immediate aftermath of disaster the sites have to be equipped with robust WASH facilities. The contingency plan of the WASH cluster in Nepal, anticipates that 95% of the water pipes and 50% of the pumps will cease operating, greatly diminishing the water supply of Kathmandu for months. Even now existing water supply facilities operating at full capacity do not meet current water demand. Hence it is essential to support KUKL and PWTA for emergency preparedness and enhance their ability to supply water during emergency.

While the government and aid agencies are preparing plans and interventions to reduce this vulnerability and increase the response capacity for this drastic scenario, less attention is paid to urbanized areas in the Terai region of Nepal that are equally at risk. Particularly the Far Western and Western regions of the country are close to active fault lines. The fact that this region hasn’t experienced significant seismic activity for the past years is defined as a ‘Seismic gap’ which, according to the experts, makes it more likely that a significant earthquake will affect this area in the near future.

 Oxfam, in partnership with the Department of International Development (DFID)/UKAID has planned to implement programme for Urban WASH preparedness and Community Based Disaster Risk Reduction in Kathmandu and Urban Risk Management for Municipalities in the Terai region of Nepal since April 2012. The main objective of the project is to reduce suffering and loss of life following a major disaster particularly an earthquake in vulnerable municipalities of Nepal.

The study conducted by IOM/MoHA has identified 83 sites in Kathmandu valley that could hold up to a total of 710,000 IDPs in very crowded conditions. Following the IOM/MoHA assessment report, a short list of seven potential IDP camp sites in Kathmandu has been prepared. Out of seven sites under consideration, there are two large potential sites. Based on the target impact at larger sites the proposed IDP sites for the project in Kathmandu are NARC area (Khumaltar, Lalitpur) and Tribhuwan University area (Kirtipur) and 22 host communities adjacent to the two selected IDP sites.

Meanwhile, two Terai Municipalities in the Far Western Region of Nepal: Dhangadhi (Kailali district), Bhimdutta (Kanchanpur district) and 8 Wards (communities) in these Municipalities are the project location.

2.    Objectives of the Study

The study is expected to provide adequate and sufficient quantitative and qualitative details on the processes, current status, and gaps to prepare end line report. The end line report is intended to assess and document post-intervention situation for project communities and compare it with the pre-intervention situation (baseline and midterm) against the impact and outcome indicators:

• To collect the end line information of two IDP sites (NARC area (Khumaltar, Lalitpur) and Tribhuwan University area (Kirtipur) with particular focus on project log frame matrix;
• To assess the change in knowledge, attitude and practice towards disaster risk reduction and WASH (including hygiene behavior) in 22 wards adjacent to the IDP sites (Kathmandu valley) and 8 wards of Dhangadhi and Bhimdatt municipalities in the Terai region of far west region.
• To measure changes brought after project intervention including how and why changes happened and compare with the baseline and midterm survey;
• To assess worth of project intervention as per DAC criteria
• To document and make analysis of the process followed for implementation of the project in urban context and

·   To collect human interest stories and relevant case studies to substantiate the findings and analysis.

In addition, the report would be expected to include analysis relating to project communities about how project contributed to bring changes in people’s life together with principle component analysis (PCA).

·     This analysis will be the basis for recommendations to prioritize programme interventions to maximize positive outcomes and impacts for further interventions in future.

3.   Areas and population of the study

The end line study areas will be conducted in DFID project areas of Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Kanchanpur and Kailali districts. Sampling method and sample size will be determined in consultation with Oxfam team. However, the informants for the study will be residents of the project areas with focus to women, Dalit, children, and indigenous/minority people including project field staffs, VDC/municipalities level stakeholders, and members of Ward Disaster Management Committee (WDMC) and Disaster Risk Reduction Committee (DRRC), line agencies and concerned ministries.

4. Methodologies

It is expected that the consultant applied systematic sampling method for KAP surveys constituting around 1000 HHs selected proportionately based on the population size of the wards. Non-probability preference sampling with appropriate tools and techniques are to be used for qualitative assessment. However, the consultant can purpose suitable methodology and revised during the preparation of inception report after analyzing the previously used methodologies for baseline and midterm study. The consultant will finalize the survey tools in consultation with Oxfam DRR and HP team.  In general, Oxfam expects to follow VCA, HEA, PCA and MICS tools adopting mixed method.

5.    Expected Outcomes

o   A detail end line study plan

o   Finalize sampling methods and sampling size in consultation with Oxfam DRR-HP team

o   Development and testing of data collection  tools

o   Develop detail tool for data collection (survey questionnaire/checklist)

o   Inception report

o   An end line study containing ( may not be limited to)

1. Cover page, table of contents, and list of acronyms

2. Executive summary

3. Introduction

4. Objectives

5. Methodology

6. Findings

7. Analysis and interpretation (including tables/graphics and text)- it includes both process analysis and result/impact analysis (DAC criteria)

8. Conclusion

9. Annexes including all data collection

o   Case studies, testimonies, HIS and related pictures to support the analysis and

o   A separate process documentation report/case study with substantial analysis of the processes and approaches adopted and/developed by the project in urban risk reduction in Nepal

6.    Scope of the assignment

o     Agree on framework of analysis including survey tool design with Oxfam and prepare checklist for field assessment

o     Visit programme area interact with partners and district stakeholders

o     Field cum questionnaire  survey in target communities (preferably using mobile technology for survey)

o     Presentation of findings among Oxfam staff

o     Submit end line report and process documentation followed by approval of draft report from Oxfam DFID (DRR and Humanitarian) team

7.    Deliverables

o     Detail study plan with methodology and study tools

o    The consultants shall produce a comprehensive and analytical end line study report with in-depth description of the target group, with gender disaggregated data, to measure effectiveness of the project/intervention as expected in section 5 “Expected Outcome” (printed in two copies in MS word format document with soft copies of the reports and data entry and analysis in SPSS/MS Excel or any other software used for data collection, processing and analysis in two copies in CD Rom)

o     Presentation and presentation slides

8.    Assignment time schedule

The assignment shall be accomplished within 60 calendar days after signing the contract.

9.    Practical Arrangements

• Support for coordination with implementing partner at district level shall be the responsibility of Oxfam.
• Consultant will bear the cost of accommodation, transportation, food and other associated costs as covered in bid amount; 
• Payment will be made as per the provision mentioned in section 10 “Terms of Payment”. 

10.  Terms of Payment

The consultant shall enter into agreement with the Oxfam in Nepal for implementation of the project with the agreed amount. The payments would be made in NRs only on the acceptance of the deliverables by Oxfam in Nepal.

 In addition to above, At all times the consultant and Oxfam will maintain communications and any issues which arise shall be brought to the attention of the other party in a timely manner so as not to hamper the progress of the assignment.

11.  Desired expertise

Consultant is expected to have following expertise:

• Have proven experiences in baseline /end line designing, planning and monitoring of the projects.
• At least five years previous experience in WASH and DRR related project/programme assessments. Team leader proposed should have substantive academic knowledge and/ experience on the evaluation of DRR projects and programmes and able to provide sufficient time for the study;
• Be able to demonstrate understanding of data collection sensitivities and associated risk management
•  Sound knowledge on monitoring and evaluation as well as project cycle management
• Prior experience  on VCA, HEA, PCA and MICS survey tools
• Good verbal and written skills in Nepali and English
• Good understanding of gender and social inclusion
• Good facilitation skills at the community level
• Coordination skills with local government and partners
• Academic qualification on DRR and WASH related discipline is desirable
• Ability to produce quality report in English and
• Registration in VAT

12.  Proposal submission

Oxfam invites proposals from organizations, or individuals, with the experience and skills described above.  Proposal should include:

1.    A cover letter introducing the evaluators/organization and how the skills and competencies described above are met.

2.    A brief outline of the proposed assessment process including:

a.   Proposed outline methodology

b.   Proposed team of consultants(Lead researcher and co-researcher)_

c.   Management arrangements

3.    Person work day calculation and budget in the prescribed formats ( see the annexes)

4.    A 1-page CV for each consultant

5.    Copy of VAT renewal certificate

13.   Estimated persons days  

*Estimation of person day for lead researcher and co-researcher

Proposal for above assignment can be sent by 21 December 2014 via mail  to recruitment_nepal@oxfam.org.uk or G.P.O. Box 2500, Kathmandu.