Consultancy assignment for Gender Case Study: Oxfam Nepal Earthquake Response

Title: Consultancy Assignment for Gender Case Study: Oxfam Nepal Earthquake Response

Proposal Submission Deadline: 24 January 2019

  Send Proposal to: consultancy_nepal@oxfam.org.uk 

Terms of Reference (TOR)

1. Background
Oxfam is a member of Oxfam International (OI) – an international confederation of 17 organizations working together in 90 countries with partners and allies around the world to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice. On a global level, Oxfam strives to help communities suffering because of natural disasters, climate change, conflict, injustice and poverty. Oxfam has been supporting the people of Nepal for more than 30 years with the vision to create a just society without poverty; a society in which all women and men live a life of dignity, enjoy their rights and assume their responsibilities as active citizens of Nepal. And supports humanitarian and development programmes directly and through local partners.  Oxfam in Nepal is working in 27 districts and focuses on the following intervention areas: Gender and social Justice, Food and Economic Justice, Governance, and Humanitarian and DRR/CCA.

The Global Affairs Canada (GAC) funded WASH Recovery Assistance to Earthquake-Affected Communities of Sindhupalchowk (referred to as “NERF”) is a two-year project, managed by Oxfam Canada and Oxfam Nepal. Project activities have closed as of December 2018, with evaluation and final reporting ongoing until 8 March 2019.

2. Overall Objectives
The object of the “Gender Case Study” is to present a detailed gender snapshot of portions of the earthquake response, in the context of a broader update on Gender Analysis findings related to WASH, consultation with women, participation of women in WASH governance, gendered design of facilities, and gender-specific hygiene initiatives, to capture learning and promising practice. Whereas the final evaluation of the project will rely heavily on the Gender Analysis and baseline study documents related to the project, the Gender Case Study will focus on qualitative analysis of household level and individual level changes of the lives of project beneficiaries to:
• Promote an open discussion of the challenges, needs and opportunities for gender mainstreaming in Humanitarian response and cooperate in establishing and share best practices;
• Promote gender equality through internal practices;
• Develop improved gender analysis for future programming.
• Documents the best practices and learning

 
Specifically, the case study should:
• Identify the changes in domestic/care labor through the course of the project;
• Identify the differing gendered vulnerabilities, impact, needs, roles and their coping mechanisms over the course of the project;
• Identify and document major success/change in community and individual level from the project regarding changing gender roles/responsibilities
•  Identify challenges in the community to guide operation and response and lastly to provide recommendation for future programming;
• Analyze the broader gender dynamics (power, access, decision-making, participation, livelihood trends, legal and customary frameworks and gender implications, etc.);
• Suggest future gender-informed best practice in post-earthquake WASH response;
• Provide an in-depth profile on one location/village.

The case study may be co-produced with one or more local partners as appropriate.

3. Scope of Work and Deliverables

Scope of work
• Select location for in-depth gender study from project response sites in consultation with Humanitarian Manager and Project Manager, and local partners
• Hold discussions with community representatives, women group, men and women mix group, households and selected implementing partner agency to gain insights about gender sensitive activities and gaps in response programming.  Analyze at household level, findings from the Gender Analysis, specifically:
- 69% of women reported an increase in time spent on child and elderly care
- 51% of women reported an increase in time spent on fetching water
- 63% of women reported an increase in time spent on cooking and cleaning
- 68% of women reported a decrease in time spent on paid work
- 72% of women reported a decrease in time spent sleeping and resting
- 48% of women indicated that they had not received any support in staying safe following the earthquake
- 23% of women responded that they were not satisfied with health services
- 48% of women responded that either they had not been able to access services or information applicable to their specific needs
-  53% of women respondents reported that access or engagement with local or government or humanitarian agencies has diminished since the earthquake, mainly due to lack of physical access, stakeholders not listening, or women feeling too traumatized or a lack of energy to engage.
• Meet and consult with Water User Committees, VDCs, local authorities/representatives in select villages to establish priorities and key lessons;
• Hold meetings with women, youth and men groups; /focus group discussion
• Select households to do in-depth analysis of effects of response on gendered activities related to Gender Assessment and baseline study;
• Through field visits and Focus Group discussions with implementing partner staff & Oxfam teams, evaluate gender responsive best practice;
• Produce document including highlighting key figures findings, to share with Global Affairs Canada and Oxfam Canada.

4. Methodology
• The collection of data for the gender analysis will be based on the existing desk review (Gender Analysis and baseline study) and in data collection with the end line evaluation as appropriate
• Community consultation with using different tools for qualitative information’s, Key Informant Interview,
• The analysis involves a mixed method- both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Use of both primary and secondary data will be key in this assessment.
• Field visits to project sites and meetings with Oxfam and partner staff and doing data collection, which will include Key Informant Interviews with Oxfam and partners but also with target populations, and in areas we expect to work under the current Country Strategy.  Specific households will be profiled.
• A debriefing with humanitarian and DRR Team of Oxfam in Nepal
•  including presentation of final findings and recommendations
• Documenting good practices, identifying gaps and recommendations to guide Oxfam Nepal humanitarian response.

5. Process
Desk Review of related documents and tools, including all the previous studies since the response.

• Review the documents and reports on previous gender analysis 
• Liaise with the Oxfam Nepal team 
• Community consultation Data collection: in the field and with different stakeholders 
• Data cleaning, analysis, input and consultation from staff
• Draft key findings and recommendations presented to key stakeholders (OCA/Oxfam Nepal) 
• Final document produced

Required Profile
The following qualifications are required:

• Team Leader and Co-Lead must have Master/University level education in sociology, social sciences or related field and/ Knowledge or studies related to gender
• Experience in mainstreaming gender in humanitarian projects and programs 
• Experience of gender analysis and gender related research will add value
• Familiar with humanitarian and gender assessment 
• Proven experience and understanding of gender and emergencies issues in Nepal
• Experience of research, evaluation and uses of participatory approach
• Proven experience and skill researching on gender and humanitarian issues
• Understanding of WASH programming preferred

Management and Team reporting
The Consultant will report to Humanitarian Manager (Oxfam Nepal) and work closely with the NERF Project Manager (Oxfam Nepal).  Input/cooperation with the Oxfam Nepal gender team as required.

6. Timeline
The Gender Case Study should take place in cooperation/tandem with final evaluation activities, as is considered appropriate by the Oxfam Nepal team.  The Gender Case Study must be billed within the allowable timeline, in line with the evaluation activities budget (February 2019).

The assignment is expected to start on first week of February 2019 and to be completed within 3rd week of February 2019.

7. Budget Breakdown

Terms of Payment

100% of the total consultancy amount will be paid upon completion of the assignment after submission of final report as per this Terms of reference with full satisfaction evaluated by hiring manager.

Mandatory Documents for submission

•Detailed Technical and Financial Proposal (in the given format) with the CV of Team Leader and Co. Lead

•VAT registration certificate 

•Latest Tax clearance certificate - FY 2074-75

•Company Profile and Company registration certificate (if applying through company)
       

Response 

The Consulting VAT Registered Individual/Firm should submit a proposal to Oxfam by 24 January 2019 via mail to consultancy_nepal@oxfam.org.uk, clearly mentioning the title of assignment in their email subject line.

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.