Research Consultant

Call for Research Consultant

Action Works Nepal (AWON) and Bheri Environmental Excellence (BEE) Group in financial support of European Commission have been implementing “Elimination of Chhaupadi practice in Karnali, Nepal” project from 2016 to 2018. This project has planned to conduct action research in different five categories as mentioned in the list below: 

1. Study on Chhaupadi effects on health of women and adolescents girls.
2. Study on Chhaupadi effects on education of women and adolescents girls.
3. Study on Chhaupadi effects on mobility and leadership skills of women and adolescents girls.
4. Study on psychosocial thoughts and belief of local on Chhaupadi in the project areas.
5. Study on situation of national laws, policies and Chhaupadi Elimination Guideline 2007.

The overall objective of the study is to find out the real status of Chhaupadi and its effects on health, education, mobility and leadership of women and adolescents girls, psychosocial wellbeing and beliefs. Likewise, implementation status of laws, policies and Chhaupadi elimination guideline 2007 will be assessed with the research work. The research findings will be shared as reports, advocacy messages and applied as Information Education and Communication (IEC) and training materials.

To carry out above mentioned studies, AWON and BEE Group are looking for an experienced, qualified and skillful consultant, demonstrating past experience on action.

Interested consultants (Individual/Firm/Organization) related to above listed contents are requested to send a copy of interest letter, proposal, company profile and CV of research team member, demonstrating  previous experience on aforementioned assignments, detail research cost/fees, duration required for the assignment to the email address awon.vacancy@gmail.com by 5 PM, 14 January 2017. Please mention “Consultancy for Action Research" in the subject of email.

Terms of Reference for Action Research 

Research Title: Study on Chhaupadi effects on health, education, mobility and leadership skills, psychological thoughts and belief of women and adolescent girls.

BACKGROUND:

Action Works Nepal (AWON) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization registered at the District Administration Office, Kathmandu in 2010 and affiliated to the Social Welfare Council in Nepal. AWON works for the rural transformation especially in remote and isolated parts of the country which are backward due to ill cultural and social practices, fall below the poverty line and are ranked low in human development index.

Action Works Nepal (AWON) and Bheri Environmental Excellence (BEE) Group in financial support of European Commission have been implementing “Elimination of Chhaupadi practice in Karnali, Nepal” project from 2016 to 2018. This project has a plan to conduct action research in different five categories as: (i) Chhaupadi effects on health of women and adolescents girls; (ii) education of women and adolescents girls; (iii) mobility and leadership skills of women and adolescents girls;  (iii) psychosocial thoughts and belief of local on Chhaupadi in the project areas (Jumla, Mugu and Kalikot);and (iv) study on situation of national laws, policies and Chhaupadi Elimination Guideline 2007.

Objective of the Research 

The main purpose of the research is to find out the real status of Chhaupadi and its effects on health, education, mobility and leadership of women and adolescents girls, psychosocial well-being and beliefs in Karnali. Likewise, implementation status of laws, policies and Chhaupadi elimination guideline 2007 will be assessed. The research findings will be shared as reports, advocacy messages and applied as Information Education and Communication (IEC) and training materials. Based on the findings of the action research, policy paper will be developed. The output of this study will be utilized to produce policy recommendations for decision makers. 

SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH

i) Preparation: 

The research is expected to plan through a consultative process between AWON, BEE Group and the consultant/s. This will include series of meetings among the research team, AWON and BEE Group officials. The consultative process will finalize research process, methodology, expected results, research framework, research questionnaires, and the source of information. 

ii) Training of enumerators and research assistants

The research team will carry out the training to enumerators about data collection from both quantitative and qualitative methods.  Further, the enumerators will be trained on  interview techniques, focus group discussions and research ethics.

iii) Consolidation of findings

The action research needs to use following approach for analysis and synthesis of the information obtained from the field: 

• preparation of a draft report, which needs an analysis of both qualitative and quantitative, , and a set of recommendations for further intervention; 
• share a  draft report to the officials of AWON and BEE Group for their comments and feedback, and 
• finalization of the research reports, (including some of the cases studies), after incorporating comments and feedback from AWON and BEE Group. 

In order to achieve the intended objectives of the research, the following research areas have to be defined with the intention to guide the research/study/assessment. 

• What are the existing practices on Chhaupadi which l effect on health, education, mobility and leadership skills of women and adolescent girls?
• What are the psychologicalthoughts and belief of local on Chhaupadi in the project area?
• What is the implementation status of  existing national laws, policies and Chhaupadi elimination guideline 2007, and how we can  we scale up best practices?

Field study locations:

Three districts of Karnali: Jumla, Mugu and Kalikot.

Deliverables:

With close coordination with Executive Manager and Project Manager of AWON, and Executive Director of BEE Group, the research consultant should deliver the following:

• Draft report
• Final report
• A policy brief report

Time frame:

The action research is expected to be completed in one and half months duration, and should be accomplished by the end of February. Final research report must be submitted by the end of March 2017. 

Inputs of AWON and BEE Group

1. AWON and BEE Group will coordinate with district team to select the enumerators and research assistants for  the training
2. AWON and BEE Group will coordinate with local government and likeminded agencies (if required). 
3. AWON and BEE Group will arrange  logistics related to this research
4. The survey team will be accompanied by AWON/BEE Group staff for logistics and coordination.  

Remarks: 

The research is one of the activities of the European Commission funded project “Elimination of Chhaupadi practice in Karnali, Nepal”. Therefore, any communication related to this action research should follow the EC procedures for communication and visibility designed to raise the awareness of specific or general audiences of the reason for the action and EC support of the action in the country concerned.