Terms of Reference-End-line Survey on Sustainable use of Technology for Public Sector Accountability

Terms of Reference

CECI Nepal, Susasan Project

End-line Survey on Sustainable use of Technology for Public Sector Accountability in Nepal- Susasan

1.   Background

The Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) is an international non-governmental organization which works in more than 15 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. CECI has been working in Nepal for over 30 years. CECI’s mission is to combat poverty and exclusion. To this end, it builds the developmental capacities of local disadvantaged communities, supports peace, human rights, and equity initiatives, mobilizes resources, and fosters the exchange of knowledge. 

Sustainable use of Technology for Public Sector Accountability in Nepal- Susasan(good governance): is a project of the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada (GAC). This four-year (2017 to 2021) project is implemented in 12 local governments of six districts of two provinces (Bagmati and SudurPaschim) through its two national and six district-based partners. It is aiming to leverage and mainstream integrated technologies for public sector accountability in Nepal. The project has ultimate outcome to increase empowerment of women and men, girls and boys, and marginalized groups, to engage in democratic processes, and enjoy and exercise their human rights in Nepal.  The project has set target to reach out 40,000 beneficiaries directly-specially women and marginalized groups (WMG). 

The project is implemented in six districts namely Sindhupalchok and Lalitpur of Bagmati province and Kailali, Dadeldhura, Achham and Bajhang of SudurPashchim province along with federal and provincial governments. The project was designed to complement ongoing initiatives and programs (digitization of local government plan, budget, data; website development; mainstreaming social accountability tools etc.) of the government specially of targeted local governments (2 local governments-Municipalities and Rural municipalities) of each project district. 

The intermediate outcome of the project is to:

• Improve bottom-up coordination, communication and feedback between communities, rural municipalities, municipalities, provinces, and central government agencies.
• Improve citizen engagement, especially WMGs, to strengthen public sector accountability and responsiveness at the local, provincial, and national levels.
• Enhance the capacity of government to respond to the diverse needs and rights of people in Nepal, especially towards WMG.

2.   Scope of work

Susasan project has successfully completed its four years of implementation and now it is in the closing process. In its first year of implementation, the project has conducted a baseline survey. Now the project is carrying an end line survey to compare the changes of indicators identified and evaluated during its baseline.  The findings of the survey will be used to communicate with project donor, project beneficiaries and stakeholders.  

For detailed information about the project: Susasan.org

3.   The objective of the survey

The main objective of this end line survey is to compare the established benchmarks of outcome indicators in the baseline. These include citizens' awareness and user context when it comes to certain aspects of integrated technology (online and offline) for public sector accountably in project working area. It also includes information related to the capacity and resource available at local governments for the promotion of e-governance. 

In this context, the end line will assess the progress against baseline which was expected to generate ideas on how to collaborate and coordinate with government agencies and civil society organizations including local communities to leverage and mainstream integrated technologies in the governance process. 

The followingare the specific objectives of the survey.

a.   Collect robust information from targeted local, provincial, and federal structures and context related to governance and participation, use and dissemination of technologies for public sector accountability.

b.   Documentation of project impact on the capacity development of stakeholders (government, CSOs and citizens specially WMGs) through the introduction of integrated technologies.   

c.   Mapping people/community perception on governance and technologies in project area.

4.   Methodological Approach 

• A concurrent mixed research method/approach is proposed for the survey. The quantitative information will be collected from household using structured questionnaire along with FGD and KII will be conducted to collect qualitative information to compare with baseline for the defined indicators of the project outcome indicators. The survey will measure the existing status of equitable and inclusive participation in democratic decision-making process especially by WMG and how it holds government accountable using technology; and responsiveness of public institutions to address the diverse needs and rights of people (especially WMG) using technology. This survey will be designed for sourcing the information from the citizens, intermediaries; Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Service Providers (SPs) and concerned government agencies from project target area.
• The entire survey will be conducted by consultant mobilizing local enumerators for HH survey in all project area and the team of consultant will engage for the collection of qualitative information in sampled sites. For the smooth operation of the field activities, district partner CSOs will be mobilized for coordination and field level facilitation.

5.   Role of the consultant

• Finalization of survey tools and methodology: to collect information from concerned stakeholders i.e., local government, WMGs, partners and intermediary CSOs. The tools and methodology should ensure clear reflection of GESI and environment perspectives.
• Review baseline questionnaire/discussion checklist for contextualization.
• Define qualitative and quantitative data analysis tools and procedures.
• Prepare field survey work plan. 
• Collect secondary information from desk review of updated government policies/procedures related to citizen state engagement in the context of new federal structure of the country.
• Finalize sample size, identify sample unite and organize questionnaire orientation event for enumerations.
• Collect field data using appropriate tools i.e., semi structured interview, FGD, KII and other participatory interactive tools.
• Share first draft report with Susasan team for feedback/comments/suggestions.
• Incorporate feedback, comments, and suggestions.
• Submit final report to Susasan.

6.   Role of CECI/Susasan

• Provide necessary documents required for the survey. 
• Support consultant by setting meeting for project briefing, liaising with district partners and the concern stakeholders.
• The survey will be solely managed by consultant. Only field coordination and logistics will be assisted by the project. 
• Beside the consultant renumeration the cost of the consultant and enumerators travel, stationary, communication and accommodation will be managed by CECI in actual basis and CECI personnel policy.  
• Other roles will be as defined by the Agreement between two parties during negotiation and signing contract.

7.   Deliverables

• Inception report including final scope, methodology, survey tools, analytical framework including matrix aligned with project measurement framework (PMF), reporting template and work plan with detail timeline.
• Enumerator orientation (Virtual/ Face to Face) and conduct field research at district and local government level.
• Sharing of first draft report for feedback/input and suggestion for further refinement.
• A comprehensive final report (both e-copies & hard copies) with raw and cleaned data set.

8.   Level of Effort and timeline

Susasan project is expecting to accomplish the assignment with maximum 40 workdays. The proposed key activities are:  

• Tools and methodology development with inception report
• Data collection, analysis, and validation with project team and triangulation from different tools and sources.
• Drafting of report and sharing findings for comment/feedback 
• Submission of final report addressing the comments.

9.   Reporting/monitoring

The consultant should report to the Project Team Leader. The MEL Specialist is responsible for ensuring overall quality of the survey. Governance Specialist, GESI specialist and Area Coordinators will provide necessary support and guidance to ensure consistency, standards, and quality of the survey. The activities are rightly implemented as per ToR, due process is followed for the selection of consultant, proper methodology is applied, data is gathered from authentic sources and the finding and recommendations compares to the relevant indicators of PMF and overall scope of the work will be ensured through regular monitoring and on time feedback exchange.

10.   Qualification and skills required.

• Master’s Degree in social science, governance, political economics, law, management, rural development, and other relevant subjects.
• Minimum 5 years’ progressive experience of conducting End line survey and End Evaluation using mixed method field research/studies.
• Proven Experience on result-based management and performance measurement framework design and measurement.
• Priority will be given for the researcher with experience of study/research on civic engagement, transparency and accountability for good governance and integrated technology (e-governance). 
• Team leader or member have knowledge and experience of governance-social accountability and civic engagement modalities.
• Proficiency in Statistical software (SPSS, STATA), Mobile based data collection tools.
• Sensitive towards political, cultural, and social diversity specially caste, religion, gender, culture, and social norms &values.

11.   Application process

Interested individual, team or a firm (registered in VAT or PAN) should apply letter of interest electronically along with the following documents, without which the application will not be considered eligible:

• A cover letter explaining your interest in this assignment and ability to carry this survey
• Updated CVs of team leader and members
• Technical proposal with details of methodology, timeline, deliverables, and roles of expert members
• Financial proposal with detailed cost breakdown (including total estimated cost for the above-mentioned deliverables)
• VAT/PAN registered certificate and other legal documents

12.   The following criteria will be used to review the proposal.

- Clarity on TOR and Methodology 

- Team Leader and members expertise 

- Clarity on technical proposal

- Financial Budget with item wise breakdown

- Experience on similar type of mixed method research and evaluation 

13.   Sealed quotation should be submitted by 19 Feb 2021 at:

G.P.O. Box: 2959

House No. 135, Naya Basti Marg, 

Baluwatar, Kathmandu,

Nepal.

Phone:  4414430, 4426791

14.   Note: 

• Susasan project will not have any liabilities on any unanticipated incident (accident, injury, natural disaster etc.) to the consultants.
• Overhead cost will not allow for the service.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be notified for the presentation and interview.
• No telephone inquiries will be entertained with respect to this announcement.

The team with members of women candidates and candidates from disadvantaged groups/communities and areas (Dalit, Janjati/Indigenous, Madheshi, Muslim, LGBTIQ+ and Economic and or geographically excluded districts) are encouraged to apply. 

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