Terms of Reference for Carrying out a multisectoral study on 'Impact of COVID and Climate Change in community Livelihoods, GBV and WASH'

Promoting Inclusive Resilience and Accountability through Youth Association Strengthening (PRAYAS) and Promotion of Agro-ecological Accountable Systems in Nepal

Terms of Reference

for

Carrying out a multisectoral study on 'Impact of COVID and Climate Change in community Livelihoods, GBV and WASH'

1.   VSO Background

VSO is the world’s leading independent, international development organization that works through international volunteer professionals. VSO Nepal is working in Nepal since 1964 to improve the lives of impoverished people in some of the country’s poorest districts, particularly focusing on vulnerable women and girls. We believe that people are the key to overcoming poverty, and that is why we work through volunteers. Drawn from many countries and all walks of life, they give their expertise, time and passion, and they share their skills with partner organizations ranging from grassroots groups to government agencies. It is a powerful, cost-effective way to create lasting results.

VSO implements a consortium project named ‘Promoting Inclusive Resilience and Accountability through Youth Association Strengthening’ (PRAYAS) which aims to strengthen the role of Youth-Led Civil Society Organizations (YLCs) to effectively engage youth and other marginalized groups in local Climate and Disaster Resilience (CDR) processes in Nepal’s new federal context. Similarly, VSO is implementing a component called Promotion of Agro-ecological Accountable Systems in Nepal (PAAS) to complement PRAYAS project's resilience building process. VSO aims to contribute to establish agroecological and resilience systems/practices through these two interventions in selected working areas of PRAYAS.

As part of this process, a study is proposed to explore the effects Climate change and COVID in livelihoods practices (agriculture, food security), its sequential effects on GBV (including unpaid care work) and in WASH systems and practices. Similarly, this study aims to document community capacity in terms of adapting the negative effects of COVID and climate change in the specific domains. This study will provide an overall status and effects of COVID and Climate change in community on the key domains like livelihoods (agriculture, food security), GBV (unpaid care work) and WASH.

2.   Objectives

The overall objective of this assignment is to carry out a multi-sectoral study for generating knowledge on impact of COVID and Climate Change in community's multi sectoral areas as mentioned in specific objectives section below.

3.   Specific Objectives: The specific objectives of this study are;

• Document community capacity to adapt negative impacts of COVID and climate change.
• Explore the effect of COVID and Climate change in community livelihoods (Agriculture, food security and other).
• Explore the effect of COVID and climate change in GBV including unpaid care work.
• Explore the effect of COVID and climate change in community WASH systems and practices.

4.   Expected deliverables:

• Design research and a research proposal
• Multi-sectoral research as mentioned in section 3.
• Comprehensive research report.
• Research brief

5.   VSO Nepal responsibilities

VSO Nepal will provide following to the consultant.

• Provide necessary information about field and projects (PRAYAS and PAAS) ongoing in Surkhet and Janakpurdham.
• Coordinate and accompany during field study if required.
• Consultancy fee as per agreement.
• Copy right of the product/study will be of VSO.

6.   Consultant's responsibilities

The selected consultant will have following responsibilities. 

• Coordinate with project team both in Kathmandu and field.
• Pre sharing of field travel
• Take appropriate picture and records in field (Pre consensus needed) and provide those to VSO
• Manage logistics arrangement during field travel by self.

7.   Required qualifications and experience

Following qualifications and experience is required for consultant (if any individual is applying) or assigned person (if any firm/company is applying);

• At least; Masters' Degree (Mphil, Ph.D Preferred) in Social Science, Development Studies, Natural Resource Management or in any relevant subjects.
• At least 10 years of demonstrated working experience in the field research design and research conduction particular in above mentioned multi sectoral areas.
• Strong verbal and oral communication skills in English and Nepali language.
• Sound Nepali and English typing skills.
• Coordination and team working skills.
• Willingness to travel and stay in rural areas of Surkhet and Janakpurdham during field study

8.   Duration of Assignment

The total period of this research assignment is 2.5 months. The final report needs to be completed by 28 Feb 2022. From this total time, the below mentioned budget is planned and available at VSO. The tentative start of this assignment will begin from mid Dec 2021 and need to accomplish by end of Feb 2022.

9.   Application procedure and requirement

• A cover letter and update CV.
• Technical proposal which includes the methodology and proposed contents
• Financial Proposal
• Copy of company registration certificate
• Copy of PAN/VAT registration certificate (Required business PAN registration certificate for individual consultant)
• Latest Tax Clearance Certificate FY 077/78 or, Tax Clearance Certificate FY 076/77 and Tax extension letter of FY 2077/78

10.   Reporting line

The consultant will work closely with the Consortium Project Manager-PRAYAS and will report to the same.

11.   Application submission

• The submission closed date is 12th December 2021.
• Submissions should be addressed to: Procurement.nepal@vsoint.org