Terms of Reference for COVID Impact Survey under the Education Joint Project

Terms of Reference for

COVID Impact Survey under the Education Joint Project

Provision of follow-up support to out-of-school adolescent girls and young women who completed vocational skills training in Rautahat, Sarlahi, Sunsari, Achham and Bajura  districts.

1. Project Background 

“Provision of follow up support to out of schools adolescents’ girls and young women who completed vocational skills training in Rautahat, Sarlahi, Sunsari, Achham and Bajura districts” is a follow-up assignment contracted to Aasaman Nepal (Aasaman) and Manakamana Training and Skill Development Institute (Manakamana) by United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). The follow-up program is designed and executed with the objective to leverage the vocational and entrepreneurial skills of out-of-school adolescent girls and young women to support their access and retention in the local labour market in Rautahat, Sarlahi, Sunsari, Bajura and Achham districts. Under the overall framework of Education Joint Project (JP), led by UNESCO in consortium with UNFPA and UN Women, partner Aasaman and Manakamana has imparted vocational and entrepreneurship development skill training to 4,000 young women and out of school adolescent girls aged 16 to 25 years old. Further in the second phase, Aasaman and Manakamana is currently carrying out   follow-up support to project participants with an objective to take more trained participants to income generation as entry point to challenge underlying discriminatory gender norms. 

Since the month of March 2020, in the light of uncertainty pertaining to COVID impact, a collective, rights-based response that prioritizes the needs of those made most vulnerable in crisis has become imperative.  Field based report states that COVID-19 has further intensified gender -based discriminatory practices and social norms in the period of lock-down. In addition to the loss of household level income, women’s care burden has significantly increased and, harmful practices surfacing in the form of gender-based violence and domestic violence are on rise.  465 case of violence against women and girls committed during lockdown from between March 24 to May 29, 2020, where GBV cases documented in Rautahat district is 4, Sarahi 2, Sunsari 21. In this evolving context, Aasaman and Manakamana repurposed ongoing activities in relation to COVID response through radio-based interventions to connect project participants/communities with local government, local entrepreneurs, social workers, roles models regarding interventions and practices, relief packages, opportunities and challenges of women entrepreneurs. The radio programme has been providing information and referral including psycho-social counseling for project participants and their families as part of the COVID prevention and response. 

Since project is going to end in August 2020, Aasaman Nepal and Manakaman intend to conduct COVID impact survey study to determine the changes delivered by the project, i.e. the impact of the Education JP in achieving gender equality by empowering trained participant through providing them vocational skill development training and facilitate them in income generation activities. Further the survey intend to study the impact of COVID-19 on beneficiaries i.e. trained girls and women who have started trade or were in process and the social impact of COVID-19 on the beneficiaries life. Moreover, the COVID-19 impact survey study is intended to assess the progress made by project in fulfilling its agreed objectives through planned activities pre COVID-19 context and post COVID context; to evaluate the relevance of the project to the implementation areas; and to assess the efficiency and effectiveness with which resources have been used to generate and achieve the project objective.

2. Objectives of the Impact Survey

The overall objective of the impact survey is to assess the impact by the JP’s vocational skills training component and further assessing the impact of the COVID crisis on the trained participants. As and when possible, it will also assess the impact of integrated approach of JP where the vocational training participants had participated in other components of the JP led by UNESCO and UNFPA. 

• Assess the impact of the JP particularly vocational training on the targeted beneficiaries i.e. trained participants.
• Assess the challenges faced by the trained participants while starting business/ trade 
• Assess social and economic impact of COVID-19 who had started trade or were in process and the ensuing lock-down to the project participants 
• Assess the impact of integrated approach through women captured by UN Women and UNESCO or UNFPA interventions.
• Recommend potential areas of intervention for strengthening JP’s component  and coordination 

3. Scope of Work

• Analyse 600 sample respondents from Rautahat, Sarlahi, Sunsari, Achham and Bajura districts with focus on the target 14 municipalities where the project is implemented.
• Assess what components of the intervention were enablers for women’s economic empowerment  (Pre-COVID) 
• Assess social and economic specific issues and barriers that prevent vulnerable young women engaging in income generation activities.
• Assess if the participants are aware about the role and response of the local government, local entrepreneurs, relevant stakeholders, community leaders, social workers and its relationship with project participants. 
• Assess challenge faced and effort made by local government in addressing issue faced by girls and women during COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Assess the prevalence of gender based violence (GBV) and domestic violence, the impact of gender based discriminatory practices particularly during the COVID and response mechanism made by local authorities to deal with the situation.
• Identify and assess critical social barriers such as gendered division of domestic labour and care work, lack of self-confidence, harmful social practices like dowry system, chhaupadi (seclusion during menstruation) and restrictions on mobility, interaction with people outside of their own family and to start enterprise. 
• Examine differential impact on vulnerable participants including those with / who are: disability, widow, highly marginalized, very poor Dalits/Janajatis, HIV/AIDS.  

Data Collection and data entry will be done by Aasaman Nepal and Manakamana Institute but design of questionnaire and data entry format is under the responsibility of consultant.

4. Task of the Consultant

• Develop respondent and KII questionnaire in coordination with Aasaman, Manakamana and UN Women
• Collect qualitative information to capturing the impact beyond numeric gain or loss
• Design data entry template or software (KoBo)
• Data tabulation
• Data analysis
• Prepare draft report
• Prepare power point presentation
• Prepare final report  

Methodology

The study will be conducted using empirical methods in selected Municipalities of above mentioned districts, in consultation with the Aasaman and Manakamana. Detailed methodology (sampling method, sources of data collection and data analysis technique) will be prepared by the Consultant.

5.1 Primary sources of data collection

• Telephone survey with respondents carried out by Aasaman and Manakamana field staffs (or local mentors?)
• Conduct KII with relevant local stakeholders carried out by the Consultant
• Consultation with project stakeholders carried out by the Consultant

5.2 Secondary sources of data collection

• Desk review of secondary data not limiting to project document and existing reports. 

5.3 Data collection

• 15 per cent random sampling out of the total population of 4000
• 375 respondents from the district of Achham, Bajura and Sunsari will be managed by Manakamana
• 225 respondents from  the district of Rautahat and Sarlahi will be managed by Aasaman

6. Target Group

Trained participants especially adolescents girls and young women from Rautahat, Sarlahi, Sunsari, Achham and Bajura district and local government representatives. Total Sample size is 600 adolescents girls and young women.

7. Consultancy Framework

The study is expected to start by the last week of third week of August 2020. The final report on the study should be submitted to ASN within the timeframe provided below.

8. Required documents and qualification (individual consultant/firm)

• At least Masters' degree in social sciences or related field. 
• Minimum three years of relevant professional experience in research and studies related to income generation and vocational training activities.
• Individual or the consultant firm must have sound knowledge of the policies, rules, and regulations pertaining to vocational skill training and employment sector in Nepal.
• Consultant has demonstrated excellent analytical and writing skills.
• Must have strong background and experience in data collection and analysis. 
• Must possess excellent statistical and quantitative data analysis skills.

9. Payment Modality

• 30% of payment will be made upon the signing of the contract. 
• 30% upon submission of draft assessment report and the remaining 40% will be paid after the acceptance of the final report. 

10. Application Procedure 

Interested private firms/ individuals, who meet the above requirements, should apply by submitting their Expression of Interest (EoI) with Concept Note (not more than 5 pages) including financial proposal. The outlines should include the methodology, similar work experiences, brief technical description and capacity of team proposed and estimated budget to accomplish the aforementioned tasks with subject line "COVID Impact Survey" to the following email address. 

The closing date for applications is 19th August 2020. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for interview. The short-listed applicant will be required to present their proposed methodology and previous similar experience. Any decision for disqualification rests solely with ASN.

The candidates must adhere to Aasaman Nepal's policies and internal procedures, protocols, code of conduct with special attention to Child Safeguarding and Protection and Do No Harm Policies. The template of concept note is attached in ANNEX I.

Aasaman Nepal, Mahalaxmisthan, Lalitpur

Website: www.aasamannepal.org.np

Email:  asnvacancy@gmail.com

Annex-I: Format for Concept Note

• Individual/organizational introduction and relevant experience in the similar assignment
• Individual/ organizational experience of proposed human resource
• Objectives of the assessment
• Outcome of assignment 
• Data survey and analysis process 
• Time frame 
• Budget