Terms of Reference for data collection

Terms of Reference for data collection

TROSA Endline outcome & impact evaluation

BackGround

The Transboundary Rivers of South Asia (TROSA) programme is a five-year three months programme aimed at reducing poverty of river basin communities in three large river basins. We envisage that poverty will be reduced for marginalized and vulnerable river basin communities through increased access and control over water resources. 

The programme builds on existing knowledge and programmes of Oxfam team and partners in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar and regional partners, and is implemented in four river basins: Sharda/Mahakali basin (shared by India and Nepal), Brahmaputra-Saralbhanga-Teesta basin (shared by India, Bangladesh and Bhutan), Meghna basin (shared by India and Bangladesh), and Salween basin (Myanmar).

The TROSA programme has the following outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Government policies & practices at all levels, in water resource management are more inclusive of community concerns & meet national & international standards.
• Outcome 2: Practices of private sector respect community access to water resources actively contributing to reduced conflict
• Outcome 3: CSOs increasingly participate in or influence trans-boundary water governance, women’s inclusion and resolution of water conflicts.
• Outcome 4.1: local communities are better able to reduce vulnerability to water resource-related-shocks resulting from conflicts and disasters;
• Outcome 4.2: Local communities have more secure access and control over their water resources
• Outcome 5: Increased participation and influence of women in trans-boundary water governance, policies and processes

Endline Study objectives

A quantitative baseline study (surveys) was conducted in May-June 2018 in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal. At that time a baseline could not be conducted in Myanmar; instead, the baseline study for Myanmar was conducted in 2019.

The endline study again adopts a quantitative approach, and focuses on outcomes 4.1, 4.2, 5, and the impact level. In addition the endline study assesses the livelihood impacts of Covid-19 impacts and its interplay with the intended outcomes, as well as explores basin specific learning questions.

The endline study has the following objectives:

1. Assess progress based on outcomes 4.1, 4.2, 5 & impact level as a result of TROSA activities;
2. Contextualize findings on outcomes 4.1, 4.2, 5 & impact level with respect to Covid-19;
3. Answer learning questions that relate to specific pathways in the Theory of Change.

Consultants/agencies need to collect quantitative data for Mahakali and Koshi basin of Nepal.

Methodology

The quantitative research uses a survey approach to gather quantifiable data and perform statistical analysis to analyze the impact of the TROSA programme. The total sample to be collected in Mahakali/Koshibasin consists of 751 respondents (383 target group; 368 comparison group). The target group consist of respondents that participated in TROSA programme activities. The comparison group consists of respondents that did not participate in TROSA programme activities.

Table 1: Sample size per basin

The data collection will use the Qualtrics application, which is a web-based survey platform that can also be used offline. Enumerators will record responses to the questionnaires using the Qualtrics survey app on a smartphone or tablet, and then upload complete responses to the Qualtrics platform when connected to the internet. The consultant/agency will be responsible for ensuring that enumerators conduct quality interviews, record the responses correctly in the Qualtrics app and upload the data in a timely manner. The data collection tools are already designed, translated, and developed.

Data will be collected through face-to-face field surveys¹. To consider the Covid-19 situation and limit any travel requirement, local enumerators should be hired in each project area. The consultant/agency will be responsible to collect the data using the designed tools and to manage the data collection process, including to train the local enumerators.

¹Covid-19might induce adaptations in our endline planning. In case we cannot conduct face-to-face interviews an alternative approach should be taken. Scenarios include phone or video interviews. Consultants are encouraged to demonstrate their experience with remote data collection.

Research Timeline

Tentative timeline is as follows.

 CONSULTANT DESCRIPTION

Oxfam seeks a consultant/agency to conduct quantitative data collection. Oxfam expects interested parties to demonstrate their ability to provide a competent and professional staff, maintain the highest standards of privacy and research ethics, and provide regular quality control and supervision.

Consultants/Agencies may apply to collect data in one or more basins (see methodology).

A. Consultant/Agency Requirement

The consultant/agency must have a strong record in conducting quantitative research, especially quantitative research applied on social sciences with local communities. The consultant/agency should have the following skills and competencies:

1. Knowledge of research methods, including quantitative data collection (required)
2. Experience designing a research implementation process and ensuring quality data collection (required)
3. Familiarity working with smartphones, tablets and apps (required)
4. Reliable and consistent access to sufficient research materials, including for example telephones and research tablets (required)
5. Excellent in written communication and presentation skills in English (required)
6. Experience to maintain data security for research purpose and ensuring data protection requirement is in place (required)
7. Experience to maintain safeguarding protocol during data collection process in a proper manner (required)
8. An existing data management and confidentiality policy for all staff involved in data collection, management and supervisors (required)
9. Reliable access to the internet in order to upload the surveys completed daily (required)
10. Enumerators have a minimum of two years of experience (required)
11. Supervisors have a minimum of five years of experience (required)
12. Team should have gender balance. 
13. Experience conducting quantitative data collection with digital survey tools (Qualtrics, Mobenzi, Survey CTO, Kobo, etc.) (desired) 
14. Experience with remote data collection (phone or video based interviews) (desired)
15. Experience in dealing with translation issues during remote field research (desired)

B. Consultant/agency Deliverables

1. Collaborate in research design tools, sampling plan, implementation plan, training materials for enumerators, data security plan and execution and compilation in one brief inception report before start data collection process.
2. The consultant/agency will be responsible for ensuring that the full sample is collected and submitted to the Qualtrics application, on-time. This will involve detailed tracking of the progress of the enumerators towards meeting the sampling targets.
3. Data collection report with key learning from the field related to data collection.

C. Selection Criteria

The shortlisting/selection of the consultants/consulting firm will be based on the following criteria: 

Commercial and ethical assessment 

• Risk rating 
• Financial capacity 
• Ethical screening

Technical Evaluation 

• Organizations experience and capacity - 40% 
• Technical capacity and qualification of the proposed team- 30% 
• Value for money - 30% 

A final interview with the consultants/consulting firm will be arranged to finalize the selection of the consultants/consulting firm.

D. Proposal Submission

Interested consultants/agencies that meet the requirements as described above, should submit their proposal (max. 7 pages) including the proposed methodology (methods, budget, and plan) that explains:

1. A capacity statement describing experience in conducting the necessary data collection and processing of data, as well as evidence of the required skillset and demonstrated experience conducting research in workplace settings.
2. A detailed budget in Nepali and workplan.
3. CVs of key personnel who will be engaged in the data collection. Data collection firms/organizations must also submit an institutional capacity statement.
4. Brief paragraph summaries of 3-4 examples of similar data collection work conducted within the past two (2) years. The summaries should include descriptions of the past efforts, covering the research topic, the scale of data collection, the methods used, field strategy, data management approach, quality control systems, etc.
5. 2-3 references that can be contacted regarding the quality of the Consultant firms’ work.

Timeline

The tentative start date of the consultancy service will be around second week of August 2021. The task should be completed by the end of October 2021.

DOCUMENTS FOR SUBMISSION

• Technical proposal with Organization Profile and CV of consultants (during proposal submission)
• Financial proposal in above mentioned format (during proposal submission)
• Company Registration Certificate (during proposal submission)
• VAT registration certificate (during proposal submission)
• Tax clearance certificate 2076/77 (during proposal submission)
• References detail of previous 2 clients (during proposal submission) 

RESPONSE

The Consulting VAT Registered Firm should submit the proposal to Oxfam by 8 August 2021 via mail to consultancy_nepal@oxfam.org.uk, clearly mentioning the title of assignment in the email subject line and not exceeding 15 MB.

OUR COMMITMENT TO SAFEGUARDING

Oxfam is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and expects all staff, consultants, volunteers to share this commitment. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work within our values are selected to work for us. 

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

Oxfam shall retain all reference materials provided as background used by the Consultant in the delivery of this assignment.  All arising intellectual property, ideas, materials, processes or processes formed in contemplation, course of, or as result of this work shall be passed to Oxfam without restriction.

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

Oxfam is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults and expects all staff, consultants, volunteers to share this commitment. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work within our values are recruited to work for us. This job is subject to a range of screening checks