Consultancy (Short Term Assignment)
Terms of Reference
Organization
 Handicap International (HI)
Position Title
 Consultant for conducting Inclusive Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment  (VCA) at community level
Project Locations
 Bangladesh: Nayapara and Kutupalong Registered Camps, makeshift camps and host communities in two villages in Cox’s Bazar
Duration
30 days, including the travel
Start Date
 01 February 2019
Application deadline
24 January 2019
Consultant Base
 Cox’s bazar
HI Background
Handicap International is an independent and impartial international aid organization working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. Working alongside persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, our action and testimony are focused on responding to their essential needs, improving their living conditions and promoting respect for their dignity and their fundamental rights.
Project Description
 The aim of the "Growing Together" (GT) project is to create opportunities for children with disabilities and other vulnerable children, in particular children at risk of developmental delays and psychological distress (0-12 years old) in displacement contexts, to learn and develop safely while having fun. The project will coordinate implementation of country-based projects of Handicap International and partners to support communities in raising socially and emotionally healthy kids in refugee/IDP camps and in host communities in Thailand, Bangladesh and Pakistan.Project Goal:
Enable children with disabilities or chronic illnesses, children at risk of developmental delays and psychological distress (0-12 years old), to develop their full potential on an equal basis with other children and acquire fundamental educational and social skills through games, sport, cultural arts, early years’ education and complementary learning in displacement settings in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Thailand.Project outcomes:
  • Children with disabilities and other vulnerable children in early childhood (50% girls and at least 25% with disabilities) have the opportunity to play, learn and develop safely in playgroups and parenting crèches.
  • Children with disabilities and other vulnerable children of primary school age are engaged in child-led games, educational games on disaster risk reduction, arts, sports and complementary learning, promoting their equal participation, safety, protection and well-being (50% boys/girls, at least 20% with disabilities).
  • Local child-development service providers are more inclusive, accessible and responsive to the needs of boys and girls with disabilities and other vulnerable children.
Implementation of the project will be supported by HI past and on-going experiences in child development, social support, rehabilitation, mental health, protection, inclusive education, disaster risk reduction and inclusive recreation. The project offers opportunities for the development of innovative approaches including the development of a tool to measure the quality of life of children with disability, construction of inclusive playgrounds and toys, using a home-based rehabilitation tool, monitoring of the environmental print of HI ’s in-country missions, and others.
To this end, it will empower families to set up playgroups and parenting clubs for children in early childhood with support from community-based structures. It will engage children of primary school age to participate in clubs, where they learn and socialize through inclusive games, arts, sports and complementary learning, and where they champion rights and needs of vulnerable children’s in their communities. Simultaneously, the program will engage local child-development service providers to be more responsive to the needs of boys and girls with disabilities and other vulnerable children, and will assist the organizations in implementing measures to facilitate their inclusion.An important component in starting activities is doing Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments (VCAs) because of:
-the risks involved in working in refugee and displacement contexts
-promoting a culture of risk reduction amongst project teams
-increased knowledge of protection issues and resilience
Assignment Summary
 HI is seeking a qualified and professional consultant in conducting Inclusive VCA and will conduct the Inclusive VCA in the project locations- Nayapara and Kutupalong Registered Camps, makeshift camps and host communities in two villages in Cox’s BazarThe short-term consultancy is for a period of 30 days between (01 February– 15 March) and will include desk review, preparation of tools, methodologies and process of the assessment, training to field staff, data collection, data analysis and compilation of assessment reports from project officers, and final report writing with the support of HI DRR Advisor and Regional Technical Coordinator and HI Bangladesh’s Technical Team. HI encourages consultancy firms, groups or individual that can assign one consultant specialized in inclusive DRR focused on disability, vulnerable groups, minority, elders, children etc.The Consultant will follow Bangladesh Government’s community based Disaster preparedness module.
Project Objectives
To contribute an increase in community resilience to natural hazard by enabling communities/camps to identify and address critical issues causing /contributing to their vulnerabilities to disaster risks
Effect 1: Communities/camps are mobilized to assess and evaluate risks through participatory identification and implementation of some specific activities around Disaster Risks Reduction, Disaster Risk Management model.
Effect 2: Linkages of stakeholders at all levels are facilitated to provide individuals and communities with greater means to address vulnerabilities to disasters.
Effect 3: Community based solutions and families and children to address the root causes of vulnerability to disasters are implemented
Objective of the assignment
The Inclusive VCA will be based on following main components;
  • Stakeholder Analysis
  • Multi Hazard Mapping and Analysis
  • Vulnerability Assessment of the community
  • Risk Analysis
  • Capacity Assessment of the community
  • Action plan developed after VCA
  • Recommendations for different stakeholders (HI, Government, Community, etc.)
  • A Final report with separate area VCA report
  • Strategic guidance for future DRR programming
Methodology
  • Desk research: Information will be collected on the existing situation in terms of potential hazards, vulnerabilities and capacity to deal with major disasters. The inform index can be used as a reference. http://www.inform-index.org/
  • Participatory, consultative community meetings and mapping (semi structured focus group discussions, Transect walk and seasonal calendar etc. depending on free choice of the community) with all stakeholders (communities, camp committees, CBOs, disaster management committees, national and international NGOs)
  • Risk analysis including hazard, vulnerability, and capacity assessment (HVCA) through FGD in the project locations.
  • Stakeholder Analysis
  • Validation Workshop to present the draft report to Stakeholders
Main Tasks for the consultant
  • The consult will work in collaboration with DRR advisor HI HQ, Regional Technical Coordinator, and Regional Project Coordinator, Technical Coordinator of HI Bangladesh to finalize the design and inception report
  • Share the Inception report within the period of one week after signing the MoU/Contract
  • The consultant will prepare the tools for the study
  • The consultant will conduct orientation session with field and data collection team (ex: HI staff, partners, members of local disaster management committees)
  • The consultant will facilitate the VCA/CRA following CBDP guideline of Bangladesh
  • The consultant will monitor the process of data collection, data processing, analyzing, reporting, technical briefing and present to relevant stakeholders
  • The consultant will share the first draft of the final assessment report
  • The consultant will share the final report including recommendations and suggestions for the future inclusive DRR programming at Cox’s Bazar
Skill and Qualification
  • Master graduate degree in DRR, development studies, social studies or related fields, preferably including gender and disability studies, with demonstrated professional practice in capacity assessment analysis during the last five years
  • Five years of hands on experience in conducting VCA
  • Strong knowledge of Disaster Risk Management
  • Must be experienced in developing and implementing gender and disability sensitive research methodologies
  • Good knowledge and experience in survey design, implementation of surveys and statistical data analysis is required
  • Experience in the use of participatory appraisal techniques in data collection
  • Previous work experience in displacement settings is an asset
  • Excellent analytical, research, writing and communication skills
  • Proven track-record working with government departments and civil society
  • Strong capacity and vulnerable assessment analysis skills particularly in the contest of disables and most vulnerable groups
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate and work well with diverse people
Offer Expected
  • CV including two references
  • Cover Letter (mentioned the previous assignment)
  • Brief outline proposed process, methodology and timelines
  • Technical offer and Financial Offer
Deliverables
  • Inception Report and workplan within one week after signing the contract
  • Draft VCA report sharing with HI Management
  • Incorporate feedbacks of HI Management including Technical Team
  • Final VCA Report
  • Presentation material
  • Action plan by the community
  • Data collected in hard and soft copies
  • Photographs, primary notes, etc.
Delivery Address
 Cox’s Bazar District, Bangladesh

Individual consultants with relevant skills and experience required for the assignment are requested to send their application to logistics@bangladesh.hi.org  latest by 24 Jan 2019.