Bangladesh Red Crescent Society
National Headquarters
684-686, Red Crescent Sarak, Bara Moghbazar, Dhaka-1217

 

Terms of Reference (ToR) for hiring a consultant
for

Community perception surveys conducted at unions and wards level

1. Background

About the BDRCS, the National Society

The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) was constituted on 31 March 1973 by the President’s Order No.26 of 1973 with retrospective effect from the 16th of December 1971. The Society was recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on 20 September 1973 and admitted to the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on the 02 November 1973. The name and emblem (from Red Cross to Red Crescent) of the national society were changed from Bangladesh Red Cross Society to Bangladesh Red Crescent Society on 4th April 1988 vide Act 25 of 1988.

2. Purpose of the survey and Background

To provide necessary technical support and guidance in relation to conduct perception survey which will seek point of view of community people of the BDRCS targeted areas who trust that their views are considered in decisions made around the support they receive, and their feedbacks are considered (disaggregated by sex and age) in the process of implementation, roll out and for the sustainable solutions. The survey will also investigate the trusted and preferred information and feedback mechanism channels by the communities. The findings could be used to stimulate a debate among stakeholders about the significance of improved services and further to strengthen project deliverables. The objective is to gather first-hand information of a large sample of the identified community people, on a variety of issues so that the survey results could serve as a useful resource base for project implementation team, policy makers, opinion shapers within and outside government, as well as for improved services for the disaster affected people of the targeted areas.

Since May 2022, ECHO Pilot Programmatic Partnership Project interventions in Bangladesh has been carried out by BDRCS focusing on three pillars, namely, Disaster Risk Management (DRM), Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Response (E/PP&R), and Risk Communication, Community Engagement & Accountability (CEA).

3. Objectives and expectations of survey:

For ECHO Pilot Programmatic Partnership (PPP) initiative, Communities and local organisations are at the forefront of action in humanitarian and health cries. The specific objective of this PPP initiative is communities and individuals at risk, and local actors, are acting through innovative and integrated strategies, to anticipate, prepare for, withstand, respond to, and recover from humanitarian and health cries.

The key objectives of the perception survey are:

  • To assess the perception of community about their roles and responsibility during any hazard/disaster/emergency
  • To assess the community perception on the roles and responsibility of government and non-government institutions before, during and after any hazard/ disaster/ emergency
  • To seek community point of view about the performance (i.e., activities, and processes), identify gaps (selection as well delivery of the activities under PPP), lessons learnt, and formulate recommendations for the follow-up/next phase
  • To Explore or identify need-based interventions/services/operations to strengthen the collective engagements of the communities.
  • To Identify the gaps in trust-building/mutual responsibilities/capacity building of the existing social listening system, feedback mechanism of asking, preferred information channel, receiving, processing, and responding to the feedback and complaints and received from the targeted population.
  • It will be an explorative study and methodology will use mix-methods (qualitative and quantitative)/tools as per the purpose of the study and the resources available.

The following key indicators that to be considered in the study are:
1. Knowledge/Awareness
2. Risks Perception
3. Key Issues or Concerns
4. Perceptions and Attitudes
5. Feedback and Accountability issues
6. Information/rumour/misinformation
7. Trust/Gender/Inclusion/Disability/Diversity issues

The indicators related to community engagement and accountability are.

- % of surveyed affected people who believe their views are considered in decisions made around the support they receive (disaggregated by sex and age)
- % of surveyed affected people (disaggregated by sex, age, and diversity) reporting that humanitarian assistance is delivered in a safe, accessible, accountable, and participatory manner.
- % of people surveyed who report receiving useful and actionable information through different trusted channels (disaggregated into digital and non-digital channels

- # of National Societies adopting national community engagement/accountability strategies, policies or frameworks

Desired outcomes

  • Desk review of study relevant background information to determine what needs to be done for undertaking the initial perception survey
  • Inception Report outlining the work plan, methodology, and timelines
  • Sharing Meeting on Inception Report with the BDRCS PPP Team
  • Design and develop (together with BDRCS PPP team) methodology and survey instruments (both qualitative and quantitative) including questionnaire development, field testing
  • Train enumerators, and lead, collect and manage field data
  • Compile and analyse data collected by the enumerators
  • Prepare a comprehensive report based on the data collected by enumerators
  • Formulate conclusions and recommendations.
  • Hold debriefing to present key findings and recommendations etc

Expected outputs

The final report should include the follow contents:

  1. Executive Summary
  2. List of Abbreviations
  3. Background, purpose, and objectives of the survey
  4. Methodology and the participants of the survey
  5. Findings (With verified facts and figures)
  6. Recommendations and way forward
  7. Conclusion.
  8. References.

4. Methodology

Once selected, the consultant or firm will be scheduled for a detailed orientation meeting with the CEA team and other relevant members of the PPP team. Clarifications should be provided around the objectives and expectations as necessary. The consultant should also explain and clarify, how the proposed methodology will help to achieve the expectations.

Once activities are commenced, regular (weekly/fortnightly) sharing should also occur among the team focal for appropriate feedback and optimal correction necessary for successful completion of the assignment. As per the desired outcomes mentioned above and in consultation with the reporting line in BDRCS PPP team and IFRC. However, the following activities could serve as complementary in designing the methodology.

Timeframe: The duration of contract shall be for a maximum of 30 days after signing.

Date
Tasks
Responsible person

Estimated Days/person

Introduction & Orientation
  • Introduction to the RCRC movement in Bangladesh
  • Detailing out the key expectations and clarifications, if necessary, from BDRCS team
  • Clarification of the proposed methodology through QA session by the consultant
 

1 day

Desk review & inception stages
  • Desk review of existing relevant policy and strategy documents to understand the objectives of the project and expectations by BDRCS & IFRC
  • Develop & submit a detailed work plan based on findings from the desk review and in line with the expectations
  • Feedback loop completed by Project team to agree on inception report findings and methodology shared
  • Finalize activities according to work plan
  • Develop tools and techniques of survey along with testing of tools at field level
 

07 day

Workplan (field based)
  • Field visits, data mining, KIIs, FGDs, workshops, feedback sessions, etc. in Dhaka City
  08 days
  • Field visits, data mining, KIIs, FGDs, workshops, feedback sessions, etc. in Rajshahi
 
  • Field visits, data mining, KIIs, FGDs, workshops, feedback sessions, etc. in Sylhet
 
  • Field visits, data mining, KIIs, FGDs, workshops, feedback sessions, etc. in Cox’s Bazar
 
Drafts
  • Submit draft policy, strategy and implementation guideline
  07 days
Finals
  • Review and incorporate final feedbacks
  • Submit final documents
  02 days
Estimated total duration of the assignment 25 days

5. Consultant qualification requirements

Education

  • Essential: Advanced academic degree (Master’s or PhD) in social science related field with concentration in DRM or public health, that’s relevant to the nature of work
  • Experience with implementation capacities and constraints of government organization and/or development agencies in developing countries
  • Desirable: Knowledge of the RCRC movement, organizational structure, functions and modalities of project implementation of the RCRC movement, legal and ethical issues that need to be considered when working with the RCRC Movement, including the importance of gaining participants’ informed consent.
  • Expertise in strategy, results-based planning, and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of DCRM and health programs and CEA issues especially affecting the marginalized/targeted community.

Time Allocation,

  • Timeline: 1st February- 25th February 2023 (25 Days) approximately

Experience

  • Essential: Demonstrated understanding of the national Disaster Risk Management, Community based health program and health systems, with adequate knowledge of the applicable national and international laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, standards and guidelines governing the humanitarian organizations
  • At least 5 years of experience in DRM, Climate Change and Health policy analysis documents
  • Should have published work as reference on research, strategy analysis and development.

Desirable: Hands-on experience of working with international agencies, e.g., UN or INGOs in the health system research and policy context of Bangladesh

  • Familiarity with relevant literature on health policy and strategy for Bangladesh and the RCRC movement

Skills

  • Excellent planning and organizational skills for setting up an efficient schedule, conduct interviews comfortably with participants, capturing key elements in context, work with a wide range of stakeholders and authorities.
  • Experience in undertaking multi-stakeholder consultations and communication skills for achieving consensus amongst multiple stakeholders while compiling policy and strategic documents and guidelines, ability to exercise discretion in handling confidential information and deal tactfully with multiple stakeholders.
  • Strong analytic writing skills in English, with ability to express thoughts clearly, write concisely, and expand ideas in logical sequence with a clear, straightforward approach
  • Ability to work in a culturally diverse environment and in a team and open to consultative processes.
  • Experience in public-private partnerships (PPPs) (both for-profit and not-for-profit) and inter-sectoral coordination on Local DMCs and health services in developing countries

6. Apply Instruction:

Interested consulting firms/ Consultant are requested to submit all required documents with Technical & Financial proposal as well as Company Profile & Personal CV to following E-mail Address:  mohiuddin.md@bdrcs.org Application closing date 29 January 2023.

------:The end:-----