Oxfam employs more than six thousand people in 90 countries who share a commitment to work together to end poverty and suffering. It is committed to ensure diversity and gender equality within the organization and welcomes applications from women, person with disability and under-represented groups. Oxfam does not discriminate against applicants or employees based on their HIV/AIDS status. The organization has been working in Bangladesh since the War of Independence and has established a permanent country office in 1972. Since then it has responded to all major emergencies in the country. Oxfam’s current program focuses on Economic Justice & Resilience, Gender and Women’s Leadership and Humanitarian Capacity Building and Response.

A simple, inescapable truth underlines everything we do at Oxfam. There’s enough wealth in this world to go around. It’s not unfortunate that people live in poverty. It’s unjustifiable. It’s not their problem. It’s ours too. And with the right support, we can stop poverty and suffering in their tracks. More than 8,000 people already commit their time and talents to our humanitarian and long-term development projects. Now we’re looking for yours.

Oxfam in Bangladesh is seeking a consultancy firm or individual consultant for a consultancy assignment. We invite proposals from interested firms and individuals to undertake this assignment.

Background:

Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change impacts, facing recurring and intensifying climate-related disasters. As per the Global Climate Risk Index (CRI) 2021 by Germanwatch, Bangladesh is the seventh most climate change vulnerable country. These events cause both economic and non-economic loss and damage, with disproportionate effects on women and girls, particularly in terms of increasing unpaid care and domestic work. Women and girls in Bangladesh are particularly vulnerable to impacts of climate change due to perpetuated socio-economic and gender inequalities, socio-cultural and gender norms, and harmful practices. The concept of loss and damage as laid out by the UNFCCC (2020) refers to the unavoidable and irreversible negative effects of climate change that occur despite undertaking mitigation and adaptation strategies. The loss and damage caused by slow onset climate change as well as extreme climate disasters encompasses both economic (e.g., destruction of property, loss of income or livelihoods) and non-economic impacts (e.g., loss of cultural heritage, mental health issues, forced displacement). Non-economic loss and damage (NELD) is particularly significant as it often goes unrecognized in traditional assessments but has profound effects on communities and individuals.

Oxfam's report "The Gendered Dimensions of Loss and Damage in Asia" (2023) emphasizes how women in Asia, including Bangladesh, face disproportionate impacts from climate change. The report highlights increased unpaid care work, loss of livelihoods, and heightened vulnerability to gender-based violence in the aftermath of climate disasters. The World Bank's "Bangladesh Country Climate and Development Report" (2022) projects that one-third of the agricultural GDP in Bangladesh could be lost due to climate induced disasters by 2050.  As per the Labor Force Survey 2022 by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), around 58 percent of the total workforce in the agriculture sector are women, however their contribution remains unrecognized and invisible socio-economically., Hence, they are more likely to face disproportionate impacts on their livelihoods, mobility, health, and safety, and more likely than men to die during a disaster, underscoring the gendered nature of climate vulnerability. For instance, during Cyclone Sidr in the year 2007, the ratio of female to male deaths was 5 to 1 (World Bank, 2013).

Despite these insights, there remains a significant gap in current research, particularly in quantitative evidence linking climate-induced loss and damage to augmented unpaid care work. While some qualitative studies have highlighted the increased workload on women and girls following climate disasters, there is a lack of comprehensive, qualitative as well as quantitative data-driven analysis that quantifies the relationship between unpaid care and domestic work and economic and other non-economic loss and damage and types of climate events and across different communities. This research aims to address this gap by providing a more nuanced qualitative as well as quantitative understanding of how climate-induced loss and damage affects unpaid care and domestic work patterns and establish correlations between such factors affecting loss and damage, taking into account intersecting inequalities and varying long-term impacts (on socio-economic issues, health, occupation, migration, child-marriage, SGBV, SRHR, etc.) across different regions of Bangladesh.

Purpose of the Study:

The primary purpose of this research is to explore the relationship between unpaid care and domestic work and climate-induced loss and damage in Bangladesh, both economic and non-economically accounted loss and damage. This study aims to build upon the findings of previous reports, such as Oxfam's "Gendered Dimensions of Loss and Damage in Asia," by providing a more in-depth and mixed-methods analysis of Bangladeshi communities at the frontline of climate change.

Research Objectives:

1. To better understand the qualitative and quantitative relationship between climate-induced loss and damage and changes in unpaid care and domestic work patterns among women and girls in Bangladesh (time use patterns, leisure activities, time poverty, health impacts, socio-economic impacts, etc.).
2. Investigate how intersecting inequalities (e.g., gender, socioeconomic status, location, time and income poverty, austerity) influence the experience of loss and damage and unpaid care work.
3. To develop a comprehensive methodology for differentiating climate change-induced Loss and Damage (L&D) events from naturally occurring loss and damage events, by analysing key indicators such as frequency, seasonality, recurrence, and other factors strongly correlated with climate change parameters, with a focus on distinguishing between geomorphological processes and those driven by changing climatic conditions.
4. To influence the understanding and conceptualization of the unrecognized narrative of unpaid care and domestic work in the discussions of loss and damage.
5. To develop evidence-based recommendations for policies and interventions that address the increased workload of unpaid care and domestic work in the context of climate change adaptation and loss and damage mitigation.

Proposed Methodology:

The proposed methodology for this research will employ a multi-year, two-phase approach. For now, this research envisioned in the ToR will employ only secondary study for phase one that can develop a follow-on Phase II of the research with appropriate methodology and primary data collection.

Scope of the Study:

This research aims to provide valuable insights that can inform policymaking, program design, and advocacy efforts to address the gendered impacts of climate-induced loss and damage in Bangladesh, with a particular focus on unpaid care and domestic work.

• The research will focus on three climate-vulnerable regions in Bangladesh: Barind Track (North-west zone), Satkhira (South-west zone), and Bandarban or another district in Chittagong Hill Tracts (South-east zone).
• It will examine both recent climate disasters and slow-onset climate changes.
• The study will cover a range of unpaid care and domestic work activities, including unpaid care work (i.e. childcare, elder care, care for persons with disabilities, cooking and household chores, community care work, fetching water and fire-woods (or logs)), and unpaid domestic work (such as unpaid time spent on family agricultural and fisheries production and activities, other unpaid on-farm, and off-farm activities), among others.
• The research will analyse both quantitative data (e.g., time use surveys) and qualitative information to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issues.

Budget:

The allocated budget for this consultancy is a maximum of GBP 5,800 (including VAT-Tax and all other Government of Bangladesh charges as per the Rules). The applicants are expected to provide a through budget for the exercise, Oxfam will consider proposals that are within the approved rates as per its policy on professional fees.

Qualification:
 
The Consultant(s) should have at least the following qualifications:

• The applicant (lead consultant) must be an individual or an institution holding the necessary legal status to work in Bangladesh.
• Master’s degree. in social science or a relevant field i.e. Environmental Economics, Women and Gender Studies, Development Studies, Economics, Anthropology, Sociology, Environmental Science and Management, Geography, Disaster Management and Vulnerability Studies, Natural Resource Management, Public Policy and Governance, Public Administration, Social Welfare. PhD is an asset.
• Trained on gender and women’s issues. Preference will be given to candidates with extensive knowledge and experience on gender dimensions of climate change and disaster; environmental economics; unpaid care and domestic work performed by women and girls; or other relevant field.
• Demonstrated experience, particularly in desk research, qualitative and quantitative.
• Experience in utilizing feminist and decolonizing principles and practices for the study.
• Demonstrated experience in methodologies and approaches such as process and contribution tracing.
• In addition, the researcher must have climate change and gender expertise and research experience.
• Proficiency in English, with a focus on presentation/reporting skills

The consultant team should have:

• Good communication and relationship building skills.
• Demonstrated experience in using the relevant tools and digital platforms such as KOBO, Survey CTO and conducting data analysis using software such as STATA /SPSS / Excel / NVivo / Power BI or others.
• Ability to facilitate and relate to stakeholders at multiple levels and in diverse contexts.

Evaluation Process:

Oxfam will review and weigh consultancy applications based on the following criteria. It is worth noting that Oxfam prefers a value for money approach and does not necessarily weight a lower price over a quality candidate. Interested consultants/firms are encouraged to apply.

Please refer to the detailed ToR (Click here) for this assignment.

Along with the technical and financial proposals, the following documents need to be submitted:

• For Individual Consultant:
  • A profile/CV of a maximum of 2 pages, highlighting related completed assignments with client names, contact persons, and contact numbers.
  • One-paragraph short CVs for other team members involved in the assignment, highlighting related completed assignments and roles (if applicable).
  • Proof of last two payments/ rates.
  • Copies of NID, TIN, BIN, VAT Registration, Trade License, Work Permit, as applicable.
• For Consultancy Firm:
  • A firm profile of a maximum of 2 pages, highlighting completed related assignments with client names, contact persons, and contact numbers.
  • The lead consultant's (who will lead the assignment) maximum 2-page CV, showcasing related assignments completed and specifying the role in each completed assignment.
  • One-paragraph short CVs for other team members involved in the assignment, highlighting related completed assignments and roles.
  • Proof of last two payments/ rates.
  • Copies of the firm’s certificate, TIN, BIN, VAT registration, and trade license and any other relevant documents.

The proposals must be sent in English and the submissions must reach Oxfam via email at Ban_Consultancy@oxfam.org.uk with the subject line “Gender Dimensions of Loss & Damage".

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 15 DECEMBER 2024

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We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Note: All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and may be subject to appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks