Summary of Purpose: The purpose of the baseline study is to measure current knowledge, attitude and practice towards disaster risk, disaster preparedness and climate change among households and school in targeted villages covered by the project. Additionally, the baseline study will also enable identification and understanding of the level of preparedness of communities and schools to natural hazards, specifically in terms of their self-organization, ability to take action, knowledge and awareness, and connectivity.
Background and Goals of the Project/Program
Cruz Vermelha de Timor-Leste (CVTL) or Timor-Leste Red Cross in partnership with American Red Cross (AmCross) is implementing the “Strengthening Disaster Readiness and Response in Timor-Leste” Project since January 2024 on targeted community and School Disaster Preparedness initiatives. In line with the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (RCRC Movement) practices and principles, these initiatives leverage volunteerism and focus on community needs and engagement.
The overall Goal of the project is to reduce the impact of disasters and climate induced disasters through enhancing readiness of communities by strengthening their preparedness, improving the disaster management capacities and systems of the local risk governance entities and the Cruz Vermelha de Timor-Leste (CVTL – Timor Leste Red Cross). Simultaneously, efforts will be made to strengthen coordination and synergy between all actors for effective disaster risk management, anticipatory action, and disaster response.
Outcome 1: Individuals, communities, and local authorities build their knowledge and awareness of disaster risks, are self-organized, able to take individual and collective actions, establish a culture of preparedness and reinforce their networks and connectedness.
Outcome 2: CVTL has strengthened systems, capacities and tools in place to provide effective and timely assistance to affected and at-risk populations.
Outcome 3: CVTL develops and strengthens strategic external partnerships with the support of the RCRC to increase their capacities to address disaster and climate risks.
Objectives of the Baseline Study:
The purpose of this baseline study is twofold.
First, to assess the knowledge and understanding of disaster preparedness in target vulnerable communities and schools covered by the project. The study attempts to understand, at the household and school level, ongoing practices and behavior of at-risk population in relation to their needs and priorities in the disaster preparedness planning processes. It intends to provide baseline data on community-based disaster risk reduction (CBDRR) indicators to set out realistic project targets and enable the assessment of project progress over time.
Secondly, the study aims to promote better understanding and analysis in terms of community and school preparedness towards natural hazards and disasters. This will be accomplished through examining community and school level preparedness in four key areas, namely self-organization, ability to take action, knowledge and awareness, and connectivity.
Location of Project Sites: Two villages (sucos) and two elementary schools in each of the municipalities of Bobonaro, Covalima, and Ermera in Timor-Leste, totaling six villages and six schools.
Scope of Work of the Baseline Study Consultant
The consultant/s will be responsible to ensure the baseline study utilizes methodologies that meet quantitative and qualitative research standards of the scientific community. The scope of work must include the following:
- Review of secondary sources of information
- Design data collection methods and data collection tools finalization (in close consultation with the project team)
- Conduct data collection of baseline study and community and school disaster readiness assessment (in close consultation with the project team)
- Data management, analysis, and reporting (in close consultation with the project team)
Summary of Methodology: The study will utilize mixed method(s), employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches, adapted to the local context. This will include a household and student-level survey using probability-systematic (random) sampling with at least 95% confidence level (minimum 350 samples of household survey and 200 samples for student survey). The assessment of community and school disaster readiness will use purposive sampling based on preferred criteria which will enable the respondent to provide in-depth and detailed information about the community and school.
Baseline Study Methodology
This baseline study will comprise of a household and school level survey as well as an assessment of community and school disaster readiness, employing both quantitative and qualitative methods. In consultation with the project team, consultants are free and encouraged to be as creative as possible in arriving at a suitable methodology that will ensure that the objectives of the study are fully met in a timely and efficient manner, provided the methodology meets the standard recommended methods and proposed sampling parameters indicated in this term of reference.
- Household and School Survey: Household and school survey (i.e., either on-site enumerator-assisted in-depth interviews or on-site local volunteer-assisted in-depth interviews).
- Disaster Ready Assessment: This assessment for community and school disaster readiness will employ qualitative methods.
Baseline Study Tools
- Household SurveyA standard questionnaire for the household survey will be provided to the consultant. The consultant will be responsible for adapting, pre-testing, and finalizing the questionnaire(s) in consideration of local contexts, and in close consultation with the project team.
- Community Disaster Ready ChecklistThe consultant will utilize American Red Cross’ Community Disaster Ready checklist for conducting community level disaster readiness assessment in conjunction with the household.
- School SurveyThe school-level survey (multiple choice test), which will be finalized by the consultant utilizing American Red Cross’ standard student survey, will assess the understanding of students on topics related to general disasters and community-based disaster risk reduction.
- School Disaster Ready ChecklistThe consultant will utilize American Red Cross’ School Disaster Ready checklist for conducting school level disaster readiness assessments in conjunction with the school survey.
Qualification of Consultant
The required qualifications and experience are as follows:
- Five to seven years’ experience conducting and leading survey research and assessments, both quantitative and qualitative, 4 of which should be with international organizations (NGOs, UN, and other humanitarian agencies)
- Post graduate degree, from a recognized institution, in social research, survey methodologies, or monitoring & evaluation
- Demonstrated experience in questionnaire development and testing.
- Demonstrated experience in training and managing data collectors/enumerators.
- Experience with survey work in DRR or related sectors.
- Experience in Monitoring and Evaluation (preferably in DRR or related sectors)
- Excellent knowledge and skills in research methodology and statistical analysis.
- Demonstrated experience and expertise in designing, managing and analyzing data for multifaceted survey designs (stratified, clustered, multistage, disproportionate selection probabilities, etc.)
- Experience in using mobile device-based data collection.
- Advanced computer skills (SPSS and Excel)
- Excellent communication skills for training and facilitation, and leadership to manage and coordinate a team of data collectors/enumerators.
- Excellent report writing skill in English and Tetun or Bahasa Indonesia language skills is highly desirable.
- Ability to work independently, ability to juggle and coordinate various tasks simultaneously, ability to prioritize tasks, well organized, reliable and trustworthy.
Reporting Relationship
The consultant will report to the American Red Cross Interim Country Representative, with attention to Indonesia DMERL Lead, CVTL PMER Manager, and DM Coordinator.
How to apply
How to Apply
The application proposal should not exceed 10 pages, and should use the following outline:
- Consultant experience (with detailed CVs attached) of all professionals who will work on the baseline study. This section should highlight past experience of the consultant in conducting sample surveys and assessments, preferably with complex sample designs and in developing countries. The section should mention names, qualifications and experiences of all people who would be involved in various aspects of conducting the survey, along with their level of effort.
- Methods: Study objectives, methodology, sample design-calculation-selection, and an analysis plan. If local volunteer-assisted in-depth interviews will be utilized (i.e., interviews conducted by local Red Cross volunteers in communities using mobile data collection applications) with appropriate remote training provided to the local volunteers then this should be clearly indicated and described with appropriate rationale provided.
- Work plan: The proposal should clearly describe all relevant activities to be conducted, including preparatory work, training, sampling and data collection work, data entry, data processing and analysis, results and report writing. The timeline and person(s) responsible for each activity needs to be clearly mentioned.
- Field team: If there is more than one consultant on the proposed team, please provide the number of persons needed for data collection and other proposed activities. Please utilize the table below as reference to provide the level of effort (in number of days) of each team member for all proposed activities
- Training: State who will be responsible for training data collectors/enumerators and include information on prior experience. Describe how the training will be done, the topics covered, expected duration and logistic and administrative support needed from the project team.
- Quality control and ethics: For the method(s) proposed, provide a section detailing the mechanisms to ensure data quality by clearly specifying steps for data validation. This section may also include supervisory mechanisms for data quality and the role of field editors. Measures for compliance to standard research ethics should also be stated here.
- Data entry and processing plan: This section should clearly describe preparation and mechanism for data entry, validation checks and data processing activities.
- Data analysis: Provide details on the analyses that will be carried out, and on the person(s) responsible for data analysis (including prior experiences).
- Progress updates: This section should clearly indicate the mechanism that would be used to communicate with relevant officials to provide regular updates about proposed field activities, coverage rate, data entry status, etc.
- Proposed Budget: A breakdown of all associated costs for the Baseline study should be provided in USD. The consultant is requested to provide 2 proposed budgets: one for the package that includes enumerator-assisted on-site in-depth interviews for household surveys with on-site training to enumerators, and another one for the package that includes on-site in-depth interviews assisted by local Red Cross volunteers with provision of remote training to volunteers in communities for household surveys.
- Professional references: Provide three references from your previous clients.
- Writing Sample: Provide one sample of a recent baseline study (or related work) completed for another client where you are the lead author and principal researcher.Please contact Admin.Indonesia@redross.org to request full ToR (Term of Reference) and submit your proposal application in English no later than 10 March 2024 to Admin.Indonesia@redcross.org. In the subject line, please include your full name along with the following words “Consultancy Application: “SDRR Baseline Assessment 2024”. Only short-listed candidates will be notified and contacted for an interview. Applicants received after deadline or incomplete applications will not be considered.