TERMS of REFERENCE (ToR)
Project Name: Building Disaster Resilient Communities in Cambodia
ActionAid (Cambodia) - DRR Program
OVERALL PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY
Undertake an independent research study on The Impact of Flood on Women in Cambodia.
This research forms part of the DCA/ ActionAid/ PIN Consortium DIPECHO VIII project:
‘Building Disaster Resilient Communities in Cambodia‘, funded by the European Commission’s
Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection Department.
BACKGROUND
Natural disasters devastate lives and livelihoods. Cambodia is regularly exposed to a variety of
natural hazards, most commonly: tropical storms, floods, drought and pest infestation. All of
these hazards are highly likely to be aggravated by the foreseen impacts of Climate Change.
According to the World Risk Index 2012 (173 countries) Cambodia is ranked fifteenth in the
most exposed countries, but eighth in the disaster risk index. Cambodia is ranked higher in the
disaster risk index than its position in the most exposed countries ranking due to its low
absorptive capacity.
Flooding is one of the most common hazards affecting many communities in Cambodia, and
women headed households are disproportionately affected by these floods.1 Women are most
present in areas of employment within the agricultural and informal sectors, which are often the
worst affected by disasters; thus the rates of unemployment among women after a disaster are
high. In general, women are the most likely to be affected by floods, but their concerns are least
likely to be addressed. Women are typically absent from the fora where Disaster Risk Reduction
(DRR) decisions/ planning are made, so when priorities are established, the interests of women
are often poorly represented.
Due to Cambodian social-cultural attitudes towards women they often have disproportionately
poorer health, lower levels of literacy and education, and lower paid income-generating work relative to men; which isolates women from decision-making processes/ structures and
contributes to their reduced access to disaster related information and post-disaster relief/
recovery programmes.
Women’s vulnerabilities to natural disasters are different from the male population. ActionAid
Cambodia has commissioned this study to better understand the socio-economic dynamics
which affect the impact of flood on women in the Cambodian context. Further investigation into
how these disparities operate during and after disasters is required to learn important lessons.
Vulnerability and its underlying causes play important roles in determining the severity of impact
on a particular social group; therefore it is essential to have a greater understand of the
dynamics of the vulnerability of women in the Cambodian context, in terms of disaster risk.
1 The Cambodia Post-flood Relief and Recovery Survey (May 2012) found that a majority of flood-affected households in the Plains and
Tonle Sap zones were headed by women (53 percent for both).
Gender-biased attitudes and stereotypes also complicate and prolong women’s recovery from
disasters. Therefore the Researcher is requested to examine in detail the most significant
problems that women face during and after a disaster so that strategies for protection and
mitigation can be re-examined through the information gained. In addition to this women’s
capacities and vulnerabilities are different from the male population. How these disparities
operate during and after a disaster requires investigation so that the information gathered can
positively feed into DRR preparedness plans and post-disaster responses.
ActionAid Cambodia will utilise the findings of the research to reflect upon the findings to
improve the design and implementation of future DRR and emergency response interventions.
The findings of the research will also be distributed to the main stakeholders and will be used to
advocate for the improved inclusion of women in DRR planning and consideration of womencentred emergency response interventions to mitigate the negative effects of the impact of flood
on women.
EVALUATION OBJECTIVES
The Researcher is commissioned to examine in detail the impact of flood on women in
Cambodia. The study is likely to investigate how floods affect women differentially from men,
what are the most significant problems that women face during and after a disaster; and make
recommendations on how to integrate gender analysis into disaster planning. The below are
suggestions for the Consultants consideration as areas of potential investigation:
Disaster Risk Reduction Planning:
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Women’s representation and participation in national/ sub-national DRR/ disaster
management government decision-making and management structures/ processes
The level of involvement of women in pre/ post-disaster decision-making and activities
Women’s access to disaster management/ preparedness planning information
If NGO/ Government DRR/ DM projects adequately consider/ provide for the needs of
women.
Disaster Phase:
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Do women have adequate access to disaster related early warning information
Are women headed household disproportionately affected by floods in Cambodia
Do women have equitable access to disaster response/ humanitarian aid distribution
Do traditional gender roles change during/ in the aftermath of a flood (how and with what
effects?)
Are there gender-based differences in capacity to deal with natural disasters, as well as
in the in the way coping mechanisms are employed
What are the additional burdens placed upon women in fulfilling their role as carers for
the family (carer for children, the sick and the elderly; and sourcing food, water, and fuel
to prepare the next meal for their families)
Do local level women groups/ social networks provide emergency survival support
during floods and help reduce vulnerabilities/ enhance women’s resilience. (If so, how?)
Does the incidence of domestic abuse increase during times of disaster
Designated Safe Areas provision of basic facilities for women hygiene and privacy needs
Safe Areas Protection arrangements at designated Safe Areas
Public health staff’s provision of adequate services for the specific health needs of
women during out-reach services (including sexual reproductive health services).
Post-disaster Phase:
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How, and to what extent do Cambodian social-cultural attitudes affect women’s
exposure to disaster impacts and losses, and their relative ability to recover.
What are the main barriers faced by women in post-disaster recovery (social, economic,
cultural, education, etc.)
The impact of floods on women’s debt levels
What is the impact of disasters on girls’ education
Does the design of current post-disaster relief and recovery programmes (food/ cash for
work, etc.) limit women’s access to post-disaster recovery opportunities
Policy Level:
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How can gender perspectives and empirical knowledge about gender and disaster best
be transferred to practitioners (policy-makers, sub-national planners, local officials,
community representatives)?
How can the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and the Commune Women and Children Focal
Points better represent the needs of women in pre- and post-disaster management/
decision making?
What gender-specific data is available to institutional and community planners (e.g. on
economic insecurity as a factor in disaster vulnerability, or gender patterns in post
disaster economic recovery)?
What models exist for effectively integrating gender analysis into disaster planning at the
grassroots and institutional levels?
TASKS
The Consultant will undertake the following tasks in close and regular liaison with the DRR
Program Manager during all phases of the consultancy:
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Desk review of literature on the hazards affecting Cambodia, gender dimensions of
natural hazards/ disasters, the social-economic status of women in Cambodia, disaster
management and disaster risk reduction
Analysis of the operating environment, hazard vulnerability, socio-economic- cultural
dynamics and women’s livelihoods strategies
Conduct Key Informant interviews in DIPECHO VIII project target province (provincial/
district/ commune/ village levels)
Undertake FGDs and one-on-one interviews with community members/ local authority
representatives
Conduct semi-structured interviews with project staff, partners, counterpart government
staff and project beneficiaries
METHODOLOGY
The evaluation process is required to be participatory in nature, the views of ActionAid/ local
implementing NGO project staff and key stakeholders should be considered when developing
recommendations. Both qualitative and quantitative data and information from both secondary
and primary sources should be collected through assessment tools such as document reviews,
focused group discussions and semi-structured interviews, etc.
OUTPUTS
The Consultant will produce:
1. A final Research Report (adhering to guidelines stated below), including practical
recommendations on:
 Improving women’s participation in pre- and post-disaster planning and decisionmaking
 Increasing women’s access to humanitarian relief and post disaster rehabilitation/
income generation activities
 Women focused post-disaster rehabilitation initiatives.
FORMAT & STYLE
The final report will be written in clear/ plain English so as to facilitate understanding, as well as
its translation into Khmer and subsequent dissemination to donors/ stakeholders. The study
needs to be in a brief, clear and cogent format with a balanced analysis of any issues identified;
with clear recommendations for future development/ integration into programmes. The report
should incorporate supporting documentation such as case studies and photographic
documentation where appropriate.
The report will be no more than 25 pages, plus appendices. Relevant statistical data should be
included in the appendices. Appendices should be limited to those which are essential for
explaining the text.
Draft Template:
Front cover
Table of contents
Acronyms
1. Executive Summary
2. Introduction - Basic data, map(s), background, purpose and methodologies used
3. Findings
4. Recommendations for future development
5. Conclusion
Bibliography
Appendices
SCHEDULE & DATES
The consultancy is for a period of days, to be agreed, between: November 2013 and December
2013
ARRANGEMENTS & RESOURCES
The Consultant is required to:
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Be based in Phnom Penh and target province, and accommodation and meal costs are
the Consultant’s responsibility
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Work from ActionAid’s office as required by ActionAid
Obtain approval from the Consultant’s principal ActionAid contact for all field travel
related to this work within Cambodia. Travel costs and arrangements outside of the
Consultant’s base will be in accordance with ActionAid’s travel policies, practices, and
per diem rates
Provide own computer.
REPORTING
The Consultant will report directly to Andrew Martin, the DRR Project Manager, ActionAid’s
principal contact/s for this consultancy.