Terms of Reference (TOR)
For Undertaking
“In-depth Livelihood Need Assessment” in Nghe An Province
I.
Background
Vietnam will be one of the countries most affected by climate change (CC) with the most
significant negative impact to be felt by the coastal and delta regions. Increases in
average temperatures and changes in seasonal rainfall have already been measured and
scientists believe that increasingly severe climatic disasters are occurring, especially
typhoons, floods and droughts (MONRE 2009). These weather shocks and other stresses
enhanced by climate change cause catastrophic disruption to livelihoods for coastal
communities and results in increased poverty and vulnerability. Approximately 70% of
Vietnam population who are dependent upon weather-based livelihoods such as
agriculture, aquaculture and salt production are the ones who suffer the most from
climate variations.
The project “Innovative financing for building community resilience to climate change in
coastal Viet Nam” is an initiative of SNV Vietnam and funded by the Federal Ministry for
the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) of Germany. This is a
contribution to a national effort to respond to climate change by supporting vulnerable
communities to effectively adapt to and reduce potential climate risks through various
means and approaches. The project is implemented in 5 coastal communes of Nghi Loc
district of Nghe An province, from January 2011 to January 2014. The overall goal of the
project is to reduce poverty by increasing the adaptive capacity of local communities to
the effects of climate change, focusing on 3 main components: 1/ Design of climate
change adaptation strategy addressing integrated land use to promote coastal
community
resilience
of
both
livelihoods
and
protection
forest;
2/
Financing
mechanism and weather insurance model that enables local stakeholders to
minimise climate risks to their livelihoods; and 3/ Awareness raising and information
& knowledge exchange related to climate change adaptation.
In the coastal areas of Nghe An, livelihoods consist of agriculture (rice, cassava, fruit,
vegetable cultivation, animal husbandry), salt production, aquaculture (fishing, shrimp
farming), forestry (forest protection buffer zones, forest products collection). Different
livelihood options experience different effects from climatic shocks and stresses and as a
result have a different impact on the community.
As a result, a research team of professional consultants will be recruited to undertake a
current Livelihood Need Assessment survey of 5 communes of Nghi Loc District, Nghe An
province with the aim to provide a comprehensive overview of livelihoods of the project
area that would serve as inputs for the design and implementation of project activities
as well as project evaluation at the end of the project.
II.
1.
Objectives
Provide a more in-depth assessment and analysis of current livelihood status
of 5 selected communes in the project area in the consideration of its
progress, future changes and the results of baseline socio-economic survey.
1
2.
Provide more detailed information, combined with baseline survey results, to
give a solid basis to the identification of appropriate interventions to meet the
stated objectives of the project.
3.
Identify and explore possible opportunities for alternative production models;
market linkages development and local capacity building activities in the
context of climate change.
4.
III.
Provide a basis for project design, management and evaluation process as
well as the possibility of future replication.
Scope of the work
1.
Assess the existing livelihood assets, including human, natural, physical,
social, political and financial capitals of the existing community in the project
area.
2.
Identify and evaluate the livelihood activities
communities, with particular focus on the poor.
3.
Identify the most important products to the local livelihoods that have
potential for value chain analysis and development.
4.
Analyze current vulnerability context, its relation to livelihood assets of local
people and their coping strategies, with a reference to climate change
context.
5.
Analyze local policies and institutional framework and its relation to the
livelihoods of local people in 05 communes.
6.
Based on the assessment results, provide a set of recommendations (in the
context of climate change) for:
and
patterns
of
the
- Livelihood improvement, in terms of practical solutions to improve current
livelihoods; alternative livelihood activities (agricultural and non-agricultural
based ones); policy and institutional measures.
- Identifying local capacity building gap and needs; Proposing capacity
building activities for more climate-adaptive livelihoods with an emphasis on
agriculture.
IV.
Expected outcome
A comprehensive livelihood assessment report which covers 6 main points mentioned in
the above section III will be produced for the project not later than 31 October 2011.
The report will be prepared in English and Vietnamese languages and in both hard copies
and electronic ones. One set of data by excel file on livelihoods for the input data for the
evaluation of the project.
The information covered in the report will be used in setting the indicators and
mechanism to track the progress and to evaluate the impact of the project’s intervention
at the end of the project.
V.
Methodology
The survey is suggested to use the following tools based on standard baseline survey
methodology widely applied for development programme.
1.
Data processing and prepare the first draft report
-
Desk study, review and analyze the available relevant information on
livelihood
Secondary data collection
Primary data collection
Questionnaires
2
-
Community consultation
Discussion/meeting with local stakeholders
Focus group discussion
Key-informants interview and
Household survey / interviews
Personal interview with target groups to explore the priorities they define for
their desired livelihood options.
Field assessment (PRA tools)
ACCESS is recommended to be use for data entering and assessing
2.
3.
VI.
Validation workshop and debriefing for the second draft report
Prepare the Final report and submit to the Program Leader CCA and
the
Programme advisors.
Responsibilities of research team
The research team consists of at least 3 experts including the team leader. There would
be 01 staff from provincial Centre for Agricultural and aquaculture extension and 02
staffs from Nghi Loc district’s Department for agriculture to join the team as team
members. The team will closely communicate and consult with technical advisors based
in Nghe An’s DARD for necessary support.
Organization
LCB/consultants/
research team
PMB BMU project
including SNV
advisors, project
staff
Main
responsibility
 Lead
organization
Tasks
 Desk study on available and updated
information on livelihood of 05
communes. (Baseline socio-economic
report available in mid August)
 Collect primary data.
 Collect further secondary data.
 Design questionnaires
 Households survey/ in-depth interviews
 Process & analyze data
 Key organizer of public events, meetings
including the validation/debriefing
workshops
 Prepare and submit the final report
 Facilitation
 Quality
assurance
 Responsible for the quality assurance
during the LNA survey with following
tasks:
- Contact and arrange meetings with
the local stakeholders
- Review and comment for the
questionnaires
- Involve in the team of field survey
- Review and comment for the first
draft research report, second draft
research report and approve the
final research report.
 Make available financial resources for
implementation of the research
 Provide inputs to the research report
 Support for organizing the validation
workshop and debriefing meeting
 Disseminate the final report
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VII.
Location and time schedule
The LNA survey will be carried out at 05 selected communes of Nghi Loc District, Nghe
An province and the proposed research will have to be completed within four months (10
weeks), starting from September 2011 until 30 November 2011. Please see more details
in the below table:
No.
Activities
1
Meeting with SNV;
Formulating the detailed work
plan
2
Initial desk-based study
(including baseline survey
report);
Discussing on the Plan
content, agreeing on the
responsibility division and
methodology
Primary & secondary data
collection; Detailed research
proposal development
Design questionnaires & tools
Field study in 5 communes
(Households
survey/interviews-including
travelling days)
Analysis of secondary data
and first draft of research
report
Stakeholders meetings / indepth interviews/workshops to
cross check/verify data
Further analysis of data and
prepare second draft of
research report
Validation workshops with
SNV/partners
Finalize and submit final
report
Contingency time
Total days
3
4
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
No.
days W1
1
1½
1½
1
15
3
2
1
1
1
2
30
4
W2
W3
Time schedule
W4 W5 W6
W7
W8
W9
VIII. Qualification
The research team will comprise of at least three experts, led by a senior expert, with
experience and professional skills as follows:

The consultants must have at least University or higher degree (for team leader)
in the relevant field with 05 years of progressive working experience.

Expertise in livelihood need assessment and developing resilient livelihood
models for climate change adaptation;

Extended experience and knowledge of agro-business, aquaculture and forestry;
climate change adaptation

Experience in developing training programmes to local stakeholders and local
people in 05 communes in such topics as improved production practices; market

and market information and services; business development and promotion;
Proven experience in research skill (acquainted with qualitative and quantitative
data collection methods);
Good reporting and presentation skills

Strong experience with community development and capacity building projects;

Fluent in verbal and written English and the applications of relevant software;

IX.
Submission:
Interested organizations/institutes should prepare and submit a technical and financial
proposal to BMU project.
* The technical proposal should include the following activities:


Capacity statement of the organization
Statement of relevance of the organization to development cooperation and/or
development of the under-privileged

Overview of relevant experience of the organization

Proposed approach and methodology to execute the assignment

CVs of professional consultants who will be directly engaged in the assignment

Proposed time schedule of implementation of activities and details of staff time
assigned
* The financial proposal should include:


Professional fee per proposed consultant
Overview of direct related costs
Interested consultants are invited to send technical and financial proposal to:
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tuan
Advisor - Value Chain Development Programme - Netherlands Development Organisation
(SNV)
Email:
nguyenquoc@snvworld.org
Deadline for submission: 5 pm -28 September 2011.
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