Myanmar: Consultant for baseline survey

A.Introduction and background information

VSO is the world’s leading international organization that uses volunteers to fight poverty and reduce inequality. Started as a UK charity in 1958, VSO is today a global organization. To date, VSO has engaged over 43,000 volunteers to work on international development programs in more than 120 countries. In 2013/2014 alone, VSO volunteers trained over 174,000 people, and delivered services that had an impact on the lives of 2 million. Volunteers are recruited from all over the world, and from all sectors of society, including business leaders, parliamentarians and young people.

VSO in Myanmar focuses on three main sectors: education, health, and civil society/social accountability. As part of the Civil Society Program, in partnership with the Women Network Organization and with the NGO Gender Group, VSO is going to implement a project aimed at improving a coordinated system for the prevention, response and advocacy to address GBV in Myanmar.

In order to measure the achievements against the projects’ set indicators, VSO and partners require the services of an external consultant to conduct a survey for the collection of reliable baseline data.

B.Objectives

The main objective for the proposed survey is to enable VSO and partners to obtain baseline data against set project indicators related to the following two project outcomes:

· Increased numbers of GBV survivors who access support (medical, legal, psycho-social)

· Targeted authorities/ parliamentarians have an increased awareness of GBV and of the actions that can prevent it.

More specifically, the following indicators will need to be considered for the baseline survey:

· % increase in the number of GBV survivors accessing support from the organizations which belong to the WON and NGO GG networks;

· % increase in the number of communities and local authorities who are aware of actions they can take to prevent GBV;

· % increase in the confidence of women’s organizations to respond to GBV;

· % increase in awareness of GBV and of the actions that can prevent it amongst parliamentarians and authorities;

· % increase of women’s organizations which report that they have sufficient data collection tools and processes to inform advocacy decisions;

· # of events for policy advocacy between duty bearers and women’s groups;

· # of women organizations from grass-root join the NSPAW related planning meetings.

The collected data will inform future mid-term and end of project evaluations and will allow to quantifiably measure and attribute project’s outcomes and impact.

Therefore, the immediate objectives of this consultancy are:

· After designing appropriate tools and methodology and discussed them with VSO and partners, to run the survey and collect the required baseline data;

· To analyze the data and prepare a final baseline assessment report.

C.Timeline

10 working days in June 2016, negotiable and subjected to the proposed methodology plan.

D.Deliverables

· Agreed action plan for the consultancy

· Documentation of the baseline survey methodology including methods and survey questionnaires, sampling, tools and final analysis

· Baseline survey findings report for outputs, outcomes and related indicators described in the projects’ Log Frame. The report should be 10 to 15 page-long (excluding annexes) and consist of, but not limited to:

o Cover page
o Table of contents
o List of abbreviations and acronyms
o Executive summary
o Introduction
o Background
o Methodology
o Limitations
o Findings and discussion
o Analysis of key issues, especially contextual issues, that may inform VSO’s implementation of the project
o Conclusions
o Recommendations
o Annexes

E.Consultancy Management

VSO Myanmar staff will ensure the consultant is supported in obtaining relevant project’s documents prior starting survey design and implementation. However, the consultant will need to work independently and should ensure that they are able to work in locations where English is not commonly spoken. Regarding permits and travel authorizations to locations outside of Yangon, VSO can provide an endorsement letter, but consultants should demonstrate their ability to obtain the necessary permissions independently. A translator will be provided, if appropriate, for field consultations.

The consultancy will be managed by VSO Program Development Manager, and it will involve consultation with VSO Myanmar staff and volunteers and with partners’ staff. Schedule of the consultancy, for a total of about 10 working days, will be finalized after discussions between the consultant and VSO.

F.Selection criteria

Essential areas of expertise:

a) Experience and knowledge in designing and conducting research or baseline studies targeting different audiences, using mixed methods including qualitative and quantitative data collection, and participatory studies with community members

b) Demonstrable expertise on violence against women, women’s right and gender equality

c) Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and excellent skills in data analysis

d) Experience in Myanmar context highly preferred

e) Ability to write high quality, clear, concise reports in English

f) Cultural sensitivity

g) International candidates must have the right to work in Myanmar

e) National qualified consultants are strongly encouraged to apply

Interested applicants are requested to submit a CV and a brief concept note outlining proposed research methods, schedule of activities and proposed daily consultancy fees. International applicants should confirm their rights to work in Myanmar and include a note in the proposed methodology on how they will deal with cultural and language barriers and with permissions to travel to field locations (VSO is able to provide an endorsement letter, but, when applicable, the consultant will need to obtain the necessary permissions independently). Applications should be submitted to Laura.Gramaglia@vsoint.org by May 31^st, 2016 5:00 PM Myanmar time. Please add ‘GBV baseline survey’ in the email subject line.