EOI for Conducting Need Assessment Study – Creating Sustainable Communities

Call for EOI (Expression of Interest) for Conducting Need Assessment Study – “Creating Sustainable Communities’ to scope and document the possible actions/opportunities that can be incorporate to develop and design proposed interventions for the target villages , for Indo Global Social Service Society, New Delhi

IGSSS invites EOI (Expression of Interest) from research consultants/agencies/ organizations/ individuals to design and execute a study on Conducting Need Assessment Study – “Creating Sustainable Communities’ from 20-02-2021 onwards. Interested research consultants/ agencies / organizations/ individuals are requested to send in their applications to hr@igsss.net by 15/02/2021 along with their CV and copies of reports of similar assignments handled by the applicant/agency.

ABOUT IGSSS

Indo-Global Social Service Society (IGSSS) is a non-profit organization working with the mandate for a humane social order based on truth, justice, freedom and equity. Established in 1960, IGSSS works for development, capacity building and enlightenment of the vulnerable communities across the country for their effective participation in development. IGSSS implements and supports quality development programmes in 22 States and 1 Union Territory in India to empower individuals and communities. Through its programmes on Sustainable Livelihood, Disaster Risk Reduction, Gender Equality, Urban Poverty Reduction and Youth Development, IGSSS has reached out to more than One Lakh families every year. The Programmes at IGSSS are targeted towards the poor, marginalized and vulnerable sections of the society with special emphasis on women and children.

ABOUT THE ASSIGNMNET

IGSSS with support from the HDFC Bank Ltd. Parivartan Initiative is implementing – Holistic Rural Development Programme, in the target 15 villages of Khandwa and Pandhana block of Khandwa District.

The programme is intended to work upon on the following broad focused areas –

• Natural Resource Management.
• Skills and Livelihood Enhancement.
• Promotion of Education.
• Healthcare and Hygiene.
• Financial Literacy and Inclusion.

The mainstay of the programme is to increase the well-being of the community by enhancing the income level through collectivization of farmers, promotion of sustainable farming for increased production, setting up of on-farm and off farm enterprises and improving the village infrastructure. The main stays of the projects are promotion of Farmer Producer Collectives and setting up of the enterprises.  Along with the enterprises, the families will also be engaged for improving agricultural production, natural resource management, and access to health and education.  

The Need Assessment study will undertake to understand, assess and document, the following:

• To assess and document the local knowledge, capacities, and vulnerabilities of the community in each target villages.
• To conduct feasibility of the of the proposed intervention that can be taken up in the village at both Capacity and Infrastructure development level.
• Develop and propose localized value addition entrepreneurial measures at farm and off farm level.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The study is to be conducted for the 15 target villages of Khandwa and Pandhana Block with a periphery of 25 km from the district headquarters, based on the study a comprehensive plan of proposed intervention will be developed for the target villages in coming 03 years.

• Conduct a comprehensive need assessment in the village, on focus areas by establishing the nature and magnitude of the gaps in knowledge, skills, and aptitudes.
• Determine the measures required to bridge the identified gaps, which may include, but not limited to, recommendation of the required programme interventions, structures, required expertise, the level of training, training institutions, etc.
• The selected agency/individual consultant will undertake a quantitative and qualitative assessment study to understand knowledge level on local issues in context to holistic development of the village, as well as different aspects related to developing strengthen the capacities of community and institutions.
• The agency/individual consultant will make special efforts to assess the difficulties and challenges experience by the community to record the transition of immediate and underline causes, which will support in developing the intact interventions under the programme.

 OBJECTIVES

IGSSS is currently implementing the programme in the target villages, whereas completing the inception phase of the programme incorporating the findings of the rapid rural appraisal conducted in the target villages. IGSSS need to conduct the need assessment at village and community level to scope of future actions by understanding the challenges and opportunities.

1. Gather the grassroot information related to holistic development of community and the village and suggest recommendations for quality enhancement and effectiveness by which strategic changes can be incorporated in future programming.
2. Document the capacities and vulnerabilities of the target community followed by effective strategic resolutions/recommendation for mitigation of vulnerabilities.
3. Analyze the status of the local level entrepreneur/income generation institution, recommend bridging the gaps to strengthen these institutions/entrepreneurs.
4. Assessment of community level local produce/products for value addition.
5. Analyze the Social Behavior and inclusion for equitable representation.

METHODOLOGY

• Collecting data from the Households of the target families and direct participants of the project on their socio-economic parameters – demographic details, education and employment, income, and expenditures, living and working conditions, management of disaster (adaptation, mitigation, and preparedness), role of various stakeholders, etc. through a standard questionnaire, using a suitable sampling method.
• Conducting Focus Group Discussions with Women Committees (SHGs, Micro Enterprises) and other CBOs to grasp the finer nuances that cannot be captured by the survey and to get a deeper insight to understand what can be done the programme to help address these issues and make them more vibrant and sustainable.
• Conducting qualitative interviews with different stakeholders involved through the network/ convergence having participated in the process.
• Conducting qualitative interviews with project staff and IGSSS management to understand their perspectives, challenges and vision
• Participatory tools will be encouraged adhering to objectives of the Study

EXPECTED OUTCOME OF THE TASK/ ASSIGNMENT

• The study will come out as reference document for planning and implementation through documenting the location specific opportunities and gaps to effectively implement holistic rural development programme.

PROPOSED DETAILS

Geographic Spread

The programme is being implemented in the 25 target villages of Pandhana and Khandwa Block of Khandwa District, within the periphery of 25 km. from district headquarters.

Sample size

The total population resides in the target 15 villages is 20,439 under 4244 household. While in the programme based on the Rapid Rural Assessment 1350 household have been targeted initially under the programme.

The sampling should be adequate to represent the population (preferably 5% to 10% of the direct participants for quantitative study), followed by minimum 01 FGD in each village having blend of different level stakeholders (Front Line service providers, PRI members Community Based Organizations)

Research focus

Research focus should be on the small and marginal farming families along with landless, especially the women in the household. Whereas at the village level the lead stakeholders of the village (PRI members, Mukhiya, Social Leaders etc.) including the local institutions.

EOI with proposal

Expected is, based on the above-mentioned needs/ parameters, a detailed technical and financial proposal will be shared for perusal.

Shortlisted agencies/ individuals will be invited to share the study design and selected agency/ individual will be awarded the contract and ToR signed.

EXPECTED PERIOD OF ASSIGNMENT TO CONSULTANT/ AGENCY

The assignment will commence from 20/02/2021 onwards and is expected to take around 3 weeks for completion. The probable completion date is 06/03/2021.

DELIVERABLES FROM CONSULTANT/ AGENCY

• IGSSS will provide the research consultants with inputs on survey questionnaire; also assist in organizing point persons contacts in different project areas. For the qualitative aspects of the study like FGDs and Interviews – IGSSS will assist in locating the groups for FGDs and the people to be interviewed; both will be conducted by the research consultant.
• Consultant/Agency is expected to manage all aspects of the survey data collection, entry, management, and analysis and reporting
• Inception report containing a detailed methodology along with plan and strategy: work plan, timeline, team, data collection, data sources, sampling and indicators, subjective and objective sources of data to capture comprehensive picture of the project interventions in the region.
• After the study a quantitative and qualitative report including data analysis is to be provided in draft form followed by a presentation of the findings and way ahead.
• Final report (in electronic MS. Word Format for publication) is to be provided after incorporating suggestions and feedback

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR QUALIFICATION AND APPLICATION FROM CONSULTANT/AGENCY

• Please note that the EOI for proposal will be preferred from Individuals, organizations or consortiums.
• The minimum requirements for qualification and application are the following –
  • The complete technical and financial proposal with EOI, comprising of the following at the minimum –

Technical Proposal

Financial Proposal

• Organizations or consortiums to be registered, having GST, PAN and other legal/ statutory requirements
• CVs of the Leads / Research Coordinators
• Past experience of research/ completing studies/ evaluation on issues on Peace and DRR and at least three such research reports
• Additional requirements for Leads/ Research Coordinators
• Should have at least three publication on related issues
• Experience in compiling good practices documents on development issues
• Good writing and analytical skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, and ability to promote collaboration and consensus building
• Proficiency in local language (Nimari), Hindi in addition to English

HOW TO APPLY

• Qualified individuals/ agencies/ consortiums are requested to submit a cover letter, CV of Lead Researcher along with Proposal to hr@igsss.net with subject line Conducting Need Assessment Study – “Creating Sustainable Communities’ by 15^th of February 2021.
• Incomplete applications Application without Technical and Financial Proposal will not be considered.
• Proposals will be screened by a Committee formed by IGSSS. Decision of Screening Committee of IGSSS will be final.
• Submission of proposal does not guarantee that the proposal will be accepted.
• IGSSS is no way obliged to respond to the rejection of the proposals.
• IGSSS also reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal, and to annul the call for proposal process and reject all proposals at any time prior to screening and selection procedure, thereby incurring any liability to the affected Individuals/ Agencies or any obligation to inform the affected Individuals/ Agencies of the grounds for the organization’s action.
• IGSSS will inform the shortlisted individuals/ agencies after the decision of the screening committee.
• Personal canvassing is strictly prohibited.

For further queries and clarification get in touch with shikha@igsss.net over email on or before 15/02/2021