India: CONSULTANT TO SUPPORT QUALITATIVE RESEARCH VULNERABILITY ODISHA STUDY

LOCATION: Home-based consultancy with interaction with the contract supervisors over skype as and when required

DURATION OF CONSULTANCY: 3 months

CLOSING DATE: 30 October 2019

1. BACKGROUND / RATIONALE

Odisha is the 11th most populous state in India and home to more than 42 million people. The state’s surge in growth and rapid expansion in public spending in the past few decades has led to rapid poverty reduction over the last two decades. As per the poverty estimates based on revised Tendulkar methodology, Odisha had the distinction of achieving the largest poverty reduction of 24.6 percentage points from 57.2 percent to 32.6 percent between 2004-05 and 2011-12. Poverty declined among SCs and STs by 26.51 and 20.88 percentage points (Odisha Economic Survey, 2017-18). The State has also taken several public fiscal management reform measures for more effective and efficient management of public finances. However, though the overall rate of poverty has decreased, it is still very high in districts in the south and west, which are among the poorest in the state and are the home to 14 million poor. The state also needs to improve accountability and efficiency in public service delivery, State level regulatory capacity for economic and social activities, and strengthening grassroots democracy (OES, 2017-18).

While poverty has gradually reduced in recent decades, populations continue to remain vulnerable to falling back into poverty and are affected by emerging sources of vulnerability such as climatic risks, violence and extremism, new diseases and evolving health risks, challenges from urbanization and changing environment, etc. There is increasing recognition that chronic poverty results from the cumulative impact of discrimination, risk, vulnerability and exclusion across an individual’s life-cycle and across generations. As a result, there is a need to understand the changing landscape of vulnerabilities different population sub-groups to effectively and adequately address the diverse set of risks and vulnerabilities.

The impacts of poverty on children are devastating, and yet they are twice as likely to live in poverty as adults. Through Goal 1 of the SDGs, UN Member States have for the first time committed to ending extreme child poverty and halving the poverty of children according to national definitions by 2030. Children in Odisha face multiple challenges. For example, prevalence of severe malnutrition among children and mothers is a matter of concern in the State. 51 percent women suffer from anaemia while 47 percent children remain anaemic and suffer from chronic energy deficiency. Further 34.1% of children below 5 years of age are stunted (height-for-age) and 34.4% are underweight (NFHS 4). The state also has one of the highest neonatal mortality rates. Sanitation is by far the most challenging agenda in Odisha, which has one of the highest prevalence of open defecation. Since 2014, Odisha has positively responded to SBM(G), resulting in a remarkable increase in toilet coverage. The current reported rural sanitation coverage stands at 82% (SBM-G MIS March 2019) but still toilet usage, sustained change in behaviour, sustainability of existing facilities and upgrades require huge investment. The reach of piped water supply to habitations in rural areas is also below 50%. Over 3000 habitations are affected with water quality problem such as fluoride, chloride and iron etc. Water quality surveillance, O&M and water safety and security planning etc. requires further focus.

A brief analysis of Government schemes in Odisha reflects that the state is addressing a wide range of these vulnerabilities with evolving and corresponding social protection schemes aimed at specific age-groups, geography and other population sub-groups such as SCs and STs, persons with disabilities, widowed, older population, people with chronic illness, people involved in specific lowly paid professions, marginal farmers, etc. However, it is also inferred that different households are affected differently over different periods from various shocks and certain groups continue to remain unprotected.

Hence, there is a need to understand the nature of vulnerabilities and review the current social protection programmes in the state to assess how these respond to the wide range of multi-dimensional deprivations and risks that affect the children of Odisha. UNICEF India has commissioned a study, led by the Economic Policy Research Institute (EPRI), to present an evidence-based approach to policy guidance. The study combines qualitative and quantitative research methods, uses primary and secondary data and triangulates findings to conduct a matched gap assessment that provides actionable recommendations for further strengthening the social protection system and aligning it to the needs of the population.

Objectives of the Study

This study is designed to understand the risks and vulnerabilities affecting children in Odisha within the context of the current support mechanisms available to them in the form of social protection responses from the Government of Odisha to mitigate age-specific risks and vulnerabilities. The purpose of the proposed study in Odisha is to understand the risks and vulnerabilities affecting children and analyse the extent to which the social protection system is child-sensitive and whether it addresses the risks and vulnerabilities affecting them today adequately. In addition, the document will endeavour to explore the potential risks related to population dynamics to ensure that children’s rights are safeguarded. This is critical to long-term growth and development of Odisha. As the world ages, India is presented with a unique opportunity to reap demographic dividends from a bulging young population. Odisha’s ability to achieve this will hinge on the labour productivity of today’s children, which is driven by adequate physical, social and cognitive development in the early years. Deprivations in early childhood and in adolescence (nutrition, care, social networks etc.) can significantly affect the ability of the future workforce to bear the burden of an ageing population and deliver its true potential to ensure continued growth and development in Odisha.

Changes in individual influence vulnerability, just as changing levels of risk and vulnerability can mark a shift from one life-cycle to another: “One enters a new life-cycle when the set of risks and certainties that define the level of vulnerability, changes in a positive or negative way.” Assessing the risks affecting children – focusing on the distinct phases of the life of children and life-stage specific vulnerabilities is a useful way of ensuring that the study appropriately and holistically reviews all risks that might affect children from birth up to the age of 18. In addition, it is important to consider how social and cultural factors such as ethnicity, gender, disability and religion intersect with chronological age and life-stages.

However, only analysing these risks is often insufficient as it ignores the efforts already in place to support vulnerable groups. For instance, the data might indicate high enrolment in secondary school, thus rendering it an area of success. However, without analysing the context in which that is achieved – i.e. support such as provision of free education or support for textbooks and uniforms, there is a great risk of overseeing a risk that is masked by support already being provisioned. To prevent inappropriate/inadequate policy guidance, it is thus critical to also review the existing social protection programmes targeted at each life-cycle across a child’s lifecycle and analysing risks and vulnerabilities within the context that they exist in.

Methodology

This proposed social protection systems and child vulnerability study in Odisha include three phases of work: (i) a quantitative vulnerability /deprivation analysis that addresses population groups across specific stages of life-cycle; (ii) a stock-take/inventory of the existing social protection programmes and (iii) a matched analysis comparing the vulnerabilities to the existing programmes to produce a robust gap assessment and actionable recommendations for strengthening the SP system.

A participatory vulnerability analysis (PVA) will help validate and update the findings from part one and two to ensure the findings accurately represent the state of vulnerable population groups. PVA is qualitative approach to analysing vulnerability, which involves participation of vulnerable people themselves. The analysis helps to understand vulnerability, its root causes and most vulnerable groups, and provides an opportunity to agree on actions by, with and to people to reduce their vulnerability. Using vulnerability as an indicator, it enables better targeting and/or establishment of programme baselines to increase effectiveness of programme activities. The PVA approach will provide an important dimension by capturing vulnerability as it is understood by those that are vulnerable. For vulnerability addressing policies to work, the voices of poor and marginalised people and their understandings of poverty and vulnerability need to be included. Failure to respect and respond to how poor people experience poverty/vulnerability and what they see as causing it can contribute to poverty and vulnerability reduction interventions missing their targets.

Using similar methods and the same rationale, the second phase will involve a participatory appraisal to help understand the ground realities of a selected sub-set of social protection programmes implemented in the state for children. This approach is implemented along with the PVA but focuses on the impact and perception of selected social protection programmes on the vulnerable groups. The participatory approaches will not involve a representative sample – instead it will rely on purposive sampling to get a wide range of perspectives geographically, ethnicity-wise, age-wise etc. The study will not involve participation from children.[1] Data will be collected from nine districts (selected purposively) and from three study sites within them. There will be an expected total of 81 discussions lasting 2-3 hours each.

Report

It is expected that the final report for the study will comprise of three chapters: 1) results from the quantitative deprivation analysis; 2) results from the qualitative PVA; 3) matched analysis and policy recommendations. The analysis and writing for the first chapter are being conducted by NIT in Odisha.

2. PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT

UNICEF India is seeking to contract a qualified researcher, with expertise in qualitative data analysis and analytical writing, to support the core study team from EPRI with the coding and analysis of transcripts from participatory field research methods, and to write a comprehensive, analytical and high-quality final report to summarize all the findings from the research, both quantitative and qualitative.

3. OBJECTIVE/S

The objectives of this particular assignment are to:

4. MAJOR TASKS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED

The consultant will be expected to work with the main study team to:

The consultant will be specifically required to carry out the following tasks:

Note that the consultant will be provided with translated transcripts in English. The first chapter of the report, on the quantitative deprivation analysis, will be shared with the consultant before commencing the report writing.

The consultant will be required to submit the coded files of the qualitative data for review before writing the full report. The report is estimated approximately 60 pages (high quality English) including key quotations.

5. DELIVERABLES AND DEADLINES

The fieldwork is expected to start from mid-October until mid-November and therefore all the transcripts will be provided by 15th of November 2019.

The dates below are tentative and will be revised as per the actual contract start date.

6. DUTY STATION

This consultancy will be home-based with interaction with contract supervisors over skype as and when required.

7. SUPERVISOR

The consultant will work closely with the main study team from EPRI, who have been commissioned by UNICEF India to carry out the study. The consultant will be jointly managed by the Social Policy Specialist, SPME, and the Research & Evaluation Specialist, who are the managers for the overall study.

8. OFFICIAL TRAVEL INVOLVED (ITINERARY AND DURATION)

One trip to Odisha will be expected during the duration of the consultancy.

9. ESTIMATED DURATION OF CONTRACT (PART TIME / FULL TIME)

Three months – part time (November 2019 to February 2020)

It is expected that this consultancy will take approximately 40 days of work over the three months.

10. QUALIFICATIONS / SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE / EXPERIENCE/ COMPETENCIES (CORE/TECHNICAL/FUNCTIONAL) / LANGUAGE SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THE ASSIGNMENT

The qualified consultant for this assignment will meet the following criteria:

11. TECHNICAL EVALUATION CRITERIA (WITH WEIGHTS FOR EACH CRITERIA)

CATEGORY

MAX. POINTS

30

10

30

TOTAL MARKS FOR TECHNICAL COMPONENT

70

Candidates who score overall 56 marks and above will be considered technically responsive and their financials will be opened.

30

100

12. PAYMENT SCHEDULE

100% following satisfactory completion of assignment and submission of all of the deliverables.

13. PERFORMANCE REVIEWS:

A performance review will be conducted at the completion of the consultancy.

HOW TO APPLY:Your online application should contain 5 separate attachments:

As part of the selection process, interested individuals are required to submit the following documents online, please upload under relevant section in your online application form:

Financial Proposal Template Consultant to support Qualitative Research.docx

The above documents will be assessed using the above mentioned technical evaluation criteria. Hence, it is mandatory to upload all of these documents, without these your application will be considered incomplete.

For any clarifications, please contact:

UNICEF

Supply & Procurement Section

73, Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110003

Telephone # +91-11-24606516

Email: indconsultants@unicef.org

[1] The involvement of children will bring extensive ethical concerns and require the processes, tools etc. to undergo a critical ethical review. It will also necessitate the use of a well-qualified, experience and very well-trained team that can interact with children on sensitive issues. As important as children’s perspectives might be, we believe that the risks of children’s participation outweigh the potential benefits from their participation to this study.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=527120