The LLM LIFT Delta3 project is implemented in partnership with our two partners Ar Yone Oo and Swisscontact.

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1 Vacancy Announcement Tender No. MC-YGN B a s e l i n e S u r v e y o f Linking Laputta to Markets Terms of Reference for Baseline Survey of Linking Laputta to Markets (LLM) LIFT Delta3 FOR LOCAL SERVICES ONLY, SHORT TERM Application Deadline: Friday 19 February 2016 (before 5:00 PM) I. INTRODUCTION Mercy Corps is a secular, non-profit, non-governmental humanitarian organization that has worked amid disasters and poverty since 1979, providing humanitarian relief and development aid in 94 nations worldwide. Operational in Myanmar since 2008, Mercy Corps implements programs designed to promote food security and rural livelihoods, pro-poor market and economic development, sustainable environmental and natural resource management, and civil society strengthening in the Delta, Dry Zone, Rakhine, Chin, Southern Shan, and Kayah States. Mercy Corps began in the Delta in Laputta Township in August 2008 as part of Nargis Cyclone emergency response. With funding support from the Livelihoods and Food Security Trust Fund (LIFT), Mercy Corps implemented the Emergency Recovery (LIFT Delta1) project and the Beyond Recovery (LIFT Delta2) project. In October 2015 Mercy Corps began implementation of the newest project: Linking Laputta to Markets-LLM (LIFT Delta3). This project is currently in its Inception Phase, and Mercy Corps plans to conduct a Baseline Survey during this period. A survey questionnaire is currently being prepared for collecting baseline data from existing project participants and from counterfactual groups. Villages for conducting this survey will be selected by Mercy Corps. Mercy Corps is currently seeking assistance from a consultancy or market survey firm to fully manage and oversee a baseline survey in the identified villages, carry out the analysis, and develop and finalize all documentation. Individual consultants with facilities to engage a readily accessible enumerator team are also invited to apply. II. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF LLM The LLM LIFT Delta3 project is implemented in partnership with our two partners Ar Yone Oo and Swisscontact. The Goal of LLM is increased incomes for landless, vulnerable and smallholder households in Laputta Township. Two higher-level outcomes (HLOs) will contribute to this goal: HLO 1: Improved performance of smallholder farmers in the rice value chain; HLO 2: Landless and 1

2 vulnerable women and men have stability of income from diverse off-farm employment and economic opportunities. Intermediate outcomes include a) farmer producer enterprises (FPEs) operating as professional market actors; b) smallholder farmers adopting improved agricultural practices; and c) landless women and men benefitting from improved employment opportunities. Total projected beneficiaries for the LLM project is 5,100 HHs from 276 villages. III. DESCRIPTION OF THE LLM BASELINE SURVEY The Survey: This baseline will form part of the necessary credible information to facilitate measurements of the net contributions toward our LLM objectives for targeted smallholder and landless households. The survey information will be used to determine project achievements during mid-term and end-of-project periods. It is a key part of the process for providing accountability to the donor, project beneficiaries and stakeholders. The Tool: The baseline survey tool is being developed by Mercy Corps and is planned to be completed by 7 th March. The tool is designed to collect information which will be used primarily to calculate income differentials among both of the targeted smallholder and landless households. Information collected from the survey will guide the project in calculating farm economics, and profit & loss among smallholders; and HH Income levels, dependency ratios, income sources, & education levels among landless HH s, along with demographic info. The survey tool is also designed to collect info used for tracking progress on out-of-poverty indicators so that Mercy Corps and our partners can understand the poverty levels of the farmer s landless coming into the project The Target Group: For purposes of this consultancy, there are two groups to be surveyed. These include existing FPE members who used to participate in the Beyond Recovery (LIFT Delta2) project and will continue to participate in the LLM (LIFT Delta3) project; the other group includes the HLO1 and HLO2 counterfactual HHs. 1 IV. EXISTING SOURCES OF INFORMATION The Linking Laputta to Markets (LLM) proposal provides detailed information on overall goals, objectives, and key activities of the current project being implemented, and the Consultant should be familiar with this document. The draft LLM Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Plan (MEAL) includes information on project Theory of Change and Indicator Management Plan and will be provided as reference. Similarly, the Consultant should be familiar with the LIFT Logframe Indicator Definitions & Measurement Framework. V. OBJECTIVE OF BASELINE SURVEY AND SURVEY QUESTIONS The Objective of this LLM Baseline Survey is as follows: 1 New project participants for both HLO1 and HLO2 activities will not be included in this baseline survey. LLM field staff will collect baseline data on these persons on a rolling basis when they join a newly formed FPE group or a vocational training course. Thus these project participants are not included in this baseline survey; 2

3 1. Using the tablet-based Survey Questionnaire: to collect the baseline data from approximately 830 persons in selected villages (370 existing FPE members persons from counterfactual group); 2. Analyze and document the findings from the baseline data collection. VI. SURVEY METHODS Mercy Corps will identify the villages to be surveyed including a list of all persons who can potentially be interviewed. From the list provided, the consultancy firm/consultant will randomly select the individuals to be interviewed during the course of the data collection in each village. This is a tablet-based data collection tool which uploads data in realtime to Mercy Corps ONA account as the survey is conducted with each individual interviewed. Interview time is approximately 45 minutes per person. Ideally the consulting firm / consultant provide their own tablets for data collection. However, if the consulting firm/consultant does not have tablet, then Mercy Corps can provide up to 13 tablets. The consulting firm/consultant will review documents provided by Mercy Corps and which provide background information. The contracted firm/consultant will identify, contract and fully manage an enumerator team and develop their scope of work for carrying out the survey (Mercy Corps can assist to find Laputta-based enumerators if requested). VII. REQUIREMENTS: CONSULTANCY-MANAGED INPUTS vs. MERCY CORPS-MANAGED INPUTS The surveying firm / consultant will have ultimate responsibility to oversee and manage activities related to all data collection and analysis using the survey questionnaire, and be responsible for consolidation and reporting on the survey findings. Consultancy Firm / Consultant Identify, recruit, and contract Consultancy Enumerator Team (CET) [up to 13 persons if planning to use Mercy Corps tablets]; Manage the CET throughout the course of the survey timeframe; If using Mercy Corps tablets, to ensure proper and safe use (and ensure replacement of lost/broken tablets); Review of relevant LLM background documents; Provide a Survey Implementation Plan (max. 4 pages) which includes a) updated workplan and required logistics; b) approach for randomized selection of smallholder farmer and landless HHs in the designated villages; c) CET makeup (including Enumerator Guidelines and, if applicable, Enumerator Supervisor Guidelines which can be attached as Annex); Mercy Corps Provide relevant secondary technical information; Assist with finding Laputta-based enumerators if requested; Survey Instrument which can be loaded onto tablets; Maximum of 13 tablets (if needed), and loaded with Survey Instrument; Training surveying firm s enumerator team (directly or through ToT) on use of tabletbased data collection tool (if needed); Necessary boat/moto transportation within Laputta township; 3

4 Cleaned tablet-based data sets which can be used at mid-term and end-line; Oversee all data entry and management; Consolidate and analyze all survey data; Prepare and present preliminary findings; Prepare and submit Final Report; Other activities proposed by the consultancy firm/consultant as deemed relevant and as agreed by Mercy Corps. Uploading and aggregation of data and then exporting raw data sets to consultant for handling and analysis; The consulting firm/consultant is required to carry out the following key actions as listed below. In conjunction with this, Mercy Corps will also provide necessary inputs or facilitative supports at various steps of the consultancy. The table below summarizes the requirements of the surveying firm / consultant, and areas of support from Mercy Corps: As mentioned above, Mercy Corps has a maximum of 13 tablets for use during data collection, thus the maximum persons on the CET is 13. However, if the consultancy firm / consultant will be providing their own tablets then it is feasible to propose and recruit additional persons for the CET depending on the number of consultancy-owned tablets available. VIII. KEY DELIVERABLES 1. Survey Implementation Plan (maximum 4 pages); 2. Cleaned tablet-based data sets which can be used at mid-term and end-line; 3. Final Report on LLM Baseline Survey. IX. REPORTING The report should be in English. The minimum report requirements are as follows: Cover Page, List of Acronyms Table of Contents Executive Summary Methodology Findings Limitations of the survey Key observations, overall conclusions, actions recommended for use of Baseline Survey Information for Mid-term, Endline, and other relevent interventions Regarding the Methodology section of the Final Report, Mercy Corps takes responsibility to contribute to this section the explanation on methods and process for village tract and village selection, how selection criteria was developed, and methods for calculations of sampling size. 4

5 X. PROCEDURES: SCHEDULE & LOGISTICS Logistics: While Mercy Corps undertakes the responsibility of facilitating travel for the Consultant and enumerator team in Laputta Township, it is the Consultant s ultimate responsibility to follow through and ensure that the correct number of individuals in the listed villages are visited and interviewed. Schedule: The following schedule can be used as a guide to carry out the baseline survey: Task/Item Mar April May Review Background Documents and Survey Questionnaire Consultant Enumerator Team (CET) Recruited Training provided to CET Inception Phase Report submitted to Mercy Corps Data Collection in Field Thingyan Holidays Consolidation and Analysis of Data Presentatoin of Preliminary Findings and Feedback Draft Baseline Survey Final Report All Feedback to Consultant (from Mercy Corps/SC/LIFT) Final Report Submitted XI. QUALIFICATIONS Mercy Corps is seeking a consultancy or market research firm (or individual consultant qualified in baseline survey management and resourcing) with the following skills and experience: Proven ability and experience in doing surveys and analysis of programming similar to aims of LLM; Fluency in English with highly professional report writing capabilities; Expertise in conducting surveys using tablet-based data collection tools preferred; Familiarity with Open Data Kit (ODK) or similar mobile data collection and online server systems preferred; Evaluation experience in Myanmar and with LIFT-funded programs preferred Cultural sensitivity XII. APPLICATION PROCESS AND TIMELINE Mercy Corps is seeking interested firms or individuals to manage this baseline survey. Interested applicants are invited to provide a proposal (budget ceiling of US$ 10,000) on how you will manage and carry out this survey. The proposal should also provide details regarding quotations for recruitment and management of enumerator team, management and supervision of the survey and data collection process, and data analysis and write-up. A fixed-price contract will be negotiated for the agreed terms. Please note that the terms of this ToR may be slightly revised pending LIFT review. 5

6 Interested applicants must submit their application in English Language ONLY, via to the following contact person: Ms. Ei Ei Khaing - ekhaing@mm.mercycorps.org With carbon copy (cc :) to the following addresses: mamunoz@mm.mercycorps.org, HR@mm.mercycorps.org DEADLINE for applications is 5pm Myanmar time on Friday, 19 February Incomplete applications or those which do not conform to the application instructions detailed above will not be considered responsive and will not be evaluated. Hard copy applications will not be accepted. Questions regarding this ToR will not be answered and applicants should use their own best judgment in developing their response in the event of confusion or lack of clarity. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for further discussion and evaluation. A final candidate will be selected and a contract negotiated accordingly. Shortlisted candidate(s) will be notified of next steps no later than 26 February, 2016 and the expected starting date for the assignment will be no later than 1 March,