Consultancy for Research with Academia on Climate Resilient WASH

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises by aiding, protecting, and saving people. Our programs go beyond emergency services to help affected communities recover and rebuild their lives after the crisis ends. Working in over 50 countries and 28 U.S. cities, we deliver lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees and internally displaced groups forced to flee from war and disaster.

IRC has been working in Pakistan for over 40 years, managing and delivering large, complex programs to meet the needs in health, education, protection, environmental health, and livelihoods for displaced, marginalized, and disaster affected communities across the country. IRC works in partnership with the government, non-governmental, and private sector organizations to strengthen formal and informal or institutions to promote transparency, participation, effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability in service delivery.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Leveraging Inclusive and Climate Sensitive WASH for Empowerment-II (LIFE-II) is an extension of Leveraging LIFE Project (2018- 2022) which was funded by Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)’s Water for Women flagship Program and was implemented by International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Environmental Protection Society (EPS) in Peshawar, Buner, and Swat Districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Province of Pakistan. The second phase of the Project is focusing on integrating climate resilience into WASH system strengthening to ensure that WASH infrastructure and services are sustainable and resilient to climate-related risks.

The key outcomes of the project are:

• Strengthened government capacities for improved service delivery and improved coordination and collaboration on climate resilient WASH between the communities and service delivery departments and within the departments.
• Improved use of and access to inclusive and climate resilient WASH services for all.
• Increased rights awareness to enable the target population to hold the duty bearers accountable for the provision of the much-needed climate resilient and inclusive WASH services.
• Increased evidence of the climate resilient approaches to document and highlight the project learnings.  
• BACKGROUND AND SCOPE OF WORK

LIFE-II places strong emphasis on the development of a rich and reliable knowledge base for future climate resilient development programing. We are focused on utilizing the already existing information and creation of new evidence-based knowledge as a vital component of our climate resilient WASH programming. In this backdrop, LIFE-II Project is seeking the services of an experienced academic consultant to conduct an in-depth study on the current situation of inclusive WASH systems and existing information in the context of the changing climate in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Province of Pakistan. The consultant will collect secondary data, exploring global and local evidence-based literature primarily, academic endeavors that not only reflect existing research trends in the sector but also can serve as a strong foundation for a reliable knowledge reservoir smoothing further research. The scope of this study also includes identification of various factors that contribute to high climate vulnerability and strategies for enhanced coping capacities of communities and systems.

Key Objective of the Consultancy

1. Collecting data from existing documents and previous academic research about climate change and the way it impacts inclusive access to water sources in KP.
2. Conduct analysis of climate change induced hazards impacting physical, social, and environmental aspects of the selected locale.
3. Identify service and information gaps, and devise strategies and recommendations for an inclusive and climate resilient WASH research and development.

Deliverables: 

1. In Initial Research Proposal document stating research background, a precise introduction and detailed methodology of the study.
2. A Final Research Report including research findings and recommendations.

EXPECTED TIME FRAMES:

Duration of the assignment will be two months (60 days), Oct – Nov 2024

FINANCIAL DISUBRSEMENT SCHEDULE:

The Consultant will be paid on a deliverable basis in tranches:

Milestone/Deliverable % of Among to be released

Inception Report (Data collection & Analysis): 30%

First Draft report: 40%

Final Report: 30%

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS:

All products arising from this assignment will be owned by IRC and EPA. The consultant will not be allowed, without prior authorization in writing, to present any of the analytical, theoretical, graphics or coding results as his or her work or to make use of the data for republishing on another name.

QUALITY & ETHICAL STANDARDS:

The consultant should take all reasonable steps to ensure that the report and research conducted is based on facts and figures. The consultant will also commit to adhering to the International Rescue Committee’s IRC Way Data Confidentiality and Code of Conduct.

 INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT PROFILE:

Minimum Qualification and Experience:

• IRC will hire a local consultant, affiliated with an HEC recognized research (academic) institute and relevant experience in qualitative and quantitative research in climate change and environmental sciences. Previous experience in systematic literature reviews and content analysis is desirable.
• The consultant should also have a basic understanding of the culture and customs of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
• Interested consultant/Firm must submit both Technical and Financial proposal separately.

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL

Technical proposal: (50 % weightage)

The Consultant should submit a detail technical proposal as per Annexure A.

Recent curriculum Vitae:

CVs of Lead and Co lead consultants and team members as annexure

Financial Proposal: (30 % weightage)

The Consultant should submit a detail financial proposal as per Annexure B.

Interview (20% weightage)

The Consultant will be interviewed by a panel to discuss the proposals and to assess the technical competencies

Technical and Financial proposal along with CVs, sample reports along with other required documents by or before September 30, 2024

THE IRC CORE VALUES

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons.

Commitments

• IRC is committed to ensuring that IRC staff is suitable to work with children and have the knowledge s/he needs to uphold and abide by the IRC’s Child Safeguarding Policy.
• Level of interaction with children:  more frequent direct contact with children

Client responsiveness

IRC ensures that its staff must actively practice the roles and responsibilities related to client responsiveness, and accountability to people in affected communities and must have competencies to solicit and listens to feedback and other’s perspectives, respond to feedback with maturity and sensitivity and takes appropriate decisions and makes changes to behavior or actions in response to feedback.

Gender

IRC recognizes that gender equality is fundamental to the achievement of our organizational mission. As such, IRC is committed to the promotion of gender equality in all aspects of our operations and programs. Our organizational policies, procedures and actions demonstrate this commitment.