Consultancy Service on Design of the Early Actions for Reducing Heat-Waves Impacts on Vulnerable Groups

Terms of Reference

1.    Summary

Title: Design of the Early Actions for reducing Heat-Waves impacts on vulnerable groups
Position: 1 National consultant
Duration & timing: From the 08/03/2019 until the 30/04/2019
Duty station: Home based, Hanoi

2.    Background:

German Red Cross (GRC) is part of the world-wide Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. As a humanitarian organization, GRC assists victims of conflict and disaster as well as people affected by social or health related crisis. The Red Cross Movement provides assistance to vulnerable people without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions and adheres to the seven principles of the Red Cross movement: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality. In Vietnam, GRC is supporting its local partner, the Vietnam Red Cross (VNRC), to implement projects in the field of Disaster Relief & Rehabilitation, Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Change Adaptation, and Capacity Building.

Vietnam is considered as one of the most hazard-prone areas in the Asia Pacific Region, and is one of the five countries in the world potentially most affected by climate change. The Forecast-based Financing project in Vietnam is part of the Action Plan of the German Federal Foreign Office for Humanitarian Adaptation to Climate Change.  The Action Plan aims to establish an anticipatory humanitarian system using a new approach called Forecast-based Financing (FbF). FbF aims to anticipate disasters and reduce human suffering and losses. As a new concept, Forecast-based Financing (FbF) is a mechanism that uses weather forecasts to trigger timely humanitarian actions (Early Actions), before a hazard hits the exposed population. These actions described in specific Early Action Protocols are automatically funded when the triggering forecast is released.

In 2018, the first phase of the FBF project focused on Risks Assessments on Heat-waves. In Hanoi, in recent years, the average daily temperatures have risen, likely resulting from climate change and urbanization. Over five years from 2008 to 2012, 175 single days were observed in Hanoi with the maximum temperature exceeding 35°C. Heat-wave event is associated with a 20.0% increase in hospital admissions for all causes and 45.9% for respiratory diseases. Moreover, the frequency, duration and intensity of heatwave events have increased in the past 30 years and are projected to further increase in the future. 66% of the persons from vulnerable groups (elderly, slum dwellers, builders, shippers, street vendors) have experienced four to six symptoms of heat exhaustion during heatwaves. About a third reported to have their income reduced between 25% and 50% while the cost for healthcare associated with those symptoms equalled between 1.5 to 2.5 daily income. The majority of vulnerable groups stated that they adopted key measures to better adapt to very hot weather. However only 24% could recognize the signs of heat-related illnesses, and only 7% coped by staying as long as possible in an air-conditioned place. Additional study are currently on-going on the impacts of heatwaves on under five children living in poor housing facilitites.

In 2019, based on those risks assessments, the GRC and VNRC will develop Early Actions (EAs) for reducing  Heat-Waves impacts in Hanoi on vulnerable groups; for this purpose the GRC is seeking the service of a consultant.

3.    Purpose

GRC is seeking the service of a consultant to develop a list of possible Early Actions (EA) to reduce the impacts of heatwaves on target groups - elderly persons, street workers (shippers, vendors), slum dwellers, builders, mentally disable persons, children under five. The consultant should propose at least 2 EAs per group, including a clear description of the implementation of the EAs and an estimation of their cost.

The Early Actions proposed by the consultant should

  1. Have a demonstrable ability to efficiently reduce the negative impacts of heatwaves on the target population
  2. be implemented within the timeframe available - one week before a heatwave event and 3 days before.
  3. Be based on the results of the risks assesments conducted by GRC/VNRC, and be supported by references from relevant literature reviews (scientific journals, expert reports, expert comments...).
  4. Fit within the pre-existing disaster-risk reduction / health strategies in place at local, city, national levels.

The GRC/VNRC will provide the consultant with the results of the Risks Assessments, and will commit staff for coordinating the development of the list of Early Actions adapted to the target groups.

4.    Duty Station & Proposed Timeline

The study will be implemented at home and in Hanoi, Vietnam.

5.    Deliverables & Proposed Timeline

  • 4-5 March 2019: Initial meeting with GRC/VNRC to confirm the consultancy objectives and timeframe
  • 5- 8 March: Literature review, and review of risks assessments conducted by GRC/VNRC (Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices surveys and FDGs)
  • 11- 15 March: Development of a Theory of Change as a theoretical framework for the development of a list of early actions adapted to the target population (7 targets - elderly persons, street workers (shippers, vendors), slum dwellers, builders, mentally disable persons, children under five living in poor housing). Presentation of the Theory of Change (1 per group) to GRC/VNRC
  • 18- 29 March: Carry out interviews with experts from different sectors (Health, Disaster risk Management agencies…) to identify the most appropriate actions and to check the compatibility of those actions with the pre-existing disaster-risk reduction / health strategies (at local, city, national levels)
  • 01-02 April - Presentation of a draft list of EAs to GRC/VNRC
  • 23-26 April – Finalisation of the list of EAs (at least 2 per group – in English and Vietnamese) and presentation to GRC/VNRC. The list should include the following elements:

 

EA‘s Ability to reduce heatwave impacts (how the EA will contribute to reduce impacts)

EA‘s Implementation mechanism (How/by whom the EA will be implemented)

EA‘s Timeframe for implementation (when the EA will be implemented)

EA‘s Cost estimation

Supporting documentation (references)

Target Group 1

 

 

 

 

 

EA 1

 

 

 

 

 

EA 2

 

 

 

 

 

EA 3

 

 

 

 

 

Target Group 2

 

 

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

 

 

Target Group 7

 

 

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

 

 


4.    Selection Criteria

  • The applicant holds at least a Master’s degree in public health, development studies, humanitarian action, or fields related to these.
  • The applicant is required to have a good understanding of and professional contact with the Public Health System in Hanoi.
  • Proven experience in conducting, analysing and reporting qualitative researches
  • Good understanding of key disaster risk reduction / health policy and practices in Vietnam
  • Excellent command of Vietnamese and English
  • Ability to meet required date of report’s submission
  • Experience in research on early actions or humanitarian response actions in general and of the Early Warning Early Action agenda is an advantage
  • Prior experience of work with the Red Cross Rec Crescent is an advantage.

5.    Application Procedure

Interested candidates are invited to send their offer in English consisting of a CV, a technical and a financial offer and a letter of motivation to [email protected] (email) OR by post to Mr Jerome Faucet, German Red Cross, Level 7, 59 Quang Trung Street, Hanoi.

The technical offer should give an estimation of the numbers of working days necessary for each phase.

The financial offer should propose:

-    a daily rate all-inclusive: all taxes, transport & other costs if any, etc.
-    a total rate all-inclusive

The financial offer should indicate clearly the Net and Gross calculation in VND currency. All submissions must be received by 6th March 2019 at 17:00 Hanoi time. Please note that only applications which are submitted in English shall be considered. While we appreciate all applications, only candidates under consideration shall be contacted.

*Child Protection: German/Red Cross is committed to protecting the rights of children in all areas we work around the world. Applicants are advised that German Red Cross reserves the right to screen candidates to ensure a child-safe environment. Further information can be found in the German Red Cross child protection policy.

Job Details
Organisation Name: 
GRC
Location: 
Hanoi
Application Deadline: 
Wed, 2019-03-06