Consultant Service for Livelihoods needs Assessment in Bao Lam and Bao Lac Districts, Cao Bang Province

I. Background of ADRA in Vietnam

The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) is a global humanitarian organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, demonstrating God's love and compassion. ADRA has a presence in over 120 countries world-wide and its major areas of involvement are divided into five core portfolios:
Primary health care and child survival;

- Economic development;
- Food security;
- Basic education; and
- Emergency preparedness and response.

In 1988, ADRA began operations across Vietnam through ADRA Indochina. ADRA’s office has been located in Hanoi since 1993 and has implemented more than 120 projects in over 35 provinces across Vietnam. Currently, ADRA in Vietnam is implementing projects in the three provinces of Cao Bang, Hanoi and Tay Ninh.

II. Reason for the position

Cao Bang Province is the fourth poorest province of the whole country with 22% of households classified as "poor" (2010, Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs). In 2011, according to the new poverty standard of the government1, the poverty rate soared to 38% of the entire 116,689 households of the province (2011, Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs).

The local economy is predominantly agricultural with the cultivation of some basic and low-valued food crops such as rice, maize, and cassava. However, as the province is very mountainous with limited cultivable land and water sources, the people of Cao Bang Province are vulnerable to livelihood insecurity and poverty. This is especially the case in Bao Lam District and Bao Lac District, the two most remote districts of the province, also among the three poorest districts of Cao Bang Province. Both Bao Lam District and Bao Lac District are included in the list of the 62 poorest districts of the whole country, where there is widespread poverty among the population (Bao Lam District 66%; Bao Lac District 71%) (2011, Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs).  

Bao Lam District and Bao Lac District (together with Ha Quang District) are the locations of the former LICEEM project of ADRA in Vietnam, funded by ADRA Australia, in which a network of Community Development Clubs (CDC) was established as part of the project's attempt to reach out to the communities. Here, under the facilitation of the local Women's Union, community members meet regularly to discuss development topics and community issues, including poverty and livelihoods. All of the 28 clubs established in Bao Lam District and Bao Lac District remain functional, some after almost three years and are receiving strong support from the local authorities.

ADRA in Vietnam is seeking fund from ADRA Australia to help improve the livelihoods of marginalized communities in Bao Lam District and Bao Lac District using new and innovative methodology through the established CDC network. For this purpose, a funded design phase is proposed to ensure the relevance of proposed methodology and activities.

The design phase is inclusive of (1) a needs assessment seeking to identify the most appropriate methodology for livelihoods improvement through the CDC’s in the context of the local communities of Bao Lam District and Bao Lac District, and (2) a participatory design process based on the assessment's outcomes and in consultation with local partners.

The design phase will also analyze certain cross-cutting issues that will have important implications on the design and implementation of the project afterwards, especially Gender and Development, Environment, Disability Inclusiveness and Child Protection.

III. Objectives of the position

Goal

The consultant will train, coordinate and lead a local assessment team to conduct a livelihoods needs assessment in Bao Lam District and Bao Lac District of Cao Bang Province in consultation with relevant local partners (government departments and mass organizations), the CDC's of the former LICEEM project, local community members, and ADRA in Vietnam staff.

Outputs

The consultant is expected to complete the following tasks:

- Develop a proposal for the assessment (including the assessment plan and the assessment tools) to be approved by ADRA in Vietnam;
- Train the assessment team (including local partners, CDC facilitators and selected members, and ADRA in Vietnam staff);
- Conduct desk study and field work to identify the most appropriate methodology for livelihoods improvement emphasizing people-centered and community-led principles in the local context. The consultant is advised to study methodologies or principles such as Strengths Based Approach, Reflect Circles, Challenge Model, Appreciative Inquiry, etc. Special attention should be paid to the LEGGO approach currently utilized by ADRA Nepal;  
- Conduct feedback workshops with local partners and ADRA in Vietnam staff for further inputs; and
- Finalize an assessment report written in English, using a pre-approved template, with the following key contents, to be approved by ADRA in Vietnam and ADRA Australia:

• A summary of the current situation in Bao Lam District and Bao Lac District in livelihoods and livelihoods support by various governmental and non-governmental bodies; 
• Recommendations for the most appropriate methodology for livelihoods improvement;
• Recommendations for a local capacity building program to support the proposed methodology and mechanisms for community-led livelihoods initiatives through the CDC's;
• In-depth analysis of relevant cross-cutting issues including:

          1. Gender and Development [e.g. the potential impacts the identified methodology and mechanisms might have on women, both positive (empowerment of women in the community’s socio-economic life) and negative (added pressure to their already overburdened life; possible male rivalry because of loss of economic power, etc.)];

          2. Environment (e.g. the potential impacts the identified methodology and mechanisms might have on the environment, to make sure the activities will not damage but contribute to long-term environmental sustainability);

          3. Disability Inclusiveness (e.g. the different mechanisms ADRA in Vietnam might utilize to maximize the participation and empowerment of people with disabilities in the design, planning and implementation of the proposed project);

          4. Child Protection (e.g. the impacts on Child Protection principles that the project activities might lead to, especially child labour, and any other risks related to the safety of children of beneficiary communities); and

          5. Any other relevant issues;

- Recommendations for the framework (i.e. key components) of a livelihoods project in Bao Lam District and Bao Lac District, whose proposal will be built upon the results of this assessment. The consultant should consider a staged approach to the implementation.

IV. Qualification required for the position

- Master degree in agriculture and/or rural/economic development or another relevant field;
- Proven experience in development work with ethnic minorities in mountainous areas;
- Proven experience in community-based and participatory approaches;
- Proven experience in consultancy work for needs assessment or project evaluation in general;
- High teamwork spirit and effective leadership;
- Excellent command of Vietnamese and English; and
- Sufficient IT skills.

V. Timing of the position

The consultant is requested to submit a tentative assessment proposal including plan and tools by 31 July 2012. The approval of the finalized proposal will be the basis for signing the contract with the consultant.

The field work will take place in Cao Bang Province in August 2012. The initial findings and main recommendations will be submitted to the Programs Department of ADRA in Vietnam in writing by 09 September 2012, and the final report by 23 September 2012.

VI. Compensation

The compensation will be dependent on the negotiated rate and the assessment proposal. However, the total consultant fees will not exceed VND 90,000,000 (ninety million Vietnam dongs), excluding personal income tax, transportation and accommodation during field work (which will be provided according to ADRA in Vietnam’s policies), payable upon satisfactory completion of above mentioned outputs.