Haiti: Consultancy - Study on Economic Resilience to Natural Hazards

Title of the study:Economic Resilience to Natural Hazards

Handicap International Program : Technical Resources Division: Inclusion Unit; Sectors of intervention: Livelihoods and Disaster Risk Management

Objective of the mission: To develop a user-friendly analysis framework and guidance note on economic resilience to natural hazards

Duration :Consultancy is scheduled from November 01, 2015 to January 31, 2016 with all deliverables provided in accordance to the terms of reference.

Place of the missionHome-based desk review, 1 field mission in Haiti (to be done by mid-December 2015) and 1 field mission possibly in an Asian country (to be confirmed)

2-1- Context

Handicap International is an independent international aid organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. Working alongside people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, our action and testimony are focused on responding to their essential needs, improving their living conditions and promoting respect for their dignity and their fundamental rights. In the current context, these vulnerable groups are more likely to be negatively impacted by natural disasters and/or other exogenous shocks. Resilience has become a hot topic and is increasingly at the centre of international call for proposals launched by major donors. Handicap International has therefore initiated a process of internal reflection on resilience; the position paper, recently drafted, is the first output of this process.

In the position paper (status: draft), Handicap International has adopted the following working definition of resilience as a basis for internal reflection:

“The ability of an individual, a household, a community, a country or a system to withstand, learn, adapt and overcome shocks or stresses (acute or chronic/ short or long term) without undermining their long-term perspective.”

B*y shocks and stresses we mean: i.) conflict, ii.) natural hazards (earthquakes, cyclone, floods, etc.), iii.) economic, politic, health crises*

ð 13 domains were selected so far to structure our current understanding of resilience[1]**:**

1- governance/governance structure; 2- risk assessment; 3- disaster risk preparedness and response; 4-knowledge management; 5- livelihoods; 6- basic needs; 7- cohesion; 8- participation/social inclusion; 9-interaction/exchanges; 10- diversity; 11- physical and psychological health; 12- protection; 13- environment/natural resources.

ð These 13 domains were selected to measure the resilience at 4 levels of intervention (unit of analysis):

at individual, household, community and state levels.

The present study comes as a continuation of this internal reflection. The concept of resilience is still broad and no consensus exists on how to measure it; there is an urgent need to develop a more practical and operational concept. A major development issue was identified within the organization: the rising number and costs of natural disasters and the projected increase of their severity due to climate change leading to significant economic challenges (e.g. negative impact on assets, loss of income, loss of employment, reduced consumption, etc.) and new risks for vulnerable populations. This study, therefore, intends to develop a user-friendly analysis framework and guidanceon economic resilience to natural hazards for our programs and projects,using HI’s livelihoods and DRR projects as key entry points in order to respond to the immediate needs and priorities of the organization.

2-2- Program HandicapInternational

The Inclusion Unit -Technical Resources Division initiated this study that focuses on two of its core sectors of intervention: Livelihoods and Disaster Risk Reduction. The monitoring committee will therefore include HI HQ and Field members working in these two fields of intervention.

3 -1- Justification of the Study

· Relevance & Benefits

1) The purpose of this study is to make the concept of resilience more operational, through the development of an economic resilience index, using Livelihoods and DRR as key entry points in order to respond to the immediate needs and priorities of the organization;

2) This study intends to build up HI’s expertise and better respond to the requirements arising from international donors;

3) This study enables to field test the relevance and appropriateness of the 13 domains selected by the organization to structure its understanding of resilience.

3-2- Objectives of the Study

· General Objectives of the Study

The main objectives of the study are:

1. To measure the contribution of HI’s past and current livelihood projects implemented in disaster-prone areas to building economic resilience to natural hazards of targeted individual/household/community at short and medium term. This will be done through the development of an ‘index’ of economic resilience considering/reviewing the 13 domains mentioned above;
2. To provide concrete guidance to HI programs on how to improve our contribution to economic resilience to natural hazards in future livelihood interventions;
3. To provide concrete guidance to current and future DRR projects on how to better contribute to economic resilience at individual/household/community levels.

The study will build on relevant existing models, methodologies & tools.

The working hypothesis to be tested is as follows:

‘By promoting and supporting access to economic opportunities and resources for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups living in an area highly exposed to natural hazards, Handicap International contributes to economic resilience to natural hazards of individual/household/community.’

· Specific Objectives of the Study

The specific objective is to develop a user-friendly analysis framework on economic resilience to natural hazards and guidance paperon how to improve our practices in ongoing and future livelihood and DRR interventions.

1/The user-friendly analysis framework will include:

ü A clear definition of ‘economic resilience to natural hazards’ in HI’s contexts of intervention and related domains. It will respond particularly to the following set of questions:

o Are all the 13 domains of resilience (as mentioned above) relevant and appropriate for the measurement of economic resilience to natural disasters for the three unit of analysis (individual, household, community)?

o Do we need to add and/or delete some domains to make the measurement more relevant? If so, which ones and why?

o Do we need to review the wording of these domains in order to promote a better understanding?

o Did/Do the past and current livelihood projects fit into the local disaster risk management process (synergy between livelihood & DRR)? If no, why? If yes, how?

ü A user-friendly tool,i.e. ’economic resilience index': in the form of an analysis grid with a series of appropriate indicators or benchmarks selected and structured into relevant domains for measuring the contribution of HI’s livelihood and future DRR interventions to the economic resilience of targeted individuals, households and communities in disaster-prone areas at short and medium term.

Ü Each selected domain and associated basket of indicators/benchmarks (and related score, domain weighting if any) contributing to measure economic resilience to natural disasters will be briefly, concisely and clearly defined for each unit of analysis (e.g. what does governance & associated indicators mean at individual, household and community levels) in order to share a common understanding;

Ü This index aims to be used during base and end line survey at project/program level. The field surveys in Haiti and possibly in an Asian country (to be confirmed) will be the opportunity to field test the index and assess its relevance and appropriateness. The series of interviews with HI/partner key resources currently involved in livelihood and DRR interventions will be another way to confirm the relevance, appropriateness and user-friendliness of the index.

2/The guidance note – as a way to move forward - will include:

ü A global SWOT Analysisof HI’s current livelihood projects based on the set of interviews with external key resources on resilience, with HI/partners resource persons in both livelihood and DRR sectors and the field survey(s). This finer understanding of the key drivers and barriers should help to inform thinking on the nature of the interventions required in the future. It will respond particularly to the following questions:

o In which domain/indicator of the economic resilience index do we observe the biggest change? The lowest change? Why?

o Are our projects able to contribute in all the resilience related domains? Is there any domain not covered at all by our projects?

ü Concrete set of recommendationsthat will clearly identify possible areas of change in HI’s project design and mode of implementation in order to ensure greater economic resilience to natural hazards at the level of targeted individuals, households and communities. This section will include:

o A list of key activitiesto foster economic resilience to natural hazards in current and future livelihood focused interventions;

o A list of key activitiesto foster economic resilience in current and future**DRR focused interventions.**

3-3- Location of the Study

One field survey will be undertaken in Haiti (by mid-December 2015) and possibly another one in an Asian country (to be confirmed).

Haiti is highly exposed to natural hazards and other external shocks. It has suffered from two decades of political instability, exacerbating deep social and economic disparities. These instabilities have led to the impoverishment of the population and the reinforcement of existing inequalities in accessing economic resources and basic services. Haiti is therefore an interesting study field to assess the adaptative capacities and coping strategies developed by households and communities to shocks and stresses, especially to natural hazards. Moreover, Handicap International in Haiti has been implementing both Inclusive Livelihood and DRR projects during the last 3 years.

3-4- Targeted audience

Handicap International’s programs and projects implementing livelihood focused-projects are the primary target audience (project managers, operational and technical coordinators). The secondary target audience includes the programs and projects involved in DRR with the aim of providing guidance on how to improve economic resilience within their current and future interventions, especially at individual/household levels.

3-5- Methodology

A detailed methodology will be proposed by the consultant(s) in liaison with the Monitoring Committee but include the following major steps**:**

· STEP 1: Literature review of the existing approaches, methods and tools on resilience and in particular on economic resiliencealready developed by the Technical Resource Division/HI in order to gain a clear picture of the current situation thus avoiding overlap and identifying gaps to be further investigated. Furthermore, a series of interviews with external key resources on resilience (INGO, donors, universities, etc.) will be conducted and missing information will be added to the literature review for its completion;

· STEP 2: The detailed methodology and work schedule to carry out the study in accordance with the terms of referencewill be proposed and developed, under the guidance and validation of the Monitoring Committee. A particular focus will be given to the methodology for developing the first version of the ‘economic resilience index’.However, we can already anticipate it will consist of a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. The field survey(s) will also involve the participation, through interviews, of HI, partners, target beneficiaries and other relevant stakeholders;

· STEP 3 - Field test of the methodology and the ‘economic resilience index’ in Haiti/Asian country (to be confirmed):through field visits, focus group discussions and interviews. The consultant will combine quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis and review the set of indicators defined in the initial analysis grid based on findings and feedback of HI field team and Monitoring Committee. Debriefing of the field phase will take place with Monitoring Committee;

· STEP 4 –Test and adapt the economic resilience index in a diversity of countries and contextsthrough a series of interviews with HI key resources implementing livelihood/DRR projects in Asia and in Africa in order to ensure that the index is user-friendly (can be easily used by national project managers and staff) and relevant/appropriate to various contexts (recovery, chronic crisis, development). A SWOT analysis of HI’s current livelihood projects will be undertaken based on the information collected from the field;

· STEP 5 - Finalization of the analysis framework and the guidance note:the final version of the analysis framework and the guidance note will include relevant comments from HI on draft documents and have to be validated by the Monitoring Committee. The analysis framework (including the index) and guidance note should be adapted to the needs of various contexts of intervention and units of analysis and temporalities.

3-6- Specific Constraints of the Study

The Monitoring committee has to validate each key step of the study as mentioned above.

HI HQ members of the Monitoring Committee:

• Hervé BERNARD: Head of Inclusion Unit (Lyon, France)
• Harisha VARATHARAJAH: Livelihood Technical Advisor - Asia (Colombo, Sri Lanka)
• Gaëtane BLEHER: Livelihood Technical Advisor – Flying (Lyon, France))
• Véronique WALBAUM: DRM Technical Advisor (Brussels, Belgium)
• Aude BRUS: Technical Studies and Research Coordinator (Lyon, France)

Field members of the Monitoring Committee (to be finalized)

• Claire PERRIN HOUDON: Technical Unit Coordinator (Haiti)
• Albert-Philip BURGER D’HAEM: Program Director (Haiti)
• Sudarshan Neupane: Livelihood Coordinator (Nepal)
• Sylvie LeGuevel: Livelihood Coordinator (Philippines – TBC)
• Annie PATRI: DRM Coordinator – South and South East Asia (India)

5-1- General objective of the assignment

To conduct the present study in order to develop a user-friendly analysis framework and guidanceon economic resilience to natural hazards for HI’s programs and projects.

5-2-Expected Deliverables

The consultant(s) in charge of the assignment will produce in ENGLISH:

• A finalized literature review providing a clear picture of the current situation on resilience, in particular on economic resilience to natural hazards. It will include a summary of key findings that came out of the series of interviews conducted with external key resources;
• A detailed methodology, including the work schedule, the first draft of definitions of economic resilience & domains, and the first version of the economic resilience index;
• The analysis frameworkthat includes i.) a clear definition of ‘economic resilience to natural hazards’ in HI’s contexts of intervention and related domains and ii.) the ’economic resilience index' to measure the contribution of HI’s livelihood projects and future DRR interventions involving a livelihood component;
• The guidance note that includes i.) global SWOT Analysis of HI’s current livelihood projects and ii.) concrete set of recommendations along with a list of key activities to foster economic resilience to natural hazards in current and future livelihood focused interventions AND a list of key activities to foster economic resilience in current and future DRR focused interventions.
• All data collection tools, list of persons met and all salient points of the meetings.

HI will:

• Cover the costs of the return flight (economy class) from the consultant’s country of residence to field (Haiti and possibility in an Asian country). Note that the consultant(s) will need to organize his/her visas (for this latter Handicap international will provide the necessary documentation).
• Provide logistical support including arranging meetings as requested by the consultant(s) providing transport for use during the study;
• Provide a translator when needed;
• Provide working space, access to the internet, telephone usage and office services (photocopies, etc.) during the field survey(s);
• Cover any costs associated with interviews, focus groups and other activities related to the study;
• Make available all relevant documents to consultant(s);

5-4- Indicative Schedule and Budget

The contract is to begin in November 01, 2015. The end of the consultancy is planned for end of January 2015, with all deliverables provided in accordance to the terms of reference (final version).

The maximum budget for this contract is EUR 25.000, excluding air plane tickets, other means of transportation and accommodation during field mission(s). Payment will be released before and after the consultancy; details to be discussed upon contract signing. Costs related to the lay-out and production of the document will be covered separately by the organization.

5-5- Communication and monitoring mechanisms between the expert and Handicap International

Skype call with the Monitoring Committee is required for each key step of the study.

A team of two consultants is highly desired in order to combine the following knowledge, skills and experience, especially in Livelihoods and Resilience/Disaster Risk Management.

Qualifications

MANDATORY:

• Knowledge and Experience in Resilience, Livelihoods and Disaster Risk Management
• Availability to travel to the study field as required
• Proven experience of undertaking similar assignments
• Demonstrated knowledge of and successful experience with studies and research
• Experience in inclusion of people with disabilities or other excluded groups based on age, gender or other
• Working experience with diverse stakeholders including community based groups, international NGOs, governments, educators/researchers, etc.
• Proven and recognized experience in methods of data collection, treatment and analysis (quantitative and / or qualitative and / or secondary data
• Knowledge of software and statistical analysis of quantitative and qualitative data
• Analysis, synthesis and writing demonstrated capacity (provide a list of publications)
• Excellent oral and written communications skills in English and French

DESIRED:

• Experience in conducting surveys with people with disabilities
• Understanding of civil society conditions and constraints
• Knowledge of Latin America & Caribbean and Asian context would be a plus
• Experience in the field of inclusion of people with disabilities or other marginalized groups

Interested consultants should submit the following documents:

□ A one-page cover letter outlining your interest and qualifications for this work

□ A two-page curriculum vitae

□ Two References

□ One example of published work

□ A proposal of the detailed methodology in accordance with the terms of reference,

□ A tentative work plan and time schedule,

□ A financial quotation, indicating a daily feeEURO**per full working day** (no travel days).

Applications shall be submitted via email to Harisha VARATHARAJAH – Livelihood Technical Adviser/Asia and Gaetane BLEHER – Flying Livelihood Technical Adviser, and in cc to Hervé BERNARD – Head of Inclusion Unit/DRT:

· hvaratharajah@handicap-international.org

· gbleher@handicap-international.org

· hbernard@handicap-international.org

The deadline for submission of applicationsis November 01, 2015.