Freedom Forum announces call for Consultants (Individual/ Institutions) to perform the following duties and responsibilities as mentioned in the Terms of Reference:

 

Terms of Reference

for

Conducting Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) Survey

 

 1. Project Background:

Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) is implementing “Sustainable Use of Technology for Public Sector Accountability in Nepal (SUSASAN)” project funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). This project is designed to collaborate and coordinate with government agencies and civil society organization including local communities to leverage and mainstream integrated technologies in the governance processes. The ultimate outcome of the project is “increased empowerment of women and men, girls and boys, and marginalized groups, to engage in democratic processes and enjoy and exercise their human rights”. Similarly, the intermediate outcomes of the project are:

  • Enhance equitable and inclusive participation in democratic decision making process, especially by women and marginalized groups (WMG) through the use of technology.
  • Increased use of technology by people, especially WMG to hold the government accountable.
  • Increase responsiveness of public institutions to diverse needs and rights of people specially WMG through the use of technology.

This project is being implemented in six districts (Achham, Bajhang, Dadeldhura, Kailali, Lalitpur and Sindhupalchowk) of Nepal.

The project has already conducted a KAP Survey at the beginning of the project and is required to carry out another at the end of the project. Major objective of the study is to collect information on the existing knowledge, attitude, and practices on constructive citizen state engagement in democratic decision making process at local government, and tools and mechanisms of governance and social accountability as well technology interfacing. The survey focuses on three groups of stakeholders: Government agencies, CSOs, technology service providers and citizens particularly WMGs. The end-line KAP Survey is aimed at measuring qualitative and quantitative progress on the set benchmarks and revealing the progress on the promotion and use of technologies (online and off-line) to enhance citizen state engagement and promote social accountability. The survey requires to be accomplished by employing qualified consultant(s) supported by Freedom Forum and project team.

 

2. Objective of the study

The overall objectives of the study are –

  • To provide end-line mapping of knowledge, skill, attitude and practice, and technology interface for constructive citizen state engagement in democratic decision making process, governance and the use of social accountability and technology tools and mechanisms in local governance process.
  • To explore the existing needs, gaps and barriers/opportunities and recommend the potential tools and mechanisms of social accountability, areas for the capacity building for the citizens specially WMG and local government agencies.

 

3. Scope of the study

  • This KAP survey will focus on four thematic groups, namely: 1) staff working for government agencies; 2) civil society groups working at the local level; 3) technology service providers; and 4) citizens, with a particular focus on WMGs.
  • It will have a thematic focus on the following issues, all at the local level: citizen participation in decision-making processes; mechanisms for social accountability; good governance; and overall government accountability. A cross-cutting theme will be the use of technology, both online and offline, as well as GESI to deliver these social goods.
  • The thematic focus will, in addition to focusing on the above themes, focus on the different tools and mechanisms – such as providing information, holding consultations, meeting with citizens – used to deliver the social goods, in each case with a specific focus on how technology is used to this end.
  • Like all KAP surveys it will focus on knowledge (what the different actors know about the thematic issues); attitude (how the different actors feel about the issues); and practice (how the actors behave in relation to the different issues.
  • Analyze the existing needs, gaps and barriers/opportunities and recommend the potential tools and mechanisms of social accountability and areas for the capacity building of the citizens specially WMG and local government agencies.

 

4. Qualification, skill and experience of researcher(s)

  • Masters’ degree in Social science/Development studies/statistics/ICTs or relevant subjects
  • At least 7 years experience in conducting research in development and governance field
  • Knowledge in local governance, accountability, GESI, citizen engagement and use of integrated technologies;
  • Proven skill on using statistical tools and software;
  • Willing to travel remote areas (if possible and permissible) and able to hold dialogue with local communities and relevant stakeholders in project districts remotely;

 

5. Deliverables

The deliverables of the KAP Survey are as follows:

  • First deliverable: Constructing the survey protocol: developing the methodology by which the survey will be conducted. This will need to be done in close consultation with FF by 20 July 2020
  • Second deliverable: Preparing the survey: To do this, an initial assessment will need to be done of which tools and mechanisms are in fact available and being used at the local level, because the KAP assessment will need to be done against these tools and mechanisms. The questions will then need to be developed based on the tools and mechanisms, and will probably need to be adapted for the different groups involved. Orient enumerators by 30 July 2020.
  • Third deliverable: Course of the KAP survey in the field: the conduct of the actual survey by 15 August 2020.
  • Fourth deliverable: Data analysis and presentation of the survey report: this involves compiling the data, doing relevant statistical analysis on it and generating a report from this by 15 September 2020.
  • Fifth deliverable: Conclusion, references, and abbreviations: once the report is prepared, conclusions and recommendations should be drawn from it and also validate the findings and submit the final report including data set and data analysis pattern by 30 September 2020.

 

The requirement is based in Kathmandu with required numbers of field visits. Interested candidates are requested to send their applications and an updated CV of potential human resources to be involved with two references to: info@freedomforum.org.np and pramod@freedomforum.org.np. The application deadline is 5:00 PM, 12 July 2020. Only short listed candidates would be contacted for further process of selection. People with disability, women and from marginalized community are encouraged to apply.