RFP - Endline Evaluation Of “Project BOOND” via DevNetJobsIndia

About WaterAid India

Jal Seva Charitable Foundation (JSCF) is registered in India as a not-for-profit company under Chapter 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. JSCF, is an associate member of WaterAid International and uses the brand name ‘WaterAid’ in India. JSCF or WaterAid India seeks to improve access to clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene for everyone, everywhere. Our work is focused on the following themes:

• Safe, assured drinking water at a household level.
• Safely managed sanitation.
• Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in institutions (Anganwadi, schools, and health care facilities).
• Hygiene education and behaviour change.

WaterAid India country office is based in New Delhi with State Offices in Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Raipur, and Patna. WaterAid India currently works in 11+ states across the country. As a direct implementing agency, WaterAid India district and block-level teams are located close to our intervention villages. Further information regarding WaterAid India can be found online;  https://www.wateraid.org/in/ 

Since 2013, WaterAid has made significant investments across India to improve the lives of marginalized communities by streamlining WASH services, including interventions in the districts of Gaya and Madhubani in Bihar. In the last seven years, investment in WASH were made based on contextual need and to increase awareness. To strengthen the work done, and close existing gaps, One Drop Foundation and WaterAid are working in partnership to implement Project Boond (Drop of Water) in 40 Gram Panchayats (GPs) across Gaya and Madhubani.  The project began in April 2021 and is scheduled to be completed at the end of June 2024.

Project Boond aims to improve the living conditions of marginalized households, especially those of Musahars and Ravidas communities falling under the category of Mahadalits, in Gaya and Madhubani districts in Bihar through the establishment of inclusive, equitable, and sustainable WASH services. The project integrates two approaches, WaterAid India’s. District Wide Approach (DWA) and One Drop Foundation’s Access – Behaviour – Capital for Sustainability (A-B-C) Approach. The goal of ensuring “improved living conditions of marginalized households in 40 GPs of Gaya and Madhubani in Bihar” is to be achieved through collaboration and networking with government departments and functionaries, WASH sector actors, social art partners (SAPs), international and non-Governmental Organizations (I-NGOs), and private entities.

A. SCOPE OF WORK

A.1 Background 

Intervention Overview:

Project Boond is being implemented over three years and seeks to improve the living conditions, especially of marginalized households in 40 GPs through the establishment of inclusive, equitable and sustainable WASH facilities and services.

Implementation Approach

The project design synergizes the One Drop Foundation’s ABC ’ and WaterAid India’s DWA. The project has three key outcomes: (i)inclusive and equitable access to gender-sensitive WASH facilities, (ii)adoption of key positive behaviors, and (iii) improved livelihood opportunities.

COMPONENT A: The project implementation team ensured community mobilization, management, and sustainability of WASH-related assets created under the project during the project period and beyond by strengthening the community and GPs capacities to take responsibility for the operation and maintenance (O&M) of the facilities and services after the project period. The WASH infrastructure development, capacity strengthening on O&M, and technical support to the state, district, and local government levels were facilitated by the project implementation team.

Directly, JSCF aimed at enhancing water, sanitation and hygiene facilities in various institutions and communities. This included retrofitting of 50 hand pumps and retrofitting/construction of 16 piped water supply systems. Additionally, efforts were made to build four model community-managed toilets and implement greywater management structures in four villages. Apart from this, efforts were also made to enhance water supply in 18 schools, 27 Anganwadi centers and 9 health centres, improve toilets in 60 schools, 30 Anganwadi centers and 6 health centers and upgrade hand washing facilities in 30 schools, 20 Anganwadi centres and 10 health centres.

JSCF also leveraged Government support and community mobilization were leveraged to improve water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure across various institutions and communities. This included renovating 73 handpumps and retrofitting 300 piped water supply systems. Additionally, government resources were utilized to construct four model community-managed toilets and improve water supply in 60 schools and AWCs, toilets in 30 schools and 60 AWCs, and handwashing facilities in 70 schools and 80 Anganwadi centers.

COMPONENT B: The component addresses the root causes and inadequate behaviors that hinder an enabling environment for sustainable access to WASH. Taking into consideration local traditions and culture as well as social determinants of behavior change, Social Art activities are designed in a participatory fashion as a valuable tool to raise awareness, promote positive social norms and mobilize communities towards the adoption of safe WASH practices (handwashing with soap and water). Adopting such behaviors contributes to protecting human health. Although the whole community benefits from the Social Art activities, women and youth are typically the primary target audiences because of the important role they play in water management at the household level, and their tremendous potential as ambassadors for change. The activities are rooted in popular local art forms (visual arts, multimedia, filmmaking, circus, puppetry, theater, etc.) as well as existing cultural narratives, making it possible to touch the hearts and reach the minds of people, and educate, entertain and inspire them to take action towards change. Thus, Social Art becomes a useful means for community empowerment and greater social cohesion. These activities may include and/or be inspired by additional complementary tools and approaches such as social marketing, Social Behavior Change Communication (SBCC), entertainment education, mass media, etc.). “B” Component activities and related messages should be integrated and aligned with “A” and “C” components so that each will complement and reinforce the others’ objectives. For instance, if access to a new safe water source is to be developed under component “A” within a particular community, Social Art activities falling under the “B” component focused on demand creation activities would be initiated to coincide with a level of service and infrastructure able to support a respective increase in demand.

Strong community engagement efforts in Gaya and Madhubani demonstrated JSCF’s commitment to understanding and addressing the specific needs of the marginalised communities as per component B. The Social Arts for Behaviour Change (SABC) campaign focused on two priority groups: mothers with children under 5 years old (Priority Group 1) and children aged 10-16 years (Priority Group 2). The goal was to promote handwashing with soap and water at five critical times. They used dance, songs, plays, and magic shows that resonated with the local community. The aim of the campaign was to inspire and activate these groups to adopt proper handwashing practices at 5 critical times and sustain them consistently.

COMPONENT C: Following the completion of a WASH value chain analysis, WaterAid India engaged agencies, organizations, and entrepreneurs from the financial sectors, to gain advice and support in addressing and sustaining WASH focused businesses. Linkages between WASH entrepreneurs and banks and other financial institutions were made. Efforts have also been made to engage with Jeevika women’s groups and skill development missions to strengthen and sustain micro/social enterprises.

JSCF conducted training on plumbing and masonry skills for youth and women in Gaya and Madhubani. Following the trainings, Mini-WASH stores were established and run by women and youth.  These WASH businesses have empowered the youth and women in the targeted communities of Gaya and Madhubani, and have also helped to improve their access to credit facilities.

A1.2 Process and objective SOW

i. Development of Methodology: The agency needs to propose a study methodology, sample size, and sampling strategy.

ii. Development of survey instruments: The selected agency needs to develop a questionnaire based on pre-identified key indicators for quantitative (household survey & institutional WASH assessment) and qualitative (FGDs, key informant interviews and review of records) surveys.

iii. Mode of Data Collection: The agency needs to develop tool in mWater platform for data collection by the mode of data collection proposed. In case the agency proposes face-to-face data collection, computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI), and all allied operations like software development, and handling of devices the same will be the agency’s responsibility.

iv. Constitution of field team: The agency should identify a Team Leader/Principal Investigator for the project. The should outline the size and composition of the field research teams and supervisory staff responsible for data collection. This includes specifying the qualifications for each staff member, detailing the recruitment process, and describing the roles of each team member.

v. Data collection training: All members of the field research teams will be trained jointly by WaterAid and the consultant/consulting firm. The training agenda will be collaboratively developed and finalized c with the WaterAid team including a session on WaterAid’s Safeguarding Policy. The agency should describe the resources, including facilities, equipment, etc. required for training, including outlining the qualifications and experiences of conducting similar training sessions. An ethical training session is also expected to be undertaken with modules on informed consent, confidentiality and the respectful treatment of all participants throughout the evaluation process.

vi. Data collection and management: The agency should outline logistical procedures, including methods of transportation, proposed methods for supervision of the data collection teams, and plans for data organizations, management, security and analysis. The consultant/consulting firm will ensure that all necessary ethical approvals are obtained before commencing field work and data collection, adhering to established ethical guidelines and protocols. 

vii. Data analysis, report writing, and recommendation: The agency should propose software for data analysis and outline a process for joint reviews with WaterAid. The data analysis plan and subsequent report will undergo review by WaterAid India, WaterAid Canada and One Drop Foundation.  The finalization of the report will only occur following the approval of the report by WaterAid.

B. Quality Control Mechanism:

The agency needs to elaborate on the quality control and troubleshooting mechanism, if any, to be followed during study implementation. This will include a quality control mechanism for data management (mention minimum spot and back check % with report), coordination & reporting at every stage of the project life cycle.

C. Major Outputs from the Study

• End Line Evaluation Report
• Databases and templates
• Powerpoint Presentation of study findings and synthesis

D. Other Deliverables: The key deliverables would include the following:

1. Inception Report (Covering objectives of the study, detailed methodology, operational plan for primary data collection, type of survey instruments, plan for data analysis, and outline of the final reports)
2. Work plan/chronogram (a draft should be included in the proposal, but should be refined and finalized in collaboration with WaterAid)
3. Final version of tools (English, and Hindi)
4. Draft tabulation & data analysis plan and outline of the report for JSCF’s feedback for finalization
5. Raw data and processed data in Excel and SPSS/STATA with proper labelling and coding of variables
6. Submission of draft reports for JSCF’s feedback
7. Presentation on the Study

Please refer to Annexure for further information on this section.

E. Consultant/Agency profile (Eligibility criteria):  

Applicants should be groups of individuals with a designated team lead, or Consultants. Applicants must have at a minimum the following qualifications:

• Experience in conducting Research/Evaluation similar nature of studies with international non-governmental organizations and/or multilateral agencies for a minimum of 8 years.
• Experience in conducting Research/Evaluation studies preferably in the thematic areas of WASH.
• Experience working in Gaya and Madhubani would be considered an asset.
• Ability to write good quality reports in English (should be able to provide two sample reports on request of WaterAid).
• Strong facilitation skills and proven ability to lead participatory processes
• Sound Knowledge of current programs and policies around WASH at the State and National Levels.
• Proven ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team
• Willingness to travel to communities where the project operates
• No conflict of interest with WaterAid
• The applicant must not have taken part in the implementation of the project (nor partially nor completely in the completion of activities or delivery of outputs.

  F. Proposal Development Protocol

WaterAid is seeking proposals from interested organizations/individuals as outlined structured below:

I. Technical Proposal: A narrative proposal including the following sections:

• Study Methodology: Describe your overall approach and methodology including, and not limited to, research questions and study design and technical specifications like an estimate of the sample size, methods to be used for collecting data from different categories of stakeholders, and in data analysis and validation, in ethical considerations.
• Relevant Experience: Provide details of projects of similar scope, complexity, and nature you have worked on previously. Please include any experience with formative and summative evaluation.
• Specific Expertise: Describe your level of knowledge and expertise in conducting quantitative and qualitative studies, particularly in India.
• Key Personnel and Staffing: Describe the key personnel. Include CVs (no more than 2 pages each and attach as annex) of key personnel who would be part of the proposed plan. The proposed study Principal Investigator and thematic expert must be available throughout the study including for all meetings and signing off of the inception report, tools, training, report, and presentation.
• Timeline: Include a detailed timeline of key activities.

II. Financial Proposal: The financial proposal should include a line-item budget and a budget narrative (specimen template is in Annexure 2). The consultant needs to prepare a financial proposal taking into consideration the following heads of expenses as a broad reference. The consultant is free to add or reduce the heads depending on the nature of the evaluation design. However, the budget should be prepared with more details taking into account realistic cost estimation.  

Instructions and Deadline 

This RFP is open for agencies, individual consultants, groups of consultants, consortiums (consultants with data collection agency.

The Application should be sent through email. The Application comprising of the technical and financial proposal should be addressed via e-mail by 20^th June 2024. The subject line of the e-mail should read: “ENDLINE EVALUATION OF “PROJECT BOOND”. For any clarifications, please write to State Program Director, WaterAid India, Bihar Office.

The submission timeline of the proposal is 20^th June 2024 EOD. As the selected agency/consultant needs to interact with children s/he needs to sign and abide by WaterAid’s Child Safeguarding Policy.

Only short-listed consultants/organizations will receive an acknowledgment and will be called for personal interactions. Consultants who do not hear from us within two weeks may assume that their application has not been successful.

All information provided by WAI as part of this solicitation must be treated as confidential. 

For detailed information, please check the complete version of the RFP attached.