Consultant for the Implementation of Climate Resilience Measurement for Communities (CRMC)
BACKGROUND:
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.
The Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance (‘the Alliance’) is a cross-sector collaboration between Zurich Insurance Group, NGOs, and academia. Zurich Insurance Group works with the humanitarian and civil society organizations Concern Worldwide, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Mercy Corps, Plan International, and Practical Action, as well as research partners the International Institute for Applied Systems and Analysis (IIASA), the London School of Economics, and the Institute for Social and Environmental Transition-International (ISET). The Alliance was originally launched in 2013 with the goal of shifting focus from flood response and recovery to pre-event risk reduction. During this time, the partners will together implement a combination of pilot programs, research, knowledge management and work to persuade donors, policy-makers and practitioners to invest in flood prevention and preparedness through: increased and more effective financial investments in flood resilience; improved global and national policy for increased pre-event action to flood resilience; and, improved practice in flood resilience by key stakeholders.
There has been both increased attention to resilience strengthening in international humanitarian and development work, and an interest in its measurement and the overall accountability of ‘resilience strengthening’ initiatives. However, resilience measurement efforts to date have been limited in scope and context, particularly regarding flood and other climate-related risks. Currently there is no consistent way to measure resilience across different communities and over time. This is a gap that is aimed to be addressed by the Alliance.
Since 2013, the Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance has successfully been developing and implementing the Flood Resilience Measurement for Communities (FRMC) process, which has been used in over 400 communities globally. It includes an approach for testing and empirically validating the framework, and a technology-based data-gathering and evaluation tool for measurement and assessment of community resilience of select climate-related hazards such as heatwaves and floods. The tool is a practical ‘hybrid’ software application comprising an online web-based platform for setting up the process and analysing results and a smartphone- or tablet-based app that can be used offline in the field for data collection.
In 2020, Alliance members decided to explore the possibility of updating the FRMC and adding new hazards to the framework. Three parallel, independent approaches were used to explore the feasibility of this expansion: a research-led review of state-of the-art resilience measurements, an Alliance internal scoping exercise consisting of six work packages, and a peer-review process with a dozen participating experts. It was concluded that an expansion of the FRMC was desirable and feasible, if it followed certain conditions. Heatwaves were selected as the first new hazard to be added to the approach, and in 2021 a team of Alliance members and other experts developed the content and functionality of the Climate Resilience Measurement for Communities (CRMC).
CONSULTANT OBJECTIVES:
The Climate Resilience Measurement for Communities (CRMC) is a framework for measuring community resilience to climate-related hazards, with an associated process and tool for implementing the framework in practice. The framework consists of ex-ante indicators or ‘sources of resilience’ measured in normal/non-disaster times and post event variables measured after a disaster event occurs. As the next evolution of the FRMC, CRMC tries to meet the increasing demand to measure resilience to multiple in order to accelerate climate change adaptation. The CRMC currently includes the hazards of floods and heatwaves, but can be expanded toother climate-related hazards. It has been piloted in several communities through the Z Zurich Foundation’s Adapting to Climate Change Program.
Following the readiness of the CRMC tools, in the beginning of Phase 3, the ZFRA Indonesia plans to initiate their implementation to assess the resilience of both the existing and new communities of ZFRA Indonesia, albeit with different objectives. For the existing communities, the CRMC will serve as both baseline and endline assessment, with questions adjusted to capture the community’s resilience before and after ZFRA intervention. Meanwhile for the new communities, the tool will function solely as a baseline assessment, with endline assessment to be conducted after the intervention is completed.
In light of this matter, Mercy Corps Indonesia is thus seeking for a consultant team to lead the implementation of CRMC tool within the selected communities in ZFRA Indonesia.
CONSULTANT ACTIVITIES:
Activities to be taken by the consultant team under this CRMC works include:
CRMC Preparation:
Translating CRMC questions and selected CRMC guidance documents into Bahasa Indonesia. The ZFRA Indonesia team will specify which documents need translation. The translating process itself will follow Translator Guidance document to be shared to the consultant. The consultant will collaborate closely with the ZFRA Indonesia team to review and refine the translations in order to ensure its alignment with the local context while still maintaining the main points of the adjusted questions/contents.
Developing CRMC training material in Bahasa Indonesia based on the translated and non-translated CRMC guidance documents.
Providing CRMC training to ZFRA Indonesia team
In collaboration with the ZFRA Indonesia team, reviewing the CRMC questions and identify the need for contextualizing them; including assessing its alignment with vulnerability indicators within the ZFRA’s Climate Risk and Impact Assessment, as well as identify additional questions that might be required to strengthen contextualization process
Testing application of CRMC on a sample of respondents and collaborating with the ZFRA Indonesia team to fine-tune the testing results.
CRMC Implementation:
Implementing the CRMC in alignment with the guidance documents in seven selected villages of ZFRA Indonesia. The implementation is expected to be done in three stages to allow further fine-tuning following the first stage implementation. ZFRA will provide the list of villages and will assign which villages to be targeted in each stage. Data collection methods and number of respondents for each method will be discussed by the consultant and ZFRA Indonesia team during the CRMC preparation process. The ZFRA resilient livelihood team will work closely with the consultant during the on-field implementation process.
Conducting CRMC grading process by involving key stakeholders and experts.
Supporting the development of action plan as a follow up result from the grading process
CRMC Reporting
Develop bilingual (English and Indonesia) CRMC reports for each village.
Coordinating closely with the ZFRA Indonesia team throughout the data collection and analysis process, providing regular updates, and addressing any additional needs that may arise.
Consultant Deliverables:
The expected deliverables from the consultant are:
Translated CRMC questions and guiding documents: Approved translation of CRMC questions and CRMC guidance documents.
CRMC training materials: training materials in Bahasa Indonesia version that developed based on CRMC guidance documents.
CRMC training: documentation of training process provided to the ZFRA Indonesia team
CRMC data: Collected data in Bahasa Indonesia version from seven targeted villages which includes tabular data from community survey, key points from Focus Group Discussion and interview notes from Key Informant Interview.
CRMC report: Bilingual CRMC reports for each village (a total of seven CRMC reports), that includes the grading and input for action plan development process
Documentation: Including coordination activities, training, data collection and grading process.
TIMEFRAME / SCHEDULE
The consultancy work is expected to be completed in maximum 12 (twelve months) period, starting from June 2024. Detailed workplan will be submitted by the consultant early in CRMC preparation stage, after initial meeting is held with the ZFRA Indonesia team.
The Consultant will report to:
- ZFRA Indonesia Program Manager
The Consultant will work closely with:
- ZFRA Indonesia Program Manager
- ZFRA Resilient Livelihood team
- ZFRA Technical Support Consultant for Phase 3 Initiation and Strategic Engagement
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE & SKILLS
Excellent understanding and minimum 5 years experiences in Climate Change Adaptation/Disaster Risk Reduction and/or climate resilience issues.
Proven experience in conducting research or implementing tools similar to the context of CRMC.
Proven experience in working with the community or conducting community-based research.
Strong qualitative research skills, including conducting focus group discussion and key informant interviews.
Proficiency in using digital data collection platforms such as Microsoft Forms, Google Forms, or similar survey platforms to develop and administer surveys and key informant interviews.
Ability to work collaboratively with the ZFRA team and other stakeholders, including providing regular updates, seeking input, and incorporating feedback into the data collection process.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, to properly translate the CRMC questions and guidance documents, effectively communicate with respondents, and also present report findings in a clear and concise manner.
Demonstrated proficiency in writing bilingual report.
How to Apply
Prospective candidates shall email their proposal including price offered and Curriculum Vitae to procurement@id.mercycorps.org with subject “Consultant for the Implementation of CRMC” before May 19th, 2024. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.
We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.
Equal Employment Opportunity
We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.
Safeguarding & Ethics
Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC's policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.