Consultancy service for the development of “Targeting and Transfer Value methodology and tool” under CashEval project

TERMS OF REFERENCE
Consultancy service for the development of “Targeting and Transfer Value methodology and tool” under CashEval project  

Project name:Early Action Cash Transfers to Households Threatened by a Weather Disaster - Research Project (also known as CashEval project)
Assignment period:From 17 October 2022 to 28 December 2022
BACKGROUND
Large parts of the rural population in Mongolia rely on livestock herding for their livelihood. In recent years, many regions of Mongolia are being afflicted by hot and dry summer followed by extremely cold and snowy winters (dzud), which result in very high livestock mortality and threaten the livelihood of rural households. Dzud is likely to occur more frequently with greater intensity due to climate change.
With the financial support from the German Federal Foreign Office, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), People in Need (PIN) INGO, and the National Statistics Office of Mongolia (NSO) joined forces to implement a new research project to understand how pastoralist households can be best supported to cope with dzud winters. Prime purpose of the project is to generate new knowledge on the effectiveness of a new policy tool used in humanitarian disaster relief: Early action cash transfers to households at risk of facing extreme weather conditions.
Under the CashEval project, 381 pastoralist households living in three western provinces (Zavkhan, Uvs, and Govi-Altai - where the dzud risk was particularly high) were provided with unconditional cash grants of 150 and 250€[1] in March 2021. Main goal of the cash distribution was as follows:
  1. To enable households investing in measures that prevent livestock losses during the winter; and
  2. To enable households in maintaining their food intake.
In order to reach the prime purpose of the project, methodologically rigorous impact evaluation of on the cash transfer intervention is being carried out by PIK. However, to ensure that the results of this study are turned into concrete, usable, and scalable guidance for early action stakeholders, there is an urgent need for instruments that help early action stakeholders in targeting households that require assistance and calculating minimum amount of assistance needed for the households to mitigate damages to household assets and maintain nutritional status and health of household members.
PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT 
In order to have a systematic needs-based approach for future early action and forecast based cash programming, there is a need to develop a Targeting and Transfer Value (TTV) methodology and tool. The following main points need to be addressed:
 
  1. Targeting – which households (wealth groups, vulnerability categories, etc.) may benefit most from early action cash programs
  2. Transfer values – what is the optimal amount of money for the transfer per household to achieve project objectives (which may include livelihoods, food security, and/or other thresholds)

The developed methodology and tool also need to be practical, user-friendly for implementers of early action and/or forecast based cash programs which can be adjusted based on risk-level, local context, price fluctuations, available resources, and/or other relevant factors.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT
Under the supervision of the CashEval Project Manager, the National Consultant (or Consultancy Team) will be expected to complete the following main tasks:
  1. To conduct a robust review of secondary information, global best practices, case studies, and work of the Start Network, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the Red Cross Movement, the Food Economy Group, and others around Household Economic Analysis for Forecast Based Financing and the Early Warning, Early Action (EWEA) framework.
  2. Carry out brief quantitative survey interviews with government authorities, international donor organizations, and the NGO community to elicit stakeholder expectations about the effectiveness of early action cash transfers.
  3. Carry out consultations with government authorities, international donor organizations, the NGO community, and other key stakeholders to identify their approach for targeting beneficiaries and defining amount of early action cash assistance, and define gaps in existing methodologies, tools, or approaches.
  4. Conduct in-depth comparative analysis on the post-distribution survey and “Coping with Shocks in Mongolia Household Panel Survey” conducted by PIK and NSO.
  5. Carry out a Market Assessment for prices of core commodities (and create something that may look like a MEB for pastoralists)
  6. Based on the desk review, qualitative and quantitative analysis, develop TTV methodology and tool.
  7. Disseminate key findings of the desk review, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and introduce developed TTV methodology and tool to CashEval project team and other relevant stakeholders.
EXPECTED DELIVERABLES
  • Inception report in English
  • Report on desk review, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and market assessments in English
  • TTV methodology and tool in English and Mongolian
  • Powerpoint presentation for key findings of the research and introduction to the TTV methodology and tool in English and Mongolian
WORKING CONDITIONS
  • The consultant/consultancy team will report to CashEval Project Manager.
  • PIN and PIK will provide available documents and data for desk review and further detailed analysis.
  • PIK will provide a questionnaire for quantitative survey interviews.
  • PIK will provide requested statistics of variables from the “Coping with Shocks in Mongolia Household Panel Survey” that are of interest.
  • PIN will review and provide feedback and comments on assignment deliverables.
  • PIN will provide contacts and coordination support with relevant stakeholders under the assignment.
  • After the completion of assignment, consultant/consultancy team will hand over all deliverables and any relevant data via email.
PERIOD OF ASSIGNMENT:
The assignment is planned to be commenced from 28 September 2022 and to be completed by 28 December 2022.
REQUIREMENTS ON NATIONAL CONSULTANT (OR CONSULTANCY TEAM) QUALIFICATION:
  • Master’s degree in relevant field.
  • At least 5 years of experience in the field of cash modality, forecast-based financing, early-action cash assistance, and climate risk response and recovery.
  • Proven experience in carrying out stakeholders’ consultations, performing extensive desk reviews, conducting data collection and analysis
  • Research and analytical experience in aforementioned fields.
  • Fluency in English (written and spoken).
APPLICATION DOCUMENTS:
Applicants must submit the following documents in English:
  1. Project proposal (inclusive of detailed work plan);
  2. Financial offer in Quotation form; (Download the form clicking the  following link - /pagedata/ckfinder/files/Quotation Form_CashEval_MNG.xlsx)
  3. Demonstrate successful implementation of similar projects/initiatives in relevant areas;
  4. CV(s) of the Individual consultant or consultancy team;
Applicants must submit the application consisting of documents listed in “Application documents” section to procurement.mongolia@peopleinneed.net by 6 p.m., 07 October 2022. Feel free to send questions related to the work assignment to the aforementioned email.