Survey Design and Analysis Expert (Consultant)

A.1 BACKGROUND:

On June 30, 2020, USAID/Lebanon awarded ECODIT the Diverting Waste by Encouraging Reuse and Recycling (DAWERR) Activity, a five-year project that will establish sustainable and replicable integrated solid waste diversion and valorization solutions in rural areas of Lebanon, leading to improved social and economic well-being for Lebanon’s population. The Activity aligns with USAID/Lebanon’s desire to introduce financially sustainable solutions that increase the reuse, recycling, and monetization of solid waste to reduce the amount of solid waste that goes into landfills. The Activity has the following three objectives:

1. Build the capacity and commitment of municipalities to provide improved solid waste management (SWM) services either directly or indirectly;
2. Empower communities to sort at the source and participate actively in various stages of the recycling value chains (RVCs); and
3. Develop successful business models that create green economic opportunities and generate net incomes along the value chains.

The Activity’s period of performance is August 1, 2020 to July 31, 2025.

A.2 DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

ECODIT is seeking the services of a qualified Survey Design and Analysis Expert (Consultant) to design a baseline Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) survey, analyze survey results, and support the project team to develop a corresponding Draft Behavior Change Communication (BCC) Strategy and Plan for the project. The period of performance (POP) for this assignment is April 23, 2021 to June 23, 2021. The level of effort (LOE) over the POP is not-to-exceed 27 days. This SOW describes specific activities anticipated over this period. The Consultant shall conduct all activities and prepare deliverables under the technical direction of the DAWERR Communications/BCC Specialist. The consultant will also liaise with the project’s Chief of Party (COP), Local Development Lead, MEL Specialist and others.

A.2.1 Objectives:

The main objectives of this assignment are to gain a deeper understanding of communities’ practices that affect solid waste generation and management, and analyze current behaviors and their drivers (e.g., reducing, reusing, and recycling; sorting at source; willingness to pay for improved services) in each of the six pilot municipalities supported by the project in Year 1. The assignment will also incorporate  gender and social inclusion considerations for the preparation of the BCC Strategy and Plan.

A.2.2 Scope of Work:

The Consultant will conduct a desk review of the current SWM behaviors in the six pilot municipalities, establish the KAP survey protocol, develop the KAP survey questionnaire (based on technical input from the project team) and suitable sampling methodology, conduct data analysis of KAP results, and assist in developing the BCC Strategy and Plan.

ECODIT will engage a third party data collection service provider to conduct the KAP survey in the field.

To complement the KAP survey and allow further exploration and confirmation of results, the consultant will conduct in-person and/or virtual key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) with the target communities. The KAP survey and analysis, KIIs, and FGDs will cover several geographical areas across Lebanon; a list with the names of the six selected municipalities will also be provided to the consultant.

A.2.3 Activities:

The Consultant will:

1. Conduct a technical kickoff meeting with the DAWERR team and prepare and disseminate notes from the meeting;
2. Complete a desk review relevant to the survey. Specifically, the Consultant will compile and review available background data, demographic information, social and economic indicators, current sorting behaviors, and SWM activities in the target areas;
3. Assist in preparing the Scope of Work for the third-party data collection service provider. Specifically, the Consultant will establish the KAP survey protocol including a suitable sampling methodology, and develop the KAP survey questionnaire (based on technical input from the DAWERR team) for the six pilot municipalities, in English and Arabic (could be translated by the DAWERR project and reviewed by the Consultant);
4. Provide a list of potential service providers to conduct the KAP survey, participate in the selection of the service provider and assist the DAWERR team in following up with the company to complete the KAP survey on time;
5. Analyze the KAP Survey Report prepared by the service provider. The Consultant will process and analyze the data, write, and submit a draft report of the survey results in English;
6. Collect and analyze complementary data. Specifically, the Consultant will prepare a set of guiding questions in English and Arabic to collect complementary data through FGDs and/or KIIs with beneficiaries in the project’s geographical areas, informing the validation of KAP results, further exploration of the current context, and the identification of new issues that may not yet be known. These methods will combine observations and open interviews and help deepen the understanding of the topics addressed in the KAP survey; and
7. Assist in developing the DAWERR BCC Strategy and Plan. Specifically, the Consultant will conduct technical brainstorming sessions with the DAWERR team to identify priority behaviors to implement SWM best practices among targeted communities, define behavior change objectives, determine priority agents of change (e.g., direct benefits of target behaviors, links to income generation, connection with cultural values), identify top influencers and delivery agents, and recommend approaches and communication channels to implement BCC campaigns.  

The DAWERR team will avail needed data to the Consultant and provide him/her with access to project reports, other relevant information, and desk space, as needed.

A.2.4 Deliverables:

The Consultant is expected to complete and submit the following deliverables for a period of Not-to-exceed 27 days:

1. Technical Kick-Off Meeting Minutes
2. Draft and Final Inception Report
3. Draft and Final Report on Analysis of KAP Survey Results
4. Draft and Final Report on Complementary FGDs/KIIs
5. Draft and Final Report on Input to the DAWERR BCC Strategy and Plan

*Submission dates will be discussed with the Project Manager (PM) during the preparation of the consultant agreement. The PM and the Consultant will agree on a timeline for the PM to review the deliverables and the consultant to submit revised/final deliverables.

See more details on every deliverable in “Our Jobs” section of the ECODIT website (www.ecodit.com)

A.3 QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

The Consultant must have the following experience and skills:

• A Master’s degree or higher in Social Studies, Natural Resources Management, Solid Waste Management, Economics, Anthropology, or a related field
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in designing KAP surveys, analyzing KAP survey results, conducting KIIs and FGDs, and/or supporting BCC strategy design and implementation
• Strong knowledge and understanding of quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods  
• Demonstrated ability to write high quality, methodologically sound, analytical reports in English;
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to effectively liaise with technical and administrative staff at international organizations, and with diverse sets of stakeholders
• Prior experience working on SWM projects preferred
• Prior experience working on USAID-funded projects in Lebanon a plus
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Arabic
• Track record of successfully submitting high-quality deliverables on time, and within LOE terms