ESD Research Request for Proposal: Urban Child-centred HVC Assessment and Planning Tools

Organization:

Save the Children - Singapore

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Contract Type

Call for proposals

Title

Education Safe from Disasters Research: Urban Child-centred HVC Assessment and Planning Tools

Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organisation for children. We work in 120 countries. We save children’s lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfil their potential. We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. We have over two million supporters worldwide and raised 1.6 billion dollars in 2011 to reach more children than ever before, through programmes in health, nutrition, education, protection and child rights, also in times of humanitarian crises. Save the Children International Asia Regional Office is inviting submissions for proposals for conducting the following research on: “Child-centred hazard, vulnerability and capacity assessment and planning in urban settings: current knowledge for effective tools development”

Background

The purpose of this research piece is to complete a scoping of existing tools and frameworks for intervention to reduce children’s exposure to hazards and disasters in urban settings; and to further the development of effective tools to identify vulnerable children in urban setting and understand the hazards they face, and their vulnerabilities and capacities, and engage adults and children in reducing risks and building resilience. The need for the right tools to assess, plan and design interventions in an urban context are a consistent theme identified through previous scoping and research. As countries urbanize, research on the connections between growing urbanization, poverty and hazards are very important. Save the Children recognizes the need to focus more on urban children. However, there is a limited knowledge in this area and Save the Children does not have the necessary tools for situational analysis, planning and design in urban contexts. This research project consists of two phases:

PHASE 1 - Conduct literature review and scoping research to investigate and document the current state approaches and tools for urban disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation and children, the appropriateness, efficacy and adaptability of available vulnerability and capacity assessment and planning tools, and the needs of practitioners and,

PHASE 2 - Adapt and/or develop, pilot and adapt child-focused assessment and planning tools for DRR programming in urban settings, based on the findings, priorities, and recommendations as identified.

Now, Researchers are invited to apply for Phase 1, and call for proposal for Phase 2 will be issued next year.

Rationale

Over half of the world population (54%) now lives in urban areas. This is projected to increase to 66% by 2050 with most of the increase in Asia and Africa. Furthermore, Asia was home to just over half of the world's urban population in 2014. The unprecedented rate and scope of urbanization in Asia is one of the region's greatest challenges. Children, who make up a large percentage of the population, are one of the most vulnerable groups, particularly urban poor children. Not only do urban planning regimes and development actors need to link-up in addressing these complex challenges, they need to do so from the perspective of the most vulnerable people in cities - children and the elderly. Previous research has identified that slum dwellers, child labourers, and street children are the most at risk in an urban setting.

These children’s vulnerabilities are strongly tied to their poor quality living and working conditions and their lack of access to basic services such as clean water, education and health care. However, they also have unique capabilities that with the right support can be utilized to reduce the risks they face. Much of previous efforts to reduce disaster risks have concentrated on preparedness, early-warnings and response, however, they have proved ineffective in reducing the risks faced by Asia’s urban poor children. Therefore, the first step towards effective risk reduction must begin with robust and participatory tools for assessment and planning, that provide in-depth understandings of vulnerability and an evidence base of how resilience and capacities can best be enhanced and supported.

Aim, Objectives and Research Questions

PHASE 1: Literature Review & Scoping Of Available Methods And Tools (4 Months)

Aim

Conduct detailed research to examine, a) the current state of knowledge of urban DRR/CCA and children; b) to scope the purposes, target users, the strengths, weaknesses and adaptability of currently available tools for hazard, vulnerability and capacity assessment and planning, c) identify the current gaps and the capacities and needs of practitioners, d) make recommendations for prioritization of tasks for PHASE 2; the adaptation and/or development and piloting of tools for child-centred urban DRR/CCA assessment and planning.

Objectives

Understand how INGO’s, local governments, and local community members can most effectively and efficiently assess exposure, vulnerability and capacities of children in urban settings, and engage children and adults in these processes.
Explore existing approaches to hazards, vulnerabilities and capacity assessments and planning, explain how they can be adapted for use in urban settings and outline any gaps • Investigate and document the needs of urban practitioners
Explore and document the possible innovations in technological, data, citizen engagement and agile practices that need to be considered to reduce risk urban environments for children. For example, what is the utility of readily available advances in technology in urban areas (eg. social media and smart phones applications).
Propose an ideal set of tools for different purposes in urban settings and propose a process for initial development of one or two prioritized tools.

Scope Of Work And Deliverables

Applicants please note: The full Scope of Work will be agreed upon following submission of successful Research Proposal.

Scope of Work

Scoping and adaptation of appropriate child-centred hazards, vulnerability, capacity (HVC) analysis and action planning tools for urban settings. The study is to be conducted in urban and peri-urban areas in selected countries in Asia. The exact locations and programmes best fit for this study are open to discussion with selected researcher or research service provider. Ethical statement regarding human subjects: Note that any results that are to be published in a peer-reviewed academic journal will require approval by academic institutional human subjects or ethics board.

Deliverables

Research-into-Practice Brief (2,000 words, template to be provided) (for general practitioner audience)
Needs Assessment (up to 5 pages)
Tools Scoping Report and Recommendations (up to 10 pages + appendices and references)
Terms of Reference for Phase 2
PowerPoint presentation of findings for general practitioner and stakeholder workshop
Full data set (where applicable).

Qualifications

Applicants should demonstrate that the primary investigator(s) have:

Masters or Doctoral degree
Subject-matter expertise in education sector, and or disaster/disaster management research
Proven track record in designing and implementing social science research
Firm grasp of ethical/human subjects review considerations
Experience in participatory-action research, desirable
Commitment to research dissemination and interest in implementation science highly desirable
Appropriate cultural and language skills to carry out research in this particular context