Expression of Interest –
Consultant for Social Audit

Terms of Reference

1.      Background and Rationale

Founded in 1973, Trócaire is an international non-governmental development organisation. In 2007, Trócaire opened a country office in Pakistan. Our goal in Pakistan is, ‘to contribute to a just and equal society where people have control over their own lives and are holding those in power to account.’ Trócaire’s work in Pakistan focuses on four key areas: rights of bonded labourers, preparing for and responding to emergencies, tackling gender-based violence and securing sustainable livelihoods. We currently work with over 20 partners in Sindh, Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

Water Rights Programme

Trócaire’s Water Rights Programme was launched in 2017. The duration of the programme is 5 years (2017-22) and is being implemented by 3 partners (Laar Humanitarian and Development Programme[1], Research and Development Foundation[2] and Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority[3]) in Sindh province with funding from the Irish Government. The overall goal of the programme is that ‘vulnerable farming communities in Mirpurkhas, including women, exercise their right to access and control water resources and benefit from the sustainable use and management of water for agriculture’. This goal will be achieved through two outcomes. The first outcome focuses on the sustainable use and management of water for agriculture whilst the second outcome supports the creation of an enabling environment for targeted communities to exercise their water rights.

The programme has already completed its first year of implementation. The programme targeted 5 distributaries covering a farming population of 11,562 people (7,422 men farmers and 4,140 women farmers) and directly targeting 7,601 people (4,355 men and 3,246 women). Along the 5 target distributaries, the programme is working in over one hundred communities. These target communities were selected primarily by farm location (head, mid and tail) to ensure that issues of water distribution and irrigation offences and conflict could be meaningfully addressed at multiple levels. However, the majority of targeted communities are located at the mid or tail end of distributaries given the programmes commitment to working with small farmers, sharecroppers and religious minorities, all of which typically farm on land located at the mid and tail end.

Overall, 5 Farmers Organisations and 91 Water Course Associations e.g. community committees were supported during Year 1. Each Water Course Association represents several farmers, both male and female. The participation of vulnerable groups including women farmers, smallholders, sharecroppers and agricultural labourers has been prioritised. Specific criteria for each intervention was developed by partners in consultation with local communities including women and men. Programme participants were selected in consultation with the community as per defined criteria and special priority was given to female headed households, widows, people living with disabilities, small famers with less than 2.5 acres of land, tenants and farmers at the tail end of water courses. All infrastructure schemes have been identified, designed and implemented in consultation with local communities and with the prior approval by the relevant local authority. 

Social Accountability and Social Audit

Under Outcome 2, the programme aims to increase accountability of water management bodies (Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority, Area Water Board, Farmer Organisations and Water Course Associations) responsible for water governance in targeted areas. In line with the programme’s results framework, such an increase in accountability will be measured using the following indicator: “Accountability score reported in social audit of government agencies”. This indicator will be measured through a social audit methodology to be developed in consultation with representatives of the above water governance bodies.

Generally water management structures established under Sindh Water Management Ordinance (2002) face many challenges and issues, such as a lack of coordination among stakeholders, water related disputes and the sustainability of water infrastructure. These challenges significantly undermine the social performance of water management structures. All of these issues directly impact farmers’ access to water for agriculture. Programme partners have already carried out various interventions such as trainings, sessions and meetings with these stakeholders to address water related disputes and improve their performance. However, a systematic study of the social performance through a social audit of these stakeholders is essential. This will not only help programme partners to formulate better strategies for capacity building of these structures but also should serve as an instrument for these structures to deliver their social goals envisaged under the law. The social audit will also allow these stakeholders to seek farmers’ feedback for enhanced accountability.

2.      Scope of Work

Trócaire is seeking the services of a social audit expert to carry out this assignment. The overall purpose of this assignment is to provide technical and capacity building support to Trócaire, programme partners and relevant stakeholders in conducting a social audit.

The specific objectives of the assignment are:

• Build the technical capacity of Trócaire, programme partners and stakeholders (members of Water Course Associations, Farmers Organisations and Area Water Board) through a 3 day ‘introduction to social auditing’ workshop.
• In collaboration with Trócaire, programme partners and relevant stakeholders (members of Water Course Associations, Farmers Organisations and Area Water Board), design a methodology of the social audit including its scope, tools, analysis and feedback loops.
• In collaboration with Trócaire, programme partners and relevant stakeholders, facilitate a social audit covering accountability for water governance as it relates to the following actors: Water Course Associations, farmers organisations, Area Water Board and Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority, and prepare a detailed report with findings and recommendations.

3.      Methodology

In line with the scope of work and objectives of the assignment, the service provider will have to carry out activities and tasks mainly related to two components: 1) designing and facilitating the implementation of an appropriate social audit methodology, and 2) capacity building of Trócaire, partners and water management structures. The service provider will have to develop a detailed methodology for both components and present it as part of the proposal document. However, the service provider should adopt a participatory approach in conducting the social audit and producing the social accountability score. It is expected that the social audit will be used for different purposes by different stakeholders.

4.      Deliverables

The following are the key deliverables for the service provider:

• Develop training contents and a toolkit for the social audit
• Design and deliver a 3 day training on social audit for Trócaire staff, partners and members of FO, WCA and AWB.
• Facilitate social audit exercise involving farmer organisations, water course associations, Area Water Board and Sindh Irrigation and Drainage Authority
• Organise a public hearing or multi-stakeholder dialogue to discuss the findings and recommendations of the report
• Introduce follow-up mechanism with clear responsibilities for the partners and farmer representatives.
• Produce a social audit report including detailed findings, recommendations, social accountability score card and information sheets for farmers

5.      Competencies

The service provider should have the below experience and competencies:

• A post-graduate degree in social sciences, agriculture, water resource engineering, development studies or a related field
• Minimum of 5 years of demonstrated experience in conducting social audits of CBOs, cooperatives, farmer organisations, government led poverty reduction/ development programmes.
• Demonstrated thematic experience on water and agriculture
• Strong facilitation skills with demonstrated experience in designing and facilitating social audit and related capacity building events
• Excellent report writing skills
• Knowledge of Sindhi language as well as experience of working in Sindh will be an added advantage.

6.      Timeline and Reporting

Service provision is intended to commence from July 22, 2018 with an estimated total engagement of 15 days depending on the final work plan. The service provider will report to Trócaire’s Programme Manager – Water Rights in Pakistan.

7.      Safeguarding

Underpinned by the organisational value of accountability, it is our policy to safeguard all individuals involved in Trócaire’s work against the risk of exploitation and abuse. Trócaire will not tolerate exploitative or abusive behaviour by anyone associated with the implementation of its work and highlights this as a core commitment in the organisation’s Stakeholder Accountability Framework. Trócaire recognises that individuals, women, men, girls and boys in certain contexts may be considered more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse than others, and makes every effort to eliminate such risks from its programmes.

The service provider will be required to confirm in writing that he/she has read and understands the terms of ‘Trócaire’s Safeguarding Programme Participant Policy’ and agrees to abide by the terms of this policy at all times in all of their activities under this Terms of Reference. The service provider shall ensure that its employees, officers, sub-service providers and agents shall abide by the terms of this policy at all times.

8.      Evaluation

Submissions will be evaluated using the following grid:

Sr. No.	Criteria	Source Document	Marks (total 60)
1	A post-graduate degree in social sciences, agriculture, water resource engineering, development studies or a related field	CV	5
2	Demonstrated experience in conducting social audits involving CBOs, cooperatives, farmer organisations, government led poverty reduction/ development programmes.	Social audit study report	20
3	Demonstrated thematic experience on water and agriculture	Social audit study report	5
4	Strong training and facilitation skills with demonstrated experience in designing and facilitating social audit and related capacity building events	CV	10
5	Excellent report writing skills	Social audit study report	5
6	Knowledge of Sindhi language as well as experience of working in Sindh will be an added advantage.	CV	5
7	Value for money	Request for Quotation	10

9.      Submission Requirements

Interested applicants should submit an expression of interest along with following documentation:

• Curriculum Vitae of the consultant (maximum of 4 pages)
• 2 social audit reports demonstrating expertise in social accountability with a focus on water and agriculture (high quality report)
• Completed Request for Quotation