Research Consultant - Climate & Health

IFRC DRC opened a position of Research Consultant.  Interested candidates should submit their application material (as mentioned in ToR) by Tuesday, 01 April 2025 to the following e-mail: aliza.baidya@ifrc.org

Terms of Reference (ToR) for Research Consultancy Service on Climate & Health

1. Background

Climate crises are directly contributing to humanitarian emergencies from heatwaves, wildfires, floods, landslides etc. and they are increasing in scale, frequency, and intensity. These shocks affect health and wellbeing with increasing risks of deaths and injuries, increase in respiratory illnesses, water, food and vector-borne diseases, zoonosis, non-communicable diseases (NCD), malnutrition, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and a range of other health issues and determinants of health. These issues will impact the people’s access and quality of healthcare services, especially in countries with weak health infrastructure. Further it will impact the health workforce and infrastructure, reducing capacity to provide basic health care services.

The IFRC  Canadian Red Cross (CRC) and IFRC  Danish Red Cross (DRC) have collaborated to work in Nepal and Bangladesh through the Evidence Based Action to strengthen health resilience against climate crisis (EbA) initiative with the Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRC) respectively. The purpose of this initiative is to be better prepared, anticipate, and respond to the evolving health needs exacerbated by the climate crisis by leveraging collective resources from the IFRC members, DRC and CRC. This joint initiative will build upon the two movement partners’ expertise derived from their existing work and priorities in Nepal. The aim of DRC-CRC collaboration in this topic is to generate evidence, test innovations, generate proof of concepts and provide actionable recommendations to cope/adapt with the climate impacts on health, contribute to achieve the Health National Adaptation Plan (HNAP 2024-2030) priorities as well as for replicating and scaling up the concepts in the coming days. Learnings from the initiative will be used to design climate resilience programs grounded on research-based evidence.

2. Purpose and Objectives

2.1 Purpose

IFRC DRC and IFRC CRC are jointly commissioning a research consultancy service for a period of three months mid April – mid July 2025 (42.5 working days in total) with a geographical focus on Susta Rural Municipality of Nawalparasi District of Lumbini Province. The research aims to provide insights that inform future programming development for strengthening health resilience against climate-related health risks. CRC and Nepal Red Cross Society is implementing a Strengthening climate resilient health system project in the area from February 2024 which will be the foundation for the research. 

Primary stakeholders of the deliverables of the consultancy service include IFRC members (IFRC CRC, IFRC DRC, Nepal Red Cross Society) and relevant government line agencies, with additional engagement of local healthcare providers and community-based organizations.

2.2 Objectives

1. Identify a relevant research topic in consultation with the Research Advisory Committee (Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, Nepal Health Research Council (NHRC), NRCS, IFRC, IFRC CRC, IFRC DRC and relevant partners). The research topic will be within the broader area of Climate and Health such as:

• Measures to prevent avoidable health crises by applying Community Based Surveillance, Anticipatory Action, Early Warning Systems etc.
• Addressing climate change induced shocks (Epidemic and Pandemic, Water and Vector Borne diseases, Floods, heatwave and cold wave etc) to reduce disease burden by integrating climate concerns into all sectors.  
• Strengthening health systems to build climate resilient health facilities/ green health facilities. 
• Provide services to underserved population/empower communities integrating them into surveillance, preparedness and response efforts

2. Conduct research on the selected topic by:

• Finalizing research methodology and tools.
• Training enumerators on data collection procedures.
• Analysing collected data.
• Compiling and finalizing a research report.

2.3 Deliverables 

Comprehensive research report (full version, short version and PPT) on agreed topic 

Data analysis and key findings report from already collected data on “Assessing the Health Impacts of Cold Waves on Vulnerable Populations in Susta Rural Municipality”

Based on need, there will be a possibility of extension of the consultancy contract if further research need is identified during the agreement period.

3. Roles & Responsibilities

Consultant: 

• Provide regular updates on research progress to the advisory committee.
• Incorporate feedback and recommendations from the advisory committee and the stakeholders.
• Ensure adherence to the agreed research methodology and timeline.
• Maintain ethical standards and data protection measures throughout the research process.
• Obtain ethical approval from NHRC.

IFRC DRC:

• Supervise the consultant to ensure the process and deliverables are as per the agreed work plan and timeline. DRC Program Coordinator (Climate Risk and Innovation) will the reporting line manager. 
• Coordinate and communicate between DRC, CRC and NRCS.
• Provide remuneration cost as per the agreement. 
• Cover all travel and accommodation costs as per actual basis & food-max NPR 1800 per person per day.
• Cover any additional research-related costs (e.g., enumerator fees, publication expenses).

IFRC CRC:

• CRC Regional Health Programme Manager for Asia Pacific will be the technical line manager together with the DRC Health Manager (Bangladesh Country Office) who will provide technical supervision and quality assurance throughout the consultancy

NRCS:

• Organise advisory committee meetings and coordinate with the committee members regarding the research
• Organise interdepartmental meetings for learning and sharing
• Facilitate and liaison between IFRC and its members and NRCS departments and field teams.

4. Work Plan & Schedule

5. Ethical Considerations

• Obtain ethical approval from NHRC.
• Ensure informed consent from all research participants.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and data security protocols.
• All the research properties/product remain with the CRC and DRC. The consultant cannot utilize it without approval.

6. Skills & Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Public Health, Climate Change, Epidemiology, or a related field.
• Proven experience in conducting independent, field-based research.
• Strong qualitative and quantitative data analysis and report-writing skills.
• Experience in applying qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.
• Familiarity with ethical research standards and approvals.

7. Budget

The consultant is asked to submit a budget proposal for the delivery of the services outlined above, along with a tentative work plan including the working days for the main activities and milestones. Submit a financial proposal in NPR including all applicable tax/VAT. In your financial proposal, please mention the terms of payment and state clearly in your proposal if your payment term is different than clause no. 8.

In your financial proposal please mentioned the terms of payment including bank details:

Bank Name:

Account Name:

Account Number:

Branch:

8. Logistic support

The consultant will receive remuneration and logistic support as follow:

• Payment will be made as per IFRC standard terms and payment after submission of invoice including supporting documents.
• If consultant need to visit in the field, the DRC will cover all travel and accommodation costs as per actual basis & food @-max NPR 1800 per person per day including incidental expenses. The consultant is required to fill up the Mission Order and send it to the IFRC/DRC for approval process before starting the field visit.

9. Expression of Interest

Interested individuals and organizations should submit the following documents to Ms. Aliza Baidya at aliza.baidya@ifrc.org by 1st April 2025. Please be informed that the technical and financial proposal must be submitted as a separate document. The incomplete proposal in all respects and proposals submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

Required Documents:

1. Cover letter detailing relevant experience and approach to the research.
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) of the lead consultant.
3. Technical proposal, including methodology and timeline.
4. Financial proposal, outlining budget estimates.
5. Submit names and contacts for 2 references
6. Sample previous research conducted in a similar field by lead consultant, if any
7. Acknowledgement of ToR. (Please attach the signed copy of these Terms of Reference with your offer)
8. Copy of VAT/PAN registration certificate.
9. Copy of Business Registration, if applicable.
10. Copy of latest TAX clearance certificate, if applicable

We thank you in advance for understanding that only short-listed candidates, individuals, or organizations will be contacted for the next step in the application process.