TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR A SCOPING STUDY ON PRIVATE SECTOR RESILIENCE TO DISASTER AND CLIMATE RISK IN VIETNAM. Jan Mar 2015

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1 TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR A SCOPING STUDY ON PRIVATE SECTOR RESILIENCE TO DISASTER AND CLIMATE RISK IN VIETNAM Jan Mar BACKGROUND Oxfam in Asia has identified that the Private Sector (PS), especially the agri-business and financial service providers for agricultural production and services, including insurance companies, play a crucial role in building resilience to disaster and climate risks for their businesses, for small-scale food producers and processors. Oxfam primary beneficiaries will be women, small-scale food producers and processors in hazard prone communities. For private sector resilience, we distinguish groups of stakeholders as follow: Private sector, including both global and national agribusiness and financial service providers at different scales. Government agencies at central and local levels; Other players (NGO, research institutions and media). For Oxfam in Vietnam, this work is a new area for intervention. We need to gain a better understanding of the nature of work, scope and current practices of businesses and/or business support services in agriculture as well as the link to building disaster and climate resilience; in order to inform our decisions for future interventions. There are (presumably) agri-businesses and financial service providers working in disaster prone areas of Vietnam, however, limited research has been undertaken of these providers and there is limited understanding within Oxfam that needs to be addressed. This TOR outlines requirements for individual consultant/ consultant team to undertake a scoping study on this subject, to enable Oxfam in Vietnam to: Have initial understanding of the nature of work, scope and drivers of businesses (and/ or business support services) in agriculture; what have been done to address the needs to engage private sector in DRR/CCA and/or private sector resilience to disaster risks and climate change impacts; and what are the needs and roles of relevant stakeholders (focusing on community, agribusinesses and/or business support services, non-government actors and government agencies) for private sector resilience; Identify opportunities and added value for Oxfam in Vietnam, in line with the fiveyear country strategy and potential linkage with regional/global programs and campaigns;

2 Contribute to strategy development and influencing work by Oxfam in Vietnam and Oxfam in Asia, especially inputs for multi-country or regional proposal by Oxfam regional team on PS resilience in the agri-business and financial service for agricultural production; 2. SCOPING STUDY OBJECTIVES Examine the nature, scope and drivers of agribusinesses dependent upon agricultural value chains in disaster prone areas in Vietnam, focusing on businesses that work with small-scale farmers and businesses that most affected by disaster risks and climate change impacts; Determine the potential entry points that Oxfam and partners can play a role in this work, and inform decision making by Oxfam in Vietnam and Oxfam in Asia on what could be done to bring about positive impact to vulnerable communities. Determine the main business development services, especially financial-related ones, being offered in these disaster prone areas; Undertake an analysis of current practices of major agri-business and financial service providers for agricultural production and services in terms of resilience to disaster and climate risks Provide a succinct review and top line recommendations for Oxfam s business case. 3. SCOPE OF THIS STUDY The scoping study will include an analysis of opportunities and challenges for Oxfam in building resilience for private sector and communities, which build on Oxfam s experience and added value in DRR/CCA and humanitarian work in the country. The study will also include case studies on the need for private sector resilience and potential impact on the poor communities in selected provinces in the country (to be discussed with consultant/ consultant team in detail). The study will also explore potential influencing opportunities for Oxfam in Vietnam, in line with Oxfam country strategy and linkages with regional and global programs. The consultant or consultant team will work closely with Oxfam team in Vietnam and in the region for coherence. 4. MAIN RESEARCH QUESTIONS 4.1. Private sector resilience, especially for agri-business companies or enterprises, including those working on production, processing and distribution: What is the nature of business environment of agribusinesses in the disaster prone area? What sectors are experiencing the greatest risks from natural hazards and climate risks, and what are their existing agri-business practices in risk management? What is common thread or pattern in the business strategies for handling impact of such hazards and climate extreme events on agri-business?

3 What are the top agriculture value chains in Vietnam that provide a source of livelihoods for the largest number of poor people in Vietnam? In these identified value chains, what are current impacts on small-scale food producers and surrounding communities of natural hazards and climate risks, due to their existing practices? Who are the top companies in those value chains, in terms of impact on small-scale food producers and market share? What are their existing practices to response to climate risks, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)/ humanitarian needs and the needs of smallholders, workers and communities? What practices are agri-businesses adopting to absorb the disruptions in their supply chain due to such hazards or extreme events? With those practices, do small-scale food producers face different degrees of risk depending on whether they work with Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) or national/multinational companies? Do these businesses contribute in humanitarian relief work? If yes, do they contribute as business case, from corporate social responsibility, or from a philanthropic perspective? What are the potential topics of discussion for Oxfam with private sector/ agribusiness? Or in other words, what are possible entry points for Oxfam to work with private sector in this work? 4.2. For financial service providers: How is the financial sector (especially insurance, micro-finance companies) involved in addressing the impacts of climate change on companies, small-scale food producers, workers and communities? What kinds of products have been offered, how and why? Which have been more or less successful and why? How do these companies make doing business in areas regularly affected by climate-related disasters viable? What are their motives/compulsions to work in such areas? What strategies do they adopt to deal with delinquencies and bad loans after hazard or extreme events? Do they respond to humanitarian needs in emergency situations? If so, how? 4.3. Stakeholder overview What are current efforts to address the needs of private sector, specifically in building resilience to disaster risks and climate change impact, by private sector themselves, government agencies and other stakeholders? What roles do government agencies currently play in addressing these risks? Do they have policies to address the climate change impacts, particularly on businesses and the poor? What kinds of services are government agencies delivering to address these issues? Are government agencies partnering with other actors? What specific roles NGO, research institutions and media can play in engaging with private sector for building resilience?

4 What lessons to learn from previous/ on-going work by other actors? What are potential influencing opportunities resulted from Oxfam involvement in private sector resilience? What are possible impacts on the vulnerable communities in the disaster prone areas when private sector becomes more resilience to climate change and disaster risks? What are the main recommendations on how Oxfam may implement its business case and an action plan for short term, medium term and long term? 5. METHODOLOGY Desk review; Both qualitative and quantitative research methods, including questionnaires, group discussions, interviews with key informants, etc. Case study. 6. DELIVERABLES Draft report by mid-march 2015; Final report with 4-page executive summary by the end of March 2015; 7. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR CONSULTANTS Have relevant knowledge and skills required in this TOR In-depth knowledge/ understanding of private sector and resilience building; Demonstrated strong research skills, both qualitative and quantitative; Strong relationships and networks with businesses in agriculture/ financial sector and/ or central and local authorities would be an advantage; Good analytical and report writing skills 8. TIME DURATION January March CONTACT DETAILS: Applicants are expected to submit the following documents in their proposal package: Cover letter Technical proposal which should include clear statements of research methodology, methods, activities and timeline.

5 Financial proposal which should be activity-based. Detailed curriculum vitae of researchers. Proposal packages should be sent by or by post to the following address no later than 5 PM, 10 February Only short listed candidates will be contacted. Ms. TRAN THANH HANG Finance & Support Manager Oxfam 22 Le Dai Hanh Hanoi, Vietnam Tel ext hang.tranthanh@oxfamnovib.nl Technical questions should be sent to the following . Ms. VU THU HANG Programme Officer Oxfam 22 Le Dai Hanh Hanoi, Vietnam Tel ext hangthu.vu@oxfamnovib.nl