Terms of Reference for the “Field Survey at the Jordan Valley”

Terms of Reference

for the “Field Survey at the Jordan Valley”

Under Jordan Water Governance Activity

BACKGROUND ON WATER GOVERNANCE ACTIVITY (WGA)

The Water Governance Activity (WGA) program is a multi-year project funded by USAID, which aims to support the Government of Jordan (GoJ) to achieve measurable improvements and greater sustainability of the water sector by providing technical assistance to strengthen the GoJ’s reform, policy development and implementation, and capacity-building efforts. WGA will support the following objectives: support the GoJ to define and resolve water sector strategy and policy issues; improve water entities’ performance by reducing network losses, increasing conveyance efficiencies, and improving utility cost recovery; and specific, cross-cutting objectives related to support to gender, youth, persons with disabilities (PWD), and private sector engagement.

CONTEXT

Due to the challenges facing the Water Sector in Jordan, the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA) had to take several measures to manage water demand in the Jordan Valley with the aim of adapting to the new reality, developing the efficiency of water resources management, improving the level of services provided to farmers, creating a cooperative environment and a sense of responsibility, educating local communities about the ethics of water use, encouraging its optimal use, and increasing its productivity.

In line with the government's approach to encourage partnership between the public and private sectors within the directions of economic reform programs, and in implementation of the irrigation water policy of 1998, which includes the gradual withdrawal of the government from the work of distributing irrigation water and the strategy of the JVA which includes increasing the participation of the private sector in water management through the participation of farmers in retail level within the concept of local Water Councils and/or Water User Associations (WUAs) that are registered as profit associations under the umbrella of (JCC).

The strategic plan of the JVA for the years 2018-2020 included further transfer of powers to these associations so that JVA would be a bulk provider of irrigation water and transfer all the tasks of retail irrigation management to the WUAs (from the supply points through main gravity line or pumping stations to the intakes of the farm units). The partnership between JVA and WUAs is controlled by an annual agreement where the costed tasks are covered by JVA.

Since 2001, JVA encouraged the establishing of WUAs in JV under the umbrella of Jordanian Cooperative Corporation (JCC) as a main tool of private sector participation (PSP) in managing the retail water from the supply point to the farm gate to improve the distribution efficiency and the service level that provided for the farmers. JVA works closely with WUAs, who are currently responsible for many operations and soft maintenance activities for about 50% of irrigation water distribution/retail systems.

CONSULTANCY OBJECTIVE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

WGA and JVA agreed to improve the approach of partnership between JVA and local farmers. The consultant will work closely and jointly with the USAID Water Governance Activity (WGA) and the Jordan Valley Authority (JVA) officials under the WUAs department to conduct field surveys with related stakeholders (Three target groups: farmers, farmers who are also members at the WUAs, JVA employees) to assess which affiliation framework is the best, applicable, and more efficient in achieving the following main objectives:

Maximize collaboration among the farmers themselves.

Build a governed affiliation that eliminates conflict interest and increases confidence between farmers and the affiliation management on one side, and JVA and the selected affiliation.

Improve retail water management, decrease water loss (NRW) and ensure infrastructure sustainability.

Improve the service level provided to farmers.

This task includes a review and finalization of the developed draft survey and survey sample, development of additional survey instruments to cover three target groups in four geographic locations in the JV (North Ghor, central Ghor, South Shuna, and south Ghor) as necessary, conduction of the survey, data collection and provision of survey findings (numeric and charts). The consultant shall engage with USAID WGA and share/discuss any observations or comments s/he may have throughout or after completion of the survey process.

Details of target groups:

Detailed responsibilities include:

Gain a clear understanding of the specific requirements and objectives of the task to be performed.

Gain good knowledge and understanding of the subject matter through reviewing the available documentation in JVA, WUAs and WGA.

Describe the multi-layered data collection strategy to be employed. This should include techniques to encourage reluctant target groups to participate, approaches for communicating with those who are difficult to contact, and techniques to improve response rates among hard-to-reach farmers.

Describe the data accuracy/quality monitoring process. This should address the methods for monitoring the accuracy and quality of the data being collected, identify how missing data items will be handled, and identify when data imputation will be employed.

Review the instruments drafted by WGA and develop the survey instrument proposed for a public opinion poll and the methodology to be employed for a statistically valid sampling of the geographic coverage. The survey must be made available in English and Arabic.

Define the sampling frame for the survey and demonstrate an understanding of the sampling strategies to produce a representative sample for the whole JV, the confidence level expected of the survey, and the geographically, demographically, and professionally distinguishable features within the JV that would influence opinions. This should include the number of people to be sampled and the expected number of completed surveys for each cell of the main survey sampling frame.

Provide a schedule of 3 types of target groups (farmers under and out of WUAs responsibilities and JVA employees) scattered over 4 geographic locations in the JV (North Ghor, central Ghor, South Shuna, and south Ghor) for the data collection process. This should detail each point in the recruitment and data collection process when a potential respondent will be contacted and by what means.

Data collection needed for the survey from various sources, such as numbers, status/membership, position at JVA and geographic locations of farmers and JVA employees according to the JV and its regional community sizes. It should avoid any biases or personal influences that could affect the survey's results.

The process for conducting and interpreting the public opinion poll, including the sample size based on target groups and community layers.

Precede the survey exercise with experimental tests, in order to fine tune the final survey instrument, ensure clear understanding of questions, identify unclear issues and address them in advance and in collaboration with the USAID WGA team.

Coordination with WGA to assess the results of the public opinion poll; discuss implications and related issues.

A final written report and presentation of results. The final report will include at a minimum the framework and methodology used, the tabulation of all calls and/or contacts made as part of the survey; the tabulation of survey results, key findings, and detailed findings (i.e., toplines and cross tabs); charts on key results, and conclusions and recommendations.

Development of a presentation on the accomplished assignment and the whole process.

WORK LOCATION(S)

The execution of this consultancy assignment will take place within the JVA responsibly area, extending from Al-Adassiyh in the North to Ghor Al-Safi in the South (including Amman as a center) and other relevant geographical location as shown below:

1. Northern Jordan Valley
2. Middle Jordan Valley including South Shouneh
3. Southern Jordan Valley (Ghor Al-Safi)
4. Capital Governorate (Amman /JVA Administration Building)

DELIVERABLES

The table below provides the expected deliverables, timeframes, and Level of Effort (LOE) involved.

* This is a tentative suggested date only; as it depends on the date of receiving notes and feedback from JVA officials and WGA team, as well as the workload needed to complete the report / deliverable.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum, a bachelor’s degree in any of the following areas: social studies, statistician, engineering, business management, public administration, information management or any related study.

At least 8 years of experience in conducting public opinion survey studies.

Preferred sufficient knowledge of the water sector, irrigation practices and the Jordan Valley water resources.

Knowledge and understanding of the subject matter, and familiarity with the details and concepts relevant to the issue and the challenges associated with it.

Capability of conducting extensive research to gather information and data related to the study. This includes the ability to design surveys, conduct interviews, and analyze data.

Possess good communication skills to appropriately ask participants survey questions, while maintaining clear understanding and sensitivity to cultural and contextual norms

Maintain objectivity and independence in their opinions and analyses. S/he and her/his team should avoid any biases or personal influences that could affect the survey’s results.

The capability and familiarity to involve and use effectively advanced technological tools and techniques in the survey.

Fluent in English and Arabic.

Chemonics is committed to the goal of equal employment opportunity. Chemonics recruits, hires, trains, and promotes people in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, or any other category specified by labor laws. All employment decisions will be consistent with the principle of equal employment opportunity. All personnel actions such as compensation, benefits, transfers, layoffs, return from layoff, company sponsored training, education, tuition assistance, social and recreational programs will be administered without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, or any other category specified by local labor laws.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.

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