Request for Proposal, Zambia Field Data Collectors at Bridges to Prosperity (B2P)

I) BACKGROUND

Bridges to Prosperity (B2P) is a non-profit organization focused on ending isolation-caused poverty through the support and implementation of rural transport infrastructure. While B2P is an implementer in many countries, we also strive to catalyze and enable the sector. In addition, B2P is working to develop digital tools to remotely assess barriers to services in rural communities to locate where rural trailbridges are needed.

This project aims to create the tools and aggregate the information most critical for government partners in Zambia to understand the scope of need, an estimated cost, a possible implementation plan, and the potential impact of a national rural trailbridge program. We will use satellite imagery and machine learning to develop a method to produce an estimate of the number and approximate locations of trailbridges needed by rural communities in Zambia. We aim to create a report that details the estimated number of trailbridges required in Zambia, including estimated geographic distribution, potential impact, and anticipated cost.

II) OBJECTIVE

The objective of the field data collection team is to validate potential trailbridge sites according to Bridges to Prosperity standard procedures.  Some sites will be identified by Bridges to Prosperity’s remote site identification tool, other sites will be identified by the field data collectors communicating with local government authorities in the same area as the ground-truthing.

SCOPE OF WORK

Ground Truth Remotely Identified Sites

The consultant is expected to have experience with collecting field data through mobile applications (smartphones and tablets) as well as an understanding of how to navigate government communication channels in order to inform the necessary parties of the needs assessment in order to identify potential bridge sites, as well as obtain necessary permissions and approval to conduct the field assessments. The level of field work will require multiple enumerators in the field simultaneously, and the responding firm or consultant should have the capacity to immediately deploy or hire qualified personnel (3-4) to work in the field.

Key tasks of the assessment include but are not limited to:

• Obtain all the proper permissions and approval to conduct ground truthing and needs assessment work in the field.
• Managing a team (3-4) of field data collectors employed by the consultant.
• Provide regular updates to Bridges to Prosperity
• Learn B2P’s standard practices and methodologies for field data collection (social and technical) and ensure field staff are adhering the B2P’s standards.
• Conduct field level assessment to gather qualitative and quantitative data from primary sources.
• Support field enumerators in traveling to potential bridge sites.

III)  SUMMARY OF TASKS AND DELIVERABLES

Objective

Activities

Outputs

Phase One: Local Government Engagement and Trailbridge Site Identification

Acquire permission for conducting the needs assessment

• Engage with appropriate government officials to inform about the trailbridge needs assessment
• Acquire permission from government for interviewing residents in rural areas as part of the needs assessment
• Documentation from local government i.e. support letter, communication letter, etc.

Identify potential trailbridge sites

• Collect trailbridge requests from local government in the areas of interest
• Spreadsheet with a list of trailbridge requests identified by local leaders

Vett requested sites

• Assessors will communicate with local residents by phone to gain additional information and verify whether a requested site should be visited and assessed
• Spreadsheet with a list of trailbridge requests identified by local leaders

Phase Two: Conduct Trailbridge Needs Assessments and Groundtruth Remotely Identified Sites

Conduct project assessments at many river crossings

Using tablets and software provided by B2P assessors will:

• record information about the river crossing and the impact it has on residents reaching essential destinations
• take photos of the river crossing to inform B2P what type of bridge may be required
• record technical information about the characteristics of the river in regards to flooding and blocking transportation access.
• Assessment data and photos uploaded to B2P’s database by syncing tablets

Ground-truth remotely identified sites

• Assessors will navigate to specific coordinates provided by B2P in order validate the presence of a river crossing in need of a bridge.
• Assessment data and photos uploaded to B2P’s database by syncing tablets

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IV) METHODOLOGY

After consulting with B2P to identify the districts most likely to have the highest need for trailbridges the consultant will identify and engage with the appropriate officials at the district level in order to inform them of B2P’s cable bridge technology and request permission and support to conduct a trailbridge needs assessment. The consultant will then engage with local leaders to collect trailbridge requests. These requests will be recorded in a spreadsheet along with additional information to guide assessors on which requests should be visited, if possible assessors will also request GPS coordinates be provided with requests.

As trailbridge requests are being submitted to assessors, the assessors will call the local contact associated with the request in order to vet sites and avoid visiting certain sites, for example a request for a vehicular bridge.

After trailbridge requests have been vetted, assessor will visit sites and conduct a project assessment using tablets and software provided by B2P. Assessors will talk to community members in a focus group setting to collect information about the river and it’s impact on accessibility to key destinations such as schools, healthcare facilities, markets, etc. Assessors will take multiple photos of the river crossing as well as use a range finder (provided by B2P) to estimate the width of the river during flooding. B2P will provide training to the assessment team on how to use the tools provided.

In addition to assessing requested sites, assessors will ground-truth results from B2P’s machine learning model which is being developed to identify river crossings remotely using satellite imagery. Assessors will navigate to provided coordinates and see if there is a barrier and pedestrian traffic near the given coordinates. If the site is valid, assessors will conduct a project assessment at the site.

V) TIME FRAME

The assessment is expected to be completed within 120 days.  B2P would like to start the project as early as Sept 1, 2022. The number of sites visited will depend largely on the number of sites identified by the remote model and local government authorities, as well as the geographic distribution of identified sites.

VI)  ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

B2P will be responsible for the provision of the following:

• Samsung Galaxy Tablets
• Range finders
• 1-week training in Lusaka, Zambia including accommodation, and field transportation. B2P will not cover transportation costs for assessors traveling to Lusaka
• Guides and templates for conducting the assessments
• Feedback after initial assessments
• Production of support letter to Federal and Regions,
• Initial contacts for Ministry of Transportation and Ethiopia Roads Authority

The consultant will be responsible for the following:

• All logistical and transportation costs for conducting needs assessments, including hotels and per diems, excluding the 1-week training mentioned above.
• Completion of all outlined deliverables in a quality and timely manner

VII) DATA DISCLOSURE

Primary data collected through this consultancy is owned by B2P and should not be used for other purposes by the consultant.

VIII) APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Prerequisites

• The consultants shall have proven experiences in collecting field data in rural areas in Zambia.
• The consultant shall have experience communicating with local government and the district and lower levels.
• The consultant has experience managing and data collection team and experienced enumerators/data collectors on their team.
• The desired qualification includes a bachelor’s degree in economics, engineering, development studies and/or management with substantial experiences in conducting exercises of this nature
• Excellent writing and communication skills (in English).

Proposal Requirements

Qualified consultants or consultancy firms interested in the assignment are expected to submit the following documentation:

• A technical proposal (max 3 pages): interpreting the Terms of Reference, elaborating the proposed methodology and design, including (1) draft work plan against proposed time frame justifying any proposed changes to the deliverable schedule or process (2) brief overview of the consultant/consultancy firm and the skills and experiences they would bring to the assignment (including CVs of any team members assigned to the assessment); (3) contact details of one referee from another organization that have contracted the consultant/consultancy firm to perform similar work.
• A financial proposal: clarifying the following costs: (1) budget with professional fee per day, and other relevant costs including logistical costs
• Sample of recent work completed for a similar program.

Submission of proposals

• All interested and qualified applicants should send via email to the following:
• Kyle Shirley, Senior Program Manager, kyleshirley@bridgestoprosperity.org