Baseline Survey Analysis and Report Writing for Surigao del Sur Earthquake Emergency Response (INT10342)

For Oxfam Pilipinas

Philippine Nationals Only
*** This is an urgent recruitment and applications will be reviewed as we receive them.

Oxfam is a global movement of people working together to end the injustice of poverty.

Background

Mindanao in the Philippines was hit by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake on 2 December 2024, affecting 700 000 people in three regions in the country. The strong earthquake, which struck off the coast of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, triggered a tsunami warning and recorded nearly 1,700 aftershocks, with magnitudes ranging from 1.4 to 6.6. Strong to moderate aftershocks in the epicentral area are expected to persist for several days to months. The earthquake caused thousands of poor communities to be homeless and displaced, with livelihoods lost and disrupted and infrastructure destroyed.

Due to successive typhoons and flooding experienced before the 7.4 magnitude earthquake, calamity funds of local governments are already stretched and depleted, thus, the government response to the needs of affected communities is projected to be slow. Among the areas affected by the earthquake, the Province of Surigao Del Sur sustained the biggest damage to shelter, infrastructure, and livelihoods. On 4 December 2024, 48 hours after the impact of the earthquake, Oxfam Pilipinas and its NGO partner, Community Organizers Multiversity (COM), initiated a joint rapid assessment and the results highlighted the following urgent needs:

Shelter. In most of the affected municipalities, families have started to return to their homes after the tsunami alert was lifted and evacuation centers are now slowly being deactivated. However, data on families who built makeshift shelters near their totally damaged houses and those who are seeking temporary shelter in friends/relatives’ homes is not reflected in government reports. Families who returned and stayed in their partially damaged homes have expressed concerns on the integrity of their damaged homes. For them, it is no longer safe to stay and sleep in their homes. They built tents made of tarpaulins, blankets, and branches from coconut trees to build temporary living spaces where they sleep, cook and rest for the whole day. Families who lost their homes, totally and partially, will remain vulnerable as this situation will continue to pose protection risks if displacement is prolonged due to the inability of vulnerable populations to rebuild their damaged houses.

Food Security and Livelihoods. The affected local government units provided initial relief items from their available stockpiles, however, local authorities stressed that family food packs supplies will only last for three days, hence, request for additional support has been made. Families interviewed reported reliance on food aid, as their current situation prevent them from re-establishing livelihood. Meals are generally taken 1-2 times a day, in reduced amounts, with limited food variety. Many reported eating only porridge, especially among fisherfolk households, and mothers forego meals in favor of their children. The contents of the government food packs do not meet the 2,100-kilo calorie -per-person requirement. The situation of women, girls, and elderly is particularly worrying, especially pregnant and lactating women. Livelihood activities were disrupted. Most of the survivors are fishing families. According to them, due to frequent strong aftershocks, as high as intensity 6, it is unsafe to go to the sea for fear of a tsunami. As the restoration of damaged shelters and livelihoods is expected to last for several months, food assistance will become critical.

WASH. With the sudden nature of the emergency, families now staying in makeshift/temporary shelter do not have enough safe water containers or other water storage mechanisms. Although local health authorities are encouraging households to boil their drinking water, household water treatment, handling and safe storage (HWTHSS) need to be further strengthened. Affected families also lack hygiene items and awareness to ensure high standards of cleanliness are adhered to control disease outbreaks during displacement. As displacement is anticipated to be prolonged, support to WASH needs is critical to prevent public health hazards.

Gender and Protection. Pregnant and lactating mothers and older persons who were interviewed prefer to receive cash assistance as most of their urgent needs are not considered in standardized relief packages/ interventions of the government and other humanitarian agencies. They identified needs such as mats with foam, chamber pots, maternity pads, adult diapers, and other essential hygiene items that they will not be able to buy as the family prioritize the purchase of rice. A top up cash support will enable the purchase of these items. While there are no reported cases of gender-based violence (GBV) in the affected communities based on the rapid assessment, this does not mean the absence of GBV cases. The dire situation of families affected by the earthquake can increase the risk of violence against women and children as traditional elements of a protective environment are absent or less effective . This can amplify pre-existing social problems and create new ones. Access to information on gender, GBV, and available protection services, including GBV referrals and psychosocial support services (PSS), are critical humanitarian gaps. Signs of distress have also been noted, with children and adults expressing fears and sleeping difficulties as an immediate impact of the disaster. Deterioration in the quality of life of affected communities, with majority living in damaged houses contribute to worsening mental health and psychosocial concerns.

Oxfam’s emergency response aims to address the immediate needs of the most vulnerable and hard-to-reach families in the Province of Surigao Del Sur who are not included in the current roster of government beneficiaries and at risk of not receiving assistance. The response aims to prioritize the provision of MPCT; cash to support nutritional requirements of pregnant, lactating mothers, and elderly; sanitation and hygiene; gender and protection awareness; cash for care; support to referral of protection cases; and PSS. Addressing these types of humanitarian concerns are often lacking in the assistance provided by government and these needs remain huge and largely unmet.

Scope of Work

The Baseline survey tools, and data collection will be carried out by Oxfam and PDRRN in the municipalities of Bislig City, Hinatuan, Tagbina and Lingig in the province of Surigao del Sur.

The data collection will use Survey CTO and the results will be shared with the consultant by Oxfam. The consultant who shall perform the following tasks and produce the relevant deliverables:

1. Produce a consolidated base line report based on the data gathering survey conducted through interviews of project participants
2. Analyse, and create a comprehensive data analysis based on the data
3. In collaboration with MEAL Officer, review the data collected and the references gathered during the base line survey and develop relevant tables or charts that will support presentation of consolidated report.
4. Present the initial findings to the partners and document comments/feedback and integrate/consider these in preparing the first draft of the Baseline survey report.
5. Prepare the 1st draft of the Baseline survey report by following the attached outline of report.

Outline:

I. Executive Summary
II. Introduction
    a. Background
    b. Objectives of the Baseline Survey
III. Findings
    a. Demographics
    b. Livelihood and Income
    c. Target population with acceptable Food Consumption Score (FCS)
          i. Food Consumption Scores (FCS)
          ii. Coping Strategy
          iii. Reduced Coping Strategy Index (rCSI)
    d. Humanitarian Assistance
    e. Shelter and Settlement
    f. Cash Assistance
    g. Gender
    h. Mental Health and Psychosocial Support
    i. Protection
    j. ACCESS TO WATER, HYGIENE AND SANITATION (WASH)
          i. Safely Managed Excreta/Access to Latrine
    k. HYGIENE PRACTICES
IV. Accountability
V. Conclusion
VI. Recommendations

6. Integrate comments/feedback and submit the final draft of the Baseline survey report for sign-off of Commissioning Manager.
The Consultant will coordinate closely with Oxfam key contacts and partners’ focal point on MEAL/MELSA, when necessary, in carrying out the scope of work.

Period of Engagement :  April 8, 2024 until April 30, 2024

Other Responsibilities

• Adhere to Oxfam’s principles and values as well as the promotion of gender justice and women’s rights.
• Perform priority organizational tasks related to his/her competencies as may be assigned from time to time.

Organizational Values:

• Equality –  We believe everyone has the right to be treated fairly and to have the same rights and opportunities.

• Empowerment – We acknowledge and seek to expand people’s agency over their lives and the decisions that impact them.

• Solidarity –  We join hands, support, and collaborate in working towards a just and sustainable world.

• Inclusiveness – We are open to everyone and embrace diversity. We believe everyone has a contribution to make, regardless of visible and invisible differences.

• Accountability – Our purpose-driven, results-focused approach means we take responsibility for our actions and hold ourselves accountable. We believe that others should also be held accountable for their actions

• Courage – We speak truth to power and act with conviction on the justice of our causes

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

Note: All offers of consultancy will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks.