IMPACT STUDY FOR SCALE PROJECT IN MYANMAR

TERMS OF REFERENCE • IMPACT STUDY FOR
SCALE PROJECT IN MYANMAR

CONTEXT
The Group for the Environment, Renewable Energy and Solidarity (GERES) is an
international non-profit organization headquartered in France and active in Southeast Asia for the
last 20 years.
Environmental conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, reducing energy poverty,
and improving livelihood of the poor are the main focus areas for GERES. The GERES team is
particularly involved in the implementation of engineering solutions for development and
providing specific technical expertise. Activities include conducting energy efficiency programs,
providing decentralized energy services for local economic development, supporting and
developing renewable energies and promoting waste management. These activities are always
implemented in partnership with local stakeholders and communities based on collaborative
experience sharing.
GERES is a member of “Comité de Liaison des Énergies Renouvelables” (CLER), “Comité Français
de Solidarité Internationale” (CFSI), “Comité 21”, “International Network For Sustainable Energy”
(INFORSE), “Global Compact”, “MEDCOOP” (a collective for Mediterranean aid), “Groupe
Initiative”, “F3E”, “Coordination SUD” and the “Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves”.
Reducing biomass consumption through ICS (Improved Cookstoves) is one of the widely
recognized measures taken to strengthen economies at the household scale. In particular, it
contributes to the livelihoods of women and children by reducing negative impacts on health,
providing cleaner kitchens, saving time and money spent on collecting cooking fuel, and freeing
time for income generation and livelihood activities. Improved cookstoves also have positive
impacts on the environment, namely mitigating climate change by reducing CO 2 emissions from
the inefficient use of non-renewable biomass and reducing pressure on forest resources.

Cookstove production in Myanmar remains largely non-standardized and fragmented. The
performance of the cookstoves that are produced and sold remains unknown and their efficiency
is contested. Consumers rarely have information on the quality, performance or safety of such
equipment. Furthermore, the absence of stove testing Facilities, of common stove performance
protocols and of any standard are one of the main constraints to quality control and regulation of
this informal market.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Group for the Environment, Renewable Energy and Solidarity (GERES) in Myanmar has been
implementing since 2014 the “Upscaling Improved Cookstove Dissemination in Myanmar through
replication of best practices from Cambodia and the region” (SCALE) Project. It is expected to
end in July 2018.

The project aims to preserve the environment and improve the living condition of the Myanmar
people by reducing fuel wood consumption, emissions of greenhouse gases, costs of household
energy, and ultimately enhancing the sustainability of ongoing renewable energy services.
Specifically, the project will contribute to the switch to sustainable consumption patterns and
behavior by providing biomass fuel consumer groups in Myanmar with better market-based access
to quality Improved Cookstove (ICS) products. This will be achieved through fostering local
production and distribution of affordable, locally appropriate and standardized improved
cookstoves by entrepreneurs in Myanmar; as well as targeted, gender-sensitive promotion and
marketing. The project will also help to create conditions needed to further develop the sector by
supporting the establishment of national testing and stove development facility with the mandate
to provide regulatory and quality assurance support.

The project is funded by the European Union (SWITCH Programme) and co-funded by the
Fondation Lord Michelham of Hellingly, the Fondation Raja Danièle Marcovici and the Fondation
Prince Albert II. The implementation started in January 2014 and will end in July 2018. The total
budget of the Action is around 2.7 million euros.
OBJECTIVES OF THE IMPACT STUDY

The main aim of the impact study is to assess and measure the different impacts of the SCALE
project activities.

More specifically, the objectives of the consulting service will be to:

• Undertake dedicated data collection to obtain a rigorous measurement of the different
  expected impacts in comparison to available baseline data, according to the Project
  Proposal;
• Identify and measure unforeseen impacts the Project activities created; both positive and
  negative, as well as ways to mitigate negative ones, in future interventions if relevant.

Gender segregation of all the impacts should be integrated when possible.

The expected impacts of the project intervention that need to be specifically assessed are:

*Added income of involved producers (% of added income for women-owned SME)
*Added income of involved distributors (% of added income for women-owned SME)
*Newly trained craft-persons involved in the production (% of women)
*% of end-users who express satisfaction with their ICS
*Last miles users (in remote area) are reached by the ICS market
*Total monetary saving enabled by the project

METHODOLOGY AND SCHEDULE
The consultant is requested to submit its own methodology which must comprise:

• Desk review;
• Field study phase in relevant locations such as SCALE project office in Yangon, Field offices
in Pathein, Delta Zone and in Meiktila, Dry zone;
• Data analysis, reporting, validation and restitution.

The final report is expected to be delivered by July 15 th , 2018 at the latest. The applicant
should provide a detailed planned schedule of the works to be performed, together with its
technical offer.
DELIVERABLES

• Inception report after the desk review, finetuning the methodology and the
  corresponding work plan;
• Draft impact study;
• Final report including client’s feedbacks and comments;
• PowerPoint presentation summing up the main impacts of the project activities.

SUPPORT PROVIDED BY GERES

DATA

GERES will provide access to relevant project documentation and reports, and the necessary
baseline data for the consultant to be able to evaluate the project achievements. GERES will also
provide the available means of verification of the objectively verifiable indicators, upon request
of the consultant.
GERES carried out many baseline studies among its beneficiaries (situation without project). This
data will be shared to the consultant.
Any other relevant data can be requested by the consultant and will be provided if existing.

LOCAL SERVICES

GERES can provide no-cost support in the organization of the missions, such as advice and
support for visa, general advice about country context, etc.

PERSONNEL

GERES project operations and support team availability will be limited during the consultancy.
Some support to the consultant can be expected; but the consultant should be autonomous in
the conduct of its field survey.
BUDGET
The maximum available budget for this assignment is 45,000 € (Forty-Five Thousand Euros),
inclusive of all costs and all applicable taxes.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

To conduct the final study, the following expertise is required:

• A solid and diversified experience in conducting impact studies and review/evaluation with
related references;
• Fully conversant with the principles and working methods of project cycle management;
• Experience and knowledge in biomass energy, access to energy and international
development;
• Experience and knowledge in Improved Cookstove Dissemination an asset;
• Working experience in South-East Asia an asset;
• Full working knowledge of English with excellent report writing skills.

The applicant can choose to apply with a main consultant and support consultant (team setting). APPLICATION
Applications should comprise:

A technical offer, made of:
• understanding of the assignment
• description of the methodology
• proposed schedule of execution
• references for the consultant (s) involved in the review (detailed CV)
• sample of previous relevant work

A detailed financial offer presented as follow:
Activity
(for example, to be filled by the applicant)
Number of man-
day
Unit cost Total cost
Desk Review Consultant 1:
Consultant 2:
***
Consultant 1:
Consultant 2:
***
Consultant 1:
Consultant 2:
***
Field Survey
Etc…

Note that the man-day unit cost should include the whole expected expenditures related to the
assignment (for example, including transportation….). This offer should be in Myanmar Kyat, in
USD or in EUR. For financial comparison, the Oanda exchange rate of the evaluation will be used.

The applications will be assessed on both the technical and financial offers. Note that
uncomplete applications will not be considered.

The applications have to be submitted by email by May 1 st , 2018, 5:00pm Myanmar Time to
the SCALE Project Manager, François-Xavier Sorba fx.sorba@geres.eu, CC to the SCALE Project
Administrative and Logistical Manager, May Mar Lwin mm.lwin@geres.eu, with the title
“Application Impact Study SCALE”.
Technical and financial offers should be in separate files, in generally accepted
electronic format. Electronic submission should be less than 5 Mo (if heavier please split in several
files). Files with extensions not supported by PC will not be considered.

The applications will be assessed on both the technical and financial offers. Note that
uncomplete applications will not be considered.

The applications have to be submitted by email by May 1 st , 2018, 5:00pm Myanmar Time to
the SCALE Project Manager, François-Xavier Sorba fx.sorba@geres.eu, CC to the SCALE Project
Administrative and Logistical Manager, May Mar Lwin mm.lwin@geres.eu, with the title
“Application Impact Study SCALE”.
Technical and financial offers should be in separate files, in generally accepted
electronic format. Electronic submission should be less than 5 Mo (if heavier please split in several
files). Files with extensions not supported by PC will not be considered.