Research Consultant - Phatsa Sakho Nawe

Background

The UNDP Eswatini Accelerator Lab is part of a three-year global initiative with a high level of ambition, driven by an innovative approach built on the best of current thinking. The global initiative is a response to the widespread recognition that business-as-usual will not take us to the world we want in 2030 and beyond; and that the development community looks to organizations like UNDP to propose new ways of operating that radically re-imagine and shape 21st century development. The UNDP Eswatini Accelerator Lab is an effort at creating a new capability for local decision-makers to develop portfolios of mutually reinforcing solutions to tackle complex issues from multiple angles. It is a country-based implementation modality that provides national partners with a set of new services to better tackle sustainable development problems, unleashing the power of local innovation, collective intelligence and experimentation.

The UNDP Acc. Lab in Eswatini is supporting the Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini to fast-track progress towards meeting the 2030 Sustainable Development targets Goals (SDGs) through innovation and identification of under the radar solutions. In November 2020, the Accelerator Lab got into a partnership with the Eswatini Environment Authority to map and experiment with solutions to the challenge of single use plastic bags waste. As part of this initiative, the partners worked with retailers to map and co-create solutions that would address the challenge at source (at the point of distribution). An experiment was then co-designed with partners, to initiate or test the feasibility of a ban on single use plastic bags through a partial plastic ban that was eventually named “Phatsa Sakho Nawe: Towards a Plastic Bag Free Eswatini”. We are looking for a consultancy that will conduct an assessment of the impacts of the campaign and make recommendations on a way forward.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Resident Representative and direct supervision of the Accelerator Lab team with support from the Eswatini Environment Authority, the Research Consultant will undertake the following responsibilities:

1. Conduct an assessment of the impact of the Phatsa Sakho Nawe Campaign through (but not limited to) the following:

Reviewing the draft campaign report as a sketch guide of the final report
Collecting data from retailers (including the initial spear headers/ front runners of the campaign, namely, Spar, Pick n pay, Shoprite, Boxer and OK Foods) on the trends in distribution of single use plastic bags before (at least a year prior to December 2020), during (between December 2020 and December 2021) and after (between January 2022 and June 2022) the campaign period
Conduct interviews with sampled consumers to get perceptions on the campaign and recommendations for a way forward The Methodology must detail the population to be targeted, ensuring that communities, including rural ones as well as high plastic users (e.g. street vendors) are part of the sample.
Conduct interviews with the Plastic bag manufacturing industry
Conduct interviews with main partners of the campaign
Conduct focused group discussions with shop assistants and till attendants on any observed behavioral changes and other changes brought by the campaign
Conduct social media analysis of the campaign

2. Conduct behavior analysis to determine any observed behavioral change during and post the campaign, including an analysis of the consumers’ user journey and provide recommendations for prototypes that can be used to nudge users to bring shopping bags when they do their shopping

Analyze data collected by UNDP and EEA on the campaign to derive learnings
Make policy and practical recommendations for a way forward
Document any learnings derived from this campaign
Prepare and submit a detailed report of the campaign along with policy and practical recommendations for a way forward

Detailed specifications for each individual assignment will be given to the selected service provider.

Time Frame and Payment Schedule

Timeframe: The work is estimated to take a total of 8 weeks. The assignment should preferably start in August 2022.

Deliverables

Target due date

Review/Approval required by

Payment Schedule

1.An inception report with a proposal on how the assignment will be undertaken

One (1) week after the contract is awarded.

AccLab Team

30% of payment

2. Submission of draft assessment report with policy and practical

7 weeks after the signing of the contract.

AccLab Team

50% of payment

3. Submission of final assessment report with policy and practical recommendations for a way forward.

8 weeks after the signing of the contract.

AccLab Team

20% of payment

Duty Station

This is a home based assignment that requires travel within the country and the consultant will not be provided with any office space or office working tools. However, should there be need for temporary working space for a short period, the consultant, upon UNDP’s approval can have access to working space in a shared office or consultant room at UNDP or EEA.

Competencies

Personal competencies:

Negotiation and conflict resolution
Demonstrate good communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to work under pressure and minimal supervision

Demonstrated ability to foster multi-stakeholder partnerships and foster cooperation between agencies, including Government, private sector, civil society, local authorities and development partners

Corporate and Core Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favouritism.
Communication – Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.
Planning & Organizing – Develops clear goals in line with agreed strategies, identifies priorities, foresees risks and makes allowances accordingly.
Organizational Awareness – Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.
Teamwork – Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
Accountability – Takes ownership of all responsibilities and delivers outputs in accordance with agreed time, cost and quality standards.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

A master’s degree in Environmental Science, Environmental Economics, social science, Research or any related field or a first degree accompanied by at least 10 years working experience in these fields.

Experience

At least 7 years of relevant practical experience on environmental issues and policies, waste management, research, etc
Experience in conducting stakeholder engagement/consumer surveys/developing questionnaires as this is critical for the quality of the data/information from the consultancy
Proven practical experience working with communities and government partners
Experience working with the private sector, in particular retailers will be an added advantage
Demonstrated written and oral communication skills
Good command of English (both written and spoken)

Language Requirement:

Proficiency in written and spoken English and siSwati.