Consultancy for Evidence-Based Documentation on Coastal Economic Governance

TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)
Consultancy: Evidence-Based Documentation on Coastal Economic Governance; Three Case Studies on Responsible Business Conduct; and Three Advocacy Videos (Kep, Kampot, Preah Sihanouk, or Koh Kong)

Background
Action Aid Cambodia (AAC), Open Development Cambodia Organization (ODC), the Cambodia Center for Human Rights (CCHR), and the NGO Forum on Cambodia (NGOF), hereafter called parties, are implementing a project called “Strengthening CSOs to Take Action on Economic Governance, (SCAEG)”. It is a three-year project starting from 01st November 2023 to 31st October 2026 with funding support from the European Union (EU).

The project aims to maximize civil society action in the governance of economic development in the coastal area, for greater accountability, transparency, and inclusive participation in decision-making in Cambodia. This project will benefit approximately 46,920 fisherfolk, 170 community representatives, 34 community fisheries in Koh Kong, Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, and Kep, 150 citizen journalists, and 470,000 people digital reach. The project will be implemented in the coastal area of Kep, Kampot, Preah Sihanouk, and Koh Kong provinces. The intervention aims to create an enabling environment for action by civil society/CFi (CSOs and their Networks representing fishery communities, with a focus on women and youth leaders) in economic governance, through inclusive and creative platforms, and engagement in political dialogue with key decision makers and economic actors at local and national levels.

AAC is seeking a national consultant team to work alongside the AAC SCAEG project team and AAC implementing partners in providing capacity building of NGO staff and community-based groups (committee, women, citizen journalists, youth) to document evidence and produce advocacy outputs (case studies and videos) that promote Responsible Business Conduct (RBC) in coastal investments. The work will emphasize practical use of relevant policies and laws, such as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures and complaint handling/grievance pathways, including RBC principles, and will support engagement with duty-bearers and private sector actors at sub-national and national levels.
Project Overall Objective: To strengthen the capacity of NGO staff and coastal community groups (community committee, youth, citizen journalists, women’s groups) to engage constructively in evidence-based documentation and produce three evidence-based video case studies for a policy advocacy on coastal economic governance issues and responsible business conduct in Cambodia’s coastal provinces (Kep, Kampot, Preah Sihanouk, Koh Kong).

1. Specific Objectives:

• Capacity building: deliver one-day technical training on marine/coastal community context, coastal natural resources, coastal development projects, and relevant laws/policies (including EIA and complaint handling, and key RBC principles).
• Produce Case studies: coach and support the production of three evidence-based case studies (one per province) on responsible business conduct of specific coastal investments, including pre-selection of location.
• Produce Advocacy videos: Producing three short videos (one per province) presenting the collaboration of communities, duty-bearers, and private sectors in promoting RBC through the development and verification of case studies.
• Co-facilitate Stakeholder engagement: support collaboration and information exchange with relevant authorities and private sector actors to ensure accuracy, validation, and right-of-reply.
• Campaign readiness: ensure outputs are suitable for advocacy campaigns and policy dialogue, with clear recommendations and messaging.

2. Key Deliverables: The assignment includes three components:
   2.1 Component A: One-day training delivered by a Resource Person (Assignment i)
   2.2 Component B: Three case studies on Responsible Business Conduct (Assignment ii)
   2.3 Component C: Three advocacy videos presenting the collaboration of communities, duty-bearers, and private sectors in promoting Responsible Business Conduct (Assignment iii)

Application and submission:

To apply for this consultancy, applicant required to submit the following documents.

• Project proposal with proposed budget timeframe.
• Cover letter and CV

• Sample of previous experience report or similar assignments or advocacy/campaign implementation

  Full details are found in the attachment.