Researcher for Housing Ecosystem Assessment in the Republic of Moldova

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BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

The large influx of refugees from Ukraine into the Republic of Moldova in the first half of 2022 and specifically into the urban center of Chisinau poses significant challenges and to the local housing sector and local communities. Approx 102,103 refugees are remaining in the Republic of Moldova as of January 2023, a large proportion are women, children, and elderly persons.[1] Most of them have been living in Moldova, especially in the capital Chisinau, for longer than 6 months with the urgent need for longer-term housing solutions.

Within this context, Habitat for Humanity has developed the Housing Ecosystem Assessment methodology to provide a comprehensive evidence-based background for the design of a sustainable longer-term housing pilot and to inform longer-term housing programs for refugees and vulnerable households in specific regions, and across the Republic of Moldova more broadly.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat has been active in the region since the 90’s, where national offices in Poland, Romania, Hungary, and regional area-office in Slovakia have led efforts on influencing adequate and affordable housing. Since February’22, Habitat has been responding to the urgent housing needs of Ukrainian refugees expanding their activities in Romania, Hungary, and Poland.

In the CEE region, Habitat has led multi-stakeholder partnerships and coalitions of the public and private sectors to develop and pilot new models of social and affordable housing, and to support the government to improve policy, regulatory and legislative framework to increase scale and accessibility at a nationwide level.

Housing Ecosystem Assessment (HEA) rationale

Habitat recognizes that systemic inequity is the root cause of inadequate housing. In every country, substandard housing is most frequently encountered by specific populations that are subject to certain underlying biases within their cultural, social, and economic contexts. These biases often manifest in traditions, customs, policies, regulations, and standards that dictate access to public goods like education, public spaces, markets, and housing, as well as in discrimination based on personal characteristics. It is these underlying inequities that contribute almost imperceptibly to the housing deficit at the community level and undermine the equitable access to adequate housing for all. HEA’s aim is to examine the housing ecosystems we operate in and identify the failures in that system that are impacting how people can access adequate housing, – working towards a world in which everyone has a decent place to live.

1. PURPOSE

Marking one year of the war in Ukraine and taking the significant refugee influx and existing housing needs[2] in Moldova into consideration, the research and subsequent longer-term housing pilot for refugees and vulnerable groups will contribute to the development of adequate and sustainable longer-term housing solutions through key partnerships.

Habitat is seeking to hire a research consultant(s) to (1) conduct a housing ecosystem assessment and analysis; (2) a rapid ‘empty space’ assessment, collating available data on vacant, unused public housing stock with a view to select a suitable pilot project object and, (3) support project partners in identifying and pursue the strategic partnerships and implementation plans to develop a longer-term housing pilot for refugees and vulnerable groups.

Habitat will engage consultant(s) for up to a 15-17 weeks period.

1. OBJECTIVES

The aim of the Housing ecosystem assessment (HEA) in the Moldova context is to provide information and understanding of the existing Moldovan housing ecosystem, its failures, barriers, and opportunities.

The study intends to achieve a deep understanding on issues such as: national housing policy and regulatory framework; housing, land and property rights; rental markets; mapping of key stakeholders and vacant government owned properties.

It aims to provide a comprehensive evidence-based background for decision making and to develop a sustainable longer-term housing pilot for IDPs and other vulnerable groups in partnership with key housing stakeholders in Moldova.

1. SCOPE OF CONSULTANCY

The scope of the research is structured into 3 stages, as tabled out below:

Stage; Scope; Activities

Stage 1: Inception

Consultant to formulate the detailed workplan and methodology, target population and geographical reach of the Housing Ecosystem Assessment. This will be conducted in Stage 2 with the view to develop an action plan for the housing pilot in Stage 3.

1. Conduct a rapid secondary desktop review of national housing policy & regulatory framework; housing, land & property rights; rental markets.
2. Scoping Trip to Moldova with HfH focal point, meeting project partners and formulate and agree research methodology
3. Draft inception report,
4. Organize internal workshop with project partners to sign off inception report and stage 2 key activities workplan

Stage 2:

Housing Ecosystem Assessment

Consultant to extend the research outlined in the inception report and conduct the Housing ecosystem Assessment, incl:

• an overview of the housing sector, relevant regulatory frameworks, policies for the provision of affordable and social housing and welfare assistance for vulnerable households (relevant to housing),
• identifying the systemic failures and stakeholder groups, that are impacting how households can access affordable and adequate housing and
• identify and liaise with key housing stakeholders identified in stage 1.
• a rapid ‘empty space’ assessment, collating available data on vacant, unused public & private housing stock with a view to select a suitable pilot project object.

1. Conduct Mapping of key housing stakeholder
2. Research trips/stay in Moldova to conduct KII interviews of key stakeholders (to be agreed during stage 1)
3. conduct rapid ‘empty space’ assessment with support from project partners (Geographical reach to be agreed in stage 1)
4. Organize Internal Workshop (online) to sign off HEA draft and stage 3 key activities workplan
5. Finalize HEA and key activity workplan for developing the housing pilot

Stage 3: Housing pilot project design

Consultant to support project partners in partnership discussion with potential local stakeholders (identified in stage 2) for the design and implementation of the housing pilot. Furthermore, support project partner in developing the technical components of the housing pilot including:

• the selection (criteria) of the building,
• the development of the financial model,
• the development of the eligibility criteria and the management mechanism.

1. Support project partner in discussions with potential project partners
2. Support project partner in formulating technical selection criteria for vacant buildings
3. develop target group eligibility criteria in collaboration with project partner
4. develop a financial model and management mechanism in collaboration with project partner ( with additional expert input)
5. Support project partner to produce project implementation documents, incl. implementation plans, financial model & eligibility mechanism description
6. CONSULTANT RESPONSIBILITIES
7. 1. Methodology

The study will employ a mixed methods approach to data collection, including:

• Comprehensive secondary data review
• Primary data collection, including a combination of:
  • Key Informant interviews
  • Working meetings with key stakeholders

Primary data collection will focus on organisational level. The final research methodology details will be co-created with the research and project partner in stage 1.

1. 1. Key activities/deliverables & deadlines

Stages duration; Deliverables; Deadlines

Stage 1

3 weeks

Inception report with the preliminary topics: (Final chapters to be agreed during stage 1)

• Brief Introduction to Moldova’s housing sector
• Definition of the target population & their housing needs/ challenges
• Summary description of the gaps, barriers and bottlenecks that prevent the target population to access and retain adequate housing.
• Preliminary identifying the systemic failures and key housing stakeholder groups
• Methodology for stage 2 ( e.g.: preliminary stakeholder mapping for KII, key activity workplan)
• Proposal for the geographical focus of the housing pilot
• Detailed agreed workplan
• Summary of online inception workshop
• 13th of September 2023

Stage 2

8 weeks

Housing Ecosystem Assessment report with the following topics: (Final chapters to be agreed during stage 1)

• Brief overview of Moldova’s housing context
  • Municipalities & other current housing programs
  • availability and affordability of housing options,
• Overview of regulatory frameworks, policies for the provision of affordable and social housing and welfare assistance for vulnerable households (relevant to housing)
  • Regulatory framework of the rental (public & private) sector
  • Taxation law (e.g., Incentives)
  • systemic failures & barriers and associated stakeholder groups

Stakeholder mapping of the public & private actors and institutions responsible for:

• • housing production, management & operation, landownerships, statutory regulations
• Potential Housing finance models and applicable examples from other contexts
• Rapid ‘empty space’ assessment
  • • vacant building stock incl. public housing stock & large private stakeholders – Conclusion: key considerations for stage 3 housing pilot incl. potential financial model, and shortlist of potential buildings for repurposing – 1st of November 2023

Stage 3

4 weeks

Housing pilot project report with following topics: (Final chapters to be agreed during stage 2 and drafted in partnership with project partners)

• • Project description – Description of financial model & eligibility mechanism – Partnership model – Outline Implementation plan – Conclusion with Lessons learned so far – 29th of November 2023

1. HFHI RESPONSIBILITIES

HFHI shall provide the following support towards this consultancy:

• a project focal point for direct supervision
• bi-weekly coordination meetings with project partners
• sharing of Housing Ecosystem Assessment Methodology and other relevant documents
• Provide timely inputs throughout the consultancy to ensure deliverables are relevant to project
• Facilitate introduction to project partners

1. REPORTING ARRANGEMENTS

The consultant/ consultant team and HfH project focal point will have bi-weekly coordination meetings for reporting, internal discussions, and troubleshooting.

1. DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT

Total duration of assignment is 15 weeks and must be completed by latest 29th of November 2023.

1. EXPECTED PROFILE OF CONSULTANT

Habitat welcomes applications from individuals or teams that has the following experience and skills:

• Demonstrated track-record of designing and delivering high-quality applied-research products
• Nuanced knowledge & understanding of the Moldova housing context & key housing stakeholders within Moldova and CEE region
• Strong understanding of the housing policy framework, urban policy & development, and humanitarian & development programs and actors in Moldova
• Experience advising on or developing affordable housing models/ approaches at scale in Europe, preferably CEE region
• Fluent in English, ideally fluent in Romanian.

1. TERMS & CONDITIONS

The terms and conditions of the consultancy will be agreed based on the proposal received by the applicant and Habitat’s standard procedures governing consultancy contracts.

1. APPLICATION PROCESS

Please send in an Expressions of interest (EoI), including:

• CV with details of qualifications, relevant experience, and contact details and names of three referees
• A technical proposal, including:
  • Statement of suitability and relevant experience (including examples of a thematically relevant research report)
  • A proposed methodology and outline workplan
  • summary your understanding of the TOR,
  • tools to be used for the assignment,
  • as well as availability to undertake this study
• Financial proposal providing cost estimates of consultancy fees plus all other expenses including travel and accommodation in Moldova ( in the case of consultants based outside Chisinau)
• Contacts of two organizations that have recently contracted you to carry out similar assignment
• Experience portfolio of past activities

The applications should be sent to Annika Grafweg at [email protected] and the deadline for applications is 20th August, 2023.

1. EVALUATION AND AWARD OF CONSULTANCY

HFHI will evaluate the proposals and award the assignment based on technical and financial feasibility. HFHI reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal received without giving reasons and is not bound to accept the lowest or the highest bidder

[1] UNCHR, 2022, Operational Data Portal, Ukraine Refugee Situation

[2] Report, UNECE, 2015, “PART II HOUSING SECTOR”

How to apply

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please send in an Expressions of interest (EoI), including:

• CV with details of qualifications, relevant experience, and contact details and names of three referees
• A technical proposal, including:
  • Statement of suitability and relevant experience (including examples of a thematically relevant research report)
  • A proposed methodology and outline workplan
  • summary your understanding of the TOR,
  • tools to be used for the assignment,
  • as well as availability to undertake this study
• Financial proposal providing cost estimates of consultancy fees plus all other expenses including travel and accommodation in Moldova ( in the case of consultants based outside Chisinau)
• Contacts of two organizations that have recently contracted you to carry out similar assignment
• Experience portfolio of past activities

The applications should be sent to Annika Grafweg at [email protected] and the deadline for applications is 20th August, 2023.