National Research Team(s) for a Regional Study

Terms of Reference

Thailand and/or Cambodia

National Research Team(s) for a Regional Study on the mobility impacts of climate change-induced extreme weather events and the misuse of environmental resources in the Greater Mekong Sub-region

Background

Asia is the most disaster-prone area in the world and one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of environmental degradation and climate change. This is not only due to its geographic exposure to these risks, but also to its underlying sociopolitical and economic vulnerabilities that turn hazards into disasters. According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), 80 per cent of all disaster related displacements in the world between 2008 and 2019 occurred in region. In addition, slower onset climate impacts such as droughts and sea level rise are increasingly intertwined with the traditional economic drivers of migration particularly for population who rely on natural resource-based livelihoods. Within Asia, the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) is composed of several countries with different levels of human development and migration dynamics that all share a great vulnerability to extreme weather events. While floods and droughts are the most recurrent hazards, the region is home to many densely populated urban contexts located in areas exposed to multiple hazards including typhoons/cyclones, floods, earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions (IDMC 2020). Threats to environmental resources in the GMS come not only from the biophysical impacts of climate change, but also from the impacts of natural resource mismanagement, which have dire socio-environmental consequences especially on those most vulnerable. Natural resource mismanagement in the region – particularly of land and water resources – accentuates people’s vulnerabilities, and often leads to forced displacement and changing migration dynamics in the process. Despite research advances, significant knowledge gaps remain. Little is still known about how extreme events shape distinct types of human mobility in the region or how natural resource mismanagement contributes to reshaping human mobility. Even less is known about the concomitant impacts of extreme weather events and natural resource mismanagement on human mobilities and how these shape one another.

To address these knowledge gaps, the Stockholm Environmental Institute (SEI) Asia in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) are conducting a Regional study on the mobility impacts of climate change-induced extreme weather events and the misuse of environmental resources in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. The overall objective of this research is to conduct a regional study in the GMS on the impacts of climate and environmental changes on human mobility patterns, with a specific focus on (extreme) weather events and natural resource mismanagement. The aim is to effectively evidence drivers and factors in this climate-environment-mobility nexus, through an intersectional gender lens, in order to inform policy makers and concerned States regarding how frameworks, policies and practices, can better avert and minimize forced displacement, prepare for human mobility which is equitable and safe for all involved, and manage natural resources in socially just and environmentally sustainable ways.

Services

To support the desk-based part of the study, qualitative case study fieldwork will be conducted in Thailand and Cambodia in locations affected by both extreme weather events and natural resource mismanagement. Following a scoping phase, the following case-study site options have been pre-selected for fieldwork:

· In Thailand: Ubon Ratchathani or Udon Thani.

· In Cambodia: Tonle Sap Lake Region. Povinces may include Battambang, Banteay Mean Chey, Pursat, Kampong Cham, Thboung Khmum, Kratie and Steung Treng or Mondulkiri.

To this end we seek a national research team or civil society organisation to undertake a consultancy between the months of January and April 2023, to support the data collection process in either one of the two countries (or in both). Previous experience in one of the proposed sites will be considered essential. The final selection of case study sites will be done in accordance with the selected team(s).

Under direct supervision of Dr. Sara Vigil, Research Fellow at SEI, the selected team will be responsible to undertake the following duties, activities and deliverables:

1. Online training session (1 day). The SEI-IOM team will introduce the research objectives of the project, ensure that the teams understand the overall goals and targets as well as go through the fieldwork tools in detail so that these can be translated by the teams. We will also revise the ethical guidance.To be held at the end of January 2023.

2. Translation of research tools: Interview tools to be translated will include a semi-structured interview guide with migrant workers and a key informant interview guides for companies and local government representatives. To be completed by mid-February 2023.

3. Data collection in the selected province: The sample size for migrant workers will be between35-40 semi-structured interviews per country. We will also aim to speak to other key actors in selected provinces (an additional 10 key informant interviews per country). Interviews will last approximately one hour each. The team will be expected to identify and arrange interviews with migrant workers and key stakeholders. The team will be accompanied and supported by Dr. Sara Vigil during the fieldwork. The fieldwork will take place during the month of March 2023.

4. Transcription and translation: Once the data is collected, all interview data and recordings will be transcribed and translated directly into English. To be submitted to SEI by mid-April 2023.

5. Initial reporting: Based on the findings of the data collection, the team will provide a brief report highlighting an initial analysis of key findings and themes (not exceeding 10-15 pages per country). The report will be presented to SEI for comments, clarification and finalization. The report should be submitted to SEI by the end of April 2023 and will then be used to inform the final comparative report to be written by SEI with acknowledgement to our partners.

The team will liaise and coordinate with the direct supervisor on the data collection and analysis process.

Qualifications of the organization:

· Experience in conducting research on climate change, natural resource management and migration issues.

· Experience of working with migrant communities in selected provinces.

· Experience in conducting qualitative research, including key informant interviews, semi-structure interviews and focus groups.

· Experience of translation and transcription activities in Thai or Khmer and English.

· Experience and access to communities in one (or two) of the proposed sites.

· Experience with coding of qualitative data (NVivo or similar) is an advantage