Call for Service Provider: Comprehensive study on energy-related indebtedness

Background

About the Implementer:

People in Need (PIN) is a Czech non-governmental organization that provides relief aid and development assistance while working to defend human rights and democratic freedom. It is one of the largest relief and development organizations in Europe and has administered projects in 37 countries over the past 30 years. People in Need has been working in Moldova since 2003, implementing projects in the field of Sustainable Livelihood and Environment, Social Inclusion and Protection, Good Governance and Human Rights.

About the project:

The action is designed to limit the negative socioeconomic impact of the current energy crisis on vulnerable households in the Republic of Moldova, thus preventing the deterioration into a socioeconomic crisis with the potential to lead to widespread social unrest. The main objective of the action is to maintain the stability of the Republic of Moldova. As such, the action contributes to the foreign policy of the European Commission and is aligned with the objectives of the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) in the areas of crisis response, conflict prevention, and crisis preparedness. Finally, the action strengthens the role of civil society as active pillars of democracy, community building, and policy dialogue.

The project aims at achieving its overall goal through the following three outputs:

Output 1         The action will provide vulnerable households with direct access to multi-purpose cash assistance (MPCA) and in-kind heating assistance to cover the needs of target populations.

Output 2         Vulnerable population will be provided access to improved social services such as access to food, transportation, legal assistance, counselling on indebtedness etc. to address a wide range of needs.

Output 3         Comprehensive study on energy-related indebtedness of households will be conducted alongside targeted outreach.                                                                       

Purpose of this call:

This call falls under output 3, and through this action a comprehensive study on energy-related indebtedness of households will be conducted.

Title of the study: Comprehensive study on energy-related indebtedness of the most vulnerable households in Moldova

Time of the action: July – September 2022

Budget: The maximum amount for the service provision is 7500 EUR (Gross).

The main objective:

The aim is to get an in-depth understanding of the factors affecting the increase in loans due to the on-going energy crisis and how it might impact financial sustainability of households in the medium to long term. The study will pay specific attention on how the crisis affects different population groups such as youth or elderly.

The study should be able to answer the following questions:

• What was the effect of the current energy crisis on the indebtedness of the population in Moldova?
• What are the most common types of debts and conditions for accessing loans from banking and non-banking institutions in the Republic of Moldova?
• What are the main causes of individual indebtedness?
• What is the institutional approach to tackling indebtedness (bankruptcy and loan forgiveness) in Moldova?
• How are the interests of the debtors against credit and financial institutions protected and which legislative changes need to be introduced in order to alleviate the negative impact of the ongoing crisis on the vulnerable population in Moldova?

The study will further define main goals and topics for a follow up advocacy and information campaign addressing energy-related indebtedness of vulnerable households in Moldova.

Stakeholders:

The service provider is obliged to coordinate and consult the study questions with the representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection in Moldova and work closely with relevant Moldovan authorities while conducting the study.

Key deliverables expected:

1. Detailed methodology and work plan including the In-depth interview guiding questions;
2. First Draft Report including the desk research, data analyses, and analysis of conducted interviews;
3. Final Research Report will be submitted and presented no later than September 15, 2022, and will include:

• Executive summary
• Methodology applied
• Findings
• Conclusions
• Set of recommendations for the advocacy campaign
• Annexes.

Qualification requirements:

• Relevant experience in conducting similar research studies
• Good understanding and knowledge of financial system and related legislation in Moldova
• Be directly responsible for the preparation and management of similar research study, not acting as an intermediary
• 2 references
• No record of illegal and unethical activity (corruption, fraud).

Evaluation criteria:

The proposals will be evaluated against the criteria illustrated here below:

Applications (a brief description of the methodology that will be used and the financial offer) can be submitted in Romanian or English.

The application must be signed by the applicant (legal or physical person), scanned (also in editable format), and sent electronically to the following email address: concurs.moldova@peopleinneed.net specifying in the subject line: Ref. ENERGY CRISIS RESPONSE – Comprehensive study on energy-related indebtedness of households.

The deadline for submission of this application is 28/06/2022.

Please send your questions until June 17, 2022, at the email address indicated above.