CALL FOR RESEARCH EXPERTS

CALL FOR RESEARCH EXPERTS

SOCIO–ECOLOGICAL TRANSFORMATION AS PERCEIVED BY VIETNAMESE YOUTH AND THE PRACTICE OF ECOLOGICAL MOVEMENT IN VIETNAM

1. BACKGROUND

Center for Development of Community Initiative and Environment (C&E) is a Vietnamese not-for-profit organization established in 2008. C&E works to promote participation and improve the capacity of local community groups and organizations for better solutions to environmental issues that are related to their life, contributing to the development of civil society and sustainable environment in Vietnam.

In 2020, C&E will implement project “Scaling up and mainstreaming innovative approaches on ecological movement into activities of universities – 2020” funded by Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (RLS SEA). Generally, the project aims to contribute to environmental sustainability and climate justice in Vietnam specifically by raising public awareness of youth ecological movement and promoting ecological lifestyle and movement among the young Vietnamese and integration of socio-ecological issues/ transformation into university activities.

In the framework of this project, a research study is conducted to gain insight into the Vietnamese youth perceptions on issues related to socio-ecological transformation and the practice of ecological initiatives in Vietnam. The research findings are expected to be significant in several practical ways. They serve as references for individuals, groups, organizations and institutions, especially students, lecturers and universities who are interested in and have been practicing ecological lifestyles. Secondly, since there has been a dearth of youth perceptions and detailed descriptions of ecological initiatives in the existing research, the present study may be able to fill in the gap by extensively and intensively garnering how contemporary social and ecological issues are viewed and what initiatives have been conducted in response to the issues. Hence, potential practitioners may benefit from elaborate findings. Thirdly, the study aims to work as materials for any researchers or stakeholders who aspire to incorporate ecological practices into their research or operational cause.

To this end, C&E is looking for experts who have background and experience in relevant fields and research methodology to work with us on this research project.

1. RATIONALE

The climate crisis has arrived and is accelerating faster than most scientists expected. It is more severe than anticipated, threatening natural ecosystems and the fate of humanity.“, revealed by the findings of a collaborative study of 11,000 scientists published in the journal Bioscience (Ripple, Wolf, Newsome, Barnard & Moomaw, 2019). This means that the impacts of climate change on humans and ecosystems are unprecedentedly drastic including not only carbon emissions and surface temperature rise but also “vital signs” indicating disturbing trends such as rocketing world population, rising meat consumption, tree-cover loss and economic downturn resulted from natural disasters (Newsome, 2019) and thereby, call for urgent changes. Among the world regions, Southeast Asia has been reported to be one of the most vulnerable to climate change (Prakash, 2018). With long coastal lines and low-lying areas, geographically speaking, the region, including Vietnam, is facing its challenge of being submerged as a result of sea-level rise. In social and economic respects, Vietnam, with booming population and under the pressure of raising its living standard through industrial activities, is facing a number of challenges for economic growth, environmental protection and social justice.

This has called on mitigation and adaptation to climate change, entailing transformations in the way people interact with natural ecosystems and operate society (Ripple, Wolf, Newsome, Barnard & Moomaw, 2019). Recent years have witnessed unprecedented changes in green “movement” in Vietnam initiated by youth groups and individuals (Dang, 2018). A number of youth activities and initiatives have been reported to ostensibly express youth voices on environmental issues and address dramatic environmental consequences of climate change (Dang, 2018; Nguyen, 2013). For example, with the support of The Asia Foundation and two Vietnamese non-governmental organizations (NGOs), 500 Vietnamese youth leaders have been financially granted to conduct their projects to improve their community development and national health environment (Nguyen, 2013). In Hoi An, various eco-conscious and sustainable business models such as Vietnam Sustainable Space (VSS), Taboo Bamboo Workshop and U-cafe Hoi An have been considered green features of the ancient city to enhance youth awareness and participation in taking ecological acts (Dang, 2018).

Having worked with the youth on ecological projects for years, Center for Development of Community Initiative and Environment (C&E) has carried out a variety of educational programs such as Training of Trainers (TOT) 2017 – 2019 and Ecoweek 2018 – 2019 to promote ecological lifestyle and engaged the youth in innovative initiatives to address environmental consequences. During our project operations, C&E has interacted with thousands of Vietnamese young people across the country, including students, educators, practitioners, scientists, scholars and government servants. Our idea exchanges on socio-ecological issues and their pertinent hands-on experience have piqued our interest in gaining insights into their perspectives on contemporary issues and their first-hand practice in response to the existing challenges of climate change.

Nevertheless, as we searched for materials on the Vietnamese youth ecological initiatives, limited scientific literature was available. Furthermore, most of the materials focused on reporting the observed practice of environmental or ecological initiatives rather than portraying practitioners’ perspectives and lived experience in undertaking their initiatives. Therefore, it is worth investigating Vietnamese youth perceptions of socio-ecological issues and their hands-on experience in conducting their projects.

III. SCOPE OF CONSULTANCY

1. Research objectives:

The research aims to answer the two following questions:

• How do the Vietnamese youth perceive contemporary social and ecological issues?
• How have young practitioners undertaken their ecological initiatives / practices?

2. Research design:

The research uses both quantitative and qualitative approaches, gaining insights into youth perceptions of social and ecological transformation and their lived practice of ecological life through surveys, focus groups and in-depth interviews.

The study will employ three methods to cultivate expected results.

• Online surveys are to yield quantitative data on the Vietnamese youth perceptions and their practice of ecological lifestyle and initiatives. Approximately 500 responses will be achieved.
• Focus groups will be conducted with selected participants who are university students, lecturers and group and organization leaders from survey respondents. Expected 24 focus groups will be carried out at 12 universities in Northern, Central and Southern Vietnam. Each focus group will be attended by six to eight people at a university and facilitated by main researchers.
• In-depth interviews will be conducted with 15 to 20 ecological practitioners, organization representatives and experienced experts who have previous experience in practicing ecological lifestyle and undertaking initiatives.

3. Expected output:

A research paper providing insight into Vietnamese youth’s perceptions on social and ecological issues and their practice of undertaking ecological initiatives or projects.

4. Tentative workload & Time frame:

C&E Center is looking for two (02) positions for the research experts as follows:

III. DESCRIPTIONS OF POSITIONS

1. Ten (10) expert reviewing a research report

 1.1.  Duties and responsibilities

Review and comment for the research report (in both Vietnamese and English version) in report form and structure, contents (methodology of approach, statistics and evaluation; definition used, language references used…), images (tables and charts); recommendations and evaluate the quality of the report.

1.2. Tentative tasks and allocated working time:

1 working days of September

2.One (01) expert to translate the report from Vietnamese to English

2.1. Duties and responsibilities

To translate the SET research report from Vietnamese to English (around 100 – 150 pages) since C&E provide the draft of the report. Working with the proposal expert to edit base on the comment of the reviews expert until finalize.

2.2.Tentative tasks and allocated working time:

1 month in September – October 2020

3.One (01) designer for a book of the research report in Vietnamese and English

3.1. Duties and responsibilities

C&E needs a design and layout for the book of the SET research report in Vietnamese and English (around 100 – 120 pages) since C&E provides the draft of the report. Working with the proposal expert to edit base on the comment of the review’s expert until finalize.

The output of the activity:

– 1 book of the SET research report in Vietnamese ((around 100 – 120 pages)

– 1 book of the SET research report in English (around 100 – 120 pages)

3.2.Tentative tasks and allocated working time:

1 month in September – October 2020

1. ELIGIBILITIES

• Having relevant Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and experience of 5-10 years in research and the research topics
• Excellent interpersonal skills and interactions in a dynamic context
• Being able to meet the timeframe
• Having experience in working with youth and community

1. APPLICATION PROCEDURE

A competitive consultancy package will be offered to the consultant based on their qualification and experience. C&E center would like to invite interested experts to submit:

1. CV of the applicant(s)  in English;
2. A comprehensive proposal well as financial requirements based on the above- mentioned tentative workload;

Please send all requested documents in one PDF file to Ms. Le Thao via email at lethithao696@gmail.com and cc for email ce.center.office@gmail.com by September 06, 2020.  Please refer to the attached file for the quotation.

After the review/screening of applications, only short-listed applicants will be contacted by phone or email and invited for an interview. Obtained by email. Inquiries are only accepted before the deadline. Please refrain from phone inquiries.

We only consider applications meeting all the above-required conditions.

Attach: QUOTATION FORM

Thank you for your attention and look forward to your application!