RFP – Research on Mobile Communication In South-East Asia

The Global Disaster Preparedness Center (GDPC, preparecenter.org), a joint venture between the American Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies (IFRC), is collaborating with Red Cross/Red Crescent national societies and other actors on the‘Mobile Communication for Preparedness in Southeast Asia’ project. The project aims to enhance public access to critical preparedness information using mobile communication technologies, specifically focused on developing and rolling out flood hazard preparedness apps in Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and the Philippines.

For the humanitarian sector and the work of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies it is critically important to find ways to effectively leverage new communication and information sharing technologies, especially in remote areas or densely populated urban settlements where vulnerable population groups are hard to reach with other types of programming like training or educational programs. Mobile communication channels can provide opportunities for raising awareness on disaster risks and preparedness measures, for disseminating early warnings and for providing information on location and availability of services. In order to make best use of the available mobile technologies and tailor communication and outreach strategies, humanitarian actors need to better understand how people access and process information through apps and other forms of messaging. This includes questions about the determinants for access to mobile technologies, preferences for different information sources, and the usefulness and motivation to act on the information presented. Getting a better understanding of these issues will help to shape project activities and inform the design of future programs that incorporate mobile technologies in their implementation.

To provide further insights into the most effective use of apps and other public communication tools, the GDPC is looking to collaborate with research partners to implement the research component of the ‘Mobile Communication for Preparedness in Southeast Asia’ project. The findings will inform other project activities and contribute to the development of a broader evidence base on public communications. For details on the scope of work, timeline and deliverables please consult the Terms of Reference. For questions please send an email to gdpc@redcross.org specifying ‘SE Asia Mobile Communication for Preparedness’ in the subject line.

How to apply:

To apply, please send complete proposals (template attached) to gdpc@redcross.org, specifying ‘SE Asia Mobile Communication for Preparedness, [Institution], [Date]’ in the subject line. The document should not exceed 15 – 20 pages, excluding attachments. The proposal will be evaluated on the above requirements and should include the following:

1.       Demonstrated understanding of the terms of reference including an applied research design

2.      High level workplan for the implementation and coordination of research activities in the 4 countries.

3.      Information on capabilities and experiences of managing partners.

4.      Short bios of the key personnel involved in the research project with information on past research experiences as applicable to the project.

5.       Concise budget broken down by activities.

Application deadline extended to: October 17, 2014. Only complete submissions will be considered.