Baseline and Endline Survey for BIMP-II Impact Evaluation (IE)

Project Description

The Secocond Bridges Improvement and Maintenaance Program (BIMP-II) amis at supporting the efforts of the Government of Nepal (GON) in providing safe, reliable and cost-effective bridges on Nepal’s SRN. This is one of the main objectives of the GON’s Bridge Policy and Strategy. The SRN roads and bridges are critical to ensure connectivity, social and economic inclusion and thus economic growth of Nepal. The current remaining gaps (around 400) on the SRN required for providing year-round access along esisting roads isolate communities mainly during Nepal’s annual rainy season. This impact evaluation targets new bridge constrcution in Nepal, approximately 130 motorable bridges across eight road corridors comprising Mahakali Corridor, Bheri Corridor, Karnali Corridor, Karnali Highway, Sahid Rajmarg, Mid-hill Highway, Madan Bhandari Highway and Tamor Corridor.

In this impact evalaution, it is expected to colleect data on local market conditions, market prices,, as well as connectivity to health institutions, labor markets and education facilities. The data collected through this impact evalaution will be used to improve the Bridge Branch’s Bridge Management System (BMS) and selection criteria for bridge cocnstrcution and rehabilitation (identifying and planning future priority bridges works). The BIMP-II Program will support new constrcution, rehabilitation or replacement of approximately 5 number of new 4 lane bridges (about 600m). The expected beneficiaries from reduced trasnportation costs are agriccultural procedures, motorized road users, pedestrians, cyclists and local communities.

The Second Bridges Improvement and Maintenance Program (BIMP-II) was initiated through coordinated efforts of Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport’s (MoPIT) and World Bank (WB) with commitment to support the development and strengthening of bridges on the Strategic Roads Networks of Nepal.

The general objective of the assignment is :
• Gather primary baseline and endline information, both quantitative and qualitative on allocated outcomes and impact indicators via. Household Survey, Market Survey, Social Monitoring & Survey and Perspective Border Agency Survey;
• Collect, compile and interpret periodic monitoring data for accessing progress, effectiveness and impact against the set indicators and targets during implementation of programme.

Assignment Description

Conducted required meetings and desk studies with review of relevant projects’ documents generating ideas for the proposed study; • Developed an effective implementation plan/study protocol/manual to be followed during the study period; • Prepared a realistic Quality Assurance/Control Plan and project management system so that the project can run smoothly; • Reviewed and updated the previously conducted Impact Evaluation Study based on the proposed project indicators such as (Commodity market price, Household Agricultural Profit, Household Agricultural Productivity, Annual household income, Household level food consumption, Household access to health, education and financial services, Travel cost and time taken, Number of land transaction; transaction value of land, Regional development (migration pattern), Enterprise development Status, Regional Market Integration, Transport cost of goods or commodity) • Identified and assured data source by nature and type; • Developed study tools, survey methods, sampling process and sample sizes with close consultation of WBG/DIME focal persons; • Prepared CAPI based electronic data entry program using SurveySOLUTION program and make necessary validations and skipping patterns and take assurance from the DIME team; • Finalized required number of field survey team, clearly identifying roles and responsibilities of each team members and train them; • Carried out baseline survey including 3025 HHs (representative sample size), institutional and market surveys in the proposed project locations (57 LLs; 111 Wards; 130 Bridges) using the Tools: (Tool 1: HH Survey Modules (including employment generation), Tool 2: Market Survey(Sample size 53), Tool 3: Business/Entrepreneurs' Survey (Sample size 85) (including Types of employment generated through business (direct employees, indirect employees) by gender and their earnings, Employment status), Tool 4: Transport Owners Association Survey (Vehicle operators Survey-72),Vehicle User’s survey (sample size-173), Tool 5:Community Survey (Sample size 99), Tool 6: Focus Group Discussion (including employment)), Key Informant Interview (sample size-121) • Developed raw data set and other indicator wise outputs and submit them to the client; • Developed periodic monitoring framework for the construction period and finalize the indicators and information management system in close consultation with the DIME team; • Data Analysis and preparation of Monthly Progress Report and Baseline Survey Report.