Background:

Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within.

As the leading institution for advocacy under ZFRA Phase 3 program, MC puts specific efforts to strengthen policy at global, national or sub-national level to support climate resilience initiatives. This perspective is contextualized by the ZFRA Indonesia team, taking into account the current challenges faced by the country, particularly in Indonesia’s working area.

Coastal inundation has recently emerged as a significant concern in Indonesia. This occurs when seawater flows into the land repeatedly over a certain period of time, permanently changing the area from dryland into permanently inundated area. Coastal flooding and abrasion are among the primary causes of coastal inundation.   As it often happens gradually over an extended period of time (known as a slow-onset event), the severity of the situation may go unnoticed, until it is too late, resulting in irreversible impacts.

ZFRA Phase 2 has equipped the team with substantial insights on issues and challenges faced by local governments in managing coastal inundation and its associated impacts. The previous study on Loss and Damage Governance Gap Analysis highlighted the unclear categorization of coastal inundation (between disaster and climate change) and its slow-onset character, which already poses a challenge in addressing it. Additionally, the inadequate policy and governance framework at the national level has contributed to incompetence and inefficiency in managing this issue. Recognizing the pivotal role played by relevant policy and governance frameworks at the national level in guiding sub-national and local government, it is important to have such a framework in place to effectively address coastal inundation

Despite the ZFRA team’s efforts and achievements in influencing the decision-making and policy-making processes related to flood resilience and climate resilience at both sub-national and national levels, these challenges remain unresolved. In addition to that, vested interests of stakeholders and political dynamics across different government levels has driven the team to continually refine the advocacy strategy throughout the program implementation period. The advocacy process, particularly for coastal inundation context and its cascading impacts, was getting more challenging as the team has struggled to comprehensively map the broader landscape of this issue. ZFRA sees a more robust influencing approach for coastal inundation issue is needed to foster a more effective and operational policies and governance frameworks, particularly at the national level.

Purpose / Project Description:

The third phase of ZCRA in Indonesia is aiming for the following three system changes:

1. National government policy supports effective climate change adaptation

Where MCI will strive to improve climate change adaptation by aligning policies better and thus having a clearer and more well-informed approach at local level.

1. Strengthen international and national policy on how to address long term coastal flooding and inundation

By advocating a clearer, more effective and synergized governance framework for climate change and disaster resilience in Indonesia, with the inclusion of Loss and Damage mechanism, with the prolonged coastal flooding as a focus. MCI will use the local-level case as evidence for the advocacy process.

1. Flood-affected people living in watersheds in the North Coast of Central Java can thrive

MCI will work in a range of ways and stakeholders (communities, local leadership, a range of government agencies and officials at regency/city and provincial level) to protect households from both flash and coastal flooding.

To support the achievement of objective 2 above, ZCRA Indonesia recognizes the need to understand how coastal communities perceive, experience, and respond to coastal in order to inform planning, policy, and community-based adaptation strategies. The characteristics of coastal communities in Indonesia are highly diverse, and one of the main influencing factors is their economic activity. Areas with a tendency toward industrial activities, as opposed to those dependent on natural-based livelihoods such as farming and fishing, will form different types of communities. In addition, the physical form of the area, whether communities are located along the coasts of large islands or within small island clusters, also shapes distinct understandings and characteristics in how they adapt to change. Therefore, in this study, we aim to examine the understanding and perception of communities from three different regions: urban coastal communities, communities along the northern coast of Java Island, and those living within island clusters, in adapting to the threat of coastal flooding impacts.

Kabupaten Kepulauan Seribu, Kota Medan and Kabupaten Pekalongan each possess distinct physical and non-physical characteristics. Kabupaten Kepulauan Seribu consists of small island clusters; Kabupaten Pekalongan represents a coastal area on Java Island with concentrated economic activities; and Kota Medan located on the western coast of Indonesia, lies along a trade route adjacent to industrial activities. The dynamics, differences, and unique characteristics of these regions greatly influence community perceptions and responses to the threats posed by climate change impacts. Therefore, these three areas are assumed to illustrate the diverse conditions of Indonesia’s coastal regions in facing climate change impacts at the community level.

The findings from this analysis will provide substantial insights that will enable the team to develop a more effective multi-level influencing strategy for the next 4 years of the project.

Consultant Objectives:

MCI is thus seeking a consultant to develop the policy analysis and policy brief with specific objectives as follow:

1. to assess community awareness and understanding about changing coastal conditions, tides, and climate factors.
2. to documenting experiences and impacts of flooding, losses, and disruption to livelihoods, housing, health, and mobility.
3. to analyse perceptions of vulnerability and risk (understand which groups by gender, typical of works, age, or location) feel most at risk.
4. to explore adaptation and coping strategies to coastal inundation (e.g., elevating houses, migration, using boats, early warning systems).
5. to identify communication gaps and information needs
6. to provide recommendations for local planning and adaptation into actionable insights for spatial planning, disaster management, and coastal protection programs.

Consultant Activities:

The Consultant will be based in Jakarta, with one-time travel for data collection purpose to sites. The consultant will work closely with ZCRA Indonesia Team (especially national advocacy team, and collaborate with local advocacy team, as necessary) to assess coastal communities’ awareness, experiences, perceptions, and coping strategies related to coastal inundation:

1. Desk review and context scan (collect existing studies, hazard maps, historical flood records and local planning documents)
2. Develop data collection tools (household questionnaire: closed and a few open questions), FGD guide (experience, impacts, local knowledge and coping)
3. Conduct the database management (clean the survey data and transcribe FGD)
4. Develop quantitative and qualitative analysis based on primary and secondary data (descriptive stats: the awareness levels, perceived frequency/severity, reported losses and cross tabs analysis
5. Develop the spatial synthesis (visualize inundation and community hotspots, including the pattern of community mobility in simple maps).

A separate Terms of Reference document for this consultancy work is available to provide a more detailed information on proposed analysis method, research questions, expected outline and detailed timeline. The TOR can be accessed through this link: [bit.ly/TOR_CommunityPerceptionZCRA].

Consultant Deliverables:

The expected deliverables of the consultants:

• Final Data Collection Tools

Including the concept and workplan for Survey and FGD guides

• Analytical report

The findings will highlight the full analysis of social perception and recommendations

• Policy analysis document

The document will serve as an internal document for the program. It will provide insights (gaps and opportunities) for the ZFRA Indonesia to better shape our program approach in Phase 3.

Timeframe / Schedule: 

Three (6) months, starting from December 2025 until June 2026.

The Consultant will report to:             

• ZCRA Indonesia Program Manager

The Consultant will work closely with:

• ZCRA Indonesia Program Manager
• ZCRA Technical Support Consultant for National Advocacy and Engagement

Required Experience & Skills:

• Minimum 10 years experiences in CCA/DRR and/or resilience issues
• Excellent understanding on climate resilience and disaster management frameworks at national level as well as coastal flooding issue and to holistically understand that differences in regional characteristics influence responses to climate change risks
• Proven experience in coordinating and communicating with national and local stakeholders; both government and non-government actors.
• Demonstrated proficiency in writing bilingual report.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds, and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and solve the world’s most complex challenges. We strive for a culture of trust and respect, where everyone contributes their perspectives and authentic selves, reaches their potential as individuals and teams, and collaborates to do the best work of their lives.

We recognize that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group in the locations where we work.

Safeguarding & Ethics

Mercy Corps team members are expected to support all efforts toward accountability, specifically to our stakeholders and to international standards guiding international relief and development work, while actively engaging communities as equal partners in the design, monitoring and evaluation of our field projects. Team members are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and respect local laws, customs and MC’s policies, procedures, and values at all times and in all in-country venues.

How To Apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit their proposal which should include the following:

• Consultant’s CV
• Research Proposal (consultants can refer to the TOR through this link: ly/TOR_CommunityPerceptionZCRA)
• Proposed budget, which should include travel costs for the consultant (team) related to survey and data collection in the target areas (Kabupaten Kepulauan Seribu, Kota Medan, and Kabupaten Pekalongan).

The proposal must be submitted via email to procurement@id.mercycorps.org before 21 November 2025. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Thank You,

Mercy Corps Indonesia