Consultant for conducting Tracer study-Graduates of Danida-SomRep

DRC

Job Type

Full Time

Location

Somalia

Description :

Organization: Danish Refugee Council
Country: Somalia
Closing date: 19 May 2017

1. Background and context

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, independent, humanitarian organization working on all aspects of the refugee cause in more than 30 countries throughout the world. The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) and its sister organization DDG has been providing relief, humanitarian community safety, and early recovery/development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. The aim of DRC is to protect refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) against persecution and to promote durable solutions to the problems of forced migration, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC works in accordance with the UN Conventions on Refugees and the Code of Conduct for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief. The Danish Demining Group (DDG) aims to recreate a safe environment where people can live without the threat of landmines, unexploded ordinances and small arms and light weapons. These goals can be effectively advanced through cooperation and joint action with other organization as well as with integration of operations and programs with its sister organization, the DRC.

2. Purpose

The objective of the study is to assess how the VSLA and SME/VST beneficiaries who were trained and supported in phase 1 of the project have been able to cope with the current drought in order to draw lessons that would inform future programming.

Specific tasks to be examined under the assessment will include but not limited to:

· Trace the where about of the graduates from VSLA and VST

· Places where they are based, living and/or doing business or VSLA

· Establish the type and number of livelihoods engaged in currently) (business etc)

· Establish how many of the VST graduates are employed – (forma, informal and self-employment)

· Are there any challenges specific to female graduates and their businesses?

· Document type and number of LH assets created from Phase 1 programming

· Document how the current drought has impacted their lives and/or livelihoods as VSLA members and VST graduates?

· How has the drought affected their way of life as individuals or household?

· What’s the effect of the drought on LH activities, businesses and services

· Assess/establish how the VSLA and VST graduates have been copping against the shock from the drought

· Identify the copping strategies being used – individual, household and group levels

· To what extent are the indicators for adaptive, transformative an absorptive and capacities evident in their copping strategies.

· What lessons can be learnt from the VSLA members and VST graduates to guide future programming

· Document the positive lessons from the VSLA members and VST graduates experiences in current drought shock

Establish the type of support that would be needed for them to strengthen of their businesses and VSLA activities to make them more resilient to shock?

• Employment rates of the graduates – both in informal, formal and self-employment
• How the current drought have affected them
• What is their copying strategy
• What support they need
• Challenges facing the female graduates and business are facing

The information will assist the project to prepare and position future VST trainees for the job market, response to the drought affected Business as well as advise the employment promotion services’ centres on the services required for the graduates.

3. Key Responsibilities

3.1. Scope of consultancy

The assessment will be conducted in selected areas in SomRep Danida area (luuq,Dollow and Belet-hawa) of Gedo region for COOPI,DRC and WV. Specific locations will be selected from South-Central Zone (includes Mogadishu IDP Settlements, Accessibility to some of these suggested districts, to non-Somalis, may be dependent upon the security situation at the time of the field visit, and travel must be pre-approved by the DRC Safety Advisors. Applicants must explain how they plan to access the places in their expressions of interest.

3.2. Key tasks with list of ‘key activities’, under each responsibility.

Hold entry meetings at Nairobi and Field level before starting of the assessment

Develop an Inception Report detailing among other things; the process and methodologies to be employed to achieve the objectives of this consultancy as stated above. It should include all assessment tools, and important time schedules for this exercise, and be presented to DRC for review and further inputs, before going to the field.

Undertake desk review of the relevant secondary studies conducted by other partners, Cluster and DRC

Design, develop, critique (with DRC team) and refine data collection tools.

Conduct a comprehensive field based project evaluation [using both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods]

Carry out data collection, entry and analysis and write up the final evaluation report based on DRC inputs into the draft version.

3.3. Methodology

It is envisioned that the assessment will be conducted using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methodologies to collect primary and desk review to get secondary data from reliable and relevant sources. In addition, In-depth Key Informant Interviews, household survey, Focus group discussion, observation and collection of success stories, documenting lessons learned and best practices will also be used. However, the consultant will however, in consultation with DRC, design an appropriate and comprehensive methodology with clear sampling framework to ensure representativeness of the respondents among whom assessment the assessment will be done. The methodology will have to ensure an area-wise analysis and presentation of findings based on the objectives.. The methodology may include but is not limited to review of existing information on, collecting quantitative and qualitative data from returnees, government line ministries, service providers and community members etc.

3.4. Key deliverables/outputs

Inception Report– The inception report will be a scoping exercise for the assessment and will include the proposed methodologies, data collection and reporting plans with draft data collection tools such as interview guides, the allocation of roles and responsibilities within the team, a timeframe with firm dates for deliverables, and the travel and logistical arrangements for the team. This is expected a maximum of four days after signing of the contract.

Debriefing meetings / Feedback to Area Managers at field levels – The consultant will report his/her preliminary findings to the DRC’s Program Coordinators and DRC Monitoring and Evaluations Officer before leaving the field.

Debriefing at Nairobi level: Hold debriefing meeting for stakeholder at Nairobi level inorder to get some feedback that should be taken into account when working on the report

Draft Report – A full draft report in line with agreed format/outline, identifying key findings, conclusions, recommendations for the current and future operation, and take in consideration the outputs of the debriefing session will be shared with DRC ??? days following completion of data collection for review to get initial feedback.

Final report – The final report (max 40 pages, excluding the preliminary pages and annexes) should be submitted after incorporating all comments and in line with TOR, This will contain a short executive summary (max 3 pages) and a main body of the report covering, background to the project being assessed, a description of the assessment methods and limitations, detailed findings and their analysis following questions raised in TOR. Emphasis should be to bring out issues that either enhance or undermine beneficiaries’ adaptive, absorpative and transformative capacities to cope with shocks from drought. In addition, interventions, conclusions, lessons learned, clear recommendations (which includes assessment of risks/ humanitarian accessshort be clearly articulated. Where possible, include some case studies. Recommendations should be specific, feasible, and in line with DRC’s strategic mandate.

The report should also contain appropriate appendices, including a copy of the ToR, cited resources or bibliography, a list of those interviewed and any other relevant materials. The final assessment report will be submitted one week after receipt of the consolidated feedback from DRC. The report should be Five (5) Hard-cover-bound copies and soft copy in two (4) CD- ROMs in pdf version.

4. DRC/DDG’s responsibilities

The consultant will report to the DRC Food Security and Livelihoods Manager and closely coordinate field activities with the Team Leader & SomRep Technical Advisors. The M& Manager will provide support on a case to case basis. DRC staff in the evaluation areas will provide necessary support to the team, as may be needed. The Consultant shall provide updates on progress as requested.

DRC will provide the following to the lead consultant:

• Transport to and from the field (as part of the overall contract)
• All necessary project documents as requested by the consultant
• Travel Insurance, where applicable(The cost must be reflected in his/her budget)
• Accommodation, including meals, for consultant (and will be deducted from Budget)
• Pay consultancy fees at a mutually agreed rate

The terms and conditions of service will follow DRC terms of consultancies. Payment will be done according to the finance procedures of DRC/DDG.

5. Reporting Arrangements

The consultant shall work under the direct supervision of DRC Somalia Monitoring and Evaluation Manager with administrative oversight of the Deputy Country Director, Somalia Program.

6. DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT

It is anticipated that the assessment will take 14 days from the date of signing the Contract, The Consultant/Consultancy firm should develop a feasible costed work plan/activity schedule covering an approximately 14 days and submit as integral part of the proposal for this consultancy.

7. EXPECTED PROFILE OF CONSULTANT

· Postgraduate degree in Economics, food security and livelihood related field.

· At least seven years of hands on experience in conducting assessments especially livelihoods, resilience and skill development programms.

· Strong background in monitoring and evaluation techniques.

· Experience in developing and implementing gender sensitive baseline methodologies in resilience and cash based interventions.

· Ability to analyze complex livelihood systems.

· Good knowledge and experience in survey design, implementation of surveys and statistical data analysis.

· Previous experience doing similar assignment with DRC is also an added advantage.

· Demonstrable experience in leading evaluations using Participatory Impact Assessment (PIA) approaches

· Strong analytical skills and ability to clearly synthesize and present findings, draw practical conclusions, make recommendations and to prepare well-written reports in a timely manner;

· Demonstrated experience in both quantitative and qualitative data collection and data analysis techniques, especially in emergency operations;

· Experience, knowledge and clear understanding of Somalia’s humanitarian context; culture and the Somali political dynamics.

· Readiness to travel to and across Somalia and independently conduct direct standard assessment activities.

8. TERMS & CONDITIONS

The consultant should be willing to work in the target areas of Gedo Region South Somalia, where security allows. The consultant may have his/her own team to work with and then they will entirely be under the jurisdiction of the consultant and at no time will DRC/DDG be held responsible for them.

9. General

Commitments: DRC/DDG has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability committments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework (http://www.DRC/DDG.dk/HAF.4265.0.html)

10. APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested applicants who meet the required profile are invited to submit an Expression of Interest (EoI) to DRC. The EoI should include:

• A suitability statement including CV of participating consultants with details of qualifications and experience.
• Technical proposal that summarizes understanding of the TOR, methodology and tools to be used.
• Work-plan clearly indicating the activity schedule.
• Financial proposal providing cost estimates and consultancy fees.
• Contacts of three organizations that have recently contracted you to carry out similar assignment.
• The foreseen work plan for the days. Daily consulting rate is negotiable, although will be commensurate to DRC consultancy terms and standards

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