REVISED: Terms of Reference (ToR) for Assessing the local leadership on anticipatory action in Beledweyne district of Hirshabelle state of Somalia

1.    BACKGROUND

Save the Children is a non-political, non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting child rights. Our vision is to create a world where every child has the right to survival, protection, development, and participation. Since 1951, Save the Children Somalia country office has been working in Somalia implementing humanitarian and development programs in five key sectors: child poverty reduction, child survival, child rights governance, child education, and child protection.

2.  INTRODUCTION

Natural disasters pose a significant threat to the populations in our target locations, including the Somali people in general, and can have devastating humanitarian consequences. The increase in extreme weather events caused by climate change exacerbates existing vulnerabilities and negatively impacts the livelihoods of poor communities, leading to loss of life, livelihoods, and displacement. Further impacts of the disaster are felt on infrastructure, health, and education services, and increased child protection risks. To address these challenges, Save the Children Somalia country office is currently implementing a German Federal Foreign Office funded project ‘Reducing Impacts of Disasters Using the Anticipatory Action Framework’ in Hirshabelle State (Beletwyene, Hiran Region) in collaboration with relevant agencies in line with national plans and priorities. The project focuses on strengthening local and national systems and capacities in early warning and anticipatory action programming. It provides valuable learning opportunities for anticipatory action, disaster preparedness, early warning systems, data collection, and trigger development for anticipatory action. Hiran region serves as a suitable case study to understand how anticipatory action can shift the focus on disaster management from reacting to hazards to actively anticipating them in the context of a protracted crisis. To monitor the humanitarian situation throughout the year, the project utilized Household Economic Analysis (HEA) and Cost of Diet (CotD) and monitoring of early warning. By using available and updated baselines, Save the Children is currently conducting an outcome analysis across four distinct livelihood zones. This exercise aims to provide comprehensive insights into the humanitarian situation throughout the year. Following this analysis, a cost of diet exercise will be undertaken to generate impact-based forecast information, which will help inform more effective interventions. The combined data will support evidence-based decision-making to improve food security and nutritional outcomes for vulnerable populations in these areas.

Additionally, to strengthen local and national systems and capacities in early warning and anticipatory action programming, the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management (MOHADMA) play a central role in managing and coordinating humanitarian responses and disaster management across Somalia. In recent years, the country has experienced an increasing number of climate-related hazards such as droughts and floods, coupled with ongoing political and socio-economic challenges. Early Warning and Early Action (EWEA) systems, which allow for the timely detection of risks and the proactive response to prevent or mitigate disasters, are crucial in this context.

However, funding, support for and coordination of anticipatory actions remains constrained at several levels. Consequently, there is need to undertake an assessment of the existing structures and systems on anticipatory action to further strengthen coordination and enhance funding for anticipatory action. This ToR outlines the framework for assessing the gaps and needs in anticipatory action, capacity building, and establishing systems that ensure inclusive local leadership in managing disaster risks and facilitating anticipatory actions.

3.  OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The overall objective of this assignment is to assess the gaps and needs of local leadership on Anticipatory Action (AA). This is aimed at determining the kind of investment required to support local leadership on anticipatory action in the target location.

3.1 Specific Objectives are:

4.     Assess the strength and weaknesses of locally led anticipatory action.

5.     Assess the interlinkages of these structures and how they relate to the community levels.

6.    SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant firm will facilitate the assessment work within geographic areas of Southern state with focus on Beledweyne district. The Somali Disaster Mangement Agency (SoDMA) at federal and Ministry of Humanitarian and Disaster management agency will be the direct beneficiaries of the assessment and will coordinate with other key stakeholders both at federal and state level such as Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation and Ministry of Energy and Water Resources among others.

Meanwhile the local level coordination will focus primarily on the selected districts of the project. This is outlined as follows:

1.  Beledweyne district

The assessment will focus on Beledweyne district, however, if the regional government structure is deemed necessary, the consultant will also assess the structures of the Hiraan region entirely on community level coordination structures including the Community Disaster Management Committees. The assessment will focus on their coordination roles, capacity and linkages with the districts, regional and or national disaster management structures.

7.  EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

I.        Inception Report: Detailed work plan, methodology, and timeline for conducting the assessment and delivering the outputs.

II.        An analysis of coordination structures which has the potential for supporting the local leadership of anticipatory actions

III.         Strategy of how to improve the local leadership in coordination of the anticipatory action structures including the capacity requirements such as technical, equipment and logistical arrangements

8.     DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT

The assignment is expected to be completed within 45 days and the consultant/firm is expected to carry out all the deliverables as follows: one weeks for the inception report, four weeks for the needs assessments and capacity building training and one week for the final report.

9.  REQUIRED EXPERTISE

The consultant/firm should possess the following qualifications:

•       Extensive experience in disaster management, humanitarian coordination, and Early Warning/Early Action systems.

•       Proven experience in conducting capacity assessments and designing capacity-building programs.

•       Strong knowledge of anticipatory action mechanisms and experience in working with national and local government institutions.

•       Demonstrated experience in fundraising, resource mobilization, and donor engagement in the humanitarian sector.

•       Familiarity with Somalia’s political, social, and economic context, particularly within disaster management and humanitarian operations.

10.  TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Consultancy fee: The consultant will come up with his/her own rate which will be subject to negotiation within the bounds of donor requirements and set standards of SC in Somalia the consultant is expected to estimate all relevant costs for the exercise, including costs for data collectors, vehicle rent, venue, stationary, standardization test and accommodation while undertaking activities related to this assignment.

11. CODE OF CONDUCT

Save the Children's work is based on deeply held values and principles of child safeguarding, and it is essential that our commitment to children's rights and humanitarian principles is supported and demonstrated by all members of staff and other people working for and with Save the Children. Save the Children's Code of Conduct sets out the standards to which all staff members must adhere, and the consultant is bound to sign and abide by the Save the Children’s Code of Conduct.

A contract will be signed by the consultant before the commencement of the action. The contract will detail terms and conditions of service, aspects of inputs, and deliverables. The Consultant will be expected to treat as private and confidential any information disclosed to her/him or with which she/he may come into contact during her/his service. The Consultant will not, therefore, disclose the same or any particulars thereof to any third party or publish it in any paper without the prior written consent of Save the Children. Any sensitive information (particularly concerning individual children) should be treated as confidential.

An agreement with a consultant will be rendered void if Save the Children discovers any corrupt activities have taken place either during the sourcing, preparation, and implementation of the consultancy agreement.

12. ETHICS AND CHILD SAFEGUARDING

The consultant is obliged to conduct the research in an ethical manner making sure children are always safe. The consultant should seek the views of various stakeholders, including children. Efforts should be made to make the research process child-centered and sensitive to gender and inclusion. The consultant must respect the rights and dignity of participants as well as comply with relevant ethical standards and SC’s Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct. The research must ensure voluntary, safe, and non-discriminatory participation and a process of free and un-coerced consent. Informed consent of each person (including children) participating in data collection should be documented.

A contract will be signed by the consultant before the commencement of the action. The contract will detail terms and conditions of service, aspects of inputs, and deliverables.

Intellectual property rights:

All data that will be collected should be considered as SCI properties and can’t be used for other purposes. All products developed under this consultancy belong to the project exclusively, guided by the rules of the grant contract between BHA and Save the Children. Under no circumstances will the consultant use the information of this survey for publication or dissemination without official prior permission (in writing) from Save the Children.

REQUIRED EXPERTISE

The consultant/firm should possess the following qualifications:

•       Extensive experience in disaster management, humanitarian coordination, and Early Warning/Early Action systems.

•      
Proven experience in conducting capacity assessments and designing capacity-building programs.

•       Strong knowledge of anticipatory action mechanisms and experience in working with national and local government institutions.

•       Demonstrated experience in fundraising, resource mobilization, and donor engagement in the humanitarian sector.

•       Familiarity with Somalia’s political, social, and economic context, particularly within disaster management and humanitarian operations.

10.  TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Consultancy fee: The consultant will come up with his/her own rate which will be subject to negotiation within the bounds of donor requirements and set standards of SC in Somalia the consultant is expected to estimate all relevant costs for the exercise, including costs for data collectors, vehicle rent, venue, stationary, standardization test and accommodation while undertaking activities related to this assignment.

Supplier Sustainability Policy and the included mandatory policies: Click Here to Access

HOW TO APPLY:

Applications can be submitted by either:

Electronic Submission via ProSave (Recommended)

•      Submit your response in accordance with the guidance provided in the below document:

•      Bidders are encouraged to apply via Ariba system. Please request the Ariba link via email sending your company profile and Business registration certificate/CV. Please address your request to apply via ProSave to [email protected]

Electronic Submission via Protected Email box (Optional)

•       Email should be addressed to [email protected]

•       Note – this is a sealed tender box which will not be opened until the tender has closed. Therefore, do not send tender related questions to this email address as they will not be answered.

•       The subject of the email should be “SAME AS THE CONSULTANT TITLE”.

•       ‘Bidder Name’, ‘Date’’.

•       All attached documents should be clearly labelled so it is clear to understand what each file relates to.

•       Emails should not exceed 15mb – if the file sizes are large, please split the submission into two emails.

•       Do not copy other SCI email addresses into the email when you submit it as this will invalidate your bid.

Closing Date for Applications

Interested  consultants  shall  submit  their  applications  through  the  above procedures on or before 29th October 2024.

Bids must remain valid and open for consideration for a period of no less than 60 days