Terms of Reference (TOR) for Consultancy on assessment on the disability inclusion in the Peace processes in target FMSs in Somalia

Terms of Reference (TOR) for Consultancy on assessment on the disability inclusion in the Peace processes in target FMSs in Somalia

Date of issue:  28 July 2024

Project title: Strengthening democratic and inclusive local governance in Somalia (STRONG) project

Target locations  3 districts in the target FMs (Jubbaland, Galmudug, and Banadir Regional Administration - BRA).

Deadline for submission of offers:  11 August 2024 at 5 p.m. (East Africa Time Zone)

Contracting authority: FCA Somalia Country Office

Contact: Procurement Committee

Email: [email protected] 

1. Introduction:

FCA Somalia works to enable people to break the circle of poverty and violence. FCA is a rights-based actor and a Finnish organization with 70 years of experience with operations in 15 countries. FCA is Finland’s largest NGO in development cooperation and the second largest provider of disaster relief. Our action is guided by international human rights standards and principles. We realize our mission and vision through development cooperation, humanitarian assistance and advocacy work. We contribute to positive change by supporting people in the most vulnerable situations within fragile and disaster-affected areas. We are specialized in three thematic areas as central to sustainable change: the right to peace (R2P), right to livelihood (R2L) and right to quality education (R2QE). For more information, please visit www.kua.fi

  2. The STRONG Project Background Information

As part of FCA’s ongoing Local Governance, Peace, and Reconciliation efforts, FCA and its partners have commenced the implementation of the project funded by the Swedish embassy (SIDA). This project aims to foster sustainable peace and good governance in Somalia by enhancing local capacity and encouraging inclusive community participation.

The overall objective of the Strong Project is to strengthen the capacity and participation of the local community, especially women, and enhance inclusive local governance and administration for effective and accountable basic public service delivery in four Federal Member States of Somalia (FMS) through District Council Formation (DCF). To achieve the project's overall and specific objectives, FCA has designed the following key outcomes:

·         Outcome 1: Enhanced local capacity and inclusive participation of the community, including women, youth, and marginalized groups in peacebuilding, reconciliation, and local governance processes,

·         Outcome 2: Strengthened inclusive and sustainable local governance and administration for effective basic public service delivery,

·         Outcome 3: Strengthened safe, inclusive, and protected civic spaces and women’s capacity for their meaningful participation and leadership in strategic advocacy.

The project is being implemented in close coordination with government institutions, the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliations (MOIFAR), the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development and institutions, and the Ministry of Education at the FMS level, and in partnership with local partner organizations (that FCA refers as “Implementing Partners or Partners”). The project target locations are in 2 FMS Galmudug and Jubbaland and Banadir Regional Administration (BRA) with emphasis on a maximum of 4 new districts to be formed through DCF and support for Banadir Regional Administration (BRA).

Additionally, the project targets peace education activities in selected schools in target Federal Member States of Somalia. A flexible programming approach will be adopted, with the programme being annually reviewed to adapt and adjust the interventions to new development around political context and strategy of the government. The Project Advisory Board and the Project Implementation Team continues to work closely to assess the context and risks, and provide recommendations, mitigation actions, and requests to SIDA for possible adjustment of interventions and/or shift in implementation modalities based on the change in context and risks.

3. Background information of the consultancy

In Somalia, FCA has been working on advancing reconciliation, peacebuilding and inclusive local governance through district council formation. While there are tangible results in the meaningful participation of women and youth in the formed local councils, the meaningful inclusion of persons with disabilities in district council formation process, local council decision-making and inclusive basic service delivery has been identified as a concrete development area and a gap in current programming as informed by recent evaluations of FCA’s ongoing peacebuilding and governance work. As such, with funding from SIDA, FCA seeks to address this gap by enhancing disability inclusion in peacebuilding, reconciliation and DCF in Somalia.

Leveraging a MoU with Abilis, FCA will partner with Abilis[1] to develop concrete tools for disability inclusion in Somalia district council formation processes. To ensure that these learnings benefit the global organisation as well as the broader peace sector, the learnings will be utilised as a country case study and integrated into a broader global tool developed by NETW[2], FCA and Abilis.

Due to the novelty of the approach and the needs, this process will be a phased process with the first phase focusing on creating a baseline on specific gaps, needs and entry points of disability inclusion in peacebuilding processes in Somalia and the second subsequent phase will focus on applying the findings for tool development, informed by the baseline and consultation outcomes. 

In this regard, the FCA Somalia Country Office seeks a qualified independent consultant(s) to conduct an assessment on the disability inclusion in the peace process in Somalia, including relevant policies, laws and tools available at the global level and specifically in Somalia that can be utilized to advance a whole-of-society approach for persons with disabilities in peacebuilding efforts. The consultant(s) will utilize and intersectional approach, unpacking the overlaying distinct barriers that face persons with disabilities also based on their gender, age, ethnicity, and other relevant identity areas.

4. Objective of the assessment on disability inclusion in the peace process

The main objective of the task is to gather information on disability inclusion in the peace process in target Federal Member States of Somalia. The goal of the entire task is to enhance the meaningful participation and inclusion of persons living with disabilities in matters related to peacebuilding, reconciliation, decision making processes, and district council formation process in target Federal Member States of Somalia.

Specifically, the assessment on disability inclusion in the peace process will employ the following key specific objectives, including;

·         Review of existing tools, laws, regulations, and policies, including the Wadajir framework and National Reconciliation Framework on disability inclusion in peace processes in Somalia, as well as review existing tools, laws, regulation and policies at the global level that can be utilized in Somalia. This should be done in partnership with Abilis.

·         Develop a framework in consultation with NETW, FCA and Abilis to conduct a fact-finding exercise to identify the existing gaps in disability inclusion in local governance, peacebuilding and reconciliation process in Somalia.

·         Arrange and conduct consultations with relevant district, state and federal authorities on their implementation (gaps, support needs), including the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development, MOIFAR, MOIs, and Parliamentary committees on the current opportunities, barriers to participate in peacebuilding, reconciliation and decision-making process.

·         Prepare a brief report on the current status of disability inclusion in local governance and peacebuilding and reconciliation process in Somalia. The report should also provide necessary recommendations for tool development on disability inclusion and necessary areas of capacity development for the right holders and duty bearers.

5. Methodology and Approach Process

The assessment exercise is expected to adopt a mixed method by combining qualitative and quantitative approaches to gather key data to identify the existing gaps in implementing the Wadajir Framework and National Reconciliation Framework with regards to inclusion of persons living with disabilities (PLWDs) in the peace process.

The assessment will be carried out through a participatory approach where key stakeholders in the target FMS and key technical structures/committees spearheading the DCF process, community leaders, clan elders, religious leaders, representative of the community groups, particularly women and youth and other local government officials, are consulted.

The study is expected to be conducted in three project target districts in two FMS (Galmudug and Jubbaland) and Banadir Regional Administration (BRA).

6. Data Analysis and Reporting The collected data will be analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods to generate findings and insights. A comprehensive assessment report will be produced, including:

• Key gaps in disability inclusion in the peace process;
• Key challenges and identified support need to include disability in the local governance and reconciliation process; and
• Key recommendations to include disability in the peace process.

7. Deliverables

The consultant(s) will deliver:

·         Inception Report: Detailing the methodology, work plan/schedule, and data collection tools.

·         Assessment Report: Presenting key findings and feasible recommendations.

·         Other Documents: Raw data files, transcripts of interviews and FGDs.

  8. Duration of contract

Duration of this contract is 45 days over the period of two months period.

  9. Service Terms

FCA Somalia country office intends to contract qualified consultant(s) for 45 days. However, the validity of the contract will be for 2-months.

  10. Duty Station

The independent consultant(s) will undertake in-country field work and reporting based on agreed work-plan and methodology. The assessment will take place in three districts in the target FMs (Jubbaland, Galmudug, and Banadir Regional Administration - BRA) by relevant line ministries at Federal and state levels. 

  11. Transport & Logistics

The consultant(s) will cover field transport and accommodation arrangements, translator and/or interpreter needs, focal points and other contact points on the field and other logistical arrangements concerning consultant’s visit(s).

  12. Validity

Tenders/Offers shall remain valid and open for acceptance for a period of 60 days after the closing date for the submission.

[1] Abilis is non-profit organization that provides services and supports for select individuals with special needs and their families from birth through the life span. The organization provides people with developmental disabilities and their families with supports and advocacy for building able lives and strong communities.

[2] The Network for Religious and Traditional Peacemakers (Peacemakers Network), which is a partner with FCA, is non-profit organization that facilitates connections between grassroots peacemakers and global players to enhance sustainable peace efforts. It supports the positive influence of religious and traditional actors in collaborative peacebuilding and peace mediation.

Individual consultant experienced in conducting similar study on disability inclusion in local governance and peacebuilding are encouraged to apply. Specially, the proposed lead consultant should demonstrate the key following educational and experience in his/her CV.

• Experience: Minimum 5 years of leading and conducting research on local governance, peacebuilding, reconciliation and disability inclusion projects in Somalia.

·         Knowledge: In-depth understanding of the Somali context, with specific expertise in the disability rights.

·         Education: Master's degree in social sciences, peacebuilding, or related field.

With a team having minimum Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as economic statistics, developmental studies, peace and conflict management, public administration, social anthropology, or development communication.

·         Skills: in line with the study methodology and internationally recognized assessments/evaluations criteria and other relevant skills such as;

o   Proven experience designing and implementing mixed-method research instruments (surveys, focus group guides, interview protocols).

o   Strong qualitative and quantitative data analysis skills.

o   Excellent report writing skills, clearly presenting complex findings in a concise and informative way.

o   Fluency in Somali and English (both written and spoken) for effective communication with stakeholders and communities.

o   Strong cultural sensitivity and ability to work respectfully with diverse communities.

o   Proficiency in data analysis software (e.g., SPSS, Excel) and reporting tools (e.g., MS Office).

o   Excellent teamwork and communication skills.

Deadline for submission of offers 11 August 2024 at 5 p.m. (East Africa Time Zone). Candidates must send their offers via email to [email protected] no later than the deadline as aforementioned. Any tenders received after the deadline will not be considered. Candidates must put ‘Consultancy on Fact Finding on the disability inclusion in the Peace process in Somalia’ in the subject line of their emails. No tender may be changed or withdrawn after the deadline has passed. The candidate shall bear all costs associated with the preparation and submission of the offer and the Contracting Authority will in no case be responsible or liable for these costs, regardless of the conduct or outcome of the procurement process. Canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification.  

20. Questions

Candidates are not allowed to approach the Contracting Authority for verbal clarification. Any prospective candidate seeking to arrange individual meetings with either the Contracting Authority and/or any other organization with which the Contracting Authority is associated or linked may be excluded from the tender procedure. Candidates may submit questions in writing via email to the address above latest three days before the submission deadline by 12th August at 5 p.m. (East Africa Time Zone).