Terms of reference for a consultant/firm/institution to conduct a needs assessment under QFFD project - integrated Emergency Response and Recovery for El nino targeting

Call for proposal for assessment No; Somalia/MOG0004/2024

Terms of reference for a consultant/firm/institution to conduct a needs assessment under QFFD project - integrated Emergency Response and Recovery for El nino targeting.

·Hirshabelle state of Somalia Hiiran region (Bulaburte).

·Jubaland State of Somalia Lower Juab region (Kismayu).

·South West state of Somalia Bay region (Baidoa).

Sectors: Food Security & Livelihood, Water Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) Emergency and Health.

1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) is a humanitarian organization that strives to assist and empower communities in need, regardless of their place or origin, color, or ethnic group. QRCS was established in 1978 and operates both locally and internationally and has ongoing relief and development projects in several countries. It specializes and provides training in International Humanitarian Law, Disaster Management and Emergency Medical Care and its current strategy covers four areas of work: Disaster Preparedness and Response, Health and Care, Social Rehabilitation and Preserving Human Dignity, and Self Capacity-Building. As a member of the International Movement of Red Cross and Red Crescent, it abides by the seven fundamental principles of humanitarian work, which are: Humanity, Impartiality, Independence, Neutrality, Unity, Universality, and Voluntary Service.

About Qatar Red Crescent Society – Somalia.

In Somalia, Qatar Red Crescent has been running intensive relief, resilience and recovery programs from 2006. Qatar Red Crescent Somalia works across several sectors including WASH, Health, Food Security, and Livelihoods with integration, wherever feasible.

Project Background:

In response to the expected recurrent climatic shocks, QRCS mission in Somalia plans emergency interventions in the affected areas of Hirshabelle, Southwest and Jubaland states. To ensure cost-effectiveness, QRCS will adopt an integrated Food security, WASH and Health interventions. QRCS aims to have a needs-based integrated response to its projects in line with the prevailing emergency needs to encourage greater emphasis on results and strengthening the linkages between inter-sectoral needs and response. To this end, we aim to have more focused interventions that puts the people at the center of the response, thereby avoiding gaps and duplication and ensuring stronger impact on the lives of people. In general, we will promote synergies and prevent duplication of efforts. In situations where our capacity is limited, we will scale up by building partnerships with other NGOs and UN agencies through the clusters. Emergency response interventions will include immediate access to food, mobile health clinics, non-food items including plastic sheets for shelters and blankets with addition to hygiene kits. To facilitate an evidence-based response, QRC is seeking a qualified consultant/firm to undertake a multi-sectoral needs assessment capturing the health, WASH and Health needs in the aforementioned locations.

2. Objective

This need assessment aims to provide an objective analysis of the affected population and communities living in the assessment areas mentioned above in Somalia to enhance future program planning and relevance and to identify the most needed or affected locations based on the assessment findings.

3. Scope of the need assessment

Scope of the assessment.

• To provide a detailed overview of the current humanitarian needs and existing gaps of the population affected by socio-economic problems and natural hazards in regions.
• To identify sector specific needs in the targeted locations (Food Security & Livelihood, Water Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH) and Health.
• To map the humanitarian & developmental actors that exist in this location and the services they provide to the affected population.
• To identify the cross-cutting needs, including gender, and social inclusion.
• To determine existing community resources and the appropriate humanitarian assistance interventions that Qatar Red Crescent and its partners can provide to affected communities.
• To provide an overview of the current access and safety challenges for humanitarian actors if any.

3.1 Key questions to be addressed.

• What are the current humanitarian needs and existing gaps of the population affected by socio-economic problems and natural hazards in the above-mentioned location?
• Who are the key humanitarian and development actors and what services do they provide?
• What are the cross-cutting needs including gender, and social inclusion?
• What are the appropriate service delivery modalities that Qatar Red Crescent shall use to provide humanitarian assistance and what are existing community resources?
• Which sites have the highest need for humanitarian intervention? And what kind of needs are highest per site?
• What demography of the communities are most affected?
• What is the nature of negative effect on the said community’s demography? And how are they affected?
• What institutional or community-led strategies are there to manage the negative impact on the assessment population?
• In depth stakeholder mapping to inform strategy development.
• What are the current access and security challenges for humanitarian actors?
• What is the present situation of the markets? Are there functioning markets and service providers?
• What is the level of Disaster Risk Reduction initiatives and community coping strategies existing in the communities?
• What are the External shocks faced by the communities and their impact on their livelihoods (e.g. harvest, livestock, pasture)?

3.2 METHODOLOGY

The evaluation methodology will be proposed by the evaluator after a thorough study of TOR’s requirements.

3.3 Deliverables

The output of the mission will be the need assessment Report in English. The consultant is, expected to lead, accomplish and submit the following deliverables within the agreed timeframe and budget.

• Finalization of the inception plan, including the assessment matrix, methodology, and data collection tools, done in consultation with the QRCS team.
• Conduct a field mission (data collection meeting, consultation, and interview with the stakeholders) and prepare a draft report.
• Appropriate, validated draft data collection tools (e.g., methodological guidelines, group interview questions),according to the internationally recognized ratios in this regard
• Data analysis and presentation of preliminary findings.
• PowerPoint presentation of the main findings.
• Submission of the final assessment report incorporating all the observations and comments from the key stakeholder's.
• Raw data in any of the following statistical packages (Stata, SPSS) and also transcribed qualitative scripts.
• A maximum 35-page draft and final evaluation report (in MS Office and PDF for final), excluding annexes, and in English.

4. General provisions

The consultant/firm/institution is expected to observe the following general requirements**:**

Be responsible for implementing the overall field operations(which covers the assessment period only) as per the established policies and work plans under the supervision of QRCS in Somalia,

4.1 Maintain a list of the assessment respondents.

4.2 Coordinate with relevant actors such as government, UN agencies/projects, relevant NGOs and CBOs to develop synergies for the Integrated Emergency project in the respective villages.

4.3 Ethical considerations

All interviews should be undertaken in full confidence and anonymity. The final assessment report will not assign specific comments to individuals. The final methodological approach including meeting with key stakeholders, field visits, and data to be used in the assessment will be clearly outlined in the inception report and be fully discussed and agreed upon between the consultant and QRC teams.

4.4 Gender and human rights.

The assessor should incorporate human rights, gender, and equity perspectives in the assessment process and findings, particularly by involving women and other disadvantaged groups subject to discrimination. All key data gathered must be disaggregated by gender and age grouping and included in the draft and evaluation reports.

**1.** **Skills and Qualifications** **Consultant/ firm Competencies** The consultant is expected to meet the following specifications: * At least a Master’s degree in Public Policy, International Development, Development Economics/Planning, Economics, International Relations/ Diplomacy, or any other relevant university degree; * Extensive expertise, knowledge, and experience in the field of humanitarian, resilience and recovery - especially in aforementioned federal state members in Somalia demonstrated by evaluation previously performed; * Experience in project formulation and assessment/evaluation and practical experience of the project needs assessment assessment/evaluation in Somalia or a similar context; providing the previous projects implemented showing the value and owner of each project. * Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; * Experience in the local Somali language will be an added advantage. * Reputation of institutional capacity and experience in dealing with research/evaluation/assessment implementation, accounting and reporting; * Experience in developing and implementing participatory methodologies and project development with community ownership and participation or prove of partnership arrangements with organizations with experience in such approaches. **2.** **Guideline for Proposal Development** * The Proposals prepared by the bidder and all correspondence and documents relating to the proposal shall be written in English language. * The proposal must clearly indicate approaches and methodologies/strategies to be used to implement the project; * The proposal must be attached with detail budget (financial proposal) and work plan. * Attach evidence that shows the NGO is legally registered with responsible institutions in Somalia. * Demonstrate experience in the assessment locality.

**Interested applicants should submit the following documentation:** 7.1 Technical and detailed proposal (both narrative and financial) demonstrating a clear understanding and interpretation of the ToR towards addressing the scope of work. 7.2 Cover letter stating your motivation to undertake the assignment. 7.3 Up-to-date CVs of the team/individual reflecting relevant experiences and qualifications. 7.4 At least three key reference contacts for the most recent relevant work undertaken. 7.5 Copy of valid company registration documents. 7.6 If a company, a brief company profile and description of team composition clearly indicate the lead consultant and other staff to be involved in the assignment and their rates. Please forward your application (s) in a PDF document in English in sealed envelope to QRCS tender box by Quoting the Subject as **‘Consultancy to conduct a needs assessment for multi-sectoral project (QFFD project - integrated Emergency Response and Recovery for El nino) at Hirshabelle, Southwest and Jubaland State as detailed above.** Incomplete applications will be considered inadmissible for further review by the selection panel. For questions on the application process please contact the **same email address”** **Email:** : [_**[email protected]**_](mailto:[email protected]) * Deadline for submission of Proposal **is 3rd** **July 2024**. * The initial screening of the proposal will be done by QRCS Somalia. * After the initial screening, the qualified proposals will be reviewed by HQ for approval.