Terms of Reference

Mixed approach Learning Consultancy: Understand livelihood related urban-rural connections for Displacement Affected Communities (DACs) in South-West State of Somalia

Tender Reference number: 8303762/1303586/2023

Background

The Building Resilient Communities in Somalia (BRCiS) Consortium was founded in 2013. The Consortium comprises of six international organizations namely Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)—the lead agency, Action Against Hunger (ACF), CESVI, Concern Worldwide (CWW), International Rescue Committee (IRC), and Save the Children plus two national NGOs—GREDO and KAALO. The Consortium touches upon the “humanitarian-development nexus” and complements short-term humanitarian aid with long-term development assistance. The overall aim of the Consortium is to build the resilience of the Somali communities to mitigate, cope and recover from shocks.

Consultancy rationale

The BRCiS Consortium is currently implementing research and learning project which purposes to scale up durable solutions and increase resilience for internally Displaced Somalis through creation of sustainable, market-based, and enterprise-led livelihoods. The project has been funded by USAID through the Danwadaag consortium.

BRCiS is looking for consultant(s) to help deliver the project objectives as outlined below.

Geographical scope

In general South-West state but specifically Baidoa district.

Objectives

Main objective

Reduce the knowledge gap relating to this main question: how can connections and fluxes of goods, services, money, people, and informationcirculating between rural and urban displacement affected communities (DAC) in Southwest State be utilized to improve livelihood opportunities and protect, stabilize, and grow income of said communities?

Secondary objective

1. Establish an informal network of local stakeholders (6 network groups made up of 2 members from each stakeholder group)– with focus on DACs – and develop together a better collective understanding of these connections and stimulate and explore connections and networks across the private sector, DACs, and local authorities.
2. Develop and roll out surveys and mappings that take a participatory approach to addressing the specific research questions:
   • What are the most relevant fluxes and connections across IDP and rural contexts, as it relates to maintaining and building social capital and protecting, stabilizing, and growing incomes?
   • What are women and girls’ roles and responsibilities in these transactions and linkages? Are there gendered differentiations in the access and use of the linkages?
   • Which specific economic sectors or market systems play the strongest roles in shaping these linkages?
   • What is the impact of the drought on specific economic sectors or market systems that connect urban and rural communities?
   • What are the potential roles and integration opportunities of DACs to specific economic sectors and market systems? What are the main barriers to such inclusion currently? What are the characteristics of social, political, or economic pathways that lead to successful inclusion of DACs?

The survey design, roll out and validation should be participatory and include the participation of the informal network established in objective 1. In addition, it should include market system resilience mapping (assessing the ability of the market system to withstand and recover from various shocks and stresses. The process should involve identification of the key components of the market system, such as supply chains, producers, distributors, and consumers, and assessing the risks and vulnerabilities of each component. Identification of potential interventions or strategies to strengthen the resilience of the market system should be explored) for some of the key economic sectors or goods, services and commodities that are the most relevant to DACs.

3. With said network, co-design recommendations and co-design interventions, using human centered design approaches. Interventions could relate to policy, citizen engagement, environment, markets and private sector engagement, financial inclusion, communication, etc. And focus on the engagement of women and girls. The designed interventions – which may be funded as pilots, based on their merits – should contribute to sustainable, market-led, and enterprise-based livelihoods for DACs.

Research approach

Specific responsibilities

Phase 1

• Identification of key project stakeholders through targeted invites.
• Initial forum to present purpose of the project and obtain feedback
• Lead on the development of quantitative and qualitative data collection tools including market systems mapping.
• Analysis and reporting on the quantitative and qualitative data collection findings.
• Develop and conduct participatory market resilience mapping exercises.
• Throughout, hold consultative forums with identified community members, stakeholders, and government to disseminate and collect feedback on developed outputs.
• Identification of co-design participants.

Phase 2

• The findings from phase 1 should be utilized to identify both opportunities and barriers, and to narrow down on specific issues. Based on this analysis, it is recommended that three innovative interventions be co-designed to potentially overcome these issues.
• Develop community mobilization and interventions piloting Inception report and tools (this includes identification and design of the pilots).
• Hold consultative forums with the identified stakeholders and representative committee to disseminate and collect feedback on the piloted market systems and communication products.
• Continuously help in disseminating all generated products throughout the cycle of the consultancy.

Deliverables
Consultancy inception report 2 days (Timeline 3rd April 2023)
Identification of key project stakeholders and sharing of multi-Stakeholders platform contact lists 3 days (Timeline 27th April 2023)
Development of mixed method data collection tools 5 days (Timeline 10th May 2023)
Data analysis and reporting of the qualitative and quantitative surveys 10 days (Timeline 8th June 2023)
Market resilience mapping 10 days (Timeline 20th June 2023)
Market resilience mapping reports for 3 markets 10 days (Timeline 4th July 2023)
Co-design process report with 3 proposed interventions/pilots articulated 10 days (Timeline 20th July 2023)
Final report and summary as fact sheet both in Somali and English 10 days (Timeline 10th August 2023)
Total consulting 60 days

Supervisor

Overall supervision – M&E manager

Contact person – M&E coordinator

Estimated duration of the contract

It is estimated that the contract will take approximately 60 days between April and August 2023.

Official travel involved

This is field-based assignment, and it requires travel to the field for the data collection, quality control and presentation of the final report. The selected consultant should cover all expenses related to the expected travel. The consultant is expected to travel within South-West state and specifically Baidoa.

Application procedures and requirements

The consultant/consulting firm interested are expected to provide following documentation:

1. A cover letter introducing the consultant. In the case of a firm, the cover letter should introduce the team composition and specify the role to be played by each team member.
2. A technical proposal of not more than 10 pages outlining how to execute the task with a clear framework, methodology and timelines. Proposed methodology should demonstrate a clear understanding of the ToR (with emphasis on rural-urban market systems analysis)
3. Resume of the consultant, or each team member for firms
4. Evidence of experience conducting similar assignments (Samples of similar work)
5. Proposed budget indicating consultancy fee and all other auxiliary costs in USD.
6. Reference letters and the contact of at least three referees (email and telephone).
7. Proof of registration from the country of origin as a limited liability company or as a sole trader/self-employed.

Qualifications or specialized knowledge and/or experience required

• An advanced university degree (Master’s) in Quantitative & Qualitative Social Sciences, Economics, Econometric, Statistics or a directly related technical field(s) is required
• At least 4-6 years of experience in market systems analysis and qualitative research or a related field
• Substantial research work in market system resilience mapping, participatory research methodologies and design or a related field with a geographical focus on Sub-Saharan Africa, preferably on the drylands of the Horn of Africa
• Extensive experience both in qualitative and quantitative methods
• Previous experience in similar assignments in Somalia. At least one of the partners should be fully based in Baidoa.
• Access and presence in Baidoa (urban and rural) as well as other areas of South-West State (SWS)
• In depth knowledge of private sector, value chains, government stakeholders, as well as urban and rural SWS
• Local context knowledge and fluency in English and Somali language specially “Maay” dialect.
• Experience with visual storytelling.
• Experience with human centered design.
• Experience with stakeholders’ engagement, network, and platform approaches.