SOMALILAND and PUNTLAND

1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1.1. About CARE International

CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty and providing lifesaving assistance in emergencies. Its programs go beyond meeting basic needs at the onset of an emergency to helping affected communities recover and rebuild their lives long after the crisis ends. CARE has been assisting communities in Somalia since 1981. CARE works in partnership with the government, international NGOs, civil society, leaders, and local authorities to bring effective and lasting change to the most vulnerable communities. CARE currently works through three main programs: firstly, the Rural Women program, which supports poor, rural women and girls in addressing long-term underlying causes of poverty and vulnerability as well as social, cultural, political, and economic obstacles towards positive change. We help women and girls improve their economic status and access education and support them to play a greater role in local leadership and conflict resolution. Secondly, the Urban Youth program focuses on job creation and livelihood opportunities for poor youth through interventions such as secondary education, vocational training, small business development, and microfinance. Thirdly, the Emergency program provides direct humanitarian relief to victims of drought and conflict in Puntland, Mogadishu, Lower Juba, and Galmudug state. CARE Somalia has three programs: Rural Women, Urban Youth, and emergency. This project falls under Urban Youth.

1.2. About Dan Wadaag Consortium

DANWADAAG Project – with funding from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherland, is a consortium comprising of VNG International (Lead Agency), Free Press Unlimited, Media Ink, and CARE Nederland. The consortium will implement the project for five years (2020 – 2025), starting with 1st year containing an inception phase and the 4th year containing a consolidation and exit phase.

The project entitled “Improving the social contract through inclusive and transparent Disaster Risk Management“ aiming to build inclusive disaster risk management (DRM) capacity at the local level. The project’s overall objective (Impact) is: **‘**improved social contracts through increased resilience to external shocks’ whilst the strategic objective *is ‘increased government legitimacy through efficient and effective disaster risk management (DRM) based on inclusive policies, strategies, and services.*The project is being implemented in Somaliland and Puntland, targeting Hargeisa, Burco, Garowe, and Qardho and targeting communities (children, youth, and adults, including vulnerable groups), civil societies, and knowledge institutes, media, andpublic authorities for effective disaster risk management. The project aims to achieve the impact and strategic objective through the following outcomes:

• Outcome 1: Communities can contribute to inclusive and transparent DRM through equitable access to information, resources, and decision-making processes
• Outcome 2: CSOs have the legitimacy and capacity to contribute to inclusive and transparent DRM
• Outcome 3: Public authorities have the legitimacy and capacity to coordinate and implement inclusive and transparent DRM
• Outcome 4: Media have the capacity to contribute to inclusive and transparent DRM through disseminating relevant information and creating spaces for inclusive dialogue between public authorities, civil society, and communities

2**. Background**

CARE, through DANWADAAG Project, conducted an advocacy capacity assessment (ACAT) to assess civil society organizations on a range of key capacities for effective advocacy. The assessment’s general goal was to identify CSOs’ advocacy capacity gaps in five key areas: program, organizational, external links, enabling environment, and individual level. In addition, the assessment looked at how well the target civil society organization’s plans, policies, and strategies can assist the CSOs in doing effective advocacy on inclusive disaster management. Finally, we looked at how well the target organization has the requisite knowledge, skills, and competencies to perform advocacy. The assessment targeted 12 Civil Society organizations.

Though the assessment findings varied, the findings revealed that most of the targeted CSOs have insufficient capacity to conduct good research and analysis. Insufficient capacity to collect policy gaps and analyze a policy document, inadequate capacity to develop advocacy objectives related to their advocacy programs, low capacity to design a clear message, and insufficient capacity to develop a strategy with clear activities.

1. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

CARE Somalia/Somaliland is seeking to procure the services of a consultant for Advocacy Strategy and Policy Engagement Training to guide the Advocacy Strategy Development process for target CSOs. The training’s main goal is to improve CSOs’ organizational advocacy strategies and capacities to effectively advocate for inclusive disaster management and bring about structural and long-term changes in communities, local governments, and central government institutions.

1. SCOPE OF WORK
   1. Assessment of CSOs’ Current Status in Advocacy and Policy Engagements

The Consultant will conduct pre-assessment of CSOs’ current status in terms of policy and advocacy engagements/campaigns (through questionnaires sent to 14 CSOs prior to the training). He/she will determine the progress made, opportunities to be harnessed, and gaps that are preventing CSOs from realizing their full potential in terms of Advocacy and Policy Engagements. The assessment will also look at how CSOs use technology and social media platforms to advance their advocacy and policy activities.

1. 1. Training of CSOs Staff on Advocacy and Policy Engagement/Campaigns

The Consultant will create and deliver capacity-building training on advocacy and policy engagement for select CSOs staff based on the gaps identified in the ACAT and pre-assessment. The training aims to provide CSO staff with relevant and up-to-date technical and technological skills in order to identify, position, and implement policy engagements/campaigns that are relevant to the organization’s vision, mission, and method of working.

1. 1. Provide online coaching sessions on Csos Advocacy Strategies Development

The Consultant will work with 14 CSOs to provide advice, improve, and assist in the development process of simple but effective advocacy strategies in accordance with how each CSO is positioned to contribute to the achievement of its mission and vision through advocacy and policy engagements. This could be accomplished through online coaching sessions that continue after the training has been finished.

1. EXPECTED DELIVERIES

• Deliver inception report with the tools, methodology, approaches, and the workplan
• A thorough assessment of CSOs’ Advocacy & Policy Engagement priorities, needs, and gaps in implementing evidence-based Advocacy/Policy Engagements.
• A concise advocacy strategy format outlining clear objectives, targets, activities, allies, deliverables, and indicators, as well as an implementation plan that should also include a plan for the mainstreaming of advocacy across all relevant CSOs projects.
• Deliver draft agenda for the trainings after discussion with the DANWADAAG project staff
• Develop draft training materials in collaboration with the CARE technical team
• Deliver Advocacy Strategy and Policy Engagement training for target CSOs in two locations; Hargeisa and Garowe.
• Deliver training report
• Coordination with 14 CSOs to develop clear advocacy strategies in accordance with DANWADAAG project outcomes.

1. Work-plan

S/N

Task

Expected delivery days

1

Desk review, pre-assessment, and preparation, including inception report

7 days

2

Travel Days

5 days

3

Training days @5 days in each location

10 days

4

Reporting writing

3 days

5

Coaching sessions

14 days

1. ROLE OF CARE

CARE will have the following functions: provide oversight, supervision, and coordination of the assignment; coordinate document reviews and approval of all deliverables per the terms of reference; and arrange for logistics for field visits. The facilitator will report to the Youth Empowerment Manager, and dedicated project staff will be assigned to support the assessment team in coordinating and collecting data and providing necessary information for planning purposes. In addition, CARE will provide logistical and administrative support, for example, office working space, accommodation, transportation, and associated expenses during the field data collection.

1. PROFILE OF THE CONSULTANT

The potential consultant/expertise required to meet the following minimum requirements to qualify for the submission of his/her proposal.

• The lead consultant should have at least a Master’s Degree in development, Governance, Disaster risk management and/or any other relevant discipline and not less than five years of previous experience in similar tasks or consultancies
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of stakeholder mapping, CSOs capacity assessment, DRM policy and governance context analysis, conflict and Gender analysis.
• A very good understanding of DRM systems in Somalia. An understanding of how the government of Puntland and Somaliland operates and implements DRM services will be necessary for this assignment.
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible professional work experience at national and international levels in conceptualizing, designing and implementing successful, evidence-based advocacy strategies.