Country: Somalia
Closing date: 23 Jul 2013
ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND
The proposed assessment is for a joint initiative by Adeso and Save the Children International in Puntland, working closely with the Line Ministry; but the contract for this consultancy assignment shall be with Adeso.
Adeso, formerly known as Horn Relief, is an expanding and vibrant African-based international organization, working with communities to create environments in which Africans can thrive. We work to prevent and overcome situations that adversely affect community well-being by: reinvigorating the economy, developing skills for life and work, providing humanitarian aid, and influencing policy. Our belief that economic, social and environmental security is the bedrock of a healthy community drives the nature and intent of our programming. Adeso has been strengthening rural livelihood and delivering innovative humanitarian aid and development programs for the past 20 years. Currently, we have programs in Somalia, Kenya and South Sudan. Our present donor portfolio includes the European Commission, USAID, SIDA, SDC and UNICEF, among others. Adeso is an exciting, dynamic organization experiencing managed rapid growth. It offers sound employment conditions with opportunities for personal growth and development.
Save the Children International (SCI) is a non-governmental organization whose mission is to fight for children’s rights and deliver immediate and lasting improvement to children’s lives worldwide.
SCI has been operational in Greater Somalia for over 40 years. Current programs straddle relief and development in various sectors including Health, Nutrition, Child Protection, Child Rights Governance, Vocational and Skills Training, Education and Food Security & Livelihoods (FSL) working in Somaliland, Puntland and Central South Somalia. Save the Children Somalia/Somaliland has been implementing FSL programming in Puntland since 2005. Recent work includes a pilot safety net with Adeso in Karkar and a humanitarian intervention in Bari.
PROJECT SUMMARY
Many communities in Somalia and Somaliland continue to be affected by repeated disaster including drought, increasing food prices, and conflict leading to vulnerability and food insecurity. Some of the key food security and livelihood issues faced by households in the pastoral areas of Somalia/Somaliland include poor access to water and rangelands, low education levels and a lack of alternative livelihood opportunities. This result is the inability of many households to earn sufficient income to meet basic household needs.
The causes of food insecurity targeted by this project will be insufficient household income to meet basic needs throughout the year and insufficient skill to produce a sustainable livelihood. One of the activities will be the regular (monthly) provision of cash grants to vulnerable households. However, targeted communities will also be provided with a range of other cash-based activities to support households in meeting their needs at different points in the year. All the activities involving the provision of cash will be implemented using standard operating procedures including thorough community participation, verification of beneficiaries and triangulation on monitoring and evaluation data.
This program will use a disaster risk reduction approach to support chronically food insecure households who often face periods of acute food shortage. Households will be provided with the opportunity to participate in a number of different interventions to improve both household income and community resilience. Specific projects will be determined through community consultation and may include livelihood support grants, cash for work, vouchers or others. Many of the households within the project area can no longer produce sufficient income from their existing livelihoods. Poverty alleviation and the promotion of skills development to support livelihood activities are key elements of this project. The proposed activities will therefore centre on providing households with activities that are appropriate for their situation – based on vulnerability, seasonality and community decisions on ways to build their resilience.
The overall objective of this intervention is to reduce community vulnerability to chronic food insecurity in the operational areas of Adeso (Sanaag Region) and Save the Children International (Karkaar Region) in the northern regions of Somalia/ Somaliland.
POSITION SUMMARY
Adeso is seeking a qualified consultant specialized in livelihoods, cash-based intervention and related M&E systems, to undertake a baseline survey for the aforementioned project. The consultancy is for a period of 30 days and will include desk review, training of enumerators and field level primary and secondary data collection, stakeholder consultations, data analysis, report writing, review and design of the log frame and presentation of findings at field and Nairobi level in a phased manner.
Adeso encourages consultancy firms or individuals with sufficient experience in the areas required to apply.
OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The overall objective of this assignment is to carry out a comprehensive baseline survey in the project areas - Sanaag and Karkaar districts of Somaliland/Somalia. The baseline will serve as a benchmark to measure progress, as well as provide information to a wider stakeholder group on understanding the livelihood dynamics and groupings in the region. Furthermore, the assignment is requested to address the M&E aspect of the program, ensuring close monitoring and evaluation of activities and the wider impact on the target population.
CONSULTANCY PERIOD
The consultancy firm or independent consultant will propose a team of at least two experts with the required competencies in Social Safety Net programs. The consultancy should be covering no more than 30 days. The consultancy contract will be held by Adeso.
DELIVERABLES
- Inception Report: includes initial work plan and proposal for the baseline survey outlining the proposed methodology, survey tools, process of data collection and analysis as well as final set of data-collection tools for all indicators in the log frame.
- Draft report of the baseline survey for the feedback and comments of Adeso and Save the Children.
- Presentation on the main findings of the baseline assessment at field level involving project teams, community representatives and local authorities and country level program teams as applicable, in the presence of Line Minister officials.
- An updated log frame using baseline survey information.
- A final report (three hard copies and a soft copy on CD ROM) in English not exceeding a length of 35 pages (excluding annexes) which includes: a. Summary; b. Introduction; c. Methodology; d. Findings of the baseline study. Baseline information per indicator shall be presented; e. Conclusions and recommendations as per the program’s outcomes, outputs, activities, and indicators; f. Electronic annexes with the site-by-site raw data used for the analysis. g. Summary version of the final report to be shared with project communities.
SCOPE OF WORK
The following key areas of work are included in this consultancy. However, this list is not exhaustive and additional requirements may present themselves during the mission.
• The project is being carried out by Adeso in collaboration with Save the Children. The consultant will therefore be expected to coordinate and liaise between the agencies to harmonize the survey process. • Development of appropriate questionnaires. • Household survey questionnaire that includes demographic information, household economy information (including food security and livelihood information) and specifically including the measurement of coping strategies and dietary diversity.
• Knowledge, practice and attitude survey on community disaster risk reduction. • A market assessment should be carried out to ensure cash interventions have an appropriate value and that identified livelihood interventions are economically viable. • Training of the survey team. • Overall supervision/coordination of the survey team. • Analysis and reporting of baseline findings. • Development of monitoring tools that will be used by project team for ongoing monitoring of the project. • Training should be provided to project staff on the newly developed project monitoring tools.
It is intended that the results of the baseline survey will inform an initial revision of the SSN project proposal during the inception period. This may include revision of the monitoring framework and key project indicators.
METHODOLOGY The expected methodology for such a baseline survey would include both direct and indirect data collection, analysis and cross-referencing and formulating recommendations. Data collection will be done through targeted locations in operational areas. The methodology will be further defined by the consultant; the consultant will finalize the methodology that suits the scope of the baseline assessment. The baseline will mainly focus on the initial assessment of the villages selected by the project. The scope of the coverage of sites will be further reviewed during the baseline survey process.
It is envisaged that the methodology used during this assessment will include, but not be limited to, the following:
• Review of existing secondary information and reports relevant to the baseline study topic. • Discussion with key project staff of Adeso and Save the Children at field and country level and other key informants. • Interviews with concerned government agencies, Line Ministries and stakeholders involved. • Field visits in the implementation areas for data collection and observations. • Community level participatory meetings and discussions for data collection and information gathering. • Special emphasis should be given to ensuring participation of women in the process to understand the issues of Social Safety Nets from a gender perspective. • Data analysis and verification of analyzed data.
QUALIFICATION PROFILE
• Postgraduate degree in a food security or livelihood related field. • At least seven years of hands on experience in conducting baseline surveys and livelihood and cash intervention programming. • Strong background in monitoring and evaluation techniques. • Knowledge of Social Safety Nets, market analysis, pastoral livelihoods and related fields. • Familiar with the livelihood context in Somalia. • Experience in developing and implementing gender sensitive baseline methodologies in livelihood and cash intervention frameworks. • Ability to analyze complex livelihood systems.
• Good knowledge and experience in survey design, implementation of surveys and statistical data analysis. • Knowledge of Somali people, culture and the Somali political dynamics an advantage.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
All documentation related to the assignment shall remain the sole and exclusive property of Adeso, Save the Children and the Line Minister.
How to apply:
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications should be submitted by 23rd July, 2013. The selection committee consisting of Adeso and Save the Children International staff will review all applications as they arrive. All applicants must meet the minimum requirements described above; those unable to meet these requirements will not be considered. Adeso is an equal opportunity employer.
Each application package should include the following: • An application letter addressing the selection criteria including how the firm’s/group’s previous experience matches the consultancy objectives as well as the interest in the position. It should also indicate the candidate’s availability and consultancy rates. The letter should be no longer than two pages. • A brief proposal for the baseline study with methodology and work plan (no more than 10 pages). • A sample of a recently written report for a similar assignment. • Updated CVs for all consultants including relevant work experience and qualifications. • Contact details for three references.
Applications not including all of the above information will not be reviewed.
All applications should be sent to Adeso at consultancy@adesoafrica.org with the subject line: Application for Baseline Survey - SSN Project Somalia