Somalia: CONSULTANCY ON PROTECTION ASSESSMENTS FOR REFUGEE RETURNEES IN SOMALIA

1.Background and context

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in 1956 that works in more than 30 countries. DRC fulfils its mandate by providing direct assistance to conflict and displacement-affected populations - refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees and host communities; and by advocating on behalf of such populations on the basis of humanitarian and human rights principles.

DRC has been providing relief and development services in the Horn of Africa since 1997. DRC aims at integrating its Somalia activities within a wider regional mixed migration programme, comprising programmes in Kenya, Ethiopia and Yemen. DRC Somalia programme operates within a regional framework (East Africa and the Horn) and incorporates three major components of long-term community-driven development, emergency urban/rural humanitarian interventions and protection/advocacy.

DRC is currently running a UK Department of International Development (DFID) funded project in partnership with NRC on promoting durable solutions through Integrated Return, Reintegration, and Résilience Support to Somali displacement-affected populations. The project is aimed at supporting conditions conducive for safe, dignified return and sustainable reintegration of Somali refugees.

Specifically, the project seeks to:

• Contribute to return preparation and systematic tracking of return assistance to facilitate access to long-term reintegration opportunities.
• Support safe return and sustainable reintegration of Somali refugee returnees through diversified multi-sectorial programming.
• Inform long-term programming in Somalia by documenting evidence and learning on return and reintegration.

A component of the project is undertaking of baseline surveys in three sectors of livelihoods/skills gap, protection and infrastructure in order to analyses current needs and identify gaps among returnees, IDPs and host communities in the target areas. The baseline surveys are needed to inform programming and avoid duplication of activities among different actors. Current available information on returnees and conditions in areas of return are not sufficient to provide an in-depth analysis of situation across the three sectors. With this survey, it is expected that information on issues and concerns are made available to actors who can respond, particularly DRC and its partners.

2.Purpose

The purpose of the protection assessment is to provide an in-depth analysis of the current protection needs and concerns of returnees, IDPs and vulnerable host populations in targeted locations.

The protection assessment will reach four specific outcomes:

An overview of the current protection environment of the target populations, mapping existing protection issues and examining the scope and capacity of existing protection strategies and coping mechanisms of returnees, IDPs and host communities.

• The assessment will map out services and information available to the populations, to identify potential gaps in protection services to the three specific groups.
• The assessment will provide an overview of the tensions and potential for conflict among the target populations, focusing personal safety violations and identifying the most vulnerable affected populations.
• The overall protection analysis will support evidence-based recommendations for assistance and response strategies.

The assessment will take into account the Durable solutions indicators, provided by the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat (REDSS). See methodology for specific questions.

3.Key Responsibilities

3.1.Scope of consultancy

The assessment will be conducted in the project targeted areas, particularly in Mogadishu, Dhobley, and Kismayo. The assessment and will target displacement affected populations in these areas, i.e. returnees, IDPs, and host communities.

3.2.Key tasks with list of ‘key activities’, under each responsibility.

• Develop an Inception Report detailing among other things; the process and methodologies to be employed to achieve the objectives of this consultancy as stated above. It should include all assessment tools, and important time schedules for this exercise, and be presented to DRC for review and further inputs, before going to the field.
• Undertake desk review of the relevant available resources and studies conducted by other partners, DRC programme management guidelines, DRC strategy documents and any other relevant documents and should take into consideration Department for International Development (DFID) evaluation guidelines and standards.
• Design, develop, critique (with DRC team) and refine data collection tools.
• Conduct a comprehensive field based project evaluation [using both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods.
• Carry out data collection, entry and analysis and write up the final assessment report based on DRC inputs into the draft version.

3.3.Methodology

The methodology will include but not limited to:

a) Review of existing information on protection in the South Central Somalia displacement context.

b) Collect quantitative and qualitative data from returnees, IDPs, government line ministries, service providers, and community members.

For this protection assessment, the following questions should be answered:

1. PHYSICAL SAFETY:

Safety and security

a) Do returnees face any discriminatory or arbitrary restrictions of their freedom of movement?

b) Do displacement affected populations face threats such as mines and unexploded ordnance on main roads, cultivatable land in sites of returnees and living areas?

c) Are there reported targeted acts of violence or intimidation on the basis of the returnees /refugee/IDP or minority status, in the areas of return?

d) Do returnees feel less safe than host community?

e) Do returnees feel that they are accepted in the community where they live (social cohesion)?

f) What activities can be done/are being done jointly by returnees, IDPs and host community to foster peaceful coexistence?

g) Are there reports of gender based violence (GBV)? How do the communities cope with GBV issues, and what are the mechanisms in place to prevent, report and respond to GBV?

h) Are child protection issues being monitored? If so, what issues are reported by the specific target groups and what is being done to prevent and respond to child protection issues?

i) What is the perception and engagement of host communities (1st level clans, community networks…)?

j) What is the general reintegration status of Somali that have returned from Kenya since 2013?

k) What are the differential risk profiles of returnees?

l) Do returnees have access to safe shelter? What are the housing conditions of returnees compared to IDPs and local communities?

m) Do returnees face issues and/or discrimination with regards to housing, land, and property (HLP)? To what extent are returnees able to reclaim the land/houses they left behind?

n) Are HLP issues being addressed by any service provider in the area? If so by whom? How are these being addressed?

1. LEGAL SAFETY*:*

Access to documentation

a) Do returnee women and men face legal or administrative obstacles to obtain birth certificates, national ID cards or other personal relevant identification documents?

b) Are the documents accessible and affordable?

c) What should be done to provide assistance to access documentation?

Family reunification

a) How many IDP and returned children or other dependent persons who have been separated with their families?

b) How many unaccompanied and separated internally displaced children/returnee children for whom a best interest determination is needed but has not been conducted?

c) What need to be done to reunite UAMs?

Participation in public affairs

a) Do refugees/ returnees participate in or face legal or administrative obstacles that prevent them from participating in public affairs?

b) How can they be assisted to participate in public affairs?

Access to effective remedies & justice

a) What legal mechanisms exist and have actual capacity to provide returnees /refugees/IDPS with effective remedies for violations suffered, including violations committed by non-state actors

b) Are they accessible or affordable?

c) What assistance is needed to improve access to effective justice remedies?

3.4.Key deliverables/outputs

1. Inception Report. The inception report will be a scoping exercise for the assessment and will include the proposed methodologies, data collection and reporting plans with draft data collection tools such as interview guides, the allocation of roles and responsibilities within the team, a timeframe with firm dates for deliverables, and the travel and logistical arrangements for the team. This is expected a maximum of four days after signing of the contract.

2. Draft Report. A draft report, identifying key findings, conclusions, recommendations for the current and future operation, and take in consideration the outputs of the debriefing session. This will be reviewed by DRC for initial feedback.

3. Final Evaluation Report. The final report (max 60 pages, excluding the preliminary pages and annexes), will contain a short executive summary (max 4 pages) and a main body of the report covering the background of the interventions, a description of the assessment methods and limitations, findings, conclusions, lessons learned and recommendations, and will be presented in a succinct manner. The final Evaluation report will be submitted 3 days after receipt of the consolidated feedback from DRC. The report should be Five (5) Hard-cover-bound copies in color and soft copy in two (2) CD- ROMs/USB in pdf version

4.DRC/DDG’s responsibilities

DRC staff in the evaluation areas will provide necessary support to the team, as may be needed. The Consultant shall provide updates on progress when requested by the Deputy Country Director or Country Director. DRC will provide the following to the lead consultant:

· Transport to and from the field.

· All necessary project documents as requested by the consultant

· Travel Insurance, where applicable

· Accommodation, including meals, for consultant (where necessary)

· Pay consultancy fees at a mutually agreed rate

The terms and conditions of service will follow DRC terms of consultancies. Payment will be done according to the finance procedures of DRC.

5.Reporting Arrangements

The Consultant will be supervised by the Return and Reintegration Coordinator in close coordination with the Project Manager and with technical oversight provided by the MEAL Manager. DRC staff in assessment areas will provide necessary support to the assessment team, as needed.

6.DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT

It is anticipated that the assessment will take 25 days from the date of signing the Contract. The Consultant/Consultancy Firm should develop a feasible costed-work plan/activity schedule covering this period, committing to finalize within the period and submit as an integral part of the proposal for this consultancy.

7.EXPECTED PROFILE OF CONSULTANT

• Have an Advanced degree in Development Studies, Social sciences or other relevant fields;
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience in conducting Protection and Reintegration Assessments;
• Demonstrable experience in leading assessments of humanitarian programs responding to major disasters, with specific emphasis on WASH, DRR, Livelihood and Food Security and Protection;
• Demonstrable experience in leading evaluations using Participatory Impact Assessment (PIA) approaches;
• Knowledge of strategic and operational management of humanitarian operations and proven ability to provide strategic recommendations to key stakeholders;
• Strong analytical skills and ability to clearly synthesize and present findings, draw practical conclusions, make recommendations and to prepare well-written reports in a timely manner;
• Demonstrated experience in both quantitative and qualitative data collection and data analysis techniques, especially in emergency operations;
• Experience, knowledge and clear understanding of Somalia’s humanitarian context;
• Good interpersonal skills and understanding cultural sensitivities;
• Readiness to travel to South Central Somalia and conduct direct standard assessment activities.

8.TERMS & CONDITIONS

The consultant should be willing to work in the target areas of South Central Somalia, particularly in Mogadishu, Dhobley and Kismayo, where security allows. The consultant may have his/her own team to work with and then they will entirely be under the jurisdiction of the consultant and at no time will DRC/DDG be held responsible for them.

1. General

Commitments: DRC/DDG has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability committments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework (http://www.DRC/DDG.dk/HAF.4265.0.html)

Interested applicants who meet the required profile are invited to submit an expression of interest including:

i. A suitability statement including CV of participating consultants with details of qualifications and experience.

ii. Technical proposal that summarizes understanding of the TOR, methodology and tools to be used.

iii. Work-plan clearly indicating the activity schedule.

iv. Daily consulting rate is negotiable, although will be commensurate with DRC consultancy terms and standards

v. Financial proposal providing cost estimates (both administrative and professional fees).

vi. Contacts of three organizations that have recently contracted you to carry out similar assignment.

Applications should include CVs, Technical proposal, Work plans, and financial proposal all to be uploaded on the DRC recruitment portal https://drc.dk/about-drc/vacancies/current-vacancies

Closing date for submission is 21^st October 2016

DRC will evaluate the proposals and award the assignment based on technical and financial feasibility. DRC reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal received without giving reasons and is not bound to accept the lowest or the highest bidder. Only those shortlisted will be contacted.