South Sudan: Consultant to develop Proposal Development on Food Security Programming for Finn Church Aid – South Sudan

Consultant to develop Proposal Development on Food Security Programming for Finn Church Aid – South Sudan

Finn Church Aid (FCA) is Finland’s biggest development co-operation organisation and the second biggest organisation in Finland working in humanitarian aid. Finn Church Aid is a member of the ACT Alliance (ACT), an alliance of faith-based development and humanitarian aid organisations forming one of the world’s largest aid organisations.

Consultant for Proposal Development on Food Security Programming in GPAA, South Sudan

1. Background

Finn Church Aid (FCA)is a professional, non-profit, non-political, neutral humanitarian organization with Head Office in Helsinki, Finland. FCA’s work is based on international law and the Code of Conduct of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Disaster Relief. Finn Church Aid was founded in 1947. The organization is specialized in long-term development programs and humanitarian assistance.

FCA has supported humanitarian and development programs in Sudan since 1972. Our current South Sudan Country Office boasts of 12 staff, 8 of which are South Sudan nationals. FCA supported local organizations to implement projects and programs in Jonglei, Warrap, Lakes, Central and Western Equatoria States with funding of over 2.1 million US dollars in 2014.

FCA started the implementation of Food Security and Livelihood projects in four Payams of Greater Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA) in Jonglei State from January 2015. During the current interventions, the country program will promote LRRD for the most vulnerable and returned communities living in those counties and continue with the relief assistance for the refugees with much emphasis on agriculture-based livelihood capacity building for self-reliance upon return. Re-stabilization of community resilience (destroyed by conflict in 2013) with livelihoods and peace education are the main focus themes.

****2. Outcome of the consultancy****

1. Drafts and finalize a need assessment report from above findings to justify the food security and protection related needs in the area.
2. A completed, comprehensive Log Frame should be developed, which is based on the primary and secondary data findings/analysis. This should be developed with FCA team, other partners/stakeholders as identified during the consultancy.
3. Drafts and finalize of all proposal-related documents as per identified donor requirements (including but not limited to: project concept note, full proposal, and budget). These should also be developed with involvement of FCA team and other partners/stakeholders.

3. Purpose of the Assignment

The consultant/company will take the lead, in conjunction with FCA staff and other Act-alliance representatives, in developing a compelling, evidence-based proposal for submission to institutional donors in mid - November 2015. The consultant will bring to the program design and processes an in-depth analysis and thorough understanding of South Sudan Food Security sector, agriculture based livelihood, community conflict management and protection programs to build community-level resilience which could very well be built from previous experience of working in Sudan. S/He will also have a background of demonstrated success in designing and conducting need assessments, writing proposals for international, institutional donors. This will require scoping, reviewing, analyzing, and integrating existing FCA plans, projects, previous need assessment data, and areas of expertise from donors such as ECHO, USAID and UN. The consultant will explore the range of options for building community resilience in accordance with strategies of Institutional donor, Food Security and livelihood cluster (FSL), and Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC) of South Sudan.

****4. Overall Objective****

The consultant will develop, in consultation with FCA senior management, a detailed work plan that will include undertaking at least the following tasks:

1. Review secondary literature on post conflict reports, food security, livelihood, protection and, based on the secondary data analysis, identify gaps for primary data collection from proposed County/Payams. This should include reviewing and compiling relevant data, evidence from prior similar interventions, best practices, and lessons learned.
2. All major natural/man-made disaster risks should be included in all analysis.
3. Provide guidance to FCA field team for the finalization of primary data collection tools and methodologies to assess community-level needs with regards to building livelihood resilience/food security.
4. Conduct field visits in target areas to carry out a vulnerability assessment of key livelihoods assets, including agriculture, livestock, marketing of agriculture products, infrastructure (housing, water/sanitation), and other social and economic assets that are determinants of resilience.
5. Meet with government authorities, such as National/County/Payam Authorities, National Ministry officials, UN agencies, academia, research institutes, and other stakeholders to explore/ develop potential collaborations on resilience-building activities.
6. Analyze and provide recommendations on the role of women as a particular group affected by conflict and as a vital component for contributing significantly to building household-level resilience and reducing community-level risk in the face of food security issues.
7. Conduct a problem analysis and validation workshop with FCA staff and other relevant stakeholders.
8. Based on the primary and secondary information gathered and building upon the FCA right based approach and other relevant partners, design a project, including logical framework, budget, and narrative concept note and proposal funding application for potential institutional donor/s.

****5. Line of reporting****

The consultant will report to FCA Country Manager and will work closely with the Humanitarian Coordinator.

****6. Duration of consultancy****

30-45 days, starting on 1^st of November 2015. Please note that the start/end date of the assignment may change due to unavoidable circumstances in which case a revised timeframe will be drawn up with the mutual agreement of both parties.

****7. Qualification and experience required****

• Preferably an advanced university degree (masters or equivalent) in food security, livelihood, protection, development studies, or a related field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience in the design, execution, and/or management of Food security and resilience programs. Strong program design skills, including capacity to prepare logical, coherent, and consistent documents including log-frame and budget.
• Prior demonstrated experience in developing proposals for institutional donors, in particular those funding resilience, food security, and/or protection programs in South Sudan.
• Prior track-records of conducting complete proposal development processes for major institutional donors.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively with stakeholders in various locations and from multiple organizations, including remotely writing and revising proposal documents.
• Ability to integrate different experiences, methodologies, and approaches from a diverse range of stakeholders, organizations, and technical experts from multiple sectors.
• Flexibility to adapt to any subsequent changes in the terms of reference.
• Previous working relationships with relevant national and local government would be desirable.
• Willingness and ability to travel to the field to conduct assessments and gather primary data.
• Excellent English speaking/writing skills required.
• Prior experience of facilitating multi-stakeholders proposal development workshops and dialogs.

****Note:**** This consultancy is open to both National and International applicants. Individuals, group of individuals as well as consultancy firms having the requisite skills/ experience are eligible to apply. International applicants having prior work experience in South Sudan would be preferred. The above mentioned tasks to be performed are intended as a guide and should not be viewed as an inflexible specification as it may be modified following discussion with the selected consultant or firm.

8. Copyright

Copyright for all documents, such as needs assessment report and full proposal will remain with FCA.

FCA is requesting interested consultants to submit their work plan, budget and references latest by 22th October to Finn Church Aid – South Sudan via email admin.ssuco@kua.fi