Somalia: Intergrated Emergency Response Assessment in Puntland, Somaliland and Hudur

Background

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a humanitarian, non-governmental, non-profit organization founded in 1956 that works in more than 30 countries throughout the world. DRC fulfils its mandate by providing direct assistance to conflict-affected populations – refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities in the conflict areas of the world; and by advocating on behalf of conflict-affected populations on the basis of humanitarian and human rights principles. In Somalia, DRC is providing relief and development services using a human rights framework, aiming at supporting IDPs, returnees and host communities affected by conflict and natural disasters. Currently, the main sectoral programms include; Food Security and Livelihoods; NFI/Shelter; WASH and Infrastructure; Protection and Advocacy; Community-Driven Recovery and Development; as well as Emergency Response on a case-by-case basis. DRC HoA & Yemen 2016 Strategic Program Document is aimed at ensuring synergy and complementarity of all humanitarian interventions in the region.

Integrated Emergency Response Assessment

Since the collapse of the Somalia federal government, civilians experienced violence, conflict and lawlessness, which has exacerbated poverty and hardship, undermined social and economic development, and made it challenging for the international community to address humanitarian and development priorities. Long-standing conflicts, drought and floods have disrupted livelihoods, and food security coping mechanisms, with repeated failure of crops, diminishing water resources and water quality, depleted livestock, rising food prices and deteriorating purchasing power. Today, about 4.9 million people — or 40 per cent of the population— are in need of life-saving or livelihoods assistance. More than 1.1 million people remain internally displaced and have been waiting for too long for durable solutions to stop their ordeal. An estimated 308,000 children under the age of 5 years are acutely malnourished, with 56,000 of them facing death if not treated. Some 1.7 million children lack access to education and risk abduction, abuse and recruitment into armed groups. Forced evictions, discrimination, violation of children’s rights and gender-based violence remain pervasive.

Civilian protection challenges persist therefore. Many IDPs continue to face a high risk of forced evictions, discrimination, violation of children’s rights and persistent gender-based violence. While work on a comprehensive solutions strategy for IDPs is underway, conflict and insecurity continue to raise protection concerns and to cause suffering and even new displacement.

Recurrent shocks and poor access to services continue to require a strong focus on community resilience. Over the last year, Somalia was hit by a series of shocks, among them conflict which displaced over 40,000 people, the influx of 30,000 refugees and returnees from the Yemen crisis and the El Niño phenomenon, which affected some 145,000 people through drought and flooding. As the majority of Somalis depend on subsistence farming and pastoralism for their livelihoods, seasonal shocks such as flooding and drought continue to cause critical humanitarian needs on a regular basis, with an impact on the already weak economy.

Over the past year, improvements have been registered in almost all of the key sectors in Somalia. This has been due to concerted efforts of the various humanitarian actors in the country, Regional governments; efforts of the Somali Federal Government (SFG) and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and affiliate forces engaged in restoring security situation in various parts of the country.

Despite the remarkable improvements in the humanitarian situation in the country, some of the country’s most vulnerable populations remain in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection. This is the situation not only among those who reside in south/central region, but there are thousands of affected populations that are in dire situation who are extremely food insecure and have limited access to basic needs in other parts of the country such as those affected by the recent droughts in Somaliland and Puntland. This assessment is designed to identify the main humanitarian and protection gaps of those affected by natural and manmade disasters and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) mainstreaming opportunities, which will inform design, planning and implementation of DRC integrated emergency response program and Link relief recovery development (LRRD).

Purpose and Objectives of the Assessment

To analyze the main humanitarian intervention needs, gaps and DRR mainstreaming opportunities, with a special focus on strategic decision-making for integrated emergency response and LRRD. This will inform program design and planning of programmes in Somalia. The thematic areas to be covered in this assessment are; Livelihood and Food Security, Shelter/NFI, WASH, Protection and DRR. Specifically, the assessment should come up with the following:

• Document a contextual analysis of the current humanitarian situation in assessment target areas , identifying risks of vulnerability to the affected population, needs, and explore gaps in humanitarian coverage, recommending programmatic interventions in emergency relief and sustainable recovery, with suggested activities for DRR mainstreaming/programming in the selected areas;
• Document Impact of the natural and manmade conflicts on the vulnerable people both household and community levels, assessing how it affects the economy of the community support and traditional governance structures.
• Identification of challenges and opportunities of humanitarian actors for addressing gaps towards inclusive service provision;
• Assess the affected community basic infrastructures and how the recurrent droughts affected the coping mechanisms, come up with a comprehensive understanding of the socio-economic and environmental context of area to assist the targeting and different needs of each community.

Scope of the Study

The assessment will be conducted in selected areas in Somalia and will be guided by the objectives, sectors and cross-cutting issues of interest. Specific locations will be selected from Somaliland (possible areas to include Elafeyn, Buuhodle, Laas-anood, Borame, Berbera and Hargaisa), Puntland (possible areas to include Garowe, Gardo, Baran and Bosaso) South Central Hudur.

• Develop and finalize all necessary tools and methodology for assessment
• Select and train enumerators. DRC will staff in the respective areas to collect information.
• Ensure that technical aspects (water, and Wash/ infrastructure), along with social dynamics, livelihood patterns, gender, social inclusion and protection issues are well documented during the assessment and in the report
• Provide recommendations on potential linkages with Protection, Wash/shelter and Livelihood intervention
• Implement the designed assessment strategies for identifying gaps, assessing the impact of drought, the resulting needs, and local response capacities
• Ensure quality assurance of information collected from the assessments, cross check validity of information collected, triangulate and verify where needed
• Conduct data analysis and provide comprehensive report with strong recommendations to support in decision making

Methodology

It is envisioned that the assessment will be conducted using a combination of methodologies through primary and secondary data from reliable and relevant sources. The consultant will however, in consultation with DRC, design an appropriate and comprehensive methodology to conduct the assessment. The methodology should ensure an area and sector wise analysis and presentation of findings based on the objectives and by sectors stated above.

Deliverables

• Inception Report– The inception report will be a scoping exercise for the assessment and will include the proposed methodologies, multi sector data collection tools 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.
• Debriefings / Feedback to Area Managers at field levels– The consultant will report his/her preliminary findings to the DRC’s Area Managers, relevant Technical Managers and DRC Monitoring and Evaluations Coordinator before leaving the field.
• Draft report– A draft report, identifying key findings, conclusions, recommendations and lessons 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.
• Final report– The final report (max 50 pages, excluding the preliminary pages and annexes), will contain a short executive summary (max 3 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, clear recommendations (which includes assessment of risks/ humanitarian access). Recommendations should be specific, feasible, and in line with DRC’s strategic mandate. The report should also contain appropriate appendices, including a copy of the TOR, cited resources or bibliography, a list of those interviewed and any other relevant materials. The final assessment report will be submitted 5 days after receipt of the consolidated feedback from DRC. The report should be Five (3) Hard-cover-bound copies and soft copy in two (2) CD- ROMs in pdf version.

DRC’s Responsibilities

The Consultant will report to the MEAL Manager of the Somalia programme, working closely with the Monitoring and Evaluations Learning team and technical advisors. DRC staff in the programme areas, led by Area Managers will provide the necessary day to day support to the assessment team, as may be needed. The Regional MEAL Advisor will provide support on a case to case basis.

In addition DRC will provide to the consultant, the following;

• Transport in the field during data collection in each respective areas.
• All necessary project documents.
• 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.

Expected Profile of the Consultant

• Have an Advanced degree in Development Studies, Social sciences or other relevant field;
• Demonstrable experience in leading assessments of humanitarian programs responding to major disasters, with specific emphasis on integrated emergency response (WASH, Shelter/NFis, DRR, Livelihood and Food Security and Protection);
• 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;
• Experience in qualitative data collection and data analysis techniques, especially in emergency operations;
• Knowledge of the Somali language;
• Understanding of political, social and cultural context of Somalia
• Should be able to develop their own field visit plan, tools and methodologies;
• Excellent report writing skills and ability to meet deadlines;
• Ability to travel all targeted areas and undertake research in the field;
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision;
• Good interpersonal skills and understanding cultural sensitivities;
• Readiness to travel to Somalia and conduct direct standard assessment activities.

Availability: The consultant is expected to start as soon as possible, the applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Application process

Interested applicants who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to submit their Expression of Interest no later than 3rd March 2016.

EOL must include the following documents:

• CV(s) with details of qualifications and experience indicating documentation of relevant assignments undertaken, and including full contact details of three professional referees.

• Technical proposal that summarizes understanding of the TOR including the proposed methodology.

• Financial proposal providing cost estimates of daily consultancy fees.

• The foreseen work plan.

• References of similar work, or documented evidence for other similar assignments.

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk