Terms Of Reference For An Area Based Livelihoods Assessment & Proposal By Jesuit Refugee Service Middle East And North Africa Region And Funded By Cordaid
1. Background
The humanitarian situation in Syria continues to deteriorate at a rapid pace since the beginning of the crisis in March 2011. According to OCHA four out of five Syrians live in poverty and 9.2 million are in need of early recovery and livelihoods support. The economy of the country has been deeply affected by the overall insecurity, the destruction of vital infrastructure, the economic and financial measures imposed on the country and the disruption of markets. At the household level, Syrians suffer from the soaring prices of food and fuel, and from the exhaustion of their savings after five years of war. Due to the length of the crisis most of them have exhausted their emergency coping mechanisms and are thus resorting to negative coping strategies.
JRS and Cordaid are collaborating to alleviate the suffering of affected populations in Syria through the provision of over 6,000 hot meals per day to IDPs and vulnerable families in Aleppo. The second objective of the project is to reduce the use of negative coping strategies by improving the access of beneficiary households to livelihoods and income generating opportunities. The findings of the proposed assessment will be used to inform the livelihoods programming under the second objective.
2. Objective of the assessment
The area based livelihoods assessment will seek to map on-going and planned livelihoods activities and interventions in specific areas and to identify human, natural, physical and financial capital that can support livelihoods development. The findings of the assessment and the recommendations will inform future livelihoods programming and will serve as a basis for a livelihoods proposal to be drafted by the consultant.
Tentative target areas for the assessment are Rural Homs, Damascus and Ma’loula. These areas might changes depending on the security situation and on recommendations of Syria Country Office (CO), and after discussion with the Consultant.
3. Limitations
Due to the security situation the evaluator might not be able to travel to the field and, due to travel restrictions imposed by the Republic of Lebanon on Syrians, it will not be possible for JRS staff to travel to Lebanon.
In case travel to Syria is not possible the evaluator is invited to propose an alternative exercise that is managed by the consultant and implemented by the organization’s local staff in Syria and/or by the consultant local team. The evaluator is expected to provide guidance and support to the local staff in Syria all along the evaluation process.
4. Sources
- Review of secondary information (relevant existing reports / studies and previous livelihoods assessments in the area).
- Direct observation in key locations such as markets, warehouses, etc.
- Key informant interviews, with relevant stakeholders from local and international institutions related to training, employment, micro-finance, enterprises, agriculture, cooperatives, etc.
- Focus Group Discussions with special interests groups (persons from similar trade, youth, women, etc.) to allow for systematic cross-checking of information and ensure consistency in the data collection.
- Participatory Rural Assessment methods (transect walks, seasonal calendars, etc.).
5. Consultant responsibilities
- Develop the livelihoods assessment methodology, including the definition of the sectors and areas to be assessed.
- Develop the tools to be used for the assessment. This should be done based on international standards customized to the Syrian context.
- Train national staff on the assessment methodology and tools.
- Develop the assessment action plan and coordinate the implementation process in collaboration with JRS M&E manager in Damascus.
- Provide continuous support to the assessment team in all aspects of the assessment.
- Analyze the outcomes of the assessment ensuring linkages with other pre-existing studies and available assessments.
- Issue recommendations based on the findings of the assessment to inform future programming.
- Draft a proposal for a livelihoods project to be submitted to key institutional donors, preferably EU/ ECHO templates for call for proposals.
6. Outcomes of the evaluation exercise
- The livelihood assets and strategies (including negative coping strategies) that households and individuals use are identified. Assets include human, natural, physical and financial capital.
- Social and cultural processes that enable or inhibit access to work and to other livelihood opportunities are identified.
- Institutions and existing programmes relevant national and international organizations,that support or can potentially support livelihood development in the target areas are identified, with detail of what they are doing and for whom (women/men, IDPs, returnees, host populations, etc.).
- Undergo a mapping of potential donors and call for proposals to which the livelihood proposal might interest.
7. Deliverables
Preparation:
1- Livelihoods assessment methodology;
2- Livelihoods assessment tools;
Reporting:
3- Livelihoods assessment report (draft);
4- Livelihoods assessment report (final version).
Proposal:
5- Livelihoods proposal (draft);
6- Livelihoods proposal (final version).
8. Proposal submission
Interested candidates are invited to submit a proposal which includes:
Technical proposal: indicating the methodology and detailing the work chronogram. Detailed budget. Curriculum Vitae highlighting experience in livelihoods assessments and in securing funding from key institutional donors (ECHO, OFDA, etc.)
Tentative timeframe
Proposal: the technical proposal is submitted by May 8, 2016; Launching: the consultant is selected and the assessment exercise is launched by May 16, 2016; Tools (first draft): the 1st draft of the data collection tools is prepared and submitted to JRS one week after the launch for review and approval; Tools (final version): the tools are discussed, edited and finalized; Implementation: the time allocated for the implementation (data collection) phase will be agreed on with the external evaluator; Evaluation report (first draft): the time allocated for the production of the first draft of the evaluation report will be agreed on with the external evaluator. The first draft is reviewed by JRS; a meeting is then held to discuss the first draft; Evaluation report (final version): the final version of the evaluation report is submitted by end of June 2016. Livelihoods proposal (first draft): the time allocated for the production of the first draft of the proposal will be agreed on with the external evaluator. The first draft is reviewed by JRS and Cordaid; a meeting is then held to discuss the first draft; Livelihoods proposal (final version): the final version of the proposal is submitted in July 2016.
9. Presentation of the evaluation proposal
The candidate shall submit a proposal to these three email addresses:
The final payment will be subject to the approval of the report by JRS-MENA.
10.Qualifications
- Advanced University degree (Master Level minimum) in Development studies, Development economics, Agricultural economics, Labor economics, Socio economic studies, or other related field.
- Minimum of 5 years of practical field experience within one or more of the following areas: conflict sensitive development, early recovery and rehabilitation, micro-finance, socioeconomic and/or household economy assessments; Market and Value chain assessments, rapid and participatory rural appraisal; cooperatives and/or microfinance, entrepreneurship building, agriculture/livestock resource management, Vocational and Technical Education and Training (VTET).
- Demonstrated experience in conducting assessments for planning and/or evaluation purposes and familiarity with international assessment and analytical tools.
- Proven track record of successful proposal writing with major institutional donors.
- Familiarity with community based and participatory approaches.
- Demonstrated ability to engage with sensitivity, strategic foresight and political acumen in situations involving multiple actors and stakeholders
- Excellent analytical, diplomatic and communication skills
- Highest standards of integrity and discretion.
- Fluency in English, working knowlede of Arabic will be considered as an asset.
11. Reporting
The Area based livelihoods assessment consultant will work under the overall guidance of the Regional Programmes Officer based in Beirut and in close liaison with the M&E manager based in Damascus.
