Consultancy – Niger/Nigeria Resilience Analysis At RET Germany e.V.

Consultancy – Niger/Nigeria Resilience Analysis At RET Germany e.V.


Background

RET Germany e.V in partnership with Arbeiter Samariter Bund (ASB) will implement a project under the BMZ[1] Transitional Development Assistance (TDA), covering Katsina State in Nigeria and Maradi Region in Niger. The project implementation will be done via local partner organizations.

BMZ’s Transitional Development Assistance purpose is to help strengthen the resilience of people who are particularly hard hit and of local structures in a sustainable way so that they will be able to deal with existing crises themselves and reduce the risk of new crises.[2]TDA as a funding instrument aims to strengthen resilience, while also taking into account the particular challenges and interdependencies inherent to the humanitarian-development-peace nexus. Resilience is contributed to by empowering the people affected effectively and sustainably to cope independently with crises; to prepare themselves for recurring stresses to mitigate the negative effects of crises and to gradually overcome them permanently through structural changes.[3] Based on the principle of promoting participation and self-help, TDA-projects shall contribute to strengthen and promote stabilization capacityadaptation capacity and transformation capacity[4].

In this context, the ToR aims to define the scope, objectives, and deliverables for a Resilience Analysis.

The Project

  • Project Duration: October 2024-December 2028
  • Countries: Niger (Maradi) and Nigeria (Katsina)

The project “Promotion of livelihoods and food security of at-risk youth and vulnerable young women, through vocational training in climate-adapted agriculture and technical trades; and by strengthening peaceful relations and economic interdependence between conflict communities” aims to;

  • improve livelihoods and food security of vulnerable youth and young women, through training in climate-adaptive agriculture and handicrafts.
  • promote peaceful relations and economic interdependence among parties to the conflict (diverse communities, including refugees and internally displaced persons).”

The target group of the project is expected to address 18.000 individuals (of whom 9000 women and 9000 men), encompassing vulnerable young people who are highly affected by unemployment, poverty and food insecurity, vulnerable young women, female-headed households who are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity, poverty, protection risks, and climate change impacts in the context of displacement and migration, and who have low opportunities to secure an income, as well as youth and women who rely on agriculture as a source of income, as well as refugees, IDPs, returnees, and vulnerable host communities.

The project outcomes are:

  • Outcome 1: The employability and income opportunities of vulnerable youth and young women have improved through the creation of small businesses and support to enter the labour market.
  • Outcome 2: Target communities, especially vulnerable youth and young women, have improved their local resilience to crises, and their food security has improved through climate-adapted agricultural practices (including livestock) and cooperatives.
  • Outcome 3: Target communities are better able to prevent and respond to conflict, and vulnerable groups, such as youth at risk of joining violent conflicts, are better integrated into the local community.

In all 3 outcomes, people with disabilities will be effectively identified and their needs and rights will be responded to, to ensure their meaningful participation and to leave no one behind (UN principle), in accordance with the IASC guidelines on inclusion of persons with disabilities in humanitarian action[5].

Objectives, Results and Framework for Key Questions

Resilience analyses are highly relevant for designing and delivering a risk- and crisis-informed project.[6] Within the framework of this project, this ToR aims to define the objectivesresults and a framework for developing the key questions for the Resilience Analysis Consultancy. The consultancy will play a critical role in assessing the local context, identifying key challenges and opportunities, and providing strategic recommendations to enhance the resilience and self-reliance of the targeted communities.

Objectives

  • Identify the actors concerned at all relevant levels and actively involve them via data collection and in the analysis
  • Consider the local perspective of the people affected by risks and crises
  • Include secondary and primary data collection and mixed method design such as focus group discussion and interviews using guiding questions that permit a thorough understanding of the perception of resilience and existing resilience capacities at various levels.
    The qualitative approach should be complemented by quantitative surveys, e.g. at the household level.
  • The capacities identified as to be reinforced (via project activities at the output level), and the relevance of these capacities in terms of contributing to coping with risks and crises (outcome level) provide the necessary evidence for project design and create a base to formulate relevant indicators at the output and outcome levels for project monitoring and evaluation.
    A resilience capacity matrix shall serve as a key analytical instrument to summarize resilience capacities, presenting the actor’s responses to crisis contexts at all levels (individual, household, community).

Key Results

  • A systematic presentation of the risk and crisis context
  • Identification of the target group and presentation of its resilience capacities
  • Analysis of the gaps in the capacities and potentials to be strengthened
  • Analysis of informed suggestions for the development/adjustment of the ToC and indicators of the project.

Framework for Key Questions

The resilience analysis should comprehensively provide evidence for the following parts (the list is a summary, and questions and sub-points will be elaborated in the inception report):

  • Context
    • Assess the local context in Maradi, Niger, and Katsina, Nigeria, focusing on risks, crises that affect people in general and the target groups (vulnerable youth and young women, people with disabilities, including refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and vulnerable host communities) in particular.
    • In particular: evaluate the impact of climate change, economic instability, insecurity and social tensions on the targeted communities (e.g. conflict and causes of violence and extremisms and its impact on people, and target groups).
    • Highlight conflict dynamics and elaborate on how risks and crises are interrelated.
    • Elaborate on topics such as employability and income opportunities, livelihoods, climate-adapted agricultural practices, food security, gender equality, social inclusion, and social cohesion.
  • Resilience Capacities
    • Map Stakeholders, such as governmental institutions and organizations at the subnational level such as NGOs and networks. What are their role, interests, resources and capacities for taking action and how are they (or how are they not) responding to the mentioned risks, crises and challenges?
    • Elaborate on how individuals, households and communities respond to crises and shocks. Which groups are particularly vulnerable to the highlighted risks and why?
  • Elaborate on stabilization, adaption and transformation capacities to explain how people (at individual, household and community levels) meet their basic needs and how structures maintain their functionality to ensure survival in and after crises; how people and structures adapt to changes and cope with negative impacts; how structural change is promoted to create sustainable livelihoods (including assessing gaps and needs)
  • Map local, national and international humanitarian, development and peacebuilding actors and what are they delivering concerning the identified risks and crises? Elaborate on aspects such as coordination and exchange. Identify relevant opportunities for cooperation for the project.
  • Identify Opportunities for Enhancing Employability and Income Generation
    • Analyse existing training programs in technical skills/crafts to assess their effectiveness in improving the employability of vulnerable youth and young women.
    • Evaluate the success of micro-enterprises and integration into the labour market initiatives in supporting sustainable income generation for the target groups.
  • Identify Opportunities for Climate-Adapted Agricultural Practices and Cooperatives
    • Review ongoing initiatives related to climate-adapted agriculture, sustainable livestock production, and agricultural cooperatives to identify best practices and areas for improvement.
    • Analyse the potential for implementing climate-adapted agricultural practices that can improve food security and income generation for the target groups.
    • Assess the market demand for agricultural cooperatives.
  • Social Cohesion and Peaceful Community Relations
    • Recommend approaches to foster social cohesion, peaceful coexistence, and positive roles for youth, particularly those at risk of involvement in violent conflict.
  • Do No Harm and Local Ownership
    • Elaborate on the possible unintended negative effects of the project and on specific measures to mitigate the risks.
    • Identify the concerns of the target groups and the communities concerning action in the field of food security, employment activities and social cohesion.
    • Propose measures to enhance the sustainability of project interventions, including capacity-building for local stakeholders and reliance on locally based staff.
    • Encourage local ownership and participation in project activities to ensure long-term impact and effectiveness.
  • Risk Analysis
    • Conduct an extensive analysis of the risks and crises that have the potential to impact project implementation.
    • Provide recommendations for risk mitigation and resilience-building strategies under different scenarios.

Deliverables

  • An Inception Report before the commencement of the study: based on the guidance provided by the BMZ (see footnotes page 1) the consultant or consultant team will provide the outline of the study, including methodology (research methods, data collection instruments and sampling) and detailed timeline, which will be reviewed by RET Germany and adjusted with the consultant, if necessary.
  • The data collection will be complemented by a review and exchange workshop with RET Germany and the local implementing partners where the preliminary findings are discussed. If possible, this workshop will be supported by representatives of the target group and other stakeholders.
  • In between debrief sessions for the project management and implementation team during the research phase
  • A comprehensive draft and final report detailing the findings of the risk and resilience analysis, including identified risks, vulnerabilities, and resilience capacities. The report should cover:
  • In-depth analysis of the qualitative and quantitative data, data sets and transcription of the interviews and focus group discussions.
  • Resilience Capacity Matrix that visualizes the resilience capacities and gaps at various levels.
  • Analysis with recommendations for risk mitigation and resilience-building strategies
  • Guidance for the ToC and recommendations for integrating resilience into project design and implementation.
  • Soft copy of the database of the primary data analyzed and used in the report.
  • The draft and final reports should be submitted in soft copy to RET Germany by the last day of the consultancy duration (deadline). The consultant will submit the final report, 2 weeks after receiving consolidated comments from RET. RET will approve the report if it meets organizational minimum standards. The report should not be more than 30 pages (excluding the annexes) and should contain relevant parts such as an executive summary, findings, recommendations and annexes.

All deliverables will be in English.

Duration and Location of the Assignment

Duration of the assignment: 1 July 2024 to 30 August 2024

The consultancy firm or organization expressing interest should be prepared to complete all aspects of the analysis, from the inception report to the final report, within this specified timeframe. Timely execution and adherence to the outlined schedule will be a critical factor in the selection process.

Travel to the project implementation areas will be necessary and will be coordinated with RET Germany. The project implementation areas include the Region of Maradi, Niger, and Katsina, Nigeria. Prospective consultants should be prepared to travel to these locations as required for data collection and assessment purposes.

Payment

The amount paid to the Consultant shall be gross and inclusive of all associated costs such as travel, social security, pension and income tax, etc. Payments will be made upon submission and approval of the deliverables above and certification by the RET Germany supervisor that the services have been satisfactorily completed.

Payment shall be effected only if all the deliverables in this ToR are submitted to RET Germany within the timeframes stipulated in the ToR and they are approved by the supervisor.

Key Qualifications

Prospective firms/consultants should meet the following key qualifications:

  • The consultancy firm should have a robust background in research and analysis, including the design and execution of resilience, risk and context analysis. This experience should ideally encompass livelihood, food security, and social cohesion.
  • A deep understanding of the geographical and socio-political context is essential. The firm should have experience in conducting similar analyses, in Niger and Nigeria. Experience in the project implementation areas of Maradi, Niger, and Katsina, Nigeria will be key.
  • Proven work experience with refugees, vulnerable groups, and projects related to women’s empowerment, needs assessment, context analysis, risk analysis and baseline analysis is highly valuable.
  • Knowledge and practical experience in using participatory methodologies in monitoring and evaluation contexts, ensuring that data collection engages the target group effectively.
  • Proficiency in French and English language skills among staff and pollsters is vital to facilitate effective communication and data collection with the target group.
  • A commitment to gender inclusivity is essential. A minimum of 60 percent of the staff and pollsters should be women, ensuring balanced representation and data collection within the target group.
  • Strong facilitation skills for effective data collection and the ability to write comprehensive reports in both English and French languages are necessary for conveying findings.

For consultant/project teams:

  • Graduate degree in statistics, social sciences, agriculture or a relevant field from a recognized institution of higher learning.
  • Extensive experience in research including designing and conducting context and resilience surveys and assessments preferably in agriculture and/or social cohesion.
  • Extensive understanding of the Niger/Nigeria context and project sectors in particular
  • Fluent in both French and English languages
  • Excellent facilitation and report writing skills in English language.
  • Knowledge and experience of using participatory methodologies in monitoring and evaluation in a developing country context.
  • Computer literate in standard software applications,
  • Proved knowledge of Microsoft SQL Server and quantitative and qualitative data analysis tools such as STATA and NVivo,
  • Demonstrated the ability to successfully interact with individuals of different cultural backgrounds and beliefs, which includes the willingness to try and understand and be tolerant of differing opinions and views.

[1] German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development

[2] https://www.bmz.de/en/issues/transitional-development-assistance

[3] https://www.bmz.de/resource/blob/100470/factsheet-strengthening-resilience-creating-new-prospects-.pdf

[4] https://www.bmz.de/resource/blob/83022/strategiepapier505-01-2020-en.pdf

[5] https://interagencystandingcommittee.org/iasc-guidelines-on-inclusion-of-persons-with-disabilities-in-humanitarian-action-2019

[6] https://www.bmz.de/resource/blob/100468/produktblatt-resilienzanalyse-eng-barrierefrei-291121.pdf

How to apply

All interested consultancy firms or consultants should submit their applications in English by the specified deadline of 21 June 2024 to [email protected]. Please indicate “Consultancy Niger/Nigeria Resilience Analysis” in the subject line of your message. Due to the urgency of filling this consultancy, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Early submissions are strongly encouraged.

  1. Cover Letter (Maximum 1 page): Include a brief explanation about the consultant or consultancy firm, emphasizing previous experience in similar work. Highlight relevant projects and expertise that make you well-suited for this assignment.
  2. Technical Proposal (Maximum 4 pages): Demonstrate your understanding of the Terms of Reference (ToRs) and the scope of the assignment. In addition, outline your proposed methodology for conducting the study and provide a draft work/implementation plan, which should detail how you intend to approach and execute the assignment.
  3. Financial Proposal (Maximum 1 page): Submit a concise financial proposal outlining your expected costs for carrying out the analysis. Ensure that the financial proposal is transparent and clearly structured.
  4. CVs of key experts

Evaluation of Proposals/EOIs

The evaluation process for applicants will follow a cumulative analysis method, considering both technical and financial criteria. The weightage for each criterion is as follows:

Technical Evaluation: 80%

  • It assesses the qualifications, relevant experience, and the technical proposal submitted by the consultancy firm or individual.
  • The technical proposal’s quality, methodology, understanding of the Terms of Reference (ToR), and proposed work plan are crucial components of this evaluation.

Financial Evaluation: 20%

  • This criterion evaluates the clarity, transparency, and reasonableness of the financial proposal submitted by the consultancy firm or individual.
  • The financial proposal should align with the budgetary expectations for the assignment.

The contract for the consultancy firm will be awarded to the applicant whose combined score on technical and financial criteria is the highest. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 50 points in the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.

An interview/written test may be used as part of the evaluation procedure.

Important Notes

  • Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further review.
  • Due to the urgency to fill this post, we reserve the right to review the applications on a rolling basis and selected companies/candidates may be interviewed prior to the closing dates listed, therefore early applications are encouraged.
  • Consultancy fees are competitive. RET will evaluate offers technically and thereafter will compare offers based on the best price.
  • The consultant shall be responsible for his/her taxes and/or security implications because of the consultant being engaged in this piece of work.

We appreciate your interest in this assignment and look forward to reviewing your application. RET Germany is an equal-opportunity employer.

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