Somalia: Consultancy for conducting Baseline Evaluation on Peace Building & Access to Justice Project in Somalia

Location: Mogadishu, Somalia
Timeline: March-April 2018
Type of employee (see definitions below): Consultant (National or International)

Background
The IRC responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. IRC was founded in 1933 in the United States to respond to the needs of people vulnerable to conflict around the world. Since then, it has expanded and evolved to become one of the world’s leading humanitarian organisations. In 2016, more than 26 million people benefited from IRC programs and those of its partner organizations.

The IRC received a grant from the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency (SIDA) to implement a three-year program (2018-2020) called “Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Program in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo”. The program is designed to promote communities’ ability to participate in group dialogue as part of a process that provides them with increased access to services, while also enhancing the local government’s ability to engage with communities and support their needs, including response capacities to effectively mitigate and manage conflicts. In Somalia, the program focuses on access to, and capacities of, justice systems in Karaan and Hawl wadag Districts of Benadir Region (Mogadishu).

This project comes at a critical time in Somalia’s transition and it presents a unique opportunity to have a positive impact and generate learning on preventing/mitigating the effects of outbreaks of violent conflict. Through this project, the IRC seeks to support communities as they seek to reconcile and build trust through creating access to justice processes and systems that are aligned with relevant protection standards, promote and support human rights and inclusion, and offer peaceful, non-violent, and legitimate dispute resolution mechanisms—all prerequisites for the creation of an enabling environment to support longer-term development planning and reduce reliance on humanitarian aid.

The Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Program is a multi-country program with specific projects in Somalia and Democratic Republic of Congo and a cross-country learning component managed by the Governance & Rights Technical Unit. In Somalia the program is implemented in Hawl wadag & Karaan Districts. The program will target 6,648 direct beneficiaries (3,885 males and 2,763 females). The Somalia component of this project will seek to strengthen access to justice systems and capacities of community members (rights holders) and local authorities (duty bearers) to prevent and manage conflicts (or disputes) in a non-violent way that aligns with international protection standards.

The IRC is conducting a learning, theory-based evaluation of the Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Program in Somalia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), to be led by a separate team of international consultants. Because of the relevance of the baseline data for this theory-based evaluation, the baseline consultant is expected to collaborate with the IRC in order to ensure that the M&E plan complements the theory-based evaluation (and vice-versa), is consistent with the baseline data collection in DRC. The selected consultant for this baseline will handle mainly the Somalia component of the project (Peace & Access to justice) in Somalia specifically collecting data from the two districts of Hawl wadag and Karan of Mogadishu in Benadir Region.

Project Objectives & Result areas
Objective 1: Enhance capacity and willingness of local structures (duty bearers, formal and informal justice actors) to prevent and manage conflicts in a non-violent way that aligns with international protection standards.
• Result 1.1 Local peace and access to justice structures’ capacity strengthened.
• Result 1.2 Advocacy to ensure laws are inclusive.

Objective 2: Enhance the knowledge of community members (right holders) on their rights and entitlements when accessing formal and informal justice systems and support them to take action to prevent and manage conflicts in a non-violent way that aligns with international protection standards.
• Result 2.1 Communities are aware of and are able to access the existing justice referral pathways.
• Result 2.2 Communities understand the importance of civic engagement laws, their rights and availability of resources.
• Result 2.3 Communities develop strategies for collective action that are inclusive of all voices.

Objectives of the baseline study

Overall objective: The overall objective of the consultancy assignment is to provide accurate baseline information as benchmarks against which progress of achievement, as well as, impact effectiveness and efficiency can be measured. The baseline will be the foundation for the monitoring and evaluation of the program.

Specific objectives: The specific objectives of the baseline study therefore are:
• Determine the baseline status on outcome and output indicators as established in the program’s logical framework.
• To design a clear Monitoring & Evaluation plan for the program.
• To assess the conflict & gender dynamics in the areas of project implementation.

Methodology
The lead consultant is charged with designing the methodology of the baseline study. In doing so, he/she will take into account what is written about M&E in the project proposal and logical framework. The methodology shall consist of a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods including questionnaires, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. The methodology will be shared and agreed with IRC Country Office staff in the inception report. Draft questionnaire for data collection shall however be validated by IRC before data collection.

Data Entry and Cleaning procedures:
 If not using electronic data collection, each questionnaire should be entered twice, by two different data entry operators. Discrepancies between the two versions must be corrected. The error rate for each batch of questionnaires must be less than 0.3 -0.5%. If the error rate for any batch of questionnaires exceeds this rate, the entire batch of questionnaires must be re-entered.
 All data should be checked and entered using statistical package SPSS to enhance accuracy and data quality.

Deliverables
The selected consultant shall be expected to deliver the following products before the data collection process:

1. In preparation of the field work, an inception report is presented, in which the consultant establishes:
   • A detailed methodology for implementation of the baseline (include samples size and methodology, use of local consultant(s), enumerators, etc.);
   • an updated & detailed schedule for the baseline study;
   • The indicators that fall within the scope of the baseline study;
   • the indicators for which the baseline value can only be established at a later stage;
   • Draft data collection tools for all indicators.

In addition to the above, the inception will be used to determine how the criteria is integrated into the M&E Plan. The process will involve preliminary meetings with IRC Somalia to clarify the ToR and develop a clear understanding of project design and methodologies.

1. A completed M&E plan including a final set of data-collection tools for all indicators in the logical framework, including guidance on how to use it in the field. This will be annexed to the final report. There should be one consolidated M&E plan in excel.

2. A final report in English not exceeding a length of 20 pages (excluding annexes) which includes:
   • Executive Summary (max. 2 pages)
   • Introduction.
   • Methodology, including sampling.
   • Analysis and findings of the study
   • Conclusions, recommendations and best practices.
   • Annexes
   o Revised log-frame, including benchmarks for the project duration (if relevant)
   o Table enabling the tracking of each indicator from its current status against target
   o M&E plan, including monitoring data collection methods and tools to be used, proposed timelines for data collection and a beneficiary and indicator tracking database
   o Relevant maps and photographs of the study areas
   o Bibliography of consulted secondary sources
   o Finalized data collection tools (in English and Somali)
   o List of key informants
   o Raw data in an agreed format.

Principles & Ethical consideration.
The Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding Program in Somalia and DRC is guided by the following principles: Participation and Inclusion, Openness and Transparency, Empowerment, Social Accountability, Local Ownership, Gender Equality, and Conflict Sensitivity.

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

The Consultant is expected to seek and document the target interviewees consent and local district authorities’ go-ahead; The Consultant is required to comply and abide to the above principles.

Security
IRC’s Safety and Security Department rating for Mogadishu is “Level 3: The situation is tense and unstable/volatile”. The consultant is required to follow IRC security protocols at all times when working with the IRC.

Duration of the consultancy, start date and work plan

Baseline survey is expected to last 14 days from the Fourth week of March, 2018 per the timetable below. Please note that data analysis and report writing are expected to be ongoing activities. The IRC is open to discussing the duration of the consultancy subject to the consultant’s financial proposal.

Expected profile of consultants

Consultants for this baseline survey will need to meet the requirements below.
 MA, MSc in Peace and Conflict Studies, Development Studies, Development Evaluation, Statistics or any related field.
 Extensive experience in project monitoring and evaluation. Specific experience with conflict mitigation and management, peace building, institutional strengthening or related programs is strongly desired.
 Prior experience working in conflict and post conflict settings especially Somalia and an in-depth understanding of the context of such settings on monitoring and evaluation.
 Knowledge and experience working in Somalia and ability to speak the local language will be an added benefit.
 Strong past performance references.

Applicants should send a detailed technical narrative and financial proposals of not more than 10 pages (excluding annexes). To: ircsomaliajobs@rescue.org
The attachments to the proposal should include:
• CVs of proposed consultant (s) and past performance references
• Cover letter outlining relevant experience and skills against qualifications listed.
• List of related publications/reports and or similar work conducted before
• Summary budget to complete contract, including:

1) estimated total number of days required;
2) daily rate;
3) travel costs; accommodation, logistics and
4) any additional equipment & supplies costs.