Short Term Meal & Baseline Consultant

  Project Title : Syrian Voice and Accountability Donor: Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency & Norwegian Embassy Location: Jordan and Lebanon  Duration of project: 24 months (start date: 8th July 2013, end date: 31st August 2015) Reference: SVA-MEB411   1. BACKGROUND: 15th of March 2013 marked two years anniversary of the Syrian crisis – the crisis that has national, regional and international dimensions affecting millions of people inside Syria and in neighbouring countries. Escalation of violence has resulted in displacement of over 3.5 million people with over 1.5 million people[1] fleeing their homes to Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt. This conflict is having a devastating impact on the lives of millions Syrians whose lives are currently put on hold as they wait for reinstatement of peace and rule of law in their homeland – they lack basic rights to live a life with dignity free from fear and want. That said, nevertheless, the needs and aspiration of Syrian people go beyond meeting their immediate needs – they strive to be independent through acquiring skills and knowledge that would allow them to support their families and most importantly, meaningfully contribute to reconstruction of their country following the cessation of hostilities and reinstatement of peace and security in Syria. The following key problems have been identified by the 24 months Syrian Voice and Accountability Project: Poor access to information on available services and entitlements to Syrian refugee population. Women in particular do not have sufficient information on issues of registration, access to aid and other services, as well as access to self-employment opportunities; Syrian refugee population have no say in decision making concerning their rights. One of the root causes of inability of the Syrian refugee population to live a life with dignity given the current circumstances is related to powerlessness of affected Syrian population to have a say in resolution of issues that are affecting them – they are being perceived as passive recipients of whatever is given to them; Lack of responsiveness and consideration of women’s rights and gender equality by duty bearers (including humanitarian actors); Limited capacity of Syrian women’s right CSOs to engage with women refugee population on issues pertaining to basic rights and entitlements both inside and outside Syria. Moreover, Syrian CSOs may not have the necessary capacity (in terms of knowledge, attitudes and practices) for mainstreaming gender into humanitarian or longer term rehabilitation work. In responding to the needs mentioned above, Oxfam and its partners are planning to implement the 2 year “Syrian Voice and Accountability Project. The project aims to enhance preparedness of approximately 33,000 Syrian men and women to constructively engage in humanitarian, development and political processes through the following strands of work in Jordan and Lebanon: Improving refugee access to resources, information and services; Engaging women and men in activities which enable them to voice their needs/aspirations and the issues which affect them; Capacity and resilience building to enhance the ability of refugees to engage with duty bearers and participate in decision-making processes; Linking voices of ordinary Syrian men and women affected by the conflict to national, regional and international decision makers and fora; and Capacity building of Syrian women’s rights CSOs and link the latter to their constituencies outside Syria. The proposed action will build on Oxfam’s humanitarian work, in particular through focusing on improved equal access to information and services and evidence based advocacy and lobbying work in order to contribute to improved responsiveness of international community to the plight of Syrian men and women, as a vehicle to empower Syrian women’s rights CSOs and women refugees, so when they go back home they would be in a better position to participate effectively in rebuilding their communities and country. This initiative is led by Oxfam GB in partnership with ARDD-LA (Jordan) and ABAAD (Lebanon), who will lead on the first four strands of the project, while Oxfam GB’s Gender hub in Lebanon will build on the ground work to ensure that Syrian refugee population engage on issues affecting their lives with key stakeholders. Moreover, the proposed action will conduct a mapping exercise to identify Syrian women’s rights organizations to not only benefit from capacity development interventions proposed under the action, but most importantly act as a partner in working with Syrian men and women in Jordan and Lebanon and lead and support on evidence based lobbying and advocacy work aimed at improving responsiveness of national, regional and international duty bearers.     2. PROJECT OUTLINES: Goal: Syrian refugee women and men become active agents in humanitarian, development and political processes Specific Objective: Enhanced preparedness of affected Syrian men and women to constructively engage in humanitarian, development and political processes Result 1: Improved and equal access of Syrian men and women to resources, quality information and services Result 2: Improved ability of community facilitators to voice and address the needs and entitlements of Syrian men, women and children Result 3: Improved level of responsiveness of national, regional and international duty bearers to the needs of Syrian refugees  Result 4: Improved leadership capacity of Syrian women to constructively engage in development and political processes   (Detailed project description is available upon request)   Targeted Beneficiaries The project will target both Syrian men and women, with women constituting 70% of the direct project beneficiaries. Below is a breakdown of beneficiaries per location: Country Locality Direct Beneficiaries Indirect Beneficiaries Male Female Male Female Jordan Zarqa 1,400 5,600 7,000 30,000 Mafraq/ Irbid 1,400 5,600 10,000 35,000 Amman 1,400 5,600 8,000 30,000 Sub-total Jordan 4,200 16,800 25,000 95,000 Lebanon Zahle/ Bekaa 500 1,800 5,000 20,000 Tyre 1,500 3,000 15,000 30,000 Tripoli 1,000 4,000 10,000 30,000 Sub-total Lebanon 3,000 8,800 30,000 80,000 Syria CSOs (staff members from at least 2 women’s rights organizations)   15     Sub-total Syria   15     GRAND TOTAL 7,200 25,615 55,000 175,000     3. PUROSE OF CONSULTANCY:   The consultancy aims at implementing the project baseline and developing a strong monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning system for the project. The specific objectives of the consultancy are:   A strong project monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning system is developed jointly with Oxfam team and partners A participatory baseline survey is implemented Relevant Oxfam and partner staff including their managers have the capacity to implement and use the MEAL system developed. Recommendations are provided to ensure quality MEAL of the project based on the findings of the baseline, project context and Oxfam and partner’s teams capacities   4. INDICATIVE APPROACH: Oxfam MEAL systems are tailored in order to adapt to different contexts and specificities. They are meant to be coherent with our rights based approach and for this reason emphasis is given on participatory approaches, balance of quantitative and qualitative methods, and feedback. It is expected that partners will be involved from the very beginning of the inception phase and at each stage of the MEAL process. The approach will also emphasize Cross Programme Learning. The monitoring and evaluation system will be designed based on the logframe, indicators and some tools pre-identified that will be adapted for the purpose of monitoring and evaluation of this programme. Oxfam is expecting the consultant to engage with Oxfam staff, partners, beneficiary communities and other stakeholders proportionately as appropriate. In delivering this, Oxfam would like the discussion and consultation with the project to involve key stakeholders, which include but are not limited to the following:  Targeted beneficiaries (women and men); Partners and stakeholders involved in the project at different levels: Implementing partners (ARDD-Legal Aid in Jordan and ABAAD in Lebanon) Identified civil society organisations, community-based organizations/groups and leading figures among refugee circles and within hosting communities that will be involved in the programme Municipalities and both regional and local government representation of the Ministry of Social Affairs & the Ministry of Local Administration. Oxfam staff involved in and contributing to the project’s implementation e.g. Country and Field teams. Other actors involved in similar project interventions such as UN agencies (UNHCR, UNRWA, UNICEF, UN Women in Jordan, UNDP and ESCWA) and other international actors: DRC, NRC, Care, Save the Children...etc   5. KEY TASKS:   The consultancy assignment, as mentioned earlier, involves the participatory development of a MEAL system for the project, the capacity building of Oxfam staff, partners and other stakeholders involved in MEAL and the implementation of a baseline survey. For the assignment, it is expected that the consultant will consider the need for participation and downward and upward accountability at different levels including communities, partners, Oxfam, donors and other relevant stakeholders. It is expected that the consultant will also explore realistic options for the implementation of Community Based Monitoring where possible and relevant. The following specific tasks are to be carried out: Desk review of the project’s key documents including but not limited to: Project proposal and logframe Pre identified data collection tools to be adapted Other relevant project M&E systems Relevant reports: Oxfam Live, Assessment report, and Shifting Sands. Contact with Oxfam and partners’ teams to ensure: Gathering expectations from for the MEAL processes and in particular the baseline process. Assessing needs in MEAL capacity building for Oxfam staff and partners. Reviewing available resources for carrying out the baseline and MEAL system Review the logframe and when relevant suggest recommendations for improvement and output indicators for key project activities Develop a draft MEAL strategy proposal including: Introduction (Objectives, key definitions, key elements of a MEAL system) MEAL management Main approaches and methodology M&E framework (matrix) as per Oxfam standards Data collection tools, methods, sampling and guidance notes for the different indicators Field implementation plan with protocols for the enumerators and supervisors Field manual for enumerators. Tools and template for analysis and reporting Data entry and analysis plan How we will be counting beneficiaries Accountability: Systems, mechanisms, tools and guidance note for ensuring accountability towards partners and target population How the monitoring of activities will be carried out: responsibilities and resources MEAL activity plan including key MEAL moments, brief description of each activity ensuring triangulations and complementarity for the creation of an effective MEAL system How knowledge sharing will happen in and across countries How MEAL findings will be used to improve programme quality and impact MEAL capacity building plan for Oxfam staff and partners (and if needy target groups/beneficiaries) and required resources Implement field test of tools and methods suggested and collect feedback from Oxfam and key partners’ staff on MEAL strategy and needs for capacity building through visit to Oxfam and partners’ offices Review draft MEAL strategy based on feedback collected and field test findings Develop and implement Oxfam and partners MEAL capacity building regional workshop Implement jointly with partner baseline survey including training of enumerators (if necessary), data collection, entry, analysis and quality control Present first baseline findings to Oxfam and partners during 1 day regional workshop Render 2 first draft report to Oxfam and partners for comments: 1 baseline report 1 consultancy report Finalize the baseline and the consultancy reports within a week of receiving comments.   6. EXPECTED OUTPUTS: Project M&E framework as per Oxfam template (as part of the final consultancy report) Integrated M&E activities plan (included in the final consultancy report) Project baseline guide; outlining the indicators, methodology, data collection, analysis and reporting tools with guidance notes (to be used as training guide) Final Project Baseline Survey Report (in English), structured as follows: Title Pages Contents List of acronyms Executive summary Introduction and background/Context Objectives key tasks of assignments Assignment performance and key outputs Project description and baseline indicators, Baseline methodology, including sampling strategy (specifics on the design, methodology, and sample size calculations) Limitations of the study Baseline findings (bench mark level against the baseline indicators). Presentation of the findings should include narrative and tables, using descriptive and statistics as well as analysis of the results Recommendations on the indicators, MEAL framework and other monitoring activities (midline, endline);  Appendix includes various documentation and lists of Oxfam team and stakeholders’ representatives discussed/consulted throughout the assignment Final consultancy report structured as follows: Title Pages Contents List of acronyms Executive summary Introduction and Background/Context Objectives & key tasks of assignments Assignment performance and key outputs Review of the Logframe indicators and suggested key output indicators MEAL strategy as described above Oxfam and partners training outline and report Final Oxfam and partners capacity assessment Limitations, challenges and recommendations Appendix   7. TIMELINE: Oxfam is expecting the completion of the consultancy tasks as described in this ToR over a maximum period of 2 months starting the third week of November latest and ending no later than mid of January 2014. Applicants are kindly requested to indicate in their offers the actually required number of days versus team size involved and the financial rates. 8. TEAM COMPOSITION: Upon the conclusion of an open and competitive bidding process, Oxfam will select and commission a technically qualified independent Consultant/Consultancy Firm with an efficient and effective team composition taking into consideration the social, cultural, environmental and political/security issues.   9. GOVERNANCE & MANGAGEMENT OF THE BASELINE SURVEY: The Consultant will directly report to the SVA project manager The Consultant will work closely and in consultation with Oxfam and partners project team in Lebanon and Jordan and with Regional Programme Quality Coordinator as relevant   [1] According to UNHCR as of 8th of July, 2013