Consultancy for a Rapid Needs Assessment

Post Title: Rapid Needs Assessment Consultant

Project Name: Plan and Conduct Needs Assessment for SOS Children’s Villages in 4 countries in the Horn of Africa

Duty station: Flexible

Duration of Appointment: 30 working days

Language required: English

Expected Starting Date: 30 August 2022

Travel required: Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), Mogadishu (Somalia), Hargeisa (Somalia), Nairobi (Kenya)

Background

SOS Children's Villages International (SOS CVI) is an independent, non-governmental, non-profit and non-denominational international umbrella organization that has been active in the field of children's rights and has committed itself to address children's needs and concerns. It is one of the oldest (since 1949) and largest organizations working with vulnerable children, which operates in 134 countries and territories around the world.

In recent years, SOS CV has been increasingly engaged in emergency preparedness and response activities to protect children from abuse, neglect and exploitation and minimize the negative effects that natural disaster and war could have on children and their families. The Global Emergency Response unit drives and manages the emergency preparedness and response activities of SOS CVI and supports member associations to fulfil the urgent humanitarian needs of children. And for this, recently SOS CV has launched a humanitarian appeal in response to the unfolding drought crisis in the horn of Africa targeting four SOS Member Associations namely Ethiopia, Somalia, Somaliland and Kenya and waiting budget commitment from the Promoting and Supporting Associations (PSAs).

Objective of the assignment

A large-scale, climate-induced humanitarian crisis has unfolded in the Horn of Africa. SOS CVI is looking for a Needs Assessment Consultant (NAC) to lead and manage the needs assessment team and hold responsibility for the implementation of a multi sector needs assessment with specific focus on the programmatic and strategic focus areas of the Global Emergency Response Department of SOS CVI. The programmatic focus includes but not limited to 1) Group activities for child well-being, 2) Preserving Family Unit, 3) Interim Alternative Care, 4) Education in Emergency and 5) Mental Health and Psychological Support.  In addition to this, the consultant should also thoroughly assess the Health, Nutrition, Food Security and Livelihood, WASH, Protection and NFI needs of the people in the target areas.

The needs assessment will be conducted for 4 SOS member associations: SOS Ethiopia, SOS Somalia, SOS Somaliland and SOS Kenya as well as in close collaboration with the Eastern Africa Regional Office of SOS and the International Office. The Consultant is expected to develop a context specific approach including methodology and tools. S/he will be required to visit the National office of all 4 SOS Member Associations to train local staff on the developed approach, methodology and tools for data collection. Based on the data collected the consultant will submit a high quality, analytical needs assessment report to the Global Emergency Response Department of SOS CVI.

This post is initially for a period of 30 working days. The consultant is covered by Allianz World Wide Care (Emergency Medical Cover for Business Trips) and Wr. Städtische Accident Insurance.

Key Tasks

• Assume overall management responsibility for the implementation of a coordinated, multi sector needs assessment in aforementioned areas.
• Based on the tools available with SOS CVI, as well as good-practice external tools, develop - in cooperation with Regional and Country team - an agreed, context-specific assessment approach, methodology, and tool will be used.
• Train and supervise national assessment teams to ensure the best quality for the data collection
• Monitor the quality of data collected on the humanitarian needs of most vulnerable people (with specific references to Unaccompanied and/or separated children, children at risk of losing parental care and their care givers), and support the identification of gaps and possible response (also at mid/long term), activities, and indicators
• Assess the overall security, access and humanitarian situation of the area and identify districts (more precisely localities) and specific villages (Kebeles) that can be covered by SOS
• To realize a mapping of humanitarian actors operating in the area (should they be local associations or international organizations) as well as local government bodies involved in the humanitarian response
• To identify unmet humanitarian needs among the community in the area
• To prioritize sectors that are considered to have serious gaps either because they are not yet covered by the actors operating in the area, or because though taken into account, there is still huge gaps to bridge.
• Ensure the production of a high quality, analytical needs assessment report

Expertise and qualification required

• Experience of at least >5 years of progressively responsible professional experience in program management, evaluations, needs assessment and coordination, including at least 3 years international experience.
• Substantive knowledge and understanding of needs assessment, strategic framework, and programming.
• Relevant academic and professional experience, including global and country level experience.
• Expertise and experience in the humanitarian and development sector contexts and programs.
• Management experience including the ability to multitask and the ability to complete tasks working with tight timelines.
• Excellent analytical, research, writing and communication skills.
• Large autonomy; high flexibility and adaptation capacities to the contexts and environment, solution-oriented.
• Strategic thinker.
• Ability to comply strictly with deadlines and work in a timely manner.
• Prior knowledge and experience on the proposed geographical areas are advantageous

How to apply

Interested persons should submit the following documents in English electronically to ESAF.HROD@sos-kd.org Cc, Azemeraw Bekele, Regional Emergency Response Advisor, Azemeraw.bekele@sos-kd.org and Kifleyesus.Gezahegn@sos-kd.org , latest by 29 August 2022:

• For individuals: Curriculum Vitae & Motivation letter explaining how the qualifications and experiences of the consultant address the requirements of the TOR
• Brief summary on planned methodology to deliver the ToR objectives within the defined timeframe
• For consultancy firm: Background information on the company & Letter of Interest explaining how the profile of the company addresses the requirements of the TOR
• Proof of having undertaken similar work in the desired areas of interest
• Financial expectations / preliminary offer to undertake the assignment (The Consultant shall be entitled to charge SOS-KDI (upon presentation of satisfactory receipts or such other documentation as SOS-KDI may reasonably request) for necessary travel expenses (travel, food and lodging) incurred by the Consultant in performing the Services, provided that any travel expenses are economy fare only. In case the Consultant receives a per diem, no expenses for food will be reimbursed)

For consultancy firms, in addition to the above documents, the following should be included in the application package:

• Valid Certificate of Consultancy Service;
• Valid Trading License;
• Valid Tax Registration Certificate (indicating PIN and Tax Compliance Certificate);
• Full and accurate physical, postal, telephone and email addresse

Selection procedure: The selection committee established for this purpose assesses the submitted financial and technical proposals against the agreed upon selection criteria. Shortlisted applicants will be invited for oral interview to offer them the chance to explain their work and gain a deeper understanding of their experience. Once consultant will be selected and a work contract agreement will be signed