Background
In addition to the deteriorating humanitarian living conditions in Northwest Syria, several storms hit various locations that led to further harm, especially to the vulnerable communities living in the unofficial camps sites. Therefore, Gülümseme ve Zeytin Yardimlaşma ve Dayanişma Derneği (GvZ) and ULUSLARARASI İSLAMİ YARDIM VAKFI (UIY) are commissioning a study that aims to undertake an ‘emergency contingency planning’ along with participatory community planning and consultation exercises to introduce preparedness measures that will mitigate against the effects of future weather-related emergencies in North-West Syria.
GvZ – An Overview:
Gülümseme ve Zeytin Yardimlaşma ve Dayanişma Derneği (GvZ) is a non-profit, non-governmental civil society organization that has been supporting the most marginalized and desperate Syrians affected by conflict in Syria since 2014. Since the beginning, GvZ believes that its role is to create avenues to empower those affected by the conflict by developing their skills and reviving their sense of humanity and dignity. Through its community centers, GvZ provides women, youth, and marginalized groups with a range of various humanitarian services such as relief aid, protection, education programs, and networking with other humanitarian actors on how to advocate for issues deemed essential to highlight. To that end, GvZ strives to continue sharpening the skills of Syrians to partake in the peacebuilding process in Syria and actively advocate for a democracy reflecting a diverse yet socially coherent society.
Islamic Relief - Turkey – An Overview:
Islamic Relief Syria Mission (ULUSLARARASI İSLAMİ YARDIM VAKFI) was established in 2012 to better respond to the crisis in Syria, providing emergency response to those affected by violence in Syria and has scaled up its capacity and operations with more than 200 national and international staff. Since 2012, Islamic Relief has established long-standing relationships with existing humanitarian stakeholders in the region through its operational presence in Idleb and Aleppo Governorates (directly), two field offices, warehouses and staff (technical and management), provides humanitarian assistance with respect to local customs and norms, sensitivity to the needs of both displaced and the host population.
Islamic Relief maintains humanitarian principles, SPHERE Standards, basic humanitarian standards, protection and inclusion principles, has a good reputation among the local community, local councils, camp management and other humanitarian actors, a regular member of UN led clusters, working groups and provides meaningful participation in all these coordination forums to highlight the needs and gaps in providing assistance.
- Purpose and Scope of the Study
Study Objectives
Through this study, GvZ, and UIY hope to improve the humanitarian partners' joint emergency contingency planning for future crises and ensure initiatives are people-centred and seek to increase accountability to those affected by/or at-risk of crisis, enhancing community ownership of humanitarian response.
For the purposes of this study, the main focus shall be on two main areas:
- Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) - a thorough analysis of preparedness measures that can be undertaken.
Areas to be analysed shall include the following:
Key risks faced by Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and primary impacts
Who are the most vulnerable groups and what are their needs?
What does a storm-related emergency intervention in NW Syria typically look like? Are there recurrent gaps? For instance, a study of the layout and distribution of the unregistered camps could highlight the vulnerability of these locations and potential impact of future storms in the area.
What can be done to ensure that emergency responses are timely and effective? (Focusing on duration of response, procurement, and logistical challenges)
What are the challenges associated with implementation? (Security, funding, capacity etc)
What DRR activities are particularly applicable in the NW Syrian context? For instance, exploration of the CEDRR (Climate and Ecosystem-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction) tool which incorporates short- and long-term climate trends with traditional ecosystem-based DRR.
Increasing Accessibility, Inclusion and Accountability- an analysis of how agencies and local actors can engage with people affected by small scale crises within the context of NW Syria. Currently, there seems to be a reliance on face-to-face communication; alternative methods and tools can be explored so that future interventions are aligned with crisis-affected peoples’ preferences from the outset.
Areas we will analyse will include the following:
Mapping existing coordination mechanisms
Highlighting challenges, specifically focusing on communication, from previous similar emergency responses.
Recommendations and suggestions with the primary objective of avoiding duplication and ensuring future responses
Presenting the preferred and most appropriate channels of communication from the community perspective.
In order to highlight the challenges, identify recommendations and solutions, and ensure these learnings are referred to or embedded within future interventions in similar contexts, the final product of this study (The final report) should focus on these main outputs:
Highlight the challenges, identify recommendations and solutions of working in the context of NW Syria
Identify preparedness measures that can be undertaken in NW Syria and similar contexts to mitigate against weather-related emergencies.
Present recommendations to improve the coordination of agencies/stakeholders/local actors with the people affected by small scale crises within the context of NW Syria to ensure future interventions are aligned with crisis-affected people’s preferences from the outset.
Audience
The final report is meant to be publicly shared and will be disseminated to other agencies such as I/NGOs, UN agencies, clusters, coordination networks, etc.
- Methodology
The consultant will submit an inception report based on their review of key documents provided by the GvZ and UIY , outlining the proposed methodology. The methodology should be sensitive to and take account of the current situation in Turkey/Syria with COVID-19. The methodology should include:
The collected data collection tools should be considered to be collected in a qualitative and quantitative method.
Desk review of key documents provided by GvZ and UIY .
Interviews, discussions and debriefing sessions with the partner staff.
Key informant interviews, surveys and focus group discussions with a sample of the affected communities living in unofficial camps living in Northwest Syria.
Interviews with other relevant stakeholders, such as school directors and community members, where possible.
interviews with relevant I/NGOs/UN cluster representatives, coordination networks, etc.
Principles underpinning the consultant’s approach should include:
Participatory and culturally sensitive process valuing knowledge and approaches from within the context;
Credibility of the research, through use of appropriately skilled and independent expert;
Transparency of the research, including wide dissemination of results;
Usefulness of the research findings and recommendations, through timely presentation of relevant, productively critical, clear and concise information, and commitment to support capacity strengthening for future responses.
Ethics Considerations
Informed Consent
Consent is gathered for the purpose of gaining permission to capture someone’s answers, story, or image, and document how the image and story can and cannot be used.
Responsible Data Management
The consultant will have a plan in place for responsible data management to ensure the security and privacy of evaluation participants is protected. This will include data collection, data storage, and data transfer.
Due Diligence
GvZ and UIY are committed to being accountable to beneficiaries, partners, and donors, and effectively managing risks associated with financial crime, safeguarding and data protection. We require all bidders to confirm that, if successful with their bid, they will agree to the following requirements:
- Counterterrorism and sanctions
To provide details of your owners, board and/or all staff assigned to the project for screening against counterterrorism and sanctions lists. Screening is carried out by GvZ using a specific platform for that matter.
- Safeguarding and Code of Conduct
In addition, GvZ and UIY have a Safeguarding Framework that includes Staff Code of Conduct and a Child Protection Policy which have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of programme participants and to clarify the responsibilities of the partners’ staff, visitors to the programme and partners’ organisations, and the standards of behaviour expected of them. We have the responsibility to ensure that any persons hired or consulted during the process are made familiar with the policies and commit to abide by them during the execution of this work. Any consultants offered a contract with GvZ and UIY will be expected to sign Code of Conduct, Child Protection and safeguarding Policies as an appendix to their contract. By doing so, consultants acknowledge that they have understood the contents of policies and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these two documents.
- Key Deliverables
The consultant will be expected to deliver the below outputs:
Inception report describing how the final study will be delivered, including a detailed methodology, list of interviewees and tools for the research (up to 10 pages – plus annexes). GvZ and UIY have final approval over this plan.
Debrief with partners to highlight initial key findings and recommendations, and to address any clarifications prior to draft report to GvZ and UIY .
Draft the study report in English for feedback from the partners.
Debrief (via skype) with GvZ and UIY key findings and recommendations.
Final research report in English covering the findings of the final study report, along with the criteria and evaluation questions defined above.
A two-page document highlighting main findings of the research report.
Final research presentation with other agencies such as I/NGOs, UN agencies, clusters, coordination networks, etc. to present the findings from the final study report. During this workshop, the consultant is expected to provide a presentation outlining the key findings from the research. This workshop should be participatory and should enable discussions and reflections amongst participants.
- Timeline **
While the below timeline is approximate, the work including a final report must be fully completed by 30 June 2022.
Activity
Deadline – Approx.
Bidding process : End of Announcement 8/March/2022
Signing Contract : Mid-March 2022
Start the work : Beginning of April 2022
Draft report submitted : Mid-June 2022
Final Report Submitted and Presentation of Results : End of June 2022
- Management Key qualifications and experience
The Key qualifications and experience that are required from the consultant:
Extensive demonstrable experience in participatory research, using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies;
Extensive experience and knowledge of the situation of vulnerable groups, preferable in the Northwest-Syrian context;
Extensive experience and knowledge of the situation of refugees, IDPs, and host communities, preferably in the Northwest-Syrian context;
Extensive experience in development and humanitarian programme research;
A very good understanding of the Middle East’s political, economic, social and cultural context, especially with regard to the Syrian crisis. Good knowledge of key policy and legislative framework, and government structures;
Proficiency in English and Arabic is a must;
Previous experience of producing reviews / evaluation and studies for internationally funded projects.
Applications
All interested applicants must provide a proposition including:
About the consultants
CVs of the consultant(s) of maximum 3 pages each (all team members).
3 examples of past similar experience
3 references
About the assignment
Technical proposal describing in your own words your understanding of the assignment, the methodology that you will use, your team (including roles and responsibilities, as well as its structure), and a timeline (max 10 pages),
Financial proposal detailing the budget needed to achieve this piece of work. The financial proposal must include the consultant’s daily rate and all costs necessary to achieve the consultancy’s objectives.
Timeline: A draft time for the research process.
All applications are to be sent to tenders@gvz-tur.org to by 6th of March 2020 17:00 (Turkey time). Please mention “START Learning Grant Study” in the subject line of the email.**
How to apply:
All interested applicants must provide a proposition including:
About the consultants
CVs of the consultant(s) of maximum of 3 pages each (all team members).
3 examples of past similar experience
3 references
About the assignment
Technical proposal describing in your own words your understanding of the assignment, the methodology that you will use, your team (including roles and responsibilities, as well as its structure), and a timeline (max 10 pages),
Financial proposal detailing the budget needed to achieve this piece of work. The financial proposal must include the consultant’s daily rate and all costs necessary to achieve the consultancy’s objectives.
Timeline: A draft time for the research process
Please submit the offers in a sealed envelope to the GvZ organization's office at the following address by 8th of March 2020 17:00 (Turkey time). :
- Kalyon Kavşağı, Ali Fuat Cebesoy Blv. E. Yalçın Apt. No: 88, Kat: 5, D: 9
Budak Mahallesi, 27090 Şehitkamil / GAZIANTEP
If you have any questions, please send an email to tenders@gvz-tur.org to Please mention “START Learning Grant Study” in the subject line of the email.
