Terms of Reference (ToR) for rapid conflict sensitivity analysis and recommendations in the refugees and host communities – Mercy Corps Ethiopia
Consultancy and Training
Mercy Corps Ethiopia
Background:
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible.
In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future.
Mercy Corps has been operating in Ethiopia since 2004, working in rural, peri-urban and urban areas in five regional states – Somali, Oromia, Afar, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples, Amhara – and the capital city of Addis Ababa. We engage in both development and humanitarian work, and seek to integrate approaches, programs, and geographies as much as possible. Our partners include government, academic institutions, development and private sector actors, civil societies, and communities.
Powering infrastructure in relief settings, where clinics, offices, communications towers, water pumping stations and other necessary services are commonly fueled by diesel generators, represents a substantial economic burden for humanitarian agencies and for the businesses and households located in refugee settlements and host communities. The expansion of off-grid electricity services above household scale in humanitarian settings is limited by a lack of reliable ‘anchor’ customers upon which bankable business models can be based. Further, the application of renewable energy in the humanitarian sector is hampered by the initial higher upfront cost of solar and other renewable installations compared with diesel generators, and the perception that any investments must be short-term due to the outdated nature of humanitarian response funding cycles.
Mercy Corps has conducted a baseline study on energy access in Jijiga, Somali Region, which has resulted in the development of a scalable, replicable model for integrated renewable electrification that would improve operational sustainability for humanitarian organizations while enabling better service delivery for people living in refugee settlements and host communities. Mercy Corps, through the Enter Energy – Ethiopia (EE-E) program will undertake this effort in collaboration with private sector actors to ensure sustainability of the business model proposed and with the aim to reach scale for access to energy in displacement settings for all segments of the population.
Overview of Enter Energy Ethiopia (EE-E)
Together with its national and international partners, Mercy Corps has developed the Enter Energy – Ethiopia (EE-E) program, which aims at developing a scalable, sustainable, and market-based model for clean energy access that improves living conditions and livelihoods for refugees and host communities in Ethiopia.
To pilot and test its model, EE-E is looking to electrify the refugee camp of Shredder, Somali Region, and the communal services and institutions serving both the refugee and the host communities, such as the health clinic, the schools, the vocational center, the water distribution, among others. To achieve the project aims, Mercy Corps and private partners are in the process of incorporating an Ethiopian special purpose vehicle (SPV) to manage, operate and scale the mini-grid assets.
With this background, Mercy Corps and its EE-E partners would like to have better understanding of the complex interactions of conflict dynamics in refugee and host communities in Sheder camp of Somali region and have concrete proposals for their potential mitigations. The medium and long-term effects of providing what the host community was dreaming for centuries to the refugee would be seen from the conflict sensitive perspective
Purpose / Project Description:
The purpose of this activity is to enable the project partners to better understand, anticipate and react to context dynamics and the conflict sensitivity in the Sheder communities.
Consultant Objectives:
· To improve our understanding on drivers of conflict, connectors and dividers and conflict lines in and between local communities – refugees and host communities
· to understand different perspectives of refugees and host communities (agropastoralists, farmers, elders, urban dwellers, women youths) market actors, private businesses, development practitioners and humanitarian agencies considering the proposed interventions of the project
· to understand the host community’s perception and attitude towards the presence of the refugee center itself in their context. How do they see the presence of the refugees-as a challenge or as an opportunity?
· To analyze the potential impacts of the proposed interventions of the project and how they interact with the local context
· Come up with concrete conflict sensitive recommendations/actions to anticipate and reduce negative impacts and maximize social cohesion and peace opportunities between the refugees and host communities in the project intervention area
Scope of work and deliverables
· Context Analysis
· Identification of connectors and dividers between the refugees and the host communities or among the different groups in the context?
· Understanding the host community’s perception and attitude towards the presence of the refugee center itself in their context. How do they see the presence of the refugees-as a challenge or as an opportunity?
· Mapping of interaction of project interventions with local context
· Concrete conflict sensitive recommendations/actions
The deliverables can be determined in detail once the assignment has started, but are likely to include:
· An inception report outlining the methodology and approach, based on document review and discussions with the relevant teams
· Fact finding visits to understand needs and practice, including reports and action plans
· facilitation of validation and dissemination workshop for the wider stakeholders
· Final report at the conclusion of the assignment and recommendations for peace opportunities and social cohesion.
Timeframe / Schedule and Location: The technical assistance project is expected to start on April 1, 2022 to April 30, 2022 (1 month). The consultancy will work with EE-Ethiopia (EE-E) project teams and its partners in the Somali region and national teams . The location of the assessment will be Awbare Woreda Sheder refugee camps and its surrounding
The Consultant will report to: Mercy Corps Ethiopia, Enter Energy Ethiopia Team Lead
The Consultant will work closely with: The experts of the consulting firms will closely work with EE Team Lead and will coordinate his/her activities with EE-partners. The lead expert will keep the parties informed on the progress of the Technical Assistance Assignment and discuss any challenges s/he is facing. During the consultancy period, the consultants coordinate and work closely with HumEn PLC and its relevant stakeholders to share information and receive feedback. This could include organizing meetings and discussions among Officers of RRS, UNHCR, Somali Region relevant government line department, field project Team, community representatives , refugee central committee, refugees and host communities, market actors, private businesses, development practitioners and humanitarian agencies considering the proposed interventions of the project
Administrative information
MercyCorps EE-Ethiopia project will be providing the necessary logistics support, including facilities in terms of projectors, workstations, training room, training materials (and stationeries), local transport during working hours and access to internet . MCE will be providing all the necessary documents and promptly and timely response to the consulting teams.
Expert profile
· Up to date knowledge on conflict sensitivity debates and practice across the humanitarian sector in refugee and host community settings in Ethiopia Somali regions
· Previous experience at least 4 years with an iNGO working on conflict sensitivity in the context of refugees and host communities
· Experience in facilitating in undertaking qualitative data collection and analysis .
· Excellent presentation and representation skills in multicultural contexts.
· Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines
· Ability to translate complex technical ideas to a non-technical audience in both verbally and in writing.
· Experience in facilitating in undertaking qualitative data collection and analysis
· Knowledge and experience of embedding cross-cutting approaches as an aspect of organizational change
· Fluent written and spoken English and team members fluent in Somali language is required.
Evaluation Criteria
· 70% technical competency (Understanding of ToR-20%, Methodology and Work plan-30%, team composition and Internal System-20%) and
· 30% financial feasibility/budget).
· Those scored below 50 on the technical will not be considered.
· Those candidates that scored below 50% of the technical evaluation will not be considered for financial evaluation
Instructions for the technical and financial proposal
Interested consulting confirms kindly to send a technical and financial proposal detailing the experience and qualification of your firm to execute the assignment. The potential TA Operator should prepare a budget based on the proposed methodology and resources required for the assignment. The financial proposal should include daily fees for the assigned personnel and the total cost to execute the assignment . Following the selection of competent applicant, the detail terms and conditions of agreement will be outlined in the MC contract of agreement with the consulting firm.
