Oxfam Novib Hires Consultant to Review Oxfam Novib Brief
Terms of reference
Consultant for review of Oxfam Novib’s
30+ years work in Somalia/Somaliland
Position : Research consultant/team
Type of Contract : Consultancy
Location : Home-based with likely travel to Somaliland
Application deadline : 20 October, 2018
- Background of the Consultancy
Oxfam Novib (hereafter Oxfam) has been working in Somalia/Somaliland for approximately 40 years, predominantly with local and national partners, rather than direct implementation. Historically and currently, Oxfam has delivered both humanitarian and development programmes with significant focuses on advocacy and local/national civil society development. Other thematic areas of programming include gender, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), food security, fisheries management, civic engagement and more. Oxfam has had limited in-country presence until recently with an office re-established in Hargesia, Somaliland, although Oxfam Great Britain has had a significant presence in Somalia/Somaliland for a number of years. The re-establishment of a presence in Somaliland has necessitated recruitment of new staff and thus a significant need to expand historical, institutional knowledge to inform current and future programming, and for sharing with external stakeholders.
- Purpose of the Consultancy
As Oxfam seeks to expand programming and strengthen institutional knowledge, it has been identified that a better understanding of Oxfam’s history of work in Somalia/Somaliland would be highly beneficial. Primarily Oxfam Novib, but also with some focus on Oxfam Great Britain. Consequently, Oxfam is seeking a consultant/team to review and document institutional and programmatic knowledge for both internal and external dissemination. The intention is to better understand the nuances of Oxfam’s work over the past decades, particularly key achievements, lessons learned, ways of working, challenges and other related topics, in addition to sharing these findings with relevant partners, such as civil society organisations, governments and donors. It is envisioned that this will be delivered through two main publications – one critical analysis for internal purposes and one for broader external sharing documenting Oxfam’s work. There will be significant overlap in these two documents, thus not representing two entirely different outputs.
- Scope of the Consultancy
Oxfam possesses extensive documentation of our work in Somalia/Somaliland, such as annual reports, publications, reviews and other documentation, which will be made available to the consultant. To complement available documents, the review will necessitate interviews with diverse internal and external stakeholders possessing historical knowledge of Oxfam’s work. For example, staff at partner organisations that have worked with Oxfam over many years.
Indicative areas the review will focus on include, but are not limited to:
- People reached through programmes (communities): analysing the impact, challenges, lessons learned and other dynamics of Oxfam’s work with women, men, girls and boys throughout Somalia, with particular emphasis on marginalisedgroups.
- Oxfam partners: analysis of Oxfam’s historical and current partnerships over the years, including local and national NGOs, informal organisations, government agencies, networks and similar. This should include the number of years in partnership, thematic and geographic areas of work, plus impact, challenges, lessons learned and the like.
- Organizational history: analysis of Oxfam Somalia’s approaches and documents throughout the years, such as annual reports, strategies, proposals and the like.
- Donor portfolio: analysis of Oxfam’s donors throughout the years, including names, size of funding, geographical coverage and similar.
- Publications: analysis of Oxfam’s published research reports, policy briefs and similar documents over the years.
The consultant/team will be expected to complete the following processes at a minimum, but are not limited to:
- Literature review of internal and external documents;
- Minimum two weeks of field work, including KIIs, FGDs and observation with communities, civil society, government and other partners (predominantly in Somaliland, but potentially Nairobi as well), including meeting with Oxfam staff in Somaliland; and
- Internet-based interviews with other relevant stakeholders, such as Oxfam staff in The Hague, current/former partners and staff in remote areas and the like.
- Deliverables of the Consultancy
The consultant/team must deliver the following tangible products :
- Write up a draft review for internal purposes, not exceeding 40 pages ;
- Present the draft at a validation workshop and record suggestions ;
- Finalise the draft report for internal purposes, not exceeding 40 pages ;
- Based on this internal report, prepare another report for external purposes, not exceeding 40 pages ; and
- Recommendations for potential multimedia productions related to the review ;
- Note: graphic design and photos for the report are not required ;
- An example of the external component of a similar review is available here: https://www.oxfam.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/oaus-cambodia-legacy-doc-0712.pdf
- (The above example is a guide only. The Somaliland/Somalia review will be different).
- Review Approach
The review should employ a critical analysis approach, delivering informed insights and reflections with practical recommendations that can improve future programme implementation, in addition to ensuring an effective capturing of institutional knowledge related to Oxfam’s decades of work in Somalia/Somaliland. The review is not designed to be a comprehensive evaluation, although it should be informed by evaluation approaches, such as the OECD criteria of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability, grounded in both qualitative and quantitative data. Recognising the reflective and holistic process of the review covering multiple decades, it is expected that qualitative data will take priority over quantitative data.
The review must also include analysis of crosscutting themes such as gender, youth, advocacy/influencing, localisation, conflict dynamics and relevant themes.
- Delegation of Responsibilities
The review team is expected to work largely autonomously, but with Oxfam providing the necessary documentation and contacts to enable a successful and efficient review process. The following is an approximate division of responsibilities:
Review Consultant/Team
- Ideally, arrange all logistics (transport, accommodation, etc.) for the review ;
- Arrange a translator if required ;
- Conduct data collection without Oxfam accompaniment, except where introductions need to be made, such as with communities ;
- Write the internal review, present the findings, and make revisions accordingly ;
- Write the external review based on the internal review ; and
- Conduct all of the above according to agreed timelines.
Oxfam
- Arrange visas and travel authorisations, as required ;
- Provide all existing historical and current documentation in an accessible fashion ;
- Provide additional literature relevant to Oxfam’s historical work ;
- Provide contact details for people relevant to the review and make introductions ;
- Organise the logistics of the validation workshop ;
- Respond to adhoc requests ; and
- Conduct all of the above in a timely and responsive fashion.
- Requirements and Selection Criteria for the Consultant/Team
The following are minimum requirements that must be met :
- Bachelor degree in development or conflict studies, social science or related field ;
- Proven experience conducting reviews and/or evaluations (an example of relevant previous work preferred and would be kept confidential) ;
- Experience in Somalia/Somaliland preferable or at least the Horn of Africa ;
- Proven advanced understanding of at least some key thematic areas such as peace building, gender, youth, localisation, livelihoods, WASH, policy and advocacy, in humanitarian, development and/or transitioning contexts ;
- Proven advanced understanding of complex contexts, including issues related to armed conflict, state building, federal systems and similar ;
- Proven gender analysis skills and demonstrated gender sensitivity ; and
- Advanced English essential and Somali advantageous, although translation can be budgeted. If English is not a native language, budgeting for and involving an English copy editor is strongly encouraged.
The review consultant/team will be assessed against the following selection criteria :
- The consultant/team’s capacity against the minimum requirements outlined above ;
- Demonstrated understanding of the TOR and quality of the proposal to meet the needs of the review to a high standard ;
- Ability to work autonomously ;
- Ability to deliver the review in a timely fashion ; and
- Value for money.
- Indicative Timeline
The mid-term review should be completedbetween November 2018 and the end of January 2019, with early completion preferable. The proposal must outline the timeline for completion of the review, including a minimum of two weeks field-based research in Somaliland.
Applications close on October 20, 2018, interviews should be conducted by October 28 and final selection should be completed by October 31.
- Application Process and Payment
Proposals for the review must meet the following technical requirements :
- Cover letter of no more than one page ;
- CVs of consultant/team, totalling no more than three pagescombined ;
- Contact details of at least two references for the consultant/team leader ;
- Proposed review process, including basic context analysis, methodology, report structure and timeline, totalling no more than three pages ;
- An indicative budget of no more than one page including all expected costs. An overall fee that incorporates all travel and other costs is favourable, but not mandatory ; and
- All text in size 12 font, single-spaced and with standard margins.
Applications that fail to meet or exceed (such as submitting too many pages) the above application process technical requirements will be disqualified. A more comprehensive methodology and plan will be required and negotiated upon selection.
Payments: based on the estimated budget, out of pocket expenses will be paid up to a maximum of 40% of the overall fee upon signing of the contract and the remaining 60% or more (if unexpected costs agreed upon)paid upon completion of the review to a satisfactory standard.
All applications should be submitted electronically with the subject title ‘Oxfam in Somalia/Somaliland Review Application, name of lead consultant’ to :
somaliajobs@oxfamnovib.nl and dustin.barter@oxfam.org
Any questions should also be directed to both of the above email addresses