South Sudan: LWF Refugee and Host Community Program Needs Assessment Consultancy in East Nile and Ruweng States of South Sudan

Background

The Lutheran World Federation, World Service (LWF/WS) South Sudan Program was newly established in 2004 and has been providing humanitarian assistance (emergency/relief, rehabilitation and development work) to refugees and other vulnerable communities to enable them meet their basic human rights and needs in line with its vision, mission statements, and core values. The LWF/WS South Sudan Program is operational in Jonglei, Ruweng and East Nile States. In both East Nile and Ruweng States, LWF is implementing refugee support interventions in the counties of Maban and Panrieng, respectively. In Maban, LWF has been operational since September 2012 and the interventions in Ruweng state commenced in 2014. The refugee program focuses mainly on Education and Child and Youth Protection interventions with some livelihood and peace building activities.

East Nile State – Maban County

Maban County in East Nile State of South Sudan has had an influx of refugees from Sudan’s Blue Nile state South Sudan’s East Nile state was hosting 128,452 registered refugees by June 2016. These are refugees who fled fighting in mainly Blue Nile state of the Sudan and have taken refuge in Maban County of East Nile since September 2012. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) and a number of other humanitarian agencies provide assistance to the refugees who are settled in four camps namely Yusuf Batil, Doro, Gendrassa and Kaya. LWF/WS operation in Maban is focusing in three camps of Batil 40,369, Kaya 24,552 and Gendrassa 17,160 registered refugees as of June 2016.

LWF intends to continue expanding the coverage of the refugee program in East Nile to the host community around the refugee camps. The host community in Maban also presents a case of many needy families whose traditional coping mechanisms have been interrupted due to continued crisis in Maban County and neighboring counties. Over 9431 people have been displaced in Maban, Bunj area and in the vicinity of the refugee camps. These people left everything behind and are in dire need of protection to cope with the new developments around them including the deterioration of the security context. There is need to enhance the productive relation between the host community and refugees by extending improved services to the host community living in Maban County especially in the vicinity of the refugee camps. This is expected to reduce possible hostility between the two communities.

Ruweng State - Panrieng County

Ruweng State currently hosts refugees in two camps of Pamir and Ajuong Thok with Yida as a transit camp where only basic lifesaving and emergency support is provided. By June 2016, there were 40693 refugees in Ajuong Thok and 500 in Pamir, while Yida had an estimated 61,231 refugees. Relocation of refugees from Yida to Pamir has been continuing with the plan from the government of South Sudan to relocate all refugees from Yida by 2017. LWF South Sudan intends to extend the coverage of its activities to the host community residing in the vicinity of the two camps and also to the cattle camps within the county.

Purpose of the Assessment

LWF South Sudan would like to commission an assessment in the two areas to inform the unmet needs of the refugees, host community and IDPs in Maban and Panrieng Counties. This undertaking should be linked to the LWF Country Strategy 2016-2017 with a clarion call of “*Not Again! Countering the Loss of Another Generation in South Sudan*”. 2016 is the first year of the implementation of the Country Strategy and currently LWF is planning for its 2017 programs in Maban and Panrieng Counties and requires planning data that are up to date that will address existing data gaps. The information from the assessment will not only support LWF’s efforts of fundraising for the two program areas targeting refugees, host communities, IDPs in the vicinity of the refugee programs, and cattle camps, but will also be expected to provide recommendations on how best key strategies to expand host communities and IDPs activities to foster productive relationships with the refugee will be designed. The assessment is also intended to ensure that the real needs of those affected are strategically addressed in the design of the projects, bench marks are established upon which monitoring of the program progress, outputs and outcomes/impacts can be based upon and in establishing planning data base that LWF can periodically update to inform planning and design of projects in the future.

Focus and Scope

In East Nile – Maban County, the assessment will be conducted in the three camps of Yusuf Batil, Gendrassa and Kaya refugee camps and among the IDPs and the host community around the camps where LWF has been providing education and Child and Youth Protection activities. In Panrieng County, the assessment will be undertaken in Ajuong Thok and Pamir refugee camps and host communities residing in Payams closer to the refugee camps and also the cattle camps within the County.

The assessment will cover a number of activities to be carried out by the Consultant. These will include:

1. Review of LWF project documents to gain deeper understanding of the LWF’s education, Child and Youth Protection, livelihoods and peace building activities to facilitate drawing lessons learnt and best practices from past projects. This will as well provide other sources of information available on refugees, IDPs and the host community for use in the design of the intervention logic and future proposal development process in the two program areas.

The document review should guide in the identification of the existing data that may require updating, most recent planning data that are available and data gaps that the assessment is expected to address. Data collected and presented at document review level MUST reflect gender and age concerns and provide estimates of affected population disaggregated by demographic cohorts of Infants (0-3yrs); Children of school going age (3-6 yrs. and 7-13yrs and 14-17yrs); Adults (18-49 years); and the Elderly (≥ 50 years) with details and analyses of the situation of these categories of the population. In the analysis and presentation of the situation of the affected individuals, households, community and their status of their resilience to withstand, adapt and to quickly recover from stresses and shocks should be succinctly analysed and presented.

1. Development/identification of participatory methodologiesfor the assessmentand data collection tools.

The data collection tools developed should be sensitive to the capacity of LWF South Sudan technical teams who will support the consultant with the data collection exercise. Data generated from the assessment MUST provide details on the methods used, the respondents consulted (Men, Women, youth, children, the elderly, institutions etc.), the dates data were collected - to include other relevant information on the assessment methods. In particular, and as already indicated above, the assessment MUST focus on gender and age concerns and provide estimates of affected population disaggregated by demographic cohorts of infants (0-3yrs); children of school going age (3-6 yrs. and 7-13yrs and 14-17yrs); adults (18-49 years); and the elderly (≥ 50 years) with details and analysis of the situation of these categories of the population. In the analysis and presentation of the situation of the affected individuals, households, community and the country (South Sudan), the status of their resilience to withstand, adapt and to quickly recover from stresses and shocks should be succinctly analysed and presented.

1. Compilation of a succinct needs assessment report that encompasses item 1 and 2 above under Focus and Scope Section with recommendations to inform innovative development of future projects and the proposed strategies on creation of synergies in Education, Child and Youth Protection, Livelihood and Peace building projects. The report should reflect to the Core Humanitarian Standard and also observe other South Sudan Contextualised standards e.g. INNEE

2. Development of a one-year master log – frame based on livelihood, Education and Child and Youth Protection priorities identified in the needs assessment exercise for both Maban and Panrieng refugee program to include the desired links on host community and one that guides LWF in further development of future intervention logics and proposals to varied donors supporting the refugee program.

Methodology

Mixtures of participatory methods should be used in the execution of this assignment:

· A briefing session in the country office in Juba with the Deputy Program Coordinator in charge of the refugee program, the PMER Coordinator and the Program Coordinator for update on the refugee program, technical status, clear understanding of the assessment and expectations, and on security before the commencement of field work. A similar briefing will be provided by the LWF/WS program by the team leaders in Panrieng and Maban field offices.

· A pre-field assessment period should be committed to review LWF refugee program documentation in the previous years and other relevant sources of information to guide the consultant in identification of relevant data that require updating, data gaps and in preparation of the data assessment tools.

· The data collection exercise should be participatory and include two or three selected LWF staff in each location. The consultant will mentor the selected LWF staff to assist in the data collection exercise. Other organisations implementing similar and or related work in the camps and in the host communities, IDPs and government stakeholders should be consulted for their views where needed.

· The assignment will observe LWF consent guidelines when interacting with children and will ensure the views of children are reflected in the assignment. The consultant will sign LWF Code of Conduct on sexual exploitation and abuse. Security and safety plans will be shared prior to the assessment.

· Compilation of the needs assessment report that should not exceed 25 pages with details on existing up to date data, new information and referenced to the sources and dates, key respondents etc. The report should include recommendations on among others – best strategies to include host communities and refugees in the future program.

· The report is expected to include brief profile of the host communities, IDPs and refugees; their specific unmet needs that LWF could consider addressing; opportunities for productive interaction/relationship; identification of which payams will be considered as ‘host’ and innovative ideas and ‘durable solutions’ in the recommendations for LWF to consider.

· Development of a one year master log-frame based on priority needs for use by LWF in planning and design of donor proposals. A template to guide in the development of the log frame will be provided

Reporting lines

This consultancy will be under the direct supervision of the LWF/WS Deputy Program Coordinator in charge of the refugee program in Juba and or her designate. At field level in South Sudan, the consultant will be supervised by the Team Leaders in the two locations of Maban and Panrieng.

Responsibilities

The Consultant’s responsibilities will include:

· Development a competitive quality technical proposal with details on a time frame for the assignment and daily consultancy fee for consideration by LWF. This will inform the basis upon which a consultant is selected

· Documents review and compilation of up to date data on the status of refugees, host community and IDPs livelihoods, education and Child and Youth Protection problems/ needs

· Development of assessment tools

• Field assessment with refugees, host community and IDPs and a cross section of LWF staff and other key stakeholders in the two program areas.
• A Power Point debriefing in Juba on emerging outcomes from the assessment
• Documentation of a detailed assessment report and a master log-frame considering what could be implemented in 2017 based on the findings and recommendations

LWF South Sudan will coordinate the provision of necessary technical, logistical and management support to the consultant.

• LWF will provide transportation and accommodation during field visit,
• LWF will provide the consultant with all the necessary background information/documents including Gender and Resilience Markers guidelines; Log Frame template etc.
• LWF/WS Juba, Maban and Panrieng teams will undertake some critical mobilisation pre prior to the consultants’ field visit. The field teams will create awareness among the local authorities and key respondents to be consulted at country and or refugee camps on the assessment exercise

· Working space, including other office support facilities / services (i.e. photocopying, printing, internet connection, and Power Point presentation facilities while in Juba and or at field level will be provided by LWF.

Work Plan and Time Frame

The time frame for this consultancy will be 23 working days

• Desk study/document review and development of tools, briefing and travels - 5 days
• Field level pre-testing and assessment in Maban and Panrieng - 12 days
• Data analysis, report writing and log frame development - 6 days

Deliverables

The key outputs will be:

• A set of data collection tools and methodologies
• A detailed 25 pages Needs Assessment Report with recommendations which, among others, includes direction on how best LWF can devise strategies to include host communities and IDPs activities in the refugee program interventions in Maban and Panrieng Counties, including clear linkages in Education, Child and Youth Protection and livelihood for the targeted communities (host, refugees, IPDs and cattle camps)
• A one year master Log Frame based on priorities identified by the assessment among the refugees and IDPs/Host community residing in the vicinity of the refugee camps in Maban and Panrieng Counties Including the cattle camps in Panrieng County

Financial Proposal

The consultant will present a financial and technical outline proposal as one proposal

Consultant specification

One Consultant (Male or Female) will be engaged for this assignment. The prospective consultant (individual and or firm is expected to have an appropriate blend and balance of skills in Program/Project Management, research/assessment skills, data analysis, English language (spoken and Written) and strong interpersonal skills.

Qualifications and skills of the consultants should include:

· A Master’s degree in Education and or social science or development studies from a recognised university.

· A minimum of eight years’ experience in the field of Education with exposure to assessments and particularly Education in Emergencies (EiE)

· Experience in a similar undertaking in the refugee programming context and or managing refugee and host community support interventions is a key requirement.

· Experience with community-led, participatory and rights based approaches (RBAs) and CHS.

· Experiences in the ECHO/EU, SIDA, BPRM, UNHCR donor requirements

· Experience in development of log-frames

• Excellent report writing, communication and Power Point skills.
• Good human relation skills in relating to sensitive local communities with generally low educational background.
• Good understanding and sensitivity to security dynamics, the cultural and socio-economic context of South Sudan will be an added advantage

“LWF is committed to child safeguarding policy to ensure we keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse”.

Submission of Technical proposal

Qualified and interested consultants are required to submit a six page technical proposal demonstrating the consultant’s understanding of the assignment and its objectives, brief interpretation of the assessment methodology, a clear and comprehensive work plan outlining the major activities and implementation time schedule amongst other relevant information and a financial proposal with details on daily consultancy fee not later than 12^th Nov 2016. The actual consultancy will commence on the 20^th Nov 2016.

All application should be addressed to lwfssd.consultancy@gmail.com