CONSULTANCY SERVICE TO CONDUCT A RAPID NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN NORTH GONDAR ZONE OF AMHARA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

1.    Background

HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation (Hereafter HELVETAS) is an independent organization for development that works with communities and local organizations on systematic change to realize a shared vision for a just, gender equitable and sustainable world where all people are agents of their own development

Together with its partners, Helvetas tackles global challenges at various levels: with projects on the ground, with expert advice, and by advocating for conducive framework conditions benefiting the poor. HELVETAS has been working in Ethiopia since 2002 and is legally registered as foreign organization working in 5 Thematic areas: Rural Infrastructure, Inclusive Local Governance, Skills, Development and Employment, Resilience, and Sustainable Livelihoods, and Emergency Preparedness and Response. With its head office in Addis Ababa, Helvetas operates in Amhara, Oromiya, Somali, Southwest, SNNPR & Sidama Regions and 5 regional offices. HELVETAS has been operating in the Amhara region since 2012 with field offices in Sekota, Bahir Dar and Debark implementing different humanitarian and development projects.

2.    About the assignment

In response to the urgent need for humanitarian aid, Helvetas Ethiopia is providing humanitarian assistance through commercial destocking, restocking, provision of veterinary drugs, animal feeds, and multi-purpose cash in Borena zone of Oromia regional state for its drought response programs. In addition, HELVETAS is providing emergency food security and livelihoods, agricultural inputs, provision of multi-purpose cash and NFI kits in Wag Hemra and North Gondar zones of the Amhara region for its humanitarian assistance to conflict-affected target groups.

Helvetas Ethiopia is planning to conduct a rapid need assessment in the North Gondar zone of the Amhara region to determine the magnitude of humanitarian need, the degree of the crisis impact on the population, the status of sector-specific population needs (food, cash, WASH, agriculture, NFIs), vulnerable populations at particular risk, and the state of the disaster response.

3.    Objective of the Assignment

3.1 Conduct a rapid field needs assessment to identify critical gaps, challenges, and opportunities, both in North Gondar zone of Amhara region in particular service delivery (food, cash, WASH, agriculture, NFIs), and to a lesser degree identify key protection issues and local capacities; and related to the identified issues, propose specific interventions areas for Helvetas and its partners.

3.2 Main Tasks of the Assignment

• Draft the data collection tool(s) to be used for the rapid need assessment
• Conduct data collection and rapid need assessment process at the field level
• Draft the rapid needs assessment report and related data overview(s)
• Validate the rapid needs assessment to Helvetas program staff
• Produce final rapid assessment report and submit to Helvetas

4.    Scope of the assessment

The needs assessment will be conducted in North Gondar zone of Amhara regional state. The need assessment will focus on conflict-affected woredas and is expected to focus on the key priority areas listed above.

5.    Methodology

It is expected that the consultant(s) will develop appropriate data collection, data entry, data analysis, and interpretation methods/ tools as part of the consultancy service. The method to be developed should be gender sensitive and must describe how it fits to the purpose of the call for proposal.

A participatory approach where the views of different stakeholders including host communities, IDPs, development and humanitarian actors, and relevant local government sector offices staff are solicited and analyzed is mandatory. The consultant must ensure that the views and aspirations of different cross-sections of the communities (IDPs and Host communities) are fairly and equitably represented in the assessment process.

In general, the methodology should include:

• Desk review of documents, and Central Statistics Agency (CSA) publications etc.
• In-depth interviews with key informants (local authorities, community leaders, agencies etc.)
• Focus group discussions with different community groups.
• Debriefing to key staff and partners on key findings and recommendations.
• Submission of the draft needs assessment report to Helvetas for feedback.
• Submission of the final needs assessment documents after incorporating comments from Helvetas.

6.    Expected outputs/deliverables

• A detailed methodology and data collection tools; and briefing on the methodology and data collection tools to Helvetas and securing prior approval.
• Debriefing on the most significant findings and recommendations in the presence of Helvetas program staff, including the proposed outline for the final report.
• Draft needs assessment report of not more than 25 pages (excluding annexes);
• Final needs assessment report after incorporation of comments from Helvetas

7.    Suggested Timetable for deliverables

• Deliverable	Date
  Draft checklist for the needs assessment and share Helvetas for comments	22 September 2022
  Consultant to conduct the needs assessment together with Helvetas	25-30 September 2022
  Consultant to submit draft needs assessment report to DCA on	10 October 2022
  Consultant to submit final needs assessment report	15 October 2022

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree in, social science, education, gender, political science, Statistics, TVET, or related fields
• 2 years’ experience in a similar role with an academic institution or NGO,
• Experience on project management, SME and financial employments related assessments
• Ability to independently carry out data collection and expertise with data collection specifically using a survey tool.
• Ability to write high quality reports
• Proven experience with variety of research methods and methodologies.
• A proven knowledge and understanding of IDP dynamics in Ethiopia
• Experience of having done prior consultancy work with International NGO partners and local/government authorities
• Willingness to travel to and work in insecure environments
• Ability to manage stress, multi-task and take decisions.
• Experience in emergency/ context assessment desirable
• Proven experience in training individuals and organizations working in humanitarian action and/or development, including through online tutoring.

The content should include the following sections as a minimum:

• Overview of consultant’s academic qualifications and relevant experience to be included in his/her CV.
• Technical proposal: A methodological note on how the consultancy will be carried out (main activities, methodology, work plan).
• Economic proposal: Budget needed to carry out the task.
• Other references that could be useful.
• All proposals must be submitted in English.