REQUEST FOR CONSULTANCY Durable Solutions Analysis on Forced Displacement in Somali Regional State for the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat (ReDSS) Request for Quotation No.: RFQ-ETH-008485 – Danish Refugee Council

1.     JOB DESCRIPTION

Background

Ethiopia faces substantial refugee and internal displacement challenges. As of April 2021, the country hosted 792,411 refugees across 26 refugee camps and several urban areas. Since 2017, Ethiopia has also experienced a dramatic increase in internal displacement. As of mid-2021, there were 2,105,387 internally displaced persons (IDPs), including significant figures of both conflict and climate-related displacements. Displacement situations in Ethiopia are highly specific to geographic regions and population groups. Moreover, these are overlaid onto development challenges, an ambitious development agenda, frequent climate induced shocks, and internal conflict in the country. For the foreseeable future, Ethiopia will continue to face a range of long-standing, new, and dynamic displacement situations across many regions of the country.

The Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat (ReDSS) is a coordination and information hub created in 2015, that acts to catalyze forward thinking and policy development on durable solutions for displacement affected communities. ReDSS seeks to improve joint learning and programming, inform policy processes, enhance capacity development and facilitate coordination in the collective search for durable solutions. It is comprised of 14 organizations (ACF, ACTED, CARE International, Concern Worldwide, DRC, IRC, INTERSOS, LWF, Mercy Corps, NRC, OXFAM, RCK, Save the Children, and World Vision) working together to maintain focused momentum and stakeholder engagement towards durable solutions for displacement-affected communities in the East and Horn of Africa region. ReDSS Ethiopia Country Unit was established in 2018 through a partnership with UNHCR as part of the EUTF project Capacity Building and Technical Assistance to a Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) Structure and Ethiopian Government Institutions. The country unit operates at the federal level and in Somali regional state.

Somali Regional State (SRS) has been an area where concerted efforts have been made to advance greater socio-economic integration for displacement affected communities. The region has been a pilot area for the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), with CRRF coordination structures established at regional state and local levels, as well as a number of CRRF-aligned programmes being rolled out in refugee-hosting areas. Additionally, the Ethiopia Durable Solutions Initiative (DSI), launched in December 2019, envisioned operational projects first being piloted in SRS to demonstrate proof of concept before being scaled up across all displacement affected regions in the country. In order to advance durable solutions processes for displacement affected communities in Ethiopia, ReDSS has worked to support both the CRRF and DSI, both at the federal level and in SRS in particular.

Shortly prior to the establishment of the ReDSS Ethiopia Country Unit, ReDSS conducted a solutions analysis aimed at assessing the level of local integration in Gambella and Somali regions for refugees who have lived in Ethiopia for 20 years or more. With much attention paid and investment committed to pursuing greater levels of socio-economic integration and self-reliance of refugees in Somali region since that time as well as an emerging focus on Somali region within the progression of the DSI, ReDSS seeks to assess the level of progress made towards durable solutions for displacement affected communities in the region, which would include a focus on refugees, host communities, and IDPs.

Consultancy objectives

The Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat (ReDSS) seeks to commission a consultant(s) to:

1.      Review the uptake and impacts of the recommendations from the first Ethiopia solutions analysis, conducted in 2017, to see to what extent those have informed durable solutions planning, programing and policies, and share lessons learnt;

2.      Conduct an updated solutions analysis to inform ongoing and future durable solutions approaches in the region, including approaches in both refugee and IDP responses;

3.      Conduct targeted dissemination activities with user-friendly products in order to help inform the wider international community, local authorities and community.

Specific objectives – focus on the HOW

1.      Provide an update on the progress and challenges in addressing the recommendations from the first analyses, documenting lessons learnt, based on the ReDSS core programming principles[1] with a focus on:

o   including specific examples on good programming interventions that have been developed based on findings and recommendations from the analyses

o   assess to what extent actors have capitalized on opportunities to implement area-based programming approaches involving displacement affected communities and led by municipalities and local authorities

2.      Conduct an updated solutions analysis in agreed-upon displacement affected areas in Somali region using the ReDSS Solutions Framework tool including clear programming and policy recommendations to inform ongoing and future durable solutions approaches in the region. The key themes to focus will be on:

o   early solutions (linking humanitarian, development, peace and state building agenda)

o   self-reliance and integration

o   area based planning and integrated programming

o   economic opportunities and private sector

o   protection (physical and psychosocial) including HLP and inclusion

3.      Conduct targeted dissemination activities, based on a dissemination strategy and plan, with user-friendly products in order to help inform the wider international community, local authorities and community. Particular efforts will be made to disseminate findings with relevant authorities and structures in Somali Regional State, such as the SRS CRRF coordination forum and Durable Solutions Working Group.

Expected deliverables

•        Inception phase: deliverables for the inception phase will include a presentation (power point presentation) outlining the consultant’s understanding of the TOR, methodology, tools, ethical considerations^[2], outline, work-plan, dissemination materials/ideas and a list of individuals and/or types of organizations the consultant(s) will be interviewing.

•        Draft Solutions analyses report review and update (30 pages maximum excluding references – Times New Roman, font 11- without annexes) including:

o   Table of contents, glossary of key terms, and list of acronyms

o   An executive summary (maximum 3 pages), introduction highlighting the objectives of the updates, the rationale, methodology used, scope and limitations

o   Conclusions, recommendations and ways forward

o   Use of tables, graphics and diagrams for each region and to compare between them

o   Annexes including but not limited to list of key interviews, FGD, field visits, bibliography, documents reviewed, etc.

•        Validation workshops and dissemination events as laid out in the inception presentation

•        Infographic summary of key findings and recommendations (3 pages maximum) and other user-friendly products as laid out in the inception presentation

•        A short Power Point presentation highlighting the key questions, methodology, key findings and recommendations (15 slides maximum)

•        A final revised report based on inputs received from stakeholders including ReDSS Secretariat staff and donors

• Applications from teams which include local consultants familiar with the Somali Regional State context will be prioritized
• Advanced University degree in social studies, political science, international relations or relevant field of study
• Minimum 5 years’ proven experience in conducting similar assignments
• Demonstrable experience related to forced displacement and durable solutions, with research and programming experience an added advantage
• Strong knowledge of the Somali region and the socio-economic and political dynamics affecting it; more broadly on displacement trends and linkages with the wider Horn of Africa region
• Strong analytical and writing skills with proven experience in producing high quality research with ability to present complex information in a simple and accessible manner
• Proven ability to facilitate multi-stakeholder discussions on complex and sensitive issues to promote a common approach
• Fluency in written and spoken English, with proficiency in Somali an advantage