Lebanon: Review Consultancy: MOVEMENT WIDE REPORTING MECHANISM FOR SYRIA CRISIS

1. Background

The Movement-Wide Reporting for Syria Crisis Project (MWR) aims to present a collective picture of the RC/RC Movement humanitarian response to the ongoing crisis in Syria and its affected neighboring countries. This contributes to enhancing the RC/RC Movement visibility and Movement positioning with the humanitarian actors, donors and the public in general, and to contribute to Movement resource mobilization objectives.

There are different (potentially) strategic utilization of MWR Syria tool:

1. Positioning and advocacy

2. Strategic decision making

3. Public communication

4. Resource mobilization

The MWR Syria Project was designed and developed since 2015, as a joint-collaboration between IFRC – ICRC and 7 related National Societies (Syrian Arab Red Crescent, Lebanese Red Cross, Egyptian Red Crescent, Iraqi Red Crescent, Jordanian Red Crescent, Turkish Red Crescent, Palestinian Red Crescent (Lebanon & Syria branches).

The MWR-Syria data collection mechanism comprises a fourteen-operational-indicator database connected to an interactive visual dashboard. It represents the ongoing work of the RCRC Movement involved in the response to the Syria Crisis in Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and Turkey. The data are collected from the 7 National Societies aforementioned on their respective operational partnerships with Movement Partners (ICRC, IFRC, PNSs) related to the Syria Crisis, in their own contexts.

The MWR-Syria data collection mechanism has started collecting data since 2017, on a quarterly basis. To-date, there has been 8 rounds of data collected. With these experiences from 2017 – with relations to both data collection and utilization of the data, and with the evolving context of the Syria crisis, there were a number of suggestions for improvement. Therefore, it was suggested (and advised by the NS leadership) to conduct a Review and Way Forward exerciseto look at the lessons-learned and to suggest for an improved system.

2. Purpose

In the frame of the existing partnership between ICRC, IFRC and the National Societies on this MWR Syria project, it was agreed for ICRC to financially support the IFRC MENA Regional Office to lead the Review and Way Forward exercise for the MWR Syria data-collection mechanism. The aim is to examine the technical component of the MWR mechanism in a multi-perspective approach; to facilitate discussions with Movement partners concerned (via a technical workshop) and to suggest an improved system for an effective and relevant MWR Syria utilization.

3. Objectives

This 25-days consultancy is intended:

• to review the current project development and implementation systems, based on NS and partners inputs; including to review the data collection and management procedures as well as the data governance / ownership;

• to suggest for an improved technical system of the MWR Syria data collection mechanism;

• to ensure the improved system considered the adequate data management elements, including preserving data, giving access to data and re-using data;

• to suggest insights related to the development of the MWR Syria data collection mechanism, including on the proposed analysis of data and linked with utilization strategies;

• to support the facilitation of a technical workshop with aims to collectively validate lessons-learned and the suggested improvements-way forward identified in the review;

4. Methodology

The Consultant is expected to follow the time schedule agreed upon accepting the assignment and confirmed in the inception report. The assignment will include Desk studies of the MWR key documents and products as well as remote consultation with the MWR stakeholders. It will also include the facilitation of a validation workshop (location to be announced) during the first week of December. A report should be able to identify lessons learned and recommendations for an improved MWR system, as well as a proposition of a new dashboard to be adopted in the next phase of the MWR project. The consultancy will be concluded with a formal virtual debriefing following the submission and approval of the Review and Way Forward report.

5. Time-plan and deliverables

A total of 25 days from 01 to 30 December 2019 including the below main deliverables:

1. Inception report including formulation of a work plan, including methodologies and tools of the project analysis, and timeframe; (including an online presentation of the main findings) -1 week after the start;

2. Draft review report;

3. Review and feedback notes on the draft MWR utilization framework, based on the project documentation;

4. Proposed new MWR system (including a revised dashboard, and set of indicators) based on the consultation with the respective NSs;

5. Validation Workshop Agenda;

6. Validation workshop facilitation, with participation of the MWR for Syria Crisis multinational technical focal persons cooperation group, based on the findings and recommendations on the MWR development (with an agenda finalized by the consultant);

7. A final report in English, based on the review process and the validation workshop, between 15-25 pages (excluding annexes) including executive summary, introduction, methodology, key findings, conclusions and recommendations for to enhance the MWR Mechanism to meet its main objectives, and in compliance with existing data visualization trends;

8. A formal virtual debriefing following the submission and approval of the Review and Way Forward report.

6. Reporting lines

At the end of the review, the consultant will be able to produce a report outlining findings and recommendations to improve the MWR development, implementation, and further utilization and impact, as per the above due dates.

7. Intellectual property rights

All documentation related to the assignment will remain the sole and exclusive property of the MWR Management Committee, and the NSs taking part in the MWR – Syria Crisis project.

8. Person Specification

Required

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in monitoring and evaluation, information management, project management, project development, management consulting or other related fields;

• A proven track record of delivering similar assessments;

• Sound experience in information management systems and dashboards;

• Sound experience in international humanitarian response;

• Ability to interpret data and indicators;

• Ability to design interactive dashboards;

• Ability to travel across the region;

• Significant experience in conducting reviews, evaluation or other activities which include methodology design, data collection and analysis;

• Experience in producing high quality and well written reports, and demonstrated skills in analysing quantitative and qualitative data for reports;

• Demonstrated experience and skills in facilitating consultations and workshops;

• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Desirable

• Experience of working for Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement is a plus;

• Ability to work in Arabic;

• A proven understanding and experience of human rights work with NGOs is strongly desirable;

• Experience of working in the MENA region.

9. Support to be provided to the consultant

IFRC will provide admin, logistics and related duty of care support to the consultant. For objectivity purposes, the review steering committee will be required to provide inputs to the draft results of the review process conducted by the consultant in close coordination with the PMER Manager- MENA.

10. Dates and Timeframe/Schedule:

The duration of the contract will be for 25 working days.

11. Schedule for payment of fees

(Indicate deliverables and timeframe, e.g. milestones, reporting deadlines, etc.). IFRC will use payment-by-result approach and upon the delivery of a satisfactory quality products.

12. Management/Reporting Line(s)

The direct reporting line of the consultant will be the PMER Manager in MENA regional office. ICRC, three MENA national societies and one partner national society will act as steering committee for this review.

13. Review Management Arrangements:

IFRC PMER together with steering committee will validate the initial findings of the review based on the agreed review ToR.

Recruitment process:

The consultant will be contracted by the IFRC and the standard contractual terms will apply. The interested consultant should submit an expression of interest to hr.mena@ifrc.org including:

1 Financial Offer - A detailed financial proposal for the delivery of the product (s) that includes the daily fees and any other expenses.

2 Technical Offer - A method statement / proposal outlining the proposed approach to ensure quality is maintained throughout the duration of the contract and how he/she propose to meet this Terms of Reference. To include:

• Motivation statement;

• CV(s) of the consultant(s) proposed for the task, with a focus on similar assignment;

• Evidence of previous work (at least two examples of similar work);

• References from the organization for whom those pieces of work were developed (will be required at the contract phase);

3 Timeframe– Noting that expected timeframe for the consultancy is max 25 working days between 1 to 30 December 2019.

4 Proposed methodology, including work plan and availability.