British Red Cross: Typhoon Haiyan Response and Recovery
Process Review (October 2014)
Background
In November 2013, Typhoon Haiyan struck the Philippines as one of the most powerful storms ever to make
landfall. With maximum winds of 235 kph and gusts of up to 275 kph, Haiyan devastated many provinces
across the regions in Central Visayas, causing extensive damage to buildings and agriculture.
The BRC launched an emergency appeal, and with money from DEC, DFID and other donors, raised a total of
£23 million. These funds have been used to in the relief phase to support the International Committee of the
Red Cross (ICRC), IFRC response and Philippines Red Cross (PRC) through the provision of technical specialists
in logistics, emergency shelter, communications, information management; in-kind emergency relief stocks
and equipment; cash contributions to support the operation including emergency cash grants and PRCS
operational costs.
As part of the recovery phase BRC is working with PRC as one of their bilateral partners in Iloilo Province. As
part of this BRC has scaled up its presence in-country and establishing a dedicated team that will support
PRCS in implementing an integrated recovery project in the typhoon-affected area of Iloilo Province until
March 2016. Recovery priorities include Shelter, Economic Security and Livelihoods, WASH, National Society
(NS) support and capacity building, health, community preparedness and community resilience. In addition
BRC is supporting other recovery shelter and livelihoods programmes, via funds to IFRC.
Overview of reviews and evaluations anticipated
At present the following reviews and evaluations are anticipated;
Response and Recover
Process Review
Mid-Term Review: Iloilo
Recovery programme
End Evaluation: Iloilo
Recovery Programme
Nov 2014 (15-20 days)
Jan/Feb 2015 (15-20
days)
March 2016 (20 days)
ToR below
ToR to be developed by
end Nov 2014
ToR to be developed by
end Dec 2015
There is opportunity for the same consultant to be engaged on all three reviews/evaluations dependent on
skills, experience, and work delivered to date as part of the above.
RESPONSE AND RECOVERY PROCESS REVIEW
Purpose: For BRC to learn from the response to Typhoon Haiyan to: a) inform future BRC responses to large
emergencies; and b) inform preparation needed by BRC in order to effectively respond in the future.
The findings from this review will help inform ways of working that are being developed as part of the ID
review. The findings will also feed directly into current work looking at the wider BRC surge initiative. As
such this review will be led by an internal staff member who has been tasked by senior managers with
supporting with both these areas. This will help ensure the findings are used to inform practice.
Scope of this review: The review will focus on BRC’s response from November 2013 to August 2014.
Specifically seeking to understand the question:
What was the process that led to reaching key milestone? Specifically:
1.
2.
3.
4.
What were the strengths and weaknesses of processes followed?
What were the main constraints?
How could ways of working be improved?1
What preparation is needed by BRC in order to effectively respond in the future?
Key milestones include:
A. Deployment of surge capacity during the response phase (surge staff and other supporting staff).
B. The switch from response to recovery.
C. Decisions on how BRC funds would be allocated towards different recovery options, building on the BRC
Haiyan Strategic Operational Framework.
D. Decision to fund IFRC programs and understanding accompanying implications
E. Decision to work bilaterally with PRC, and understanding accompanying implications
F. Iloilo programme design. Including:
i. Programme assessment
ii. Programme planning
iii. Programme inception (i.e. programme set-up as the first stage of implementation)
NB. This review does not seek to identify areas for improvement in the current recovery programmes
supported by BRC. While outside the scope at present, this could form the focus of the Mid-Term Review or,
if needed, a separately commissioned piece of work that would in effect build on these more internal findings.
Possible aspects to explore linked to each milestone: The below are examples only, and will be expanded by
the consultant based on the documentation review and discussions with staff.
Deployment of surge capacity during the response phase.
 BRC surge capacity to the Movement
The switch from response to recovery.
 Implications and triggers to switch
 Establishment and role of the Major Programme Board
The choice of recovery support and allocation of funds (building on the Haiyan Strategic Operational
Framework).
 Consideration of VFM and quality programmes for beneficiaries linked to different recovery support
options.
 Understanding and management of risk linked to each option – linked to level of risk appetite for the
context.
 Geographical areas of support.
Decision to fund IFRC programs and understanding accompanying implications

Decision to work bilaterally with PRC, and understanding accompanying implications
 Understanding the implications of working bilaterally with PRC (e.g. logistics and financial processes).
 Based on this agreeing ways of working with PRC.
1
BRC’s International Division is currently going through a review looking both at our structure and ways of working.
While this review is seeking to address a number of recognised ways in which our working could be strengthened, this
process review will also feed into the wider review.

Agreeing, identifying and engaging needed staff and other resources to support the decision (in-country
and UKO)
Iloilo programme design. Including:
i. Programme assessment
ii. Programme planning
iii. Programme inception (i.e. programme set-up as the first stage of implementation)
 Agreement on no-go programme areas from BRC perspective.
 Use of PCM
 Identification and involvement of relevant skills and technical knowledge at key points in time (Role and
availability of GSDs/ advisors vs longer term register or open recruitment systems).
 Role of team in Philippines vs team in UKO
 Extent to which BRC systems and procedures (Management; Programme support
(HR/Finance/Logs/Security); Technical support (P&A/Resilience) supports programme inception.
 Process of working with PRC to agree SOPs and process linked to targeting and community engagement.
Methodology and timing
Timing: Aiming to complete by early November 2014 (date to be confirmed) - with potential for extension
depending on workload / methodology and priorities related to the restructure.
Number of days: It is expected that this review will take 15-20 working days.
Methodology overview: The evaluation will primarily include a desk review and interviews with key staff
involved in the response and recovery to date. As the review focuses on BRC decision making staff to be
interviewed will focus in BRC staff at all levels (including those who are not currently on contract with BRC),
senior PRC staff, and IFRC.
Main steps:
 Refine review plan (people to meet and questions).
 Review of relevant documents and reports linked to the Typhoon Haiyan response, and reviews /
evaluations of past recovery programmes (this may include Haiti and Pakistan) as well as the ID Review
and relevant structural changes occurring across the division and issues highlighted through the Review
stage.
 Discussions with key staff –
o Broad discussions with key staff – using an open ended questionnaire focused on sieving out the
key issues, timeline, processes and identifying initial themes.
o Focused discussions with key staff – based on the initial discussions a more focused series of
questions will be designed as a means to exploring selected themes in more depth. This will be
aimed at clarifying points, triangulating information and testing the theory.
 Philippines visit – based on findings to date, themes, and staff input the added value of a Philippines visit
will be considered at this point.
 Workshop (maximum 1 day) - to present, validate, refine emerging themes and develop accompanying
recommendations. (Timing dependent on restructure timetable).
 Final report and recommendations - drafted and presented to IMT and the Typhoon Haiyan Programme
Board for management response.
 Finalise report with management response, and develop a summary Powerpoint to aid dissemination of
key recommendations.
Deliverables
1.
2.
3.
4.
Refined review plan.
A one-day workshop.
An evaluation report: answering the main questions with recommendations.
A powerpoint presentation (or alternative) for wide consumption, highlighting key findings and
recommendations.
Profile of the consultant
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Minimum 5 years relevant professional experience
Experience of working in the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.
Experience in large sudden-onset humanitarian response.
Management experience – ideally as part of disaster response or recovery programming.
Experience of conducting reviews and evaluations.
An ability to think through process, systems and on a strategic level.
Demonstrable skills in writing high quality reports.
Fluency in English – both spoken and written.
To apply
If interested please send a CV; a brief statement of interest (highlighting relevant skills/experience, including
previous reviews/evaluations worked on); and a schedule outlining how you would conduct the Process
Review (max 2 pages).