Terms of Reference (ToR)
Situational Analysis and Advocacy Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction in
Afghanistan
1. Background
Afghanistan is a country that suffers from recurrent natural disasters including flash
floods, drought, extreme cold, avalanches, earthquakes and sandstorms. Natural
disasters in Afghanistan have historically caused displacement of local populations,
severe delays in the provision of humanitarian assistance to those in need and the
disruption of essential services. Natural disasters also exacerbate the vulnerability of
communities who have been affected by long-term food insecurity and protracted
conflict.
Save the Children has extensive experience of implementing child-centred and
community based projects and programmes in Afghanistan In 2011 Save the Children
began a partnership with UNICEF to implement a child-centred disaster risk reduction
programme in Balkh, Saripul and Jawzjan provinces in northern Afghanistan.
The goal of the project is to build the resilience of communities in Afghanistan to
natural disasters through a community-led child-based approach to disaster risk
reduction (DRR).
The three main outcomes of the project are:
1. 120 disaster-prone communities of Balkh, Jawzjan and Saripul have increased
capacity and understanding of Child-centred DRR and improved mechanisms
to mitigate disaster risks (natural and manmade) and respond to emergencies.
2. Government and Afghan civil-society (at district and provincial levels) have
increased knowledge and awareness of key DRR issues and how these can be
addressed through other development activities; and their capacity to
implement child-focused DRR activities is increased.
3. Children in 48 target schools have increased resilience to the effects of
emergencies in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Provincial
Departments of Education in Balkh, Jawzjan and Saripul, and the National and
Regional Education Clusters.
Situational analysis and advocacy strategy
One of the key outputs of this project is to undertake a situational analysis of
institutional capacity to undertake DRR activities and an advocacy strategy. The
situational analysis will focus on four main departments - the Ministry of Education,
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ANDMA, the Ministry of Rehabilitation and Rural Development (MRRD) and the
Ministry of Interior/Planning.
The reason for selecting these four Ministries is due to the fact that ANDMA is the
main coordinating body in Afghanistan for DRR and emergency response and
preparedness efforts. Whilst ANDMA focuses on coordination, MRRD focuses on
implementation of DRR efforts at the sub-national level and as such they are a critical
Ministry to look at in more detail.
The Ministry of Education will require a detailed assessment as this programme is
focused on working with the MoE at provincial and district level in the
implementation of the education related activities.
The Ministry of Interior/Planning is included as this Ministry is the central body for
coordinating multi-sectoral plans at national, provincial and district level and as such
is a key department for mainstreaming DRR.
To undertake this situational analysis and subsequent advocacy strategy effectively,
three main steps are proposed:
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The first step will be an assessment of the four Ministries highlighted
above at the national level. This will require a review and understanding of
key policies and programmes for each of the four Ministries, their level of
capacity to integrate DRR, any opportunities for further integrating DRR and
what the gaps are as well as the potential role of the various Ministries in
implementing DRR.
The second step will be to complement this national level focus with a
detailed assessment of the four sub-national departments at provincial,
district and local level. This assessment will require in-depth interviews with
provincial and district directors of the different departments but also key
members of the departments who are responsible for implementation at the
local level. In the case of education for example, this will involve talking to
District Education Officers, school inspectors, trainers etc who are the main
contact point for schools and school teachers and therefore the main avenue
for rolling out DRR. The consultant should elaborate on the current activities
implemented by the four departments and the opportunities and gaps for them
in playing a lead role in implementing DRR
The final step will be to develop an advocacy strategy and plan for
subsequent activities. This advocacy strategy will be based on the situational
analysis completed from the national and sub-national level.
3. Aim of research project
Against this background, the aim of this research is to examine the institutional
capacity of government agencies at national, district and provincial levels to
mainstream DRR taking a systems approach.
The consultant will be expected to:
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1) Map out how integrated DRR is in government policies, strategies, procedures and
guidelines used at national, district and provincial levels. This will focus on the subnational education authorities, ANDMA, MRRD and the Planning department
2) Explore the awareness, commitment and perception of DRR amongst key
government stakeholders.
3) Identify and elaborate the potential role the government stakeholders can play in
implementing DRR.
4) To discuss findings in relation to capacity gaps and advocacy messages and
recommendations to UNICEF around how best to mainstream DRR into government
structures.
The research project should look at the national, district and provincial level capacity
at the individual, institutional and guideline/policy/procedure level to identify gaps.
Although the situational analysis will largely focus at the provincial level, an analysis
of the national level should also be completed to inform the advocacy strategy.
It is anticipated that this will involve a questionnaire for senior governmental officials
to examine decision making on DRR and policies, as well as interviews with key
government stakeholders in order to examine how DRR is included in decision
making and whether there are requirements of DRR to be mainstreamed into
governmental plans and policies.
The project will take a holistic view of DRR in the context of various government
departments and decision-making processes. The consultant will be expected to
outline the focus areas of DRR at the concept and research design phase.
The research should ultimately identify gaps in capacity and make clear
recommendations to address these, as well as identifying and prioritising issues that
require further advocacy from international actors such as UNICEF and Save the
Children.
4. Proposed research outline
While conducting the consultancy, a number of methods (both qualitative and
quantitative) will be used to generate the information required. The consultant will be
required to review project documents including any other secondary data sources.
However, the major information source will be direct discussion and interviews with
key informants and project staff and partners. Whilst there will be scope for making
amendments to the final study protocol, the following activities are recommended:
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Planning workshop - Develop a study protocol through a review of the
literature, tools and guidelines for conducting research using questionnaire,
interview methods
Selection of Sampling
Introductory workshop – In an introductory workshop, the participating
government stakeholders and relevant international actors will come together
to assess the institutional capacity of government agencies and decision
makers at district and provincial level in order to mainstream DRR
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Discuss different ways to capture and document the systems and approaches
existing at government level
Identifying gaps and needs at district and provincial level
Collection of information using various methods - captures local hazards
and coping mechanisms at district and provincial level, institutional capacity
to respond and existing laws and procedures at government level.
Reflection workshop
Analysis and write-up – Researcher analysis, write-up
To ensure the project adheres to high ethical standards, an assessment of ethical
implications must be conducted as part of the study protocol development and
carefully planned for.
5. Key deliverables
The consultancy exercise will be completed during three months, beginning in
January 2014. The expected product will be a project situation analysis report,
summary of capacity gaps, and advocacy strategy document
The following are the expected deliverables from the consultancy;
 A work plan to be submitted by the consultant within three days of signing
the contract including the tools to be used in the work. A draft of the work
plan and consultancy instruments such as questionnaires and interview
guides will first be reviewed and agreed upon together with project staff
team prior to the preparation of final versions to be used.
 Presentation of initial findings to Save the Children management
 The final product will be presented in soft copy
 All reports and documents are to be submitted to Save the Children
Contact point persons and will remain the property of Save the Children.
6. Accountabilities and Responsibilities
i. Consultant’s Roles and Responsibilities
 Establish working contacts with all the relevant stakeholders in CCDRR
programme, in the North Province and Kabul.
 Review of the available relevant project documents i.e. project proposal, log
frames, draft baseline survey report etc.
 Prepare and submit to Save the Children consultancy proposal including
methodology to be used, work plans and schedules for both quantitative and
qualitative aspect of the assignment for review and feedback by Save the
Children
 Conduct an in depth desk top review of the relevant secondary data.
 Interview selected respondents during the consultancy.
 Visit selected project office and sites.
 Conducting entry and exit conferences (de briefing) with staff and key
stakeholders at the National office level.
 Prepare and submit draft situation analysis report and advocacy strategy
document Save the Children for review and feedback.
 Submit a final report with key recommendations
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 Submit final report both in soft and hard copies.
ii. Save the Children Roles and Responsibilities
 Review and approve the study tools and methodology.
 Brief stakeholders- staffs about the purpose of the consultancy
 Provide all the necessary support to the consultant to ensure timely completion
and compliance with international consultancy standards.
 Avail all the required logistics including vehicles for the consultancy.
 Assist in organizing meetings with stakeholders
 Prepare and effect payment for the consultant upon completion of the
assignment.
Save the Children’s Pamatheesan – CLDRR Senior Programme Manager and
Mohammad Rafi Aziz –Associate Director, Logistic and EP & Response will be the
contact people during the entire consultancy process.
7. Budget and timeline
The total time requirement for the consultancy including travel for the consultant will
be a maximum of three months, months at a maximum estimated cost in USD to be
proposed by the consultant.
This project is scheduled to take place in January 2014. All costs related to the work
including consultancy fee will be covered by Save the Children.
8. Proposal Content and Criteria
The consulting firm/consultant will submit a proposal comprising of the following;
- Technical proposal of not more than 10 pages. The technical proposal should
indicate how the consultant is going to undertake all the activities highlighted
in the TOR.
- Up to three pages CV with up to two key personnel for the consultancy.
- Two to three page capability statement
- Financial budget with explanation about the line items
- Provide a brief outline of at least 3 previous engagements of a similar nature
showing how the assignments were similar to this one and what the outcomes
were. Include one contact person (reference) for each assignment.
- Appendices
9. Profile of consultant
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An advanced social science degree or equivalent experience in Education,
Child Protection and Disaster Risk Reduction (ideally at least 3-5 years’
experience working in the NGO/DRR and Child Protection sector)
Understanding of the challenges and best practices related to international
development programmes for children in difficult circumstances, particularly
those living in disaster prone environments.
Good understanding of, and experience in, participatory qualitative research
methods.
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Experience of conducting situation analyses, design advocacy strategy and
evaluations at project and organisational levels.
Strong analytical skills
Excellent communication skills, including excellent reading and analytical
skills as well as fluent and effective written English.
Expression of interest
Eligible consultants should send a cover letter, daily rates and CV to Rachel Maranto
(rachel.maranto@savethechildren.org) and Pamatheesan
(pamatheesan.kopalapillai.org) for an immediate start.
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