GOAL Syria - EMMA ToR
GOAL Syria EMMA Consultancy - Terms of Reference
Assessment dates: Between 3 – 5 weeks from mid-November 2013
Lead agency: GOAL
GOAL is seeking an experienced EMMA Team Leader to complete a consultancy from mid-November 2013 working
from Turkey, with travel to Syria (security permitting).
EMMA Background:
GOAL has been operating in Northern Syria since November 2012 providing emergency support to families
displaced or affected by the conflict, including through distribution of food, non-food items and a voucher
programme. GOAL has recently been awarded funding from Food For Peace (FFP) to provide support to 10 bakeries
through a bread voucher programme targeting 15,000 families and distribution of flour to bakeries in exchange for
selling bread at a fixed price. The project will run until 31st March 2014. In GOAL’s bakery assessment it emerged
that several key markets, which are central to bakery production in bakeries, have been significantly affected by the
conflict. GOAL is also funded by FFP and other donors to distribute dry food rations and fresh food vouchers.
EMMA Objective:
The EMMA will inform GOAL’s current programme implementation (particularly the bakery programme) and future
programme design through a rapid market system analysis. Results will be used to better understand the factors which
affect the market, to give a more detailed analysis of the market system and to adjust programming where possible.
The analysis will aim at identifying measures which integrate the concept of “do no harm” on local markets and
therefore populations, which can be put into effect in the current programming and inform the design of future
programming. This EMMA will also strengthen the GOAL Syria Programme’s capacity in market analysis and in its
use in response analysis and design.
Geographical areas:
Plans are to undertake the EMMA in GOAL’s current areas of operation in Northern Syria, including both Idlib and
Hama Governorates. The geographical scope of the EMMA will be finalized shortly and will include the following
sub-districts of Idlib, targeted under GOAL’s bakery programme1:
• Harem District
• Jish Ash Shugur District
• Idlib District (Ma’aret Misrin)
Consultancy outputs:
The following outputs will be achieved:
1. Market maps of selected critical markets
2. Seasonal calendar for critical markets
3. Key findings and recommendations report
4. Presentation of key findings to GOAL internally and to the FSL Working Group
5. Training for key GOAL and partner staff on EMMA methodology
Potential Critical Markets for Analysis:
The critical markets to be analysed will be discussed with GOAL’s team, other agencies in the FSL Working Group
and informed by initial findings from the GOAL bakery programme as implementation begins. The critical markets
will be confirmed before the start of the EMMA. Currently potential markets include:
 Wheat
 Diesel
 Flour
 Fresh food
 Dry food
1
Exact location of GOAL’s bakery programme to be confirmed in due course.
GOAL Syria - EMMA ToR
Methodology:
- The EMMA toolkit provides a step-by-step approach (see EMMA 10 steps below) to analyzing markets in
emergency contexts. The toolkit will be used during the assessment under the guidance of the EMMA Team
Leader (consultant) with support from GOAL’s FSL Coordinator.
- Critical market selection – this is a key step in the EMMA process and will be initiated prior to the onset of
the assessment by GOAL, in coordination with other agencies and stakeholders
- Brief key GOAL staff involved in the EMMA with a basic overview of the EMMA process and foster a
common/coherent language and approach. Provide reading materials.
- 2-3 days of orientation for the EMMA team.
- Assessment conducted.
The EMMA ten steps:
Background research; arrival; consultation with colleagues; agency
1. Essential
Preparation
mandate, target population needs & profiles
Selection of critical market-systems; and identification of key analytical
2. Select Markets
questions for each system
Production of initial profiles, seasonal calendars, maps of the market3. Preliminary
Analysis
system; identification of key informants or leads.
Setting the fieldwork agenda; devising interview structures &
4. Fieldwork
Preparation
questionnaires; data-sheets and recording formats
Conducting the fieldwork activities – who, where, when.
5. Fieldwork
Activities
Section includes guidance on interview methods and tips.
Finalising baseline & emergency maps, seasonal calendars; description
6. Mapping the
Market
of key features, bottlenecks, constraints
Comparison of household economic profiles, analysis of priority needs,
7. Gap Analysis
access and gaps
Analysing impact on availability, conduct, performance, supply and
8. Market
Analysis
demand, capacity of market-system to react
Exploration of response options, cash and other intervention feasibility;
9. Response
Analysis
response recommendations and their logic
Consultation with colleagues; presenting conclusions to wider
10. Communicate
Results
audiences (donors, agencies)
EMMA Team Leader (consultant) Tasks:
- An external consultant will be identified to be the EMMA Team Leader and will provide overall leadership of
the EMMA from Step 2 to Step 10 (above).
- This person will be responsible for:
o Planning the EMMA
o Producing the necessary tools and templates for data collection, data entry and analysis
o Training the EMMA data collection team
o Overseeing the fieldwork
o Producing analysis and recommendations and the final report
o The collation and dissemination of the final reports
o Presentation of results to interested stakeholders.
The EMMA Team:
Due to the security and related access issues inside Syria, the majority of the team will be Syrian nationals. The
EMMA Team Leader will be an international consultant and will take overall responsibility for coordinating the whole
exercise. Several team members will be current GOAL staff with some experience in FSL programming and
additional enumerators will be engaged for fieldwork.
EMMA Team Leader profile:
The EMMA Team Leader will have the following skills and experience:
 EMMA trained with extensive experience of leading EMMAs and other assessments in the field and remotely;
GOAL Syria - EMMA ToR




Experience of assessing markets, livelihoods, or emergencies with the capacity to use assessment findings to
identify potential responses;
A broad range of humanitarian experience in different contexts, including in conflict and post-conflict
situations;
Excellent facilitation and communication skills, including presenting and writing reports;
Fluency in Arabic preferred.
Duration of assessment:
The EMMA Team Leader will be engaged to work with GOAL in Turkey from mid-November and will be tasked
with completing the assignment and submitting the final report by early 2014. The schedule should include time for:
o Preparation and literature review
o Orientation to the team including training on data collection and entry with EMMA team
o Data collection/implementation
o Analysis & report writing & presentation of findings
Communication:
– Most staff will have local mobile phones and these shall be used
– At the start of field work, participant mobile numbers shall be collected and shared
– Communication between the Team Leader and team members will be key if access to Syria is not possible
due to insecurity. Daily debriefing via skype will be used.
Application Process:
The deadline for applications is 10th November 2013
Interested applicants should send the following documents to syriajobs@sy.goal.ie
 CV
 A proposal indicating: your relevant experience and how you meet the profile required; how you would
implement the assessment; a proposed schedule and details of time required; and your daily rate (note that
GOAL will cover the costs of a return flight to Turkey and in-country accommodation)
 An example final report from a previous EMMA assignment