International Expert Producing the Concept Paper on IDP Integration Criteria

Project Title: IDPs Integration Support Initiative in Ukraine

Donor: USAID Democratic Governance East Activity

Project Outline: The ‘IDPs Integration Support Initiative in Ukraine’ project is implemented under the CBCB programme. The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the improvement of the well-being of IDPs and conflict-affected persons by strengthening the capacities of Government institutions in Ukraine. This will be achieved through the strengthening of the capacity of the Ministry for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine (MRTOT) to lead the evidence-based policy planning towards the integration of IDPs (output 1.1) and providing technical assistance to the MRTOT to design indicators to measure IDPs integration in Ukraine, based on the best national and international practices (output 1.2).

Under the project output 1.2., DRC-DDG is conducting desk research on the best international practices of IDPs’ integration criteria/indicators to identify and assess the best international practices of IDPs’ integration criteria adopted and/or practised in post-conflict countries which are relevant to the context of Ukraine. Furthermore, DRC-DDG is holding thematic consultation meetings with IDPs and their vulnerable host communities and key informants from national, regional and local state institutions, UN agencies, international and national NGOs to agree on the common definition of ‘integration’ and to identify perceptions and expectations for integration initiatives. The findings from the desk research and consultation meetings will inform a Concept Paper on IDP Integration Criteria (i.e. implementation guide for data collection, processing and analysis for measurement of IDPs integration criteria defined in ’Criteria for evaluation of IDPs integration into host communities’ drafted by the MRTOT in 2020).

1. Objective

The objective of the assignment is to produce a Concept Paper on IDP integration criteria in Ukraine based on the findings of the desk research and the consultative meetings with IDPs, host vulnerable communities, state institutions, UN agencies and international and national NGOs. The reports on the findings of the desk research and the consultative meetings will be provided by DRC-DDG.

2. Work Assignment

Under the overall authority of the MRTOT, the direct supervision of DRC-DDG Ukraine and in coordination with Joint IDP Profiling Service (JIPS), the selected international expert will undertake the following tasks:

• Drafting the concept paper on IDP integration criteria in Ukraine based on the findings of the desk research and the survey/consultative meetings;
• Providing support to DRC-DDG and MRTOT to present and discuss the draft Concept Paper with the representatives of national, regional and local state institutions, donors, UN agencies, NGOs, IDPs and their host communities through four online/offline consultation meetings in Kyiv, Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts;
• Collating and analysing the findings from the consultation meetings;
• Reflecting the respective inputs from the consultation meetings in the final concept paper on IDP integration criteria.

The Concept Paper has to be in line with international quality standards of IDPs official statistics, as well as IDPs legal, policy and statistical framework used in Ukraine.

In particular, the Concept Paper has to

• define a specific approach for the measurement of IDPs integration;
• provide specific, measurable indicators for each criterion drafted by the MRTOT (e.g. housing, employment, access to healthcare, sense of belonging, etc.);
• develop concrete tools for data collection;
• develop a guide for the MRTOT on data collection, processing and analysis.

3. Required Deliverables and Timeline

• A draft concept paper on IDP integration criteria in Ukraine based on the findings of the desk research and the survey/consultative meetings;
• A final concept paper on IDP integration criteria in Ukraine based on the feedback and inputs from the consultation meetings with stakeholders.

All deliverables will be submitted to DRC-DDG via email in English. All deliverables are subject to DRC-DDG review and approval. Therefore, the selected international expert is expected to respond to DRC-DDG comments and reflect the respective changes in all the above deliverables before they can be considered final.

The assignment will take thirty working days, in the time period starting from 1 March until 31 July 2021. The timeline will be adapted according to the final work plan, as agreed with the selected expert.

The payment will be made in accordance with the actual number of days worked and deliverables produced. Furthermore, if offline consultation meetings take place in Ukraine, DRC-DDG will organise the travel and cover travel-related expenses and hotel accommodation in Ukraine.

1. Required Qualifications and Experience

DRC-DDG is seeking applications from individual international consultants/experts. The successful consultant should have a minimum of the following qualifications and experience:

• Advanced university degree in international relations, political science, sociology, humanitarian or development studies, migration studies, or other relevant social sciences;
• Minimum of seven years of relevant professional experience in academia, research institutes, think tanks, governmental, inter-governmental, or non-governmental organisations in international settings;
• Extensive knowledge of internal displacement and durable solutions issues in international settings. The previous experience and knowledge of Ukraine context will be an advantage;
• Extensive knowledge and proven experience in designing methodology and tools for quantitative research, as well as good knowledge of international quality standards in official data collection, processing and analysis;
• Proven previous working experience consisting of substantial involvement in policy design, evaluations, and/or reviews in related areas in international settings;
• Working experience with senior officials within the government, inter-governmental, and nongovernmental organisations would be an asset;
• Full computer literacy and availability of own IT equipment (i.e. laptop, printer) to perform the assignment;
• Willingness and availability to travel to Ukraine for up to two weeks to attend offline consultation meetings;
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships;
• Fluency in English; fluency in Russian or Ukrainian will be an asset.