PATHWAYS TO STRENGTHENING PROTECTION OUTCOMES IN NORTH-EAST NIGERIA

Position: Evaluation/Research consultant

Duration of the consultancy: 12 weeks

Main locations: Maiduguri-Jere, Yola, Biu, Mubi, Damasak, Mobbar, Dikwa, Gowza and Pulka.

Programme Area: Evaluation

Reports to: Head of Programmes

Technical Line: Protection Manager

Duty station: Maiduguri

Travel: As needed, minimum 50%

1. Introduction:

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in northeast Nigeria is seeking a consultant to support its efforts to achieve protection outcomes in its ongoing ECHO grant. For the past year, NRC has been an active participant in cooperation, supported by InterAction and the Nigeria INGO Forum, to strengthen the use of results-based methods for protection outcomes in northeast Nigeria. While the humanitarian community has come to a greater understanding at the policy level on the need to achieve protection outcomes, our ability to carry this out on the ground requires further investment.[1] NRC is invested in furthering protection outcomes utilising both its global expertise in protection and its positioning as a key actor in the response in northeast Nigeria.

NRC seeks a consultant (or consulting team) to identify ways NRC’s core competencies can contribute to protection outcomes and how these can be strengthened. This will, in locations where NRC works, identify context-specific pathways for where programme activities can contribute to risk reduction. The consultant will analyse the context-specific risks for each field location with the support of the NRC staff and through primary data collection. This consultancy will look a protection risks at large, prioritising those directly linked to NRC’s activities and the primary risks identified by the populations. From this joint analysis, the consultant will work with staff to develop causal logics/theories of change for reduction of key risks, and identify the core contributions that the proposed programmatic components will make to those outcomes.

This position will work directly with the NRC team in northeast Nigeria, as well as in consultation with InterAction staff based in Washington, DC. If COVID-19 restrictions allow, it is preferred that the consultant would do the bulk of the work in Nigeria, including potential travel to the field. This will be dependent on specific travel restrictions and decided in discussion with the selected consultant.**

2. Responsibilities and Deliverables:

· Inception report, detailing design of research and workshops (methodology and analysis framework), approach and work plan, including the following:

• Annexes with the set of research instruments (data collection tools, implementation plan, ethical guidance framework, participation request protocol, consent forms to be signed for community members interviewed, etc.)

· Complete a background review of existing documentation on protection context and risk analysis in northeast Nigeria, including discussions with NRC staff and other key interlocutors as identified

· Design of appropriate data collection tools and sampling for a) Key Informant Interviews and b) household interviews or focus group discussion and c) survey/ie. It will be the responsibility of the consultant to identify enumerators for any data collection.

· Statistical analysis of data and identification of findings and recommendation.

· Working with InterAction’s Results-Based Protection team and materials, develop and implement a series of workshops with targeted staff in NRC Nigeria, at both field and Maiduguri level. These will include NRC’s areas of core competency, as well as advocacy, access and coordination functions. These workshops should include components on:

o Risk analysis with a wide array of program teams implementing the ECHO grant, analysing and prioritising risks that relate to NRC core competency activities.

o Causal logic exercises that identify ways that NRC can contribute to protection risk reduction in various field locations,

· Jointly identify and develop, with NRC teams, core areas where NRC can incorporate protection risk reduction components into its activities. This will include an outline of where each program area can contribute to risk reduction, proposed tools and methods to do so, and proposals for how to measure outcomes. This could also include further recommendations for areas NRC should continue to strengthen.

· Draft report, with findings and analysis

· Produce final report that includes summary of risk analysis, developments of causal logic to lead to risk reduction and recommendations on how to continue work focused on protection outcomes throughout the project.

· Present findings to NRC senior management and donor representatives as requested

· Present findings to the key protection stakeholders in the humanitarian community, either through a Zoom workshop or in person in Maiduguri

· All deliverables will be the responsibility of the consultant, however, it is expected to be conducted in close coordination with NRC’s Protection Manager based in Maiduguri.

It is anticipated that the evaluation be conducted over a total period of 3 months, to begin as soon as possible, with the submission of the final report and workshop report.

[1] See InterAction’s May 2020 Briefing Paper, Embracing the Protection Outcome Mindset: We All Have a Role to Play.

1. Qualifications:

· At least 5 years of professional work experience developing humanitarian programming in conflict settings

· A background in humanitarian protection with an understanding of gender-based violence, child protection, and other forms of violence, coercion, and deliberate deprivation. Experience in results-based protection is highly desirable.

· Demonstrated experience in developing and/or implementing multi-sector programs that aim to achieve protection outcomes (risk reduction for the affected population).

· Ability to communicate effectively with both protection and non-protection actors on the topic of protection risks and reduction.

· Familiarity working with situations of armed conflict or understanding how the dynamics of conflict affect vulnerable populations.

· Experience designing and implementing qualitative and quantitative research and sampling strategies, analysing and interpreting data in narrative and graphic form using SPSS STATA or other statistical package.

· Excellent written and visual communication skills, including ability to present complex processes and issues clearly to a diverse audience.

· Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and manage time and competing demands effectively while working under pressure with tight deadlines.

· Experience developing and facilitating interactive workshops/training session for a diverse audience.

· Fluency in English required

· Previous experience in northeast Nigeria an advantage

Offers should include:

· Technical proposal

o An outline of the research framework and methods, including comments on the TOR, proposed timeframe and work-plan.

o Proposals should not exceed 5 pages.

o CVs, references for previous relevant work, and an extract (3-5 pages) from past research projects.

· Financial proposal (bid) detailing the budget (in NGN or USD). The financial proposal should provide professional fees and all costs required for undertaking this consultancy.

· Certificate of Registration / Incorporation

· Tax Registration Certificate

2. Selection Criteria

All proposals will be evaluated based on the below criteria and scored out of a total 100 points by a team of evaluators

Does candidate have previous experience in protection projects in humanitarian settings? If no, do not proceed.

· The candidate(s), has a successful record of completed similar multi-sector projects which aim to achieve protection outcomes, evidenced by past and current project experience and references. Quality of sample of previous works will be also evaluated. (25%)

· The selected candidate(s) understand the project needs, as outlined in the above section 2 “Responsibilities and Deliverables” and ensure that the proposal meets these needs including design, development and analysis within the given timeframe (25%)

· Demonstrated necessary experience and qualifications to lead the design and implementation and analysis of statistical and qualitative research (25%)

· Demonstrated capacity and experience to prepare for, facilitate and lead workshops/trainings through coherent and effectively communicated presentations (25%)