- INTRODUCTION The Durable Solutions Platform (DSP) is a joint initiative of the Danish Refugee Council, Norwegian Refugee Council, and International Rescue Committee. Founded in 2016, DSP generates evidence and convenes strategic dialogue on durable solutions to displacement in the Syria crisis. The platform conducts research in countries throughout the Middle East region, as well as within Syria itself, and supports policymaking, advocacy, and programming related to durable solutions and adjacent topics. The research described in this TOR will support the work of DSP and its partners to better understand the durable solutions landscape inside the country, as well as opportunities for greater engaging stakeholders beyond humanitarian agencies.
- BACKGROUND TO THE CONSULTANCY
The Syrian conflict has caused mass displacement: at present 5,557,798 Syrians are living as refugees,1 primarily in the neighboring countries, while a further 6,197,220 are internally displaced inside the country itself.2 The conflict has also seen the profound destruction and degradation of much of Syria’s infrastructure, economy, and basic services, as well as ongoing threats to human rights, safety, and security. Taken together, the scale of displacement coupled with persistent challenges for humanitarian responders and early recovery actors has made it difficult for displaced Syrians to pursue durable solutions to their displacement inside Syria itself.
At the time of this TOR’s publication, Syria is roughly divided into three areas of political control:
• Territory controlled by the Government of Syria (GoS), which encompasses the majority of southern, western, and central Syria as well as the majority of the country’s population;
• Territory controlled by the Kurdish-led Self Administration, with a few pockets under Turkish control, which encompasses most of north-eastern Syria (NES); and
• Territory controlled by armed opposition groups, particularly Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), in the vicinity of Idlib governorate in north-western Syria (NWS).3
Each area of control has unique but intersecting geopolitical, social, and economic factors that impact the lives of all displacement-affected populations as well as the broader durable solutions landscape. These factors also dictate levels of humanitarian access, and accordingly the kinds of humanitarian programming that can be conducted in each region. These disparate realities on the ground present a challenge for Syrian and international organizations wishing to support progress towards durable solutions inside Syria. Each region comes with a distinct set of local actors, challenges, and opportunities that impact the way organizations can approach and implement displacement and durable solutions programming and policymaking. However, to date no comprehensive mapping or analysis has been conducted of these
1 UNHCR Operational Portal: Refugee Situations. Last updated 5 June 2020. UNHCR.
2 Mobility and Needs Monitoring: December Overview. December 2019. HNAP. This figure is not inclusive of recent displacements in Idlib.
3 In addition to these three areas, the Government of Turkey (GoT) controls a portion of territory in northern Syria along the Turkish border. However, due to time and funding constraints, as well as the fact that DSP’s stakeholders are not active in this part of Syria, an analysis of this territory and its relevant forced migration stakeholders will not be conducted as part of this stakeholder mapping endeavor. However, the GoT will be assessed as a stakeholder when relevant, particularly in NES and NWS.
Consultancy ToR /Stakeholder Analysis
actors, their stances on durable solutions, including methods that have been used to engage (or not engage) them on this important and timely topic.
To fill this knowledge gap, the DSP has commissioned a stakeholder mapping initiative that will produce three confidential reports for use by DSP, relevant Syrian and international NGOs, donor agencies, and other key stakeholders working in the displacement and durable solutions space. These reports are intended to support - Support advocacy initiatives by:
a. Identifying and describing in detail real and potential domestic allies and blockers on issues related to durable solutions (in particular, the integration of IDPs and re-integration of IDP and refugee returnees);
b. Identifying potential future domestic users and/or partners in future Solutions Analysis efforts;4 and
c. Highlighting the kinds of durable solutions messaging and activities that certain actors respond well to, in order to support better tailoring of messaging on these topics. - Supporting programming initiatives by:
a. Tentatively identifying stakeholders who are open to, or actively interested in, supporting programming that links to durable solutions; and
b. Identifying key topics or themes that durable solutions programming should avoid in order to maintain access.
Ultimately, this stakeholder analysis is intended as a first step for articulating and expanding durable solutions endeavors in the near term. Due to the shifting political landscape inside Syria, it is difficult to know the timeframe for which these reports will remain valid; however they will be an important basis for thinking strategically about durable solutions engagement over the near- to mid-term. - RESEARCH OVERVIEW
Research Purpose: The purpose of this research is to map stakeholders critical to the achievement of durable solutions inside Syria, including their policies, plans, and motivations to engage in durable solutions efforts. Institutions will include: national, regional, and local authorities and institutions; national organizations such as the Syria Arab Red Crescent (SARC), local organizations as the Kurdish Red Crescent; local civil society; the Syrian Arab Army and key armed groups; non-Syrian political actors (western and non-western); the private sector;5 and other relevant actors depending on the geographic area of focus. In doing so, it will identify and describe these stakeholders and provide a SWOT analysis for durable solutions engagement.
Research Outputs: - An inception report outlining the proposed methodology and workplan
- Three consecutive reports (time period specified in workplan below), each focused on a different area of control
a. The sequencing of these reports will be: GoS-controlled territory, NES, and finally NWS.
b. These reports will be short (10-12 pages maximum) and targeted to identified users - Three online presentations of the reports and their findings
a. One presentation per report
b. PowerPoints for each presentation - Interview transcripts (in English)
The development of the KII questionnaires will be led by DSP, with consultant input. Furthermore, DSP will provide Arabic-language interview capacity and translation of these interviews into English. If a key stakeholder requires Kurdish to be spoken in an interview, DSP will liaise with its partners and other organizations working in NES in order to secure Kurdish-language interview support.
4 Two follow up solutions analyses are currently planned for 2021, one of which will be focused on NES.
5 It is not possibly to map the entire private sector; therefore, key industries and/or actors within the private sector will be jointly selected with the consultant at the Inception phase of this project.
Consultancy ToR /Stakeholder Analysis
Research Questions: Research questions will be modified somewhat to account for the differing realities across the three areas of control. However, overarching research questions to be pursued in this endeavor will be: - What are the key government institutions at the regional, local (and national if relevant) level with responsibility in relation to IDPs, non-Syrian refugees, and/or returnees?
- What other actors in the area of study who are work with or on issues related to IDPs, non-Syrian refugees, and/or returnees.
- What is the capacity and willingness of the above-mentioned institutions or actors, as well as their incentives, to support durable solutions for these populations?
- What, if any, are these actors’ relevant positions, policies, plans, and strategies related to durable solutions?
a. To what extent do these differ with regard to IDPs, IDP returnees, and refugee returnees?
b. What are the motivations and goals that underpin these policies, plans, and strategies? - To what extent do local actors in the area contribute to making decisions related to displacement or displaced populations in their areas of operation?
- What are the best approaches for engaging identified actors on durable solutions in the target geographic area?
- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
DSP proposes a remote, low-optics methodology that will leverage the existing knowledge base on this topic while limiting institutional risk. It is anticipated that each report will pursue the following methodology: - Literature review
a. This may include, but is not limited to: academic research, think tanks, research conducted by analysis units, new reports, and relevant laws and official policies.6
b. While the consultant is expected to identify and obtain the majority of this information, DSP will coordinate outreach to relevant Syrian and international NGOs to obtain information such as relevant programmatic policies, analyses, and protocols. - Semi-structured key informant interviews
a. Interviews will include Syrian and international NGOs, civil society organizations, UN staff, and academics, including individuals engaged at the policy, program management, and field levels.
b. DSP will coordinate with its partner organizations to determine if and how government/local authorities will be interviewed in each area of control. Whenever possible and relevant to do so, DSP will seek to engage Syrian stakeholders through its partner organizations. Minimum Key Informant Interviews
GoS-Controlled Areas
North-east Syria
North-west Syria
Approximately 30 interviews
Approximately 25 interviews
Approximately 25 interviews
Research Reference Group: Traditionally, DSP creates research reference groups for each of its research endeavors. These groups are often built to include members with specific technical expertise, as well as to ensure representation from a broad range of stakeholders (i.e. donor governments, INGOs, UN agencies, etc). Doing so assures, among other goals, that key findings and recommendations will be read and utilized by advocacy targets.
Because these reports are being produced under a tight timeframe, and are aimed at supporting existing advocacy and program efforts on a somewhat niche topic, DSP will eschew its traditionally broad-based research reference
6 Analyzed data will NOT include private information collected for the Syria Solutions Analysis. While DSP will provide the consultant with relevant secondary information that they are aware of, it will be incumbent upon the consultant to identify and obtain the majority of relevant documents.
Consultancy ToR /Stakeholder Analysis
group in favor of a targeted group of practitioners with expertise on intra-Syria dynamics. Reference group members will include members of DSP’s advisory group, other relevant INGOs, and Syrian NGOs. - RESEARCH TIMELINE
As previously stated, this research effort will be divided into three consecutive reports. An anticipated timeline for completion is proposed below:
CONSULTANT PROFILE
Key requirements are:
• At least 5 years’ experience in qualitative analysis related to Syria
• Demonstrated experience with stakeholder mapping and/or analysis
• Access to experts on Syria and displacement topics
• Demonstrated ability to work on sensitive topics in a securitized and politically contentious environment
• English writing skills a must; Arabic speaking skills desirable
N.B: Individual Consultants and Consultancy Firms/Companies are both eligible to apply for this consultancy.
How to apply
Download documents from Lind below:
https://drc.ngo/media/c5ilgbbr/jor_ro02-rfq-ro02-000321-consultancy-serv…
- DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED
- A technical proposal
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- Updated CV/s of the consultant/s that clearly spells out his/her qualifications and experience
- In-case of a firm or a company, please submit your company profile as well
- A cover letter, including commitment to availability for the duration of the assignment
- A financial proposal showing daily rate
- The RFQ form along with a budget breakdown should be submitted for this purpose.
- 1 or more examples of similar work completed in past
- 2 reference contacts
- Annex A Tender and Contract Award Certificate
- Annexes B Supplier Profile and Registration Form completed signed and stamped
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Consultancy ToR /Stakeholder Analysis - Annexes D General Conditions of Contract singed and stamped
- Annex E TOR DSP Stakeholder Analysis
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