CALL FOR CONSULTANTS: MULTI-SECTORAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN BORNO STATE, NIGERIA

Main Vacancies

Assignment Description:   Consultants for Multi-Sectoral Needs Assessment in Borno State, Nigeria

Location:                               Borno State, Nigeria

Duration:                              30 days (February/March, 2019)

  1. Background

Social Development Integrated Centre (Social Action) is a leading Nigerian NGO working to promote resource democracy, social justice and human rights through research and monitoring, education and advocacy in solidarity with communities, activists and scholars. Since 2016, Social Action is collaborating with organisations and researchers in Borno State to build knowledge about, and work towards addressing the immediate challenges and intersections of the ongoing ecological crisis and violent conflicts in the Lake Chad Basin/Sahel region of northeast Nigeria.

In particular, the Boko Haram conflict has resulted in the death of over 20,000 persons according to the UN. Local officials in Borno State estimate the number of deaths to be much higher in a conflict that has displaced about 3 million persons across northeast Nigeria.

Together with our partners, Social Action has identified the urgent need to improve local livelihoods, energy access and the strengthening of local civil society capacity for advancing accountability of government interventions and international humanitarian aid in Borno State and other parts of northeastern Nigeria.

Social Action plans to implement critical humanitarian intervention activities in Borno State. We are, therefore, seeking to engage the services of qualified consultants to carry out Needs Assesment to identify most vulnerable individuals and gaps in other humanitarian initiatives to target our interventions better.

 

  1. Description of Needs Assessment

The Needs Assessment will target internally displaced persons (IDPs) living within host communities as well as those in informal and formal IDP camps in selected local government areas in Borno State. Research already conducted by Social Action and partners established that about 80% of an estimated 1.3 million internally displaced persons in Borno State live in host communities and informal camps. While government and INGOs give more attention to displaced persons in both formal and informal camps respectively, there is limited support to those in host communities.

Overall, the Needs Assessment in will identify how to integrate and move from urgent humanitarian aid to Social Action’s  objectives of promoting ecological justice and sustained and longer-term development in Borno State, with a focus on:

  • Livelihood and Early Recovery: Specifically, the Needs Assessment will determine the best mode for supporting economic recovery and sustainable livelihoods of the displaced persons using either cash transfers or vouchers.
  • Access to Energy: The Needs Assessment will identify the best options for improving IDPs access to more ecologically sustainable energy for cooking.
  • Strengthening Local Civil Society: The Needs Assessment will identify how to improve local civil society and beneficiaries’ capacity to monitor the humanitarian and human rights situation and to identify changing needs in Borno and Adamawa States.
  1. Objectives of Needs Assessment
  • To identify specific needs and risks of diverse women, men, girls, and boys of concern, and establish priorities and strategies.
  • To provide a gender analysis showing how the situation, and the changes in the situation, affects men and women differently.
  • To identify security needs towards developing a security plan for Social Action’s humanitarian interventions in Borno State.
  • To estimate the severity of conditions in different camps and communities, and establish points of prioritisation.
  • To identify existing resources and capacities and resources available to vulnerable populations, including from governmental and non-governmental agencies.
  • To understand possible gaps in current humanitarian response programs in order to identify the needs and strategy of our intervention.
  • To identify items needed by individuals and families and to examine the functionality of local markets and appropriateness and modalities for cash transfer in assisting people with minimum distortion to the local economy and livelihoods.
  • To identify how to improve CSO capacity to monitor the humanitarian and human rights situation and to determine how to provide humanitarian assistance without creating a culture of dependency and other harm to vulnerable populations.

  1. Methodology

The Needs Assessment will commence with desk research for collection and analysis of secondary data analysis. This will be followed by primary data collection via field research in target LGAs (where possible based on the prevailing security situation). Primary data will be gathered at the community, institution, household, or individual level using qualitative and quantitative research methods, including informant interviews, surveys, direct observation and focus group discussions.

 

  1. Deliverables
  • An Inception Plan/Report that explains the review of secondary data, clearly identifies target areas for data selection, research methodology and timetables and schedules shall be submitted before commencement of field visit. Social Action must approve the Inception Plan/Report before the start of field research.
  • Draft Needs Assessment Report.
  • PowerPoint presentation of Draft Needs Assessment Report
  • Final Needs Assessment Report that contains:

Executive Summary

Methodology

Assessment findings including maps, graphs, tables photographs, etc

Recommendations for Social Action

Conclusions

Appendices

  • PowerPoint presentation of the Needs Assessment Report

  1. Reporting and Documentation

The Consultant(s) will report to the Director of Social Action

  1. Timelines

The assignment should be completed in 30 days including report writing

  1. Qualifications
    • Minimum of a university degree with a specialisation in social sciences, and/or related fields.
    • Experience in humanitarian relief work with a focus on livelihood, and/or sustainable energy, and/or civil society strengthening.
    • Knowledge and experience in research and participatory methodologies; experience in data analysis, presentation methods and data analysis.
    • Working knowledge of Borno State (or northeastern Nigeria), Nigeria

 

  1. Application Requirements

Interested applicants should submit

  • An application that includes the proposed research framework, methods, list of tasks and estimated timelines for each task, evaluation matrix, and research team (about four pages).
  • A financial offer (Excel) showing estimated costs (fees, transport costs, enumerators’ costs).
  • The CV of the research lead and team members demonstrating relevant qualifications and experience.
  • Copy of similar work conducted.

All applications should be submitted on or before Monday 4th February 2019 to:

admin@saction.org with a copy to botti@saction.org