Consultancy for undertaking a Real-Time Review (RTR) on diaspora humanitarian engagement in Afghanistan At Danish Refugee Council

Background and context

Humanitarian needs globally continue to increase substantially and there is a need to explore the variety of actors and approaches involved in humanitarian action and ensure better learning and coordination mechanisms between these actors. Within the last decades there has been a growing interest and trend among Western governments and NGOs to engage with diasporas – people living outside their country of origin but with continued emotional and material ties to it – in developing and rehabilitating their countries of origin. Support efforts towards that country often happen transnationally, with diasporas settled across the globe collaborating to achieve joint outcomes. Diasporas often may establish a diaspora organization (DO) that can be a volunteer-led movement, a network, a campaign, or a more formal NGO structure. Their action can be systematic and long-term, or ad-hoc and short-term.

The diasporas have an increasingly important role in the political, economic, and social lives of the people in their countries of origin through the transfer of money, values, skills, and ideas. In addition, diasporas are becoming increasingly influential actors in humanitarian crises, often being the first to provide assistance in ways that differ from that of conventional humanitarian systems. However, diaspora aid is provided in parallel to existing systems and mechanisms that seek to inform and coordinate common responses to a humanitarian crisis.

Diaspora Emergency Action and Coordination (DEMAC) initiative, established in 2015 and currently hosted by the Danish Refugee Council, aims to facilitate a global network of diaspora organizations through three objectives:

1) Increasing awareness for diaspora’s humanitarian interventions

2) Enhancing knowledge between diasporas and humanitarian institutions

3) Improving coordination communication and coherence of humanitarian response

The mission of DEMAC is to:

· Promote visibility for diaspora organizations in the humanitarian system

· Build bridges between diaspora organizations and humanitarian actors around the world

· Work together to provide better assistance to people in need

As part of its activities, DEMAC conducts real-time reviews to develop and enhance knowledge on diaspora humanitarianism and document real-time diaspora response to the recent or ongoing crises in the country of origin. Within the past 2 years, DEMAC has conducted four real-time reviews focusing on the diaspora of the following countries: Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Afghanistan, Myanmar and is currently undertaking a review of Ukraine.

In addition to the reviews, DEMAC activities include extended case studies, workshops, developing tools, good practices collection, and facilitation of networking events, among others. Information on the platform, activities and published reports are available at: www.demac.org.

This real-time review will be undertaken with the support and funding from DANIDA.

Purpose

DEMAC has conducted a real-time review in Afghanistan during August-October 2021 period in order to capture and document the diaspora response to the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and the following 6-week period. The study focused on identifying actions of Afghan DOs – such as advocacy, diaspora coalition building, direct humanitarian response, and coordination with other actors as well as changes in diaspora dynamics and immediate outcomes of their actions. The report has been published and is available on DEMAC website.

Now DEMAC intends to produce a follow-up real-time review approximately eight months after the Taliban takeover.

The aim of the consultancy is to capture the impact, outreach, and organization of diaspora emergency responses within Afghanistan. The research will contribute to continued efforts to enhance the knowledge and awareness within the international humanitarian system about the significance and role played by the diaspora within the specific context of Afghanistan, and assess if and how the recently arrived diaspora is strengthening the humanitarian response. Further, this real-time review shall assess especially the response from Afghan diaspora women organizations and networks. It is expected that a gender lens will be applied in the research, especially when assessing perceived and actual impacts of the humanitarian response from both the diaspora organisations’ and the recipient community’s perspectives.

PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION

The research shall be completed in consultation with the DEMAC team. It is anticipated that the consultant team will be in regular contact, on a weekly basis, with DEMAC contact point. It is also anticipated that the consultant team will confirm the list of KIIs, including geographic locations, with the contact point. The contact point will take responsibility for ensuring timely responses to drafts and inputs to the consultant team. The research activities are expected to be conducted ideally within 4 April – 31 May 2022.

DEMAC real-time reviews are conducted in two steps – the first part is conducted remotely as desk research – to collect existing information about diaspora humanitarian engagement. The review is anticipated to include, at a minimum a review of reports issued by relevant UN agencies and NGOs as well as relevant academic papers. The desk research will include a mapping of active diaspora groups engaged in humanitarian response in Afghanistan. Desk research also focuses on monitoring the crowdfunding platforms, social media activity and includes direct contact with the selected diaspora organizations & networks to create a snapshot of the initial diaspora engagement. The information needed from the consultants includes

• Number and locations of DOS mapped

• Areas of intervention of DOs mapped (sectors)

• Approximative amount of total funding collected by the DOs mapped

• Approximative number of DOs globally

• Size of the diaspora globally

• Strengths and potentials of DOs’ Response

• 4-6 examples of DOs responses (in Afgh)

• Brief summary of the context and situation

It is necessary to have a consultant in the team that speaks and reads Dari for this desk research. Pashto would be an advantage.

The Consultant team will lead the development of the methodology for qualitative and/or quantitative data collection and design of tools to conduct key informant interviews, which form the second part of the real-time review research, in English and Dari/Pashto with diaspora groups for the real-time review. Alongside the interviews, social media posts from the identified DOs will be monitored over the research period.

DEMAC has developed guidance on Real-Time Review methodology that could be used as an additional resource while planning and designing the methodology. The KIIs shall, as a minimum, include the following themes: role(s), areas of intervention and activities, implementation modalities, coordination, information sharing, impact, and outreach, while keeping the focus areas mentioned under Purpose in mind. The Real-Time Review methodology, as part of the inception report, will be approved by DEMAC before its implementation.

The Consultant team will be responsible for the planning and implementation of the local data collection and analysis. This will include identifying and training of field researchers and data collectors when necessary/relevant. It is expected that local consultants/researchers/data collectors will have the needed language, technical skills, and access to the geographical areas.

The Consultant team shall ensure relevant presence in the country or in the most relevant neighboring country that host a significant number of diaspora community affected by the crisis during the real-time review. It is DEMACs experience from similar previous research, that the information solicited is often perceived to be sensitive as it relates to transfer of private funds, clan dynamics, ethnic and religious networks etc. It is thus essential that the Consultant team have local partners or representation that have or can develop a strong level of trust with key informants while maintaining a necessary degree of objectivity. The Consultant team is responsible for identifying, supervising, and coordinating in-country field consultants and informants and ensuring the quality of the data collected.

The real-time reviews focus on diaspora activities within six-to-seven-week period. The above-outlined approach to the review has varied in previous real-time reviews, depending on the crisis, context, and timing. DEMAC expects the consultants to propose a detailed methodology and approach that will be relevant & applicable to the specific context of Afghanistan at this stage.

DELIVERABLES

Key deliverables for the Real-Time Review include:

1. Inception report, including timeline and work plan of the research.

2. First Initial DO mapping and Snapshot based on the two first weeks of desk review.

3. Real-time review report of max 20 pages excluding visualizations and annexes. The real-time review will be drafted based on the finding of data analysis and will contain:

• Executive summary of 1-2 pages on main findings.
• An overview of findings from the data collected,
• Highlights from the datasets,
• Three to four in-depth analyses on relevant topics agreed with the DEMAC team,
• A concluding section with an overview of gaps, challenges, and opportunities for diaspora engagement, including recommendations on future programmatic approaches for diaspora and the institutional humanitarian system as to how to engage with each other during humanitarian response.
• Presentation and briefing for DEMAC team and any other relevant stakeholders and external audiences.

5. Mapping of DOs as an annex of the RTR.

6. Visual ‘Snapshot page’ of social media monitoring.

Timeframe: The contract period for this assignment is 4 April to 31 June 2022. **

Payment Plan: 100% of the price for conducting one real-time review will be paid upon the completion of all deliverables.

PROCEDURES FOR SUBMISSION OF QUOTATION

Interested teams or consultants are expected to submit the following items in response to these terms of reference:

Administrative documentation:

1. Completed and signed RFQ template
2. Signed DRC Supplier code of conduct
3. Completed and signed Supplier Registration form

Technical Bid:

1. A technical proposal (no more than 10 pages) that covers (i) the consultant’s suitability for the assignment, (ii) suggested process, approach, and methodology.
2. CV(s) of consultants involved in the implementation of the contract.
3. Work sample(s) of similar assignments.

Financial Bid:

1. A detailed budget for the assignment, including the consultant fees, administrative expenses, and any other miscellaneous costs. Please indicate if the consultant expects to incur any travel-related expenses related to this assignment. Please note that travel costs shall not be included in the financial offer and will be reimbursed based on actual costs if necessary, according to DRC travel rules and guidelines and subject to approval by the DEMAC team.

PRIMARY CONTACT POINT IN DRC

The consultant will collaborate closely with the DEMAC Project Coordinator, Alexandra Singpiel.

MINIMUM TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT OF THE TEAM OF CONSULTANTS:

· Technical knowledge on Diaspora and Humanitarian response with a good understanding of the humanitarian aid system and the gaps that can be filled with diaspora engagement

· Research background in diaspora/community engagement/humanitarian response/emergency

· Relevant academic background (Masters level)

· Significant experience in qualitative and quantitative research methods

· Strong communication skills (oral and written) in English and Farsi (other relevant languages would be a strong advantage), strong advantage to conduct social media monitoring and interviews in Dari and Pashto

· Excellent analytical, interpersonal, communication and reporting skills.

· Previous experience in conducting similar evaluations/research for international donors would be an advantage.

· Strong methodological and analytical skill in terms of being able to guide a team of researchers and subsequently analyse and synthesise results at meta-level

· Proven experience of leading a research project with a team of consultants working across several geographies

PROPOSAL EVALUATION

For the award of this project, the evaluation criteria below will govern the selection of offers received. The evaluation is made on a technical and financial basis.

The proposed offers by bidders will be evaluated using, inter alia, the following criteria, and points will be allocated in the scale from 1 to 10 for each of the criteria stipulated below, whereas the weighting is as follows:

1. Company qualifications (30%)

(Documented with the filled-out Supplier Registration Form and a list of last 3 similar research projects executed, including two samples)

• General liability/capacity of the company (5%)
• Previous relevant research projects executed (with focus on the set-up as required, with a consultant coordinating and supervising a team of researchers across several geographies) (10%)
• Relevant sector experience and experience working with NGOs (5%)

2. Proposed services (40%)

(Documented with the technical proposal)

• Content of the proposal suitable for the requirements (20%)
• Proposed methodology for the qualitative and/or quantitative research (20%)

3. Personnel qualifications (30%)

(Documented with CVs of relevant staff involved in the project)

• Experience of core people who will work on the project with similar projects and NGO experience (20%)

4. Interview to assess the company qualifications, proposed services, and personal qualifications

Only top 3 candidates will be invited to the interview.

• Previous relevant research projects executed
• Proposed methodology for the qualitative and/or quantitative research
• Experience of core people who will work on the project

Total – 100%

All bidders must obtain an average score of at least five for the total technical scoring, in order to proceed to the financial evaluation. The financial offer will then be weighed against the technical offer.

WITHDRAWAL AND TERMINATION

This agreement shall be effective as stipulated in the contract upon signing.

DRC may terminate this agreement with immediate effect on the occurrence of any irregularities, anomalies relating to the services provided, and non-compliance with any terms and conditions as agreed upon in the contract. DRC may terminate this agreement with immediate effect if the provided design material is of very poor and unacceptable quality.

In the event of a major natural disaster, war, or major civil or political unrest the contract may be renegotiated and jointly revised between the two parties recognizing any consequent change in the environment for implementation.

CONFIDENTIALITY

All information presented, obtained, and produced is to be treated as DRC’s property and is considered as confidential for all other purposes than what is outlined in the ToR. A selected consultant is upon signing of the contract required to sign a confidentiality agreement. The material prepared by the consultant cannot be sold, used, or reproduced in any manner (partially or in full) by the consultant without prior permission from DRC.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For additional information regarding these terms of reference or submission instructions, please send your questions to: Nuri Sharashidze at nuri.sharashidze@drc.ngo.