Consultancy to Promote Meaningful Participation in Local Governance Systems for Marginalised Communities in Somalia – RFP-RO01-002981 At Danish Refugee Council

Who is the Danish Refugee Council?

Founded in 1956, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading international NGO and one of the few with a specific expertise in forced displacement. Active in 40 countries with 9,000 employees and supported by 7,500 volunteers, DRC protects, advocates, and builds sustainable futures for refugees and other displacement affected people and communities. DRC works during displacement at all stages: In the acute crisis, in displacement, when settling and integrating in a new place, or upon return. DRC provides protection and life-saving humanitarian assistance; supports displaced persons in becoming self-reliant and included into hosting societies; and works with civil society and responsible authorities to promote protection of rights and peaceful coexistence.

Objective and Purpose of the consultancy

Somalia is a country characterised by protracted complex crises: climatic factors such as drought interact with long-standing civil conflict, economic issues and migration and displacement factors to generate poor and deteriorating conditions, particularly for the most vulnerable. In addition to these contextual factors, societal factors generate further marginalization: IDPs enter urban areas as outsiders, often marginalised in part by complex clan politics; as such, newly arrived populations must navigate extensive dynamics. Different social structures interact to determine how IDPs are welcomed (or not) into a municipality. While IDPs are legally guaranteed certain rights, exclusion from social structures means that they cannot often pragmatically employ these rights.

This process, in which vulnerability is generated by a complex crisis and exacerbated by social conditions, takes place in a situation of long-standing need: 8.25 million people are in need in Somalia, with disproportionate need among the internally displaced. 4.1 million people face extreme or catastrophic food insecurity. Families who are at the edge – who have some resources but not adequate amounts to meet long term needs – and those who are forced to move may be denied access to markets, to the right to work, and to aid due to processes of marginalisation. As such, marginalisation may exacerbate vulnerability, particularly for IDPs, marginalised groups and minority clans.

To respond to this situation the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat (ReDSS) commissioned a research report titled Meaningful Participation in Local Governance Systems for Marginalized Communities in Somalia (hereafter Meaningful Participation Report). The report found that social systems in Somalia are organized around three types of social structures (traditional clan affiliation, government organization, and religious institutions) with a fourth structure emerging (the insurgent Al-Shabaab network). The clan system is foundational to Somalia, but also extremely complex and poorly understood. Internal displacement interacts in a complex fashion with clan dynamics. The report further found that marginalized groups such as IDPs and minority clan members can actively negotiate for inclusion through both formal and informal forums by consciously employing their social, financial, and human capital for inclusion. It concludes by proposing a model for meaningful participation in Somalia in which meaningful participation is achieved when: (1) there is a forum that brings together marginalised groups and representatives from social structures, (2) marginalised groups and different social structures have incentives to invest in measures to support meaningful participation, and (3) marginalised groups and other relevant actors have the resources to effectively bargain and negotiate for meaningful participation.

External actors, including aid agencies and international actors, are in a weak position to engage with social systems in Somalia. This is in part due to the complexity and dynamism of the power bargaining systems – it can be very challenging for international actors to develop and maintain an understanding of the system. In addition, once understanding is achieved, the international community needs to substantively engage with questions of power, incentives and resources in order to change inclusion outcomes. While it is challenging for international actors to navigate clan dynamics, power structures and elite bargaining processes, such engagement is also necessary to mitigate the negative impact of displacement. International actors can make substantive efforts to better understand, not only the forums where inclusion is negotiated but also the incentives and resources which govern outcomes.

Given that data and analysis are not useful if not applied to practice, ReDSS is seeking to engage a consultant to develop the programme tools – based on the Meaningful Participation Study they conducted – that aid actors in Somalia can apply to their programmes to enhance meaningful participation among displacement-affected communities especially those from marginalized clan groups.

Problem Statement

The capacity of aid actors to support the most vulnerable community members in managing these social dynamics is limited, chiefly by two factors:

1. The ideal of ‘meaningful inclusion’ has been vaguely defined; there is no framework for the measurement of inclusion, and there is little basis for longitudinal comparison or analysis,
2. Because Somalia is such a fluid and dynamic context, operational systems from other contexts need to be customized to the local needs to engage with marginalized communities.

Theory of change

If aid actors in Somalia support inclusive and confidential area-based decision-making forums that include clan elders from dominant clan groups, religious leaders, government officials, and marginalized clan group representatives and support the comparative advantage and collective bargaining capacity of marginalized clan groups by identifying and building on their unique and valuable skills that are in demand among dominant clan groups.

In order to develop and sustain a platform conducive to achieving consensus between marginalized clan groups and the relevant representatives of the clan, religious and formal government social systems from dominant clan groups, equip marginalized clan groups with the resources they would need to effectively bargain and negotiate their participation in local decision-making forums that are controlled by the dominant clan groups and incentivize dominant clan groups to engage marginalized groups in decision-making processes since they will be responding to their unaddressed need;

Assuming that local power brokers see the need to promote such platforms and are willing and able to support aid actors in supporting the same and dominant clan groups will not be threatened by the increase in influence of marginalized groups

Then aid actors in Somalia would have promoted meaningful participation for non-dominant clan groups in decision-making processes.

Because the meaningful participation report tells us that clan, religious, and formal social structures are the most influential in decision-making, that marginalized clan groups will not realize positive inclusion outcomes unless there is consensus between them the dominant clan, religious, and formal social structures, and that positive meaningful participation outcomes are a result of a negotiated process.

Consultancy Objectives

The overall objective of this consultancy is to enhance the capacity of international actors to understand and respond to vulnerability and marginalization arising from complex and dynamic clan interactions building on the findings from the Meaningful Participation in Local Governance Systems for Marginalized Communities in Somalia. Specifically, the project will:

1. Develop tools and user guides to measure inclusion in Somalia, and roll it out among ReDSS coalition members and partner agencies;
2. Develop a programme development toolbox that supports partners to apply the meaningful participation framework as outlined in the report; and
3. Build capacity and systems among humanitarian agencies through tailored and targeted mentorship and localization planning at the field office level

Expected Deliverables

This assignment will have the following deliverables:

• Deliverable 1 – Inception report. This report will detail the consultant’s approach to address each of the consultancy objectives and include methodology, work plan, ethical considerations and risk management plan.
• Deliverable 2 – Urban Inclusivity Index tool and user guide. The purpose of the note is to support programme development actors to measure and monitor marginalization and exclusion by applying the Somalia Urban Inclusivity Index. The scope of the work includes:
  1. Conducting learning sessions targeting displacement-affected communities, minority rights groups and other members of Somali society to determine the reliability and validity of the index
  2. Produce an inclusivity index tool including a user guide
  3. Conduct training for ReDSS Coalition Members and Partners on the use of the Inclusivity Index and support them in conducting pilots to test the tool
  4. Produce a report on the results of the pilots as well as a refined Inclusivity Index and user guide based on the empirical evidence from the pilot.
• Deliverable 3 – Programme development and analysis tools that operationalize the meaningful participation framework. This deliverable involves:
  1. Conducting learning sessions targeting DACs, minority rights groups in Somalia, and other members of Somali society to determine the validity and reliability of the meaningful participation model as set out in the Meaningful Participation Report
  2. Develop Meaningful Participation Programming tools that will support aid actors to operationalize the meaningful participation model outlined in the Meaningful Participation Report
  3. Conduct training for ReDSS Coalition Members and Partners on the use of the Meaningful Participation Programming tools and support them in conducting pilots to test the tool
  4. Produce a report on the results of the pilots as well as a refined Meaningful Participation Programming tool and user guide based on the empirical evidence from the pilot.
• Deliverable 4 – Conduct training sessions for ReDSS Coalition Members and Partners to support the uptake of the Inclusivity Index and Meaningful Participation Programming Tools. The consultant will develop a curriculum and conduct training workshops aimed at supporting aid actors to apply the Inclusivity Index and Meaningful Participation Programming Tools based on the outcome of the pilots described in deliverables 2 and 3 above. They will also contribute to the work ReDSS Kenya is conducting around social capital as part of the ReDSS cross-country learning initiative.

Deliverable 1 – Inception report

Indicative description tasks

Develop and present a methodology and analytical framework for the analysis.

Expected deliverables – Inception Report

Maximum expected timeframe – 10 days

Deliverable 2 – Somalia Urban Inclusivity Index Tool and User Guide

Indicative description tasks

• Validate the inclusivity index
• Develop a methodological note as a guide to aid actors on how to measure marginalization
• Test the methodological approach in the note to refine the approach

Expected deliverables

• Somalia Urban Inclusivity Index methodological note
• Report on the testing of the proposed methodology

Maximum expected timeframe – 120 days (to be done concurrently with programme development and analysis toolbox and training session deliverables)

Deliverable 3 – Meaningful Participation Programming Tool and User Guide

Indicative description tasks

• Validate the meaningful participation framework
• Develop guidance note and tool box on the application of the framework in programme development
• Test the meaningful participation framework

Expected deliverables

• Meaningful participation framework use guide
• Report on the testing of the proposed methodology

Maximum expected timeframe – 120 days (to be done concurrently with programme development and analysis toolbox and training session deliverables)

Deliverable 4 – Training sessions

Indicative description tasks

• Produce training curriculum
• Conduct at least 1 training session to support the implementation of the inclusivity index and meaningful participation framework
• Report on the outcome of the training

Expected deliverables

• Training curriculum PowerPoint Presentation for the training and other training materials
• Training outcome report that includes pre-& post-training evaluation

Maximum expected timeframe – 30 days

Management and timeframe

The consultant will report to the ReDSS Somalia Country Manager and will be guided by a technical committee composed of ReDSS members and key stakeholders. The consultancy will be conducted within a period of 1 year between August 2024 and July 2025.

Duration, timeline, and payment

The total expected duration to complete the assignment will be no more than one year from the time of contracting.The consultancy firm shall be paid the agreed consultancy fee upon completion of the deliverables listed above. The consultancy fee will be paid in instalments that will be detailed in the contract.

Proposed Composition of Team

The applicant is expected to demonstrate team qualification to carry out the study by providing the CVs of the team that will carry out the study.

• Senior Researchers
• Research quality control
• Others as needed for the work.

Required skills and experience

• Master’s degree in social anthropology, social development, political science, sociology, or another similar field;
• 3-5 years of demonstrable experience in: conducting socio-political or political economy analyses in Somalia or other similar context in the Horn of Africa; developing research studies into programme interventions; and conducting capacity building sessions for implementing actors aimed at promoting uptake of evidence e.g. training and coaching sessions;
• Strong knowledge of Somalia and the political and socio-economic dynamics affecting it; more specifically on the dynamics that create marginalization and exclusion in Somalia. Familiarity with the Meaningful Participation Model and Somalia Urban Inclusivity Index is an added advantage;
• Strong analytical and writing skills with proven experience in producing high-quality research with ability to present complex information in a simple and accessible manner; and
• Fluency in written and spoken English.

Technical supervision

The selected consultant will work under the supervision of the ReDSS Somalia country unit.

Location and support

The geographical coverage of study will be in Somalia. The Consultant will provide her/his own computer and mobile telephone and may be required to get access authorisation as needed to displacement affected persons.

Travel

Any travel required for this study will be discussed with the consultants and facilitated by DRC with prior planning or by the consultant for reimbursement after approval by DRC.

Submission process

Interested applicants who meet the required profile are invited to submit an expression of interest including:

1) Technical proposal: (not exceeding 6 pages, excluding annexes) that summarizes understanding of the TOR, methodology, and proposed budget which includes

• Understanding of the assignment;
• Proposed approach/methodology;
• Proposed workplan;
• Proposed team structure and team profiles; and
• The following annexes are required:

1. A minimum of three (3) relevant references of three organizations that have recently contracted the applicant to carry out similar assignment within the last five years.
2. CV of participating consultant(s) with details of qualifications and experience
3. A minimum of two (2) relevant recommendation letters from organizations that have contracted the applicant to carry out similar assignment
4. At least 1 copy of previous contract for Similar consultancy, within the last 2-5 years
5. At least 2 reports for Similar consultancy, within the last 2-5 years
6. Valid legal documents from the country in which the consultant is registered (business license, TIN certificate, and or VAT certificate)

2) Financial proposal: with budget providing cost estimates (including both administrative professional fees)

Data protection and confidentiality

While executing this assignment, the consultant and all the parties involved shall ensure effective protection of confidential and sensitive data and information in conformity with the humanitarian and protection principles and to applicable legal data protection standards[1]. All data collection and processing activities shall be executed in accordance with the following principles:

• Safeguarding individuals’ personal data is a crucial part of humanitarian mission to protect the lives, integrity and dignity of beneficiaries and participants and is fundamental in the provision of protection response and humanitarian aid.
• People-centred and inclusive: Evaluation activities will respect the interests and well-being of the population and stakeholders, in all relevant phases of the evaluation and which activities must be sensitive to age, gender, and other issues of diversity.
• Do No Harm: Evaluation activities must include a risk assessment and take steps, if necessary, to mitigate identified risks. The risk assessment must look at negative consequences that may result from data collection and subsequent actions.
• Defined purpose and proportionality: The purpose must be clearly defined and explained to the participants in the data collection process.
• Informed consent and confidentiality: Personal information may be collected only after informed consent has been provided by the individual in question and that individual must be aware of the purpose of the collection. Further, confidentiality must be clearly explained to the individual before the information may be collected. Consent must be genuine, based on the data subject’s voluntary and informed decision.
• Data protection and security: The evaluation process must adhere to international standards of data protection and data security.

Additional information

For additional information, regarding these terms of reference, please send your questions to Regional Supply Chain Manager: procurement.RO01@drc.ngo

Please find complete bidding documents in the following link; RFP-RO01-002981 – Consultancy to Promote Meaningful Participation in Local Governance