Case study on the project: “Support for strengthening the social protection system in Burkina Faso (ARSPS-BF)” At British Red Cross

1. Context and Justification

General context

Burkina Faso, a developing Sahelian country, is facing a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by climatic factors, massive internal displacement and growing insecurity. As of March 31, 2023, the National Council for Emergency Relief and Rehabilitation (CONASUR) recorded 2,062,534 internally displaced persons (IDPs), including 23.91% women, 17.59% men and 58.50% children under 14 years old. These massive displacements put considerable pressure on local resources, particularly in areas deemed safe such as the commune of Ouahigouya.

Since its independence, Burkina Faso has gradually put in place various social protection mechanisms and programs to improve the living conditions of vulnerable populations. The National Social Protection Policy (PNPS) 2013-2022 has enabled significant progress, such as the strengthening of social security for workers, the revitalization of CONASUR, and free health care for children and pregnant women. However, the needs remain immense due to the security context and population displacement.

Social Safety Nets Project

The Social Safety Net Project (PFS), supported by the World Bank, was launched in 2015 with the objective of increasing access to social safety nets for poor and vulnerable households and laying the foundations for an adaptive social safety net system in Burkina Faso. The PFS comprises three main components:

• establishing the foundations of an adaptive national system of social safety nets,
• quarterly unconditional monetary transfers to support consumption of 35,000 XOF for 2 years, covering between 11% and 15% of the annual needs of households in chronic poverty,
• the productive inclusion component with 3 differentiated components: The first focuses on financial inclusion, basic micro-entrepreneurship skills, and access to markets; The second aims to boost beneficiaries’ aspirations, their personal and interpersonal skills, as well as address gender and social norms to gain community support and finally, the third offers additional access to capital to strengthen/initiate an IGA.

The project also integrates IDPs on the same criteria as other beneficiaries. While waiting for the development of the Single Social Registry (RSU), the PFS uses the CONASUR lists and those resulting from community targeting for the selection of beneficiaries. The government plans to institutionalize (appropriate) and expand this project (with more participating technical and financial partners) to respond more effectively to the needs of vulnerable populations. Not all targeted vulnerable households benefit from the full support package. Out of a total of 242,266 households supported after 10 years, or 1,429,425 individuals, only 15,624 households were able to benefit from the full support.

Justification

The Burkinabe Red Cross (CRBF), as a local actor and auxiliary to the public authorities, is particularly well positioned to support the implementation of the national social protection strategy. With a presence in the 45 provinces of the country, the CRBF focuses on the integration of the most vulnerable populations, the strengthening of resilience and the response to crises.

The pilot project “Support for strengthening the social protection system in Burkina Faso (ARSPS-BF)”, funded by the British Red Cross (BRC) and implemented by the CRBF in collaboration with the Belgian Red Cross (CRB), aims to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable populations and contribute to social cohesion through quality inclusive and adaptive social protection.

The specific objectives of this project include:

1. Contribute to the development and coordination of social protection policies and programs: The CRBF actively participates in consultations for the development of the new National Social Protection Strategy (SNPS), the Social Safety Net Program and the Single Social Registry (RSU).
2. Strengthening the resilience of 450 vulnerable households: Through productive measures and distributions of food kits, the project aims to improve the living conditions of vulnerable households, particularly in the commune of Ouahigouya, by complementing the PFS.

The project, which began in October 2023, will end on March 31, 2025. During this period, several changes have occurred: an increase in disasters, continued armed attacks, suspension of humanitarian interventions based on cash transfers (Order No. 2023-883/MATDS/RNRD/GVT-OHG/SG of October 30, 2023), institutional instability, reduced humanitarian access, etc. All of this has led the CRBF to constantly review its intervention methods. The most significant change was the shift from cash transfers to in-kind distributions, particularly through income-generating activity kits for the productive measures component and food kits instead of quarterly cash transfers.

Given this context, BRC and CRBF are looking for a consultant or group of consultants to conduct a case study on the adaptability of CRBF in this changing context, as well as to carry out a comparative analysis of the in-kind distribution modality used in this intervention compared to the cash transfer modality used by the PFS.

2. Objectives of the study

The proposed study will have two specific objectives:

Objective 1: Highlight the agility and capacity of the CRBF to adapt to the changing context within the framework of this pilot project

Analyze how the CRBF was able to adjust its intervention throughout this project in response to changes in the local context as well as new realities and emerging needs (change in assistance modality, revision of the targeting strategy, non-continuity of the PFS during the implementation period, etc.), by identifying the factors promoting this adaptability as well as the obstacles encountered, whether intrinsic to the organization or external to it. Recommendations will be made on the aspects that could be improved.

Objective 2: Carry out a comparative analysis between the distribution method used in this pilot project (distribution in kind) and the monetary transfer method used by the PFS.

This comparative analysis should include:

• A Value for Money analysis to compare the economy, effectiveness, efficiency and equity of the two modalities (in-kind distributions versus cash transfers);
• A comparative analysis of the use of the support received by the beneficiaries as well as their level of satisfaction;
• A comparative analysis of the concrete risks of each method in this specific context (misappropriation, fraud/corruption, security risks for staff and beneficiaries, dependence on aid, conflicts/violence);
• A comparative assessment of the indirect effects (positive and negative) at the economic and social level in the intervention area to which the two different distribution methods contributed.
• An assessment of the level of involvement of the authorities in the implementation of the project as well as their level of satisfaction.

3. Challenges and Limitations of the Study

• Currently, any field survey, particularly in the Northern region, requires specific authorization. With cash transfer distributions interrupted, we do not yet know whether we will be able to question participants about transfers received before this interruption.
• The study will be carried out in collaboration with the PFS managers. The modalities of this collaboration will be adapted and discussed according to the specific conditions at the time of carrying out the study, given the rapidly changing context. Taking into account that the PFS has finalized its implementation, the PFS management unit has been disintegrated, so there is a risk of not being able to meet key people.
• Furthermore, the last monetary distributions under this project date from 2023 (beginning of October 2023, just before the suspension measure), it will be necessary to question the possibility and reliability of the data that will be collected one year later. It is also important to map the advocacy actions around the use of monetary transfers carried out so far by other actors in Burkina Faso, in order to determine what we could do differently to have more success compared to what has already been done so far.
• For the comparative analysis, we do not have data on the impact of the current project, given that the support to beneficiaries was carried out recently. Therefore, we will not be able to measure this aspect during this study.

4. Target audience

The target audience for this study will be:

• For the first objective concerning the adaptive capacity of the CRBF in the framework of this project, it is proposed to share the learnings with other National Societies and local actors so that they can replicate them in their own context. It is also important to share these learnings with other humanitarian actors and donors to demonstrate the adaptive capacity of local actors, so that they are prioritized as partners of choice.
• For the second objective, the target audience is decision-makers and public authorities in Burkina Faso, in order to show the benefits of using cash transfers compared to other intervention methods.

5. Methodology

It is proposed to conduct this study on the basis of a combined methodology:

• Make a comparison of the two modalities used respectively by each project, based on cost/effectiveness
• Make a quantitative comparison based on the similar results/objectives of the two projects
• Also include a qualitative comparison

Here is an overview of the methodology proposed for this case study by objective:

Objective 1: Highlight the agility and capacity of the CRBF to adapt to the changing context

Document review: Analyze the basic project documents (concise note, logical framework, budget and timetable), project reports, minutes of meetings and reports of surveys/evaluations conducted.

Semi-structured interviews / focus groups : Conduct interviews with project managers (CRBF, CRB, BRC) and certain beneficiaries to collect testimonies on the adjustments made and their relevance.

Qualitative Data Analysis: Use qualitative analysis software to identify recurring themes and lessons learned about adapting to changing context.

Objective 2: Carry out a comparative analysis between the distribution method used in this pilot project (distribution in kind) and the monetary transfer method used by the PFS

Document review : Analyze the basic project documents (concise note, logical framework, budget and timetable), project reports, meeting minutes and reports of surveys/evaluations conducted.

Data collection from CRBF and PFS teams: Gather data on administrative costs, project management costs and implementation costs for in-kind distributions, including direct and indirect costs, as well as implementation timeframes.

Household surveys : Selection of a certain number of households supported by the PFS until 2023 and households supported by the CRBF project in 2024 to conduct surveys, based on certain criteria in order to ensure data comparability.

Semi-structured interviews / focus groups : Conduct semi-structured interviews with staff from both projects, community leaders (including administrative and/or customary authorities) and organize focus groups with beneficiaries and local stakeholders to deepen understanding of risks and indirect effects.

Comparative analysis: Calculate the cost-transfer ratio for each modality (cost per dollar transferred to beneficiaries). Compare costs and implementation times between in-kind distributions and cash transfers. Analyze survey and focus group data to identify trends, risks, and indirect impacts.

6. Actors to be involved

Partners

Burkinabe Red Cross:

– Community Development and Social Protection Coordinator

– Program Director

– Project and program engineering manager

– Monetary Transfers Focal Point

– Project manager

– SAME Supervisor

– Logistics

– Community mobilization and accountability manager

– Regional coordinator for the North-Central region

Belgian Red Cross: Country representative in Burkina Faso

British Red Cross: Food Security and Livelihoods Programme Manager

Other actors:

– World Bank

– PFS

Technical services: Agriculture- Livestock- Humanitarian Action- Youth and employment

Community actors: Beneficiaries – Traders – Administrative and customary authorities

Other actors: Coordination Cash Working group national – Cash working group intranational du Nord – CALP – at regional level

7. Deliverables

• Framework report, detailing the scope of the study, the methodology and the implementation schedule
• Collection tools
• 2 separate reports per Objective/case study, of maximum 10 pages each, and adapted to the target audience of each
• Present the study during an online workshop with the partners involved
• Sharing of all data that will be collected

8. Calendar

The study is scheduled to be carried out remotely starting from February 17, 2025, for a total of 27 working days until April 4, 2025.

From March 4, 2025, the consultant(s) will have to travel to the field (Burkina Faso, particularly in the capital Ouagadougou and in the project implementation area, Ouahigouya and surrounding villages) for a total of seven working days.

The steps to be followed (analysis, reporting, presentation of the study, development of training materials) can also be carried out remotely.

The lead consultant will need to be dedicated full-time throughout the study.

Documentary review: February 17-18, 2025 (2 days) – Remote – With SAME BRC Program Manager and Burkinabe Red Cross

Review of the scope of the study and inception report : February 19 – 22, 2025 (3 days) – Remote – With BRC Sahel team / SAME and Cash Transfers technical advisors, Burkinabe Red Cross and Belgian Red Cross

Development of interview guides and organization of interviews: February 24-25, 2025 (2 days) – Remotely – With BRC Sahel Team, SAME Technical Advisors, Burkinabe Red Cross and Belgian Red Cross

Finalization of tools: March 3, 2025 (0.5 day) – Remotely – With BRC Sahel Team, SAME Technical Advisors, Burkinabe Red Cross and Belgian Red Cross

Data collection and field interviews: March 4-12, 2025 (7 days) – Ouagadougou and Ouahigouya – With Burkinabe Red Cross and Belgian Red Cross

Data Analysis: March 13-19, 2025 (5 days) – Remote

Initial reporting: March 20 to 27, 2025 (6 days) – Remotely – With BRC Sahel Team, SAME Technical Advisors, Burkinabe Red Cross and Belgian Red Cross

Presentation of the study: Date to be defined, around March 28-31, 2025 (0.5 day) – Remotely – With BRC Sahel Team, SAME Technical Advisors, Burkinabe Red Cross and Belgian Red Cross

Final report: No later than April 4, 2025 (1 day) – Remote – BRC Sahel Team, SAME Technical Advisors, Burkinabe Red Cross and Belgian Red Cross

9. Profile of the consultant(s)

• Prior experience working with other humanitarian actors of at least 5 years;
• Experience in similar studies on the adaptability of organizations, demonstrating expertise in assessing organizational flexibility and managing change;
• Experience working on cash transfers and in particular in similar studies of comparative analysis of different intervention modalities (cash transfers versus in-kind distributions);
• Expertise in the use of quantitative and qualitative methodologies (as well as mastery of digital data collection and analysis tools) in order to provide a comprehensive analysis of the data collected;
• Experience in conducting training and capacity building of local stakeholders, in order to be able to formulate appropriate recommendations;
• Knowledge of international standards and guidelines on humanitarian aid and data protection, to ensure compliance with applicable regulations when collecting and processing information;
• Work experience in the Sahel region and particularly in Burkina Faso
• Very good command of French, both spoken and written;
• Fluent in the local languages ​​of the Northern region (Burkina Faso).

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