Conducting capacity building assessment of DRC main livelihoods project implementing local partner, Youth Sports Department (YSD). At Danish Refugee Council

1. 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.

Under the auspices of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), and in collaboration and coordination with its local partner**, the Youth and Sports Department (YSD)**, DRC has been working since 2016 towards the improvement of livelihoods and self-reliance and resilience of protracted Sahrawi refugees with particular focus on youth in Tindouf refugee camps in the Southwest of Algeria.

The Youth and Sport Department (YSD) is a local Saharawi public institution working in the camps to support and represent the Saharawi youth. Since 2016, it has been supporting the implementation of DRC’s Livelihoods Programme in the Saharawi refugee camps.

2. Purpose of the Consultancy

As DRC livelihoods partnership with the YSD enters its seventh year, the Danish Refugee Council based in the Saharawi refugee camps in Tindouf, Algeria seeks proposals from a national consultant to jointly develop of a mid-term (3-5-years) YSD capacity building strategy that identifies key capacity building needs, potentials and priorities for the Saharawi Youth and Sports Department which can then inform DRC’s 2024 project design and planning.

3. Background

The Sahrawi refugee situation is one of the most protracted refugee situations in the world. Since 1975, the government of Algeria has been hosting Saharawi refugees in five main camps (Ausserd, Boujdour, Dajla, Layoune and Smara). Pending a political solution, the refugee population remains extremely vulnerable and dependent on international assistance for basic needs and survival, with little access to external resources, and limited opportunities for self-reliance.

The lack of prospects and durable solution has led to frustration and loss of hope in the refugee community, especially amongst the youth who were born in displacement and with no clear vision for their future.

It is in this prevailing context that promoting livelihoods and self-reliance and enhancing the local capacity building of the Saharawi refugee community has been essential to ensure the dignity of Saharawi refugees, to improve their living conditions, and to increase their institutional and individual autonomy and resilience.

In this regard and since April 2016, DRC has been partnering with the Saharawi Youth and Sports Department (YSD) to facilitate access to self-employment and business development in the Sahrawi refugee camps through the enhancement of livelihood capabilities (technical and theoretical trainings) and provision of productive and financial assets (start-up and scale-up business grants) with a particular focus on Saharawi refugee youth. Thus, DRC has been reinforcing the sustainability aspect of its livelihoods intervention by providing financial, institutional, and technical support to the Youth and Sport Department livelihoods 41 staff and team (29 local, 10 regional and 2 central staff).

Jointly with DRC livelihoods team, the YSD team has been actively involved in the implementation of livelihoods projects throughout the project cycle from outreach and registration campaign, providing training as trainers to youth business owners, taking part in the selection of youth led businesses, distributing financial and in-kind grants to monitoring and coaching youth beneficiaries in the five Saharawi refugee camps.

As DRC livelihoods partnership with the YSD enters its seventh year, the overall objective of this assessment is to jointly with the YSD formalize the capacity building support to Youth Sports Department through the development of a mid-term (3-5-years) YSD capacity building strategy. An assessment that aims to identify key capacity building needs, potentials and priorities for the Department which can then inform DRC’s 2024 project design and planning.

4. Objective of the Consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to

1. Jointly with the YSD, develop a comprehensive mid-term (3-5-years) YSD capacity building strategy in collaboration with Danish Refugee Council (DRC).
2. Identify short, mid, and long-term capacity needs and priorities of the Youth and Sports Department.
3. Assess the YSD’s structure, organizational, and institutional capacity gaps and determine the current overlaps to effectively enhance the YSD teams’ involvement in the livelihood program throughout the project cycle and at various levels of operation (local, regional, and central).
4. Highlight the specific capacity building needs, priorities and type of support needed for YSD to inform the planning of 2023 livelihoods proposal.
5. Review and make suggestions to improve the current DRC and YSD’s bilateral partnership including existing communication processes and tools.

The consultant will be required to

1. Prepare a comprehensive three months’ work plan/schedule jointly with YSD and DRC to conduct the assessment on a timely and agreed time framework. The work plan should indicate the roles and responsibilities of each party and key deadlines and milestones.
2. Jointly with the YSD, design all the tools necessary to conduct the capacity building assessment including potential surveys and guiding interviews questions.
3. Submit to DRC an inception report that includes: the desk review findings, final selected assessment interview questions, data collection methods, and capacity building analysis plans.
4. Conduct various face-to-face interviews with DRC, YSD and other key informants such as the Saharawi Red Crescent and other local relevant authorities.
5. Visit YSD local, regional, and central offices and organize at least one focus groups discussion meeting to hear their perspectives on their capacity needs, gaps, and priorities.
6. Submit to DRC a midterm progress report indicating the achieved progress and the faced challenges after two months.
7. Submit to DRC one final detailed capacity building assessment report with an executive summary written in English and one translated version in Arabic to YSD. The report must include the following: collected data, established findings, suggested support needs, and priorities for future livelihoods response plans. The report is a maximum of 35 pages.

5. Scope of work and Methodology

The Consultant will be required to prepare a detailed methodology and work plan indicating how

the objectives of the project will be achieved, and the support required from DRC.

However, DRC welcomes the use of quantitative and qualitative approaches to conduct the expected capacity building assessment, to develop the comprehensive intended mid-term (3-5-years) YSD capacity building strategy and to produce the final anticipated report. The methods may include reviewing previous available (if any) studies/researches about similar capacity building assessments of local and public institutions in the Saharawi context, conducting direct interviews with different informants such as the YSD staff, and other local authorities stakeholders (Saharawi Red Crescent and Ministry of Cooperation) and international NGOs operating in the camps about comparable assessments that they may have had conducted in the past, in addition to organizing focus group discussion meetings (FGD) with the Youth and Sports Department local, regional, and central staff.

However, and in coordination with DRC, the consultant and the YSD are expected to agree on and select the best data methodologies and filter the most convenient tools and ways to conduct the expected capacity building assessment and achieve its deliverables and objectives as indicated in this TOR.

6. Deliverables

The Consultant will submit the following deliverables as mentioned below:

• Phase1: Preparation of workplan,sourcing and data gathering documentation.
• Phase 2: Data analysis and inception and intermediate reports.
• Phase 3: Final report.

The Consultant will provide all used documentations via email.

7. Duration, Timeline, and Payment

The total expected duration to complete the assignment will be no more than two months. The assessment is expected to take place from September to October 2023 in the Saharawi refugee camps located in Tindouf in Algeria.

In coordination with DRC, the consultant and the YSD will be jointly responsible for developing a detailed workplan as specified previously. The consultant shall be prepared to complete the assignment no later than 15th of November 2023.

It should be noted that final payment should match the required deliverables as indicated above.

8. Proposed Composition of Team

• Specialised Consultant
• Consultant Assistant if required.

9.Eligibility, qualification, and experience required.

Essential

1. Ability and willingness to travel to Saharawi refugee camps in Tindouf in Algeria.
2. Ability and willingness to fully commit to the intended assessment up to 3 months.
3. Familiarity with refugees and state in exile contexts and the willingness to mobilize and access multiple locations.

Desirable:

1. Experience in economic recovery projects or relevant fields.
2. Practical experience in project implementation and project monitoring with LNGOs, Associations, INGOs, UN, donors.

Eligibility:

1. The consultant has the authorisation to work and travel to the Saharawi refugee camps in Tindouf in Algeria.

Qualification

1. At least Masters/bachelor’s degree / Diploma in economics, business management, community development, social science, or other subject relevant to the required consultancy.
2. Extensive experience and proven record in capacity building development, organizational, institutional, and strategic development.

Experience:

1. At least a minimum of three years’ experience in designing and conducting capacity building assessments of local partners in complex humanitarian programs.
2. Relevant experience in policy development, institutional development, leadership social sciences and human resources development.
3. Proven experience in managing teams, stakeholders’ partnerships, and humanitarian interventions.

Skills and knowledge:

1. In-depth knowledge of various data collection and analytical methods.
2. Proven analytical skills, and excellent technical writing and reporting skills in Arabic and English.
3. Knowledge of the geo-political and/or operational context of the Saharawi refugee camps is an advantage.

Language requirements:

1. Written and spoken fluency in Arabic and English is essential.
2. Working knowledge of Spanish is an advantage.

10. Technical Supervision

The selected consultant will work under the supervision of:

• DRC Base Manager, Aluat Hamudi, aluat.abdelfattah@drc.ngo
• DRC Economic Recovery Team Leader, dalil.souami@drc.ngo
• YSD Youth Director, Jalihena Mohamed, jalihena18@gmail.com

11. Location and Support

The assessment is expected to take place from September to October 2023 in the Saharawi refugee camps located in Tindouf in Algeria. The Consultant will provide her/his own computer and mobile telephone. In coordination with YSD, DRC will provide logistical support to the consultant during field visit sessions.

12. Travel

The consultant will need to travel to the the Saharawi refugee camps located in Tindouf in Algeria. Therefore, in coordination with DRC, the consultant will be expected to arrange transportation, accommodation, insurance, food and to make adequate provision in the Financial Proposal.

13. Submission Process

The consultant shall be prepared to complete and submit the final draft of the assessment report via email to DRC no later than 9th of November 2023.

14. Evaluation of Bids

Only those shortlisted will be contacted for an interview with the panel to ensure their understanding of the consultancy services.