1. Who is the Danish Refugee Council?
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, working in more than 40 countries to provide assistance with a rights-based approach to refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees and migrants. DRC has commissioned a consultancy focused on anticipatory action. Anticipatory action is a proactive approach that seeks to mitigate the impacts of disasters before they occur, rather than waiting for the crisis to unfold. This consultancy aims to study the learning curve of Anticipatory Action interventions, developing a baseline and an endline on learning, in order to evaluate the overall impact of the intervention. By leveraging data analysis, early warning systems, and community engagement, the consultancy will provide DRC with actionable recommendations to evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of Anticipatory Actions in Venezuela. The goal is to reduce the human and economic costs of disasters and ensure a more timely and efficient delivery of aid to affected populations.
DRC has been operating in Venezuela since 2019. The organization’s interventions are centred around protection activities (comprising monitoring, individual protection assistance, case management, prevention and response to gender-based violence, community-based protection activities, and advocacy for refugee and migrant rights), food security initiatives, and livelihood support. DRC also has a dedicated program focused on disaster preparedness and management. DRC implements its programs directly in Zulia, Apure, and Sucre.
2. Purpose of the consultancy
The Danish Refugee Council based in Venezuela seeks proposals from a consultant to evaluate the impact and the cost-effectiveness of AA interventions with a key focus on learning.
3. Background
The DRC’s approach in Venezuela is centred on anticipatory action, a proactive strategy aimed at mitigating the impacts of disasters before they occur. This involves the development of strategies and tools that enable communities to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to potential emergencies more effectively. By leveraging data analysis, early warning systems, and community engagement, DRC aims to enhance community capacity for early action, thereby reducing the human and economic costs of disasters and ensuring a more timely and efficient delivery of aid to affected populations.
In Venezuela, DRC has been implementing Disaster Preparedness projects in regions frequently affected by inundations and droughts. These experiences have underscored the need for a shift from reactive responses to disasters to a more anticipatory approach.
The consultancy is a critical part of this shift. It aims to evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of Anticipatory Action interventions, with a key focus on learning. The consultant will develop a baseline and an endline on learning and assess the overall impact of the intervention. The insights gained from this consultancy will not only inform DRC’s future strategies in Venezuela but also contribute to the broader discourse on anticipatory action in the humanitarian sector.
4. Objective of the consultancy
To evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of Anticipatory Action (AA) interventions implemented by the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in Venezuela, with a specific focus on assessing the learning curve and knowledge generation related to these interventions.
This evaluation will provide critical insights into the effectiveness of AA in mitigating the impacts of disasters, inform future AA programming, and contribute to the broader body of knowledge on anticipatory action in the humanitarian sector.
- Learning Curve Analysis: The consultant will study the learning curve of AA interventions, developing a baseline and an endline on learning. This involves assessing the progress made in terms of knowledge acquisition, skill development, and capacity building among the targeted communities.
- Impact Assessment: The consultant will evaluate the overall impact of the AA interventions. This includes assessing how these interventions have helped mitigate the impacts of disasters, improved the timeliness and efficiency of aid delivery, and reduced the human and economic costs of disasters.
- Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: The consultant will analyse the cost-effectiveness of the AA interventions. This involves comparing the costs of implementing these interventions with the benefits derived from them, in terms of disaster mitigation and improved aid delivery.
- Recommendations for Future Strategies: Based on the findings from the above analyses, the consultant will provide actionable recommendations to DRC. These recommendations will help DRC enhance the impact and cost-effectiveness of its AA interventions in Venezuela and contribute to the broader discourse on anticipatory action in the humanitarian sector.
5. Scope of work and Methodology
5.1 Scope of work:
The consultancy is scheduled to take place in the states of Apure and Zulia, which are frequently affected by disasters, particularly those vulnerable to flooding and droughts. The objective of the consultancy is to provide evidence-based insights that empower DRC to improve its Anticipatory Action (AA) interventions, reduce disaster impacts, and contribute to the global understanding of anticipatory action.
- Contextual Assessment.
- Baseline Data Collection.
- Learning Curve Analysis.
- Impact Assessment.
- Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.
- Endline Data Collection.
- Recommendations and Lessons Learned.
- Reporting and Dissemination.
5.2 Methodology:
- Data Collection Methods.
- Document review of project plans, reports, and monitoring data.
- Key informant interviews with DRC staff, government officials, people of concern, and community leaders.
- Focus group discussions with beneficiaries and community members.
- Surveys and questionnaires to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices.
- Economic data collection to estimate costs and benefits.
- Data Analysis.
- Qualitative data analysis using thematic analysis and content analysis.
- Quantitative data analysis using statistical methods (e.g., descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, regression analysis).
- Cost-benefit analysis to determine the economic efficiency of AA interventions.
- Ethical Considerations.
- Obtain informed consent from participants.
- Ensure confidentiality of participant data.
- Adhere to ethical guidelines for research involving human subjects.
6. Deliverables
The Consultant will submit the following deliverables as mentioned below:
Phase 1 – Review
- Contextual Assessment
The consultant will conduct an in-depth review of DRC’s existing AA interventions in Venezuela. This includes understanding the geographical areas of implementation (Apure and Zulia), the specific disaster risks faced by these regions (inundations, droughts and conflict), and the current strategies employed by DRC.
Phase 2 – Analysis
- Baseline Data Collection
The consultant will collect baseline data focused on AA learning. This involves assessing the current level of community awareness, preparedness, and capacity for early action. Data sources may include community surveys, focus group discussions, and existing reports.
- Learning Curve Analysis
The consultant will analyze the learning curve associated with AA interventions. This includes evaluating how knowledge and skills have evolved over time among community members, DRC staff, and relevant stakeholders.
Methods: Interviews, workshops, and knowledge assessments.
- Impact Assessment
The consultant will assess the impact of AA interventions on disaster preparedness. This involves measuring the effectiveness of early warning systems, community engagement, and timely response.
Methods: Quantitative analysis (e.g., reduction in disaster-related losses), qualitative interviews, and case studies.
- Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
The consultant will analyze the costs incurred by DRC in implementing AA interventions and compare them to the benefits achieved (e.g., lives saved, reduced economic losses).
Methods: Cost-benefit analysis, financial records review.
- Endline Data Collection
Similar to the baseline, the consultant will collect endline data to assess changes in learning, impact, and cost-effectiveness.
Methods: Surveys, focus groups, and performance indicators.
Phase 3 – Reporting
- Recommendations and Lessons Learned
Based on the findings, the consultant will provide actionable recommendations to enhance AA interventions.
Lessons learned will inform DRC’s future strategies and contribute to the broader humanitarian discourse on anticipatory action.
- Reporting and Dissemination
The consultant will prepare a comprehensive report summarizing the evaluation results, including graphs, charts, and case examples. The expected deliverable is to do a publication of findings and lesson learnt on impact and learning on DRC’s AA intervention. The audience will include UN agencies, INGOs, civil society and donors.
Dissemination may involve workshops, presentations, and sharing insights with other humanitarian organizations.
The consultant will be required to submit regular progress reports to the Head of Programme, the Disaster Preparedness Specialist, the Country Director and the MEAL Team Leader, detailing the activities undertaken, challenges faced, and outcomes achieved. A final report summarizing the key findings and recommendations will be submitted at the end of the consultancy.
7. Duration, timeline, and payment
The total expected duration to complete the assignment will be no more than a two-year period with field trips every quarter.
The consultant shall be prepared to complete the assignment no later than June 2026.
The consultancy will operate under a fixed budget covering all costs related to contextual assessment, baseline data collection, learning curve analysis, impact assessment, cost-effectiveness analysis, endline data collection, recommendations development, lessons learned documentation, and report preparation and dissemination.
8. Proposed Composition of Team
- Consultancy team or
- Individual consultant
9. Eligibility, qualification, and experience required
Essential:
- Excellent written and spoken in Spanish and English required.
- To have a profile of previous publications on the impacts, studies, and measuring the economic feasibility of undertaking anticipatory work over response work.
- Skills to measure impact and lessons learned from the intervention.
- Competencies for conducting an assessment of multisectoral needs in treatment and control areas.
Desirable:
- Experience in disaster preparedness work in Venezuela.
- Availability to start working immediately.
Competencies:
- Excellent analytical skills and a constructive approach to problem solving.
- Ability to write clear and concise reports and communicate effectively.
- Ability to deliver outputs by agreed deadlines.
- Ability to manage her/himself and others with minimal supervision.
- Strong organizational skills.
10. Technical supervision
The selected consultant will work under the supervision of:
- Head of Programme, Manfredi Miceli, manfredi.miceli@drc.ngo
- Country Director, Pablo Castro, pablo.castro@drc.ngo
- Disaster Preparedness Specialist
- MEAL Team Leader
11. Location and support
The consultancy will be conducted in Venezuela, specifically within communities in the states of Apure and Zulia. It will follow a hybrid approach, incorporating quarterly field visits.
The Consultant will provide her/his own computer and mobile telephone.
12. Travel
As part of the consultancy, quarterly field trips will be conducted to assess project progress and gather data. The Consultant will therefore be expected to arrange transportation, accommodation, insurance, food and to make adequate provision in the Financial Proposal.
13. Submission process
The proposals shall be submitted through website where this consultancy is advertised with all the annexes required for the proposal. The deadline for submission is strict and no additional proposals will be accepted after the deadline. DRC reserves the right to ask for clarifications in case of missing documents in the submitted set of files. This consultancy will be awarded to the offer that is in the best interest of DRC based on the “value for money” principle and is technically compliant according to the specifications in item N°9.
14. Evaluation of bids
The offer evaluation process consists of 3 phases:
A) Administrative Evaluation: Each offer must pass the administrative phase before being considered for technical evaluation. Offers deemed administratively non-compliant may be rejected. The consultant’s administrative offer must include the following documentation:
- Curriculum Vitae or Resume
- Cover Letter
- Technical Proposal
- Economic Proposal
B) Technical Evaluation: To be technically compliant, the offer must meet or exceed the requirements stipulated in the specifications of this TOR. An offer will be considered compliant if it is confirmed that it meets all mandatory conditions, procedures, and specifications in this TOR without substantially deviating from them or imposing restrictions. If an offer does not technically comply with the terms of reference, it will be rejected.
C) Economic Evaluation: All offers that pass the technical evaluation will proceed to the economic evaluation. Offers deemed technically non-compliant will not be economically evaluated. The economic evaluation will consist of:
- Payment Terms
- Economic Competitiveness