CONSULTANCY FOR RAPID ASSESSMENT & MAPPING – CRISIS IN SRI LANKA At Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion

1. CONTEXT / OVERVIEW
2. About Humanity & Inclusion

Humanity & Inclusion (HI) is an independent and impartial international aid organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. Working alongside people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, our action and testimony are focused on responding to their essential needs, improving their living conditions and promoting respect for their dignity and their fundamental rights. HI is currently implementing projects in more than 50 countries worldwide.

Humanity & Inclusion (HI) has been operating in Sri Lanka since 1992. It started its operation in Sri Lanka with the training of rehabilitation professionals in Colombo and Jaffna. Today our mission has expanded to include numerous interventions like inclusive employment, social inclusion, disaster risk reduction, physical rehabilitation and human rights and democracy**.**

1. Sri Lanka Context

Sri Lanka, the island nation of 22 million people, is experiencing multidimensional crisis. Sri Lanka went into economic crisis when the Covid-19 pandemic hit during 2020-21 triggered by reduction of foreign remittance and crippling of tourism sector. During March 2022, Country’s foreign reserves have hit rock bottom, with government facing challenge to import food, fuel, medicines and other essential items. Also, the government’s move to ban chemical fertilisers in 2021 has led to a drop in crop yield this year. These led to soaring food prices, long hours of power cut and huge scarcity of fuel. This resulted in country-wide food in-security, threated livelihood and challenges in accessing essential services including health and protection. The situation has pushed people, particularly poor and marginalised in negative coping mechanisms. The number of households that borrowed money has significantly increased, from 40 per cent in August 2021 to 68 per cent in April 2022. Another commonly used mechanism is withdrawal from savings, which increased from 21 to 29 per cent in the same period. Other coping mechanisms reported are pawning and the selling of belongings, which can lead to the loss of essential means of sustenance and livelihoods. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in an analysis, pointed out that the country’s “debt overhang,” along with persistent fiscal and balance-of-payments shortfalls, “will constrain growth and jeopardise macroeconomic stability in both the near and medium term”.

Sri Lanka has seen weeks of anti-government protests and demonstrations because of rising food prices and acute shortages of fuel. People started protesting out on the streets of the capital, Colombo, in late March and the protests have spread across the rest of the island in April-May. The economic crisis led to a political impasse.

According to OCHA’s recent Humanitarian need and priorities (HNP) assessment, an estimated 5.7 million people are in need (PIN) of humanitarian assistance in 25 districts across the country. 11 per cent of households reported that income has stopped, and 62 per cent said that their income has reduced. Livelihoods and incomes have come under serious pressure due to the impact of the crisis on small enterprises, affecting mostly women and daily income wage workers. As a result, many households have exhausted coping strategies and are now borrowing money and selling properties and belongings just so families can get by from day to day. Poor and vulnerable people including people with disabilities are disproportionally affected. The multi-dimensional crisis has inevitably brought more protection issues to the pre-existing chronic inequalities experienced by its people. A Humanitarian appeal of $47.2 million has published on 9 June, 2022.

Considering the near- and medium-term impact of this crisis, HI is launching this rapid assessment and mapping to assess the specific need of poor and vulnerable people including persons with disabilities, the mapping of local partner organisations and potential donors.

1. OBJECTIVES
2. 1. General objective

To identify the strategic orientations for HI in response to current humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka by conducting a rapid assessment of humanitarian needs, analysing the potential opportunities of funding and partnership in line with HI Sri Lanka strategy.

1. 1. Specific objectives
2. Present an analysis of the humanitarian needs on the poor and vulnerable population and operational/intervention opportunities in line with thematic priorities of HI in Sri Lanka using the HI toolbox.
3. Present a mapping of local partners and authorities in the affected districts
4. Present an analysis of potential donors in the HI Operational priorities
5. Identify challenges and barriers to the opportunities identified

Target population: The assessment will focus on poor and the most vulnerable populations, including ethnic minority, women, children, persons with disabilities, older people, daily wage earners, women headed households.

The following sectors should be considered from an overall perspective in terms of needs to be expected, gaps to be anticipated and operational opportunities.

• Food Security and Livelihood (basic needs);
• Psychosocial Support (PSS)
• Physical & Functional rehabilitation
• Inclusive Humanitarian Action and protection (transversal)

1. EXPECTED DELIVERABLE

At the end of this exercise, the following deliverables are to be produced:

• A report on Multi Sectorial Rapid Need Assessment, following HI templates and methodology
• Mapping for local partner organisations in affected districts with expertise and capacity in the HI operational priority areas
• Mapping of potential funding agencies with focus on similar operation priorities
• A two pager HI positioning paper (external focus for donors, partners, etc.)

1. RESOURCE PERSON

Within the framework of the service provision, the Consultant will be asked to collaborate with Humanity & Inclusion’s teams (Sri Lanka and Head Quarter) and in particular with Ms Aditi Ghosh who will be the point of contact (based in India). Prior to the field phase, a briefing about HI RMNSA and rapid desk review on the objectives mentioned is mandatory.

1. CONSULTANT’S PROFILE

The expected qualifications and competencies required for the consultant include:

1. Have experience and in-depth knowledge on current socio-political context, partners and donors’ landscapes of Sri Lanka
2. Experience of having done prior consultancy work with Handicap International will be an added advantage
3. Strong experience in emergency situation/ context assessment
4. WORK SCHEDULE

The consultant will propose a timetable in his/her offer to efficiently achieve the set objective

1. DURATION OF ASSESSMENT & BUDGET

• 3 weeks: 15 July to 05 August 2022
• The consultant will submit a financial offer, including honorary fee and other fees.