Consultancy for Research on Durable Solutions in Syria 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.
UAbout the Middle East Durable Solutions Platform (ME DSP)
ME DSP was established by the Danish Refugee Council, International Rescue Committee and Norwegian Refugee Council in 2016, amid what was then the world’s largest displacement crisis, to improve policy and programming approaches in support of durable solutions for communities affected by displacement in and from Syria. The scope of the work changed as the context shifted, and a strategy revision in 2021-22 led to an expansion of ME DSP’s geographic focus to include other forcibly displaced populations in the Middle East, while the operational focus shifted from predominately research to applied research, strategic policy engagement and capacity building. ME DSP is hosted by the Danish Refugee Council, and its current operating model is to work through topic-specific alliances of International NGOs and locally led NGOs, including NGO fora in the region.

2. Purpose of the consultancy
The Danish Refugee Council based in Middle East & North Africa Regional Office based in Amman-Jordan seeks proposals from (a) consultant(s) to partner with ME DSP on identifying key factors that will influence prospects for durable solutions for displaced Syrians in the post-8 December context and drafting a series of briefing notes to make recommendations to response actors, donors and policymakers.

3. Background
The Middle East is both the source and host of some of the largest numbers of forcibly displaced people worldwide. Until the 2022 outbreak of war in Ukraine, the Syrian crisis countries held global records for displacement numbers: the highest number of registered refugees (Türkiye), the highest number of registered refugees per capita (Lebanon), the highest internally displaced population (Syria) and the largest displacement crisis (Syria).
Before the change in government on 8 December 2024, displacement in and from Syria had become protracted, with the estimated number of internally displaced persons, and refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Türkiye, relatively unchanged for several years. In the new context, prospects for durable solutions for displaced Syrians have changed. Understandably, tens of thousands of refugees have used this opportunity to visit Syria. These movements do not necessarily constitute returns, many have interrupted their exile to try and find missing loved ones, visit relatives and property, and gather information to inform their decisions about their future.
Real progress for displaced populations in and from Syria still depends on a political solution, and the coming months’ evolution of the changes in governance will be critical to set the stage for a comprehensive peace and reconciliation process. In this, it is vital that aid response actors understand their important role in maintaining a degree of stability, and that they base their interventions on clear strategic priorities and set realistic timelines for their work.
ME DSP is commissioning this consultancy to find a partner to work on research and analysis to make recommendations to inform those strategic priorities and timelines.
4. Objective of the consultancy

The objective of this consultancy is to produce a series of policy briefs on key topics relevant to durable solutions for displaced Syrians. The consultant will also organise roundtables to disseminate and discuss the findings of the policy briefs with power holders together with ME DSP.

5. Methodology
The consultant will present a series of potential topics for the policy briefs to ME DSP during an inception workshop to which i.a. ME DSP Steering Committee members will be invited. The consultant will use the conclusions of the inception workshop to make the plan for drafting the policy briefs. The consultant and ME DSP will jointly decide when and how to organise the roundtables.

6. Deliverables
The duties and responsibilities of the consultant are to:
-prepare an inception workshop (online) to propose a series of topics for the policy briefs;
-make a plan and timeline for drafting the policy briefs based on the discussions during the inception workshop;
-conduct research and draft the policy briefs;
-organise a number of roundtables to disseminate and discuss the findings and recommendations in the policy briefs.
The consultant will be responsible for the following deliverables:
• Inception workshop;
• Plan and timeline for producing policy briefs;
• Drafting between 3 (three) and 5 (five) policy briefs;
• A minimum of 2 (two) roundtables.
The consultant will provide the documentation by email/ PDF.

7. Duration, timeline, and payment
• The total expected duration to complete the assignment will be no more than 60 working days based on the following estimates;
Inception workshop
3 working days
Plan and timeline for drafting policy briefs
1 working day
Policy briefs research and drafting
10 per policy brief ( 10*5 =50 days)
Organising roundtables
3 working days per roundtable (3*2=6 days)
The end date for this project is flexible but the project has to be completed by 31 December 2025.
Payments will be made in three instalments and based on the successful completion of deliverables:
1. Inception workshop.
2. First half of the policy briefs and 1 (one) roundtable.
3. All policy briefs and roundtables.

8. Proposed Composition of Team
For the purpose of this consultancy and the nature of this work, ME DSP prefers a team of minimum 2-3 individuals under registered company/ consultancy firm, with the ability to collect data in Syria and a history of doing research on Syria.

9. Eligibility, qualification, and experience required
Due to the scope of this research and the available timeframe only consultant teams (of minimum 2-3 individuals) are eligible.
The lead consultant should have the following qualifications, and team members are expected to have solid research/ thematic/ regional expertise:
− Master degree in international relations, development, political science and/or similar
− Minimum 6 years’ proven experience in conducting similar assignments.
− Demonstrable experience related to forced migration and durable solutions in Syria
− Strong knowledge of the region and the socio-economic and political dynamics affecting it, more specifically on displacement trends and programming in Syria
− 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
− Fluency in written and spoken English
UDocuments to be submitted:
− A technical proposal outlining the consultant’s own understanding of the required scope of work. Include a suggested work plan of time and activity schedule.
− A cover letter, including the commitment to availability for the duration of the assignment.
− Updated CV/s of the consultant/s that clearly spells out his/her qualifications and experience.
− A financial proposal showing the daily rate per team member.
− Two examples of similar work completed in past.
− Two reference contacts.

10. Technical supervision
The selected consultant will work under the supervision of ME DSP’s Coordinator.

11. Location and support
This consultancy is home-based, the consultant will provide her/his own computer and mobile telephone.

12. Submission process
Refer to the RFP letter invitation.

13. Evaluation of bids
Refer to the RFP letter invitation.