Background:
Mercy Corps is a leading global organization powered by the belief that a better world is possible. In disaster, in hardship, in more than 40 countries around the world, we partner to put bold solutions into action — helping people triumph over adversity and build stronger communities from within. Now, and for the future. Mercy Corps has been operating in Nepal since 2005, implementing programs in food security, agriculture, market development, financial services, girl’s education, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. We take a systems-based approach in our programming, with the aim of improving the lives and potential of vulnerable individuals and communities across Nepal.
The Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance is a consortium of nine organisations with the objective of improving investment, policy, and practice for flood resilience. In Nepal, the partner organizations are Practical Action and the IFRC. Mercy Corps serves as the lead for advocacy in Nepal (and globally), and works with partners to improve investment and policy for DRR/CCA, including floods at the national, provincial (mainly Province 7), and local government levels. Following COVID-19, the Alliance in Nepal and also globally, is focusing on supporting governments to take a climate risk informed approach to socio-economic recovery programs.
Purpose / Project Description:
The use of vouchers in humanitarian emergencies is one of the best methods for providing assistance to vulnerable populations. However, evidence on how they can build resilience, especially to floods and other natural disasters, has been less explored or studied. The Resilience-Plus programme will serve as a demonstration of value voucher distribution at scale, complete with capacity building, learning, and evidence, to enable the humanitarian community and Government of Nepal (GoN) to adopt these modalities for their own disaster preparedness, response and social safety net programming, particularly for communities vulnerable to flooding during monsoon season.
This consultancy relates to one strand of this knowledge product generation. Mercy Corps is looking for a consultant to support the preparation of knowledge products highlighting how the CVA programming has supported the vulnerable communities to build their resilience to disasters. This assignment will assess the information from pre and post monsoon period to analyse if the assistance has strengthened their capacity to cope with the monsoon floods or any other local hazards. The knowledge products will be disseminated both to stakeholders within Nepal, such as local government officials, to increase institutional support for cash and voucher assistance, and also disseminated to the I/NGO community.
Consultant Objectives:
The Consultant work with the Project staff to analyse the responses from the KIIs, PDMs, and guidance documents already prepared by the project team and, using this data, will produce a knowledge product outlining how humanitarian response programs can contribute to building resilience to disasters, including floods. This knowledge product will then be disseminated to a variety of stakeholders, including Nepal local government, the Cash Coordination Group, other humanitarian actors, among others.
Consultant Deliverables:
Policy Brief (6-8 pages)
The Consultant will work with the program team to refine this final deliverable based on their analysis of the data provided.
The Consultant must be able to complete agreed upon deliverables by November 15 2021.
Timeline/duration of assignment: Up to 15 working days
Remuneration: Remuneration will be paid upon completion of the deliverable and submission of invoice.
Reports Directly to: Policy and Advocacy Specialist- ZFRA, Mercy Corps Nepal
Works Directly with: MCE Programme Officer, Mercy Corps Nepal Director of Programs, MEL Manager, Communications Specialist
Knowledge and Experience
● At least a Master level degree in social sciences, development studies/management, or any related discipline
● Should have strong experience of writing for audiences within the development sector.
● Able to synthesize information from various data sources, and provide cogent and concise summaries and analysis.
● Able to think critically and work collaboratively with Project staff to determine the most relevant information from data sources.
● An understanding of the field of resilience, cash and voucher assistance, and in particular the CVA field in Nepal, would also be highly useful.
● Excellent writing skills
● Demonstrated experience in synthesizing complex information, producing high-quality documentation, and writing for audiences in the international development sector.
● Previous experience and background knowledge of the Nepal context and international development landscape is highly preferred
● Previous experience in the cash and voucher assistance in disaster risk reduction and response sector would be a plus
● Demonstrated capacity to work remotely and coordinate effectively with other team members working remotely
● High level fluency in written English required
● Previous experience contributing to design and layout preferred
Application Process and Requirements
Qualified and interested parties are asked to submit the following:
● CV and cover letter
● Samples of previous work
How to apply
Closing Date: 11:59pm (UK Time) on Sunday 24 October 2021