AA mapping consultant

Organizational Context

IFRC is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies (NSs). The overall aim of IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by NSs with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.” IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises. IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. IFRC is led by its Secretary General, and has its Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. The Headquarters are organized into three main Divisions: (i) National Society Development and Operations Coordination; (ii) Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization; and (iii) Management Policy, Strategy and Corporate Services. IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country) comprise the IFRC Secretariat. IFRC has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment and other forms of harassment, abuse of authority, discrimination, and lack of integrity (including but not limited to financial misconduct). IFRC also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. The Support Services team covers all traditional support services functions including the Human Resources (HR), Finance, Administration, Logistics, Information Technologies (IT), Legal Support and Security Support. All team members cooperate closely to provide efficient support services based on IFRC’s standards of quality, competitive cost and time criteria. All team members deliver efficient support services to various stakeholders at all levels in the CCD such as all programme teams, IFRC’s visitors, Partner National Societies (PNSs), NSs and country teams.

Purpose of Project and Background

During the sixth Asia-Pacific Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Action (AA), held in Bangkok on 1-3 November 2022, the need for a comprehensive mapping of AA progresses was highlighted as a priority activity, to inform the development of the 2023-2027 regional Roadmap on AA for the Regional Asia-Pacific Technical Working Group on AA (RTWG AA). This mapping exercise took place from February to May 2023 by RTWG AA, and covered a total of 14 countries. Subsequently, the results of the mapping were presented at the seventh Asia-Pacific Dialogue Platform on AA, which took place in Kathmandu from 12-14 June 2023. The 2023-2027 regional Roadmap on AA identifies the regular updating of the regional mapping exercise as one of its priority activities. To achieve this, the RTWG AA intends to refine the existing questionnaire employed in the first iteration of the mapping exercise in 2023. Additionally, it aims to integrate the mapping exercise with the regular survey by the Anticipation Hub. The integrated exercise will provide an annual snapshot of the AA progress and will outline remaining challenges in the Asia-Pacific region on an annual basis. The expected outcome is to enhance strategizing the activities of the RTWG AA.

Alignment to the IFRC’s objectives and strategy
(IFRC’s Strategy 2030)

This assignment is in alignment with the IFRC’s Strategy 2023 and Goal 1: People anticipate, respond to and quickly recover from crises. The mapping exercise for 2024 will help RCRC National Societies in Asia Pacific as well as IFRC and international and national partners to understand and coordinate the AA efforts at the national and regional level. In addition, the consultancy outputs also contribute to address the two key challenges identified by IFRC’s Strategy 2030 i.e. climate and environmental crises and evolving crisis and disasters.

Project objectives

The purpose of this TOR is to engage a consultant experienced in Anticipatory Action in Asia and the Pacific region to conduct a mapping of the AA progress in the region. This mapping is to be based on the 2023 mapping questions that need to be refined based on the 2023 lessons learnt. The survey also needs to align with the Anticipation Hub’s global mapping exercise

Desired outcomes

Mapping of the AA progress in Asia Pacific, based on the 2023 mapping questions. The mapping will be a document published by the AP TWG on AA.

Consultancy outputs

The following schedule of work and deliverables gives an indication of the suggested approach and level of effort:
• By the end of March: 5 days for reviewing the questionnaires used in 2023, the comments from the previous independent consultant, the mapping report and the roadmap, as well as for recommending areas for refinement (for example the possible expansion of the survey to the government AA activities);
• By mid of April: 5 days for simplifying and digitizing the questionnaire, in coordination with Anticipation Hub, IFRC, FAO, the American Red Cross, and possibly some national Technical Working Groups (Philippines, Bangladesh, else);
• By end of April: 3 days to disseminate the revised questionnaire and follow up with target respondents together with Anticipation Hub;
• By end of May:10 days for reviewing and conducting an overall analysis of the results, in the form of a draft report
• By mid-June: 1 day for presentation of the synthesized findings to the Asia-Pacific TWG AA,
• By the end of June: 4 days integrating comments to finalise the report with visualized data which must show emerging trends in 2024 and differences between the 2023 analysis. The report shall provide a set of recommendations to the Anticipation Hub for further replication of the mapping exercise in Asia and the Pacific.

Method of delivery and reasons for selecting that method

The consultancy will be mainly delivered in a virtual manner. Given the specialist subject matter expertise required for this task, it will be delivered through a home-based consultant.

Support to be provided to the consultant

The main clients of this evaluation are the Anticipation Hub and the Asia-Pacific TWG on AA (co led by IFRC and FAO). The consultant will discuss with the co-leads at regular intervals about the work and in case of any clarifications, the co-leads will provide the required information. All products arising from this consultancy will be owned by the clients.

Schedule for payment of fees

(Indicate deliverables and timeframe, e.g. milestones, reporting deadlines, etc.) A lumpsum of the total amount will be paid by the end of the consultancy. The consultant will provide a first draft of the questionnaire by mid of April 2024 then once validated, will disseminate it. Draft report to be finalised by 31 May 2024 and presented to RTWG before mid-June. All final deliverables must be received by end of June 2024.

Time Allocation
Duration: 20 March – 30 June 2024
Maximum working days: 28 days

Management of consultancy
The consultant will report to the IFRC Regional Anticipatory Action Coordinator for any questions on the deliverables.

Qualifications Following are the qualifications of the selected consultant:
• Proven experience for 7 years in data collection and analysis, evaluation, impact assessment, qualitative or quantitative research in the context of development assistance or humanitarian relief.
• Graduate or advanced (PhD) degree in relevant disciplines such as statistics, demography, economics, sociology or related disciplines
• Previous experience with Anticipatory Action (AA), Forecast-based Financing (FbF), Forecast-based Action (FbA), Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) or related initiatives is an asset.
• Ability to work with a team in a multi-cultural environment.