Consolidating learning on the bridging the nexus regional initiative

1.1 About Oxfam in Horn, East and Central Africa Region

For over 50 years, Oxfam has been working in the Horn, East, and Central Africa (HECA) region, with presence in ten countries: Burundi, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. We have a strong network of country teams who deliver our mission that straddles long-term development and humanitarian sectors, augmented by a national, regional, and global capacity on campaigns and advocacy. We strive to achieve scale by raising the voices of the communities that we work with to influence a sustainable shift in local, national, regional, and global policies and practices of both state and private sectors. Our vision is that of ‘a transformed and stable Horn, East, and Central Africa region, where people exercise their rights to challenge power and to drive transformative change in their lived experiences. For more information about Oxfam in HECA, visit https://heca.oxfam.org/who-we-are.

1. 1. About the bridging the nexus initiative

Horn, East, and Central Africa (HECA) region continues to be characterized by chronic humanitarian crises, a combination of cyclical droughts and flooding, exacerbated by climate change, conflicts, and forced displacements. The growing scale and protracted nature of these crises has heightened the need to foster sustainable solutions and build resilience of poor and vulnerable communities especially women and children. This implies increased agility and capacity to transition interventions from emergency response to recovery to long-term development.

Oxfam in HECA knowledge initiative on ‘Bridging the Nexus’ was intended to provide a space for critical reflection in identifying practical ways to address the disconnect between humanitarian and long-term development interventions especially in protracted crises. It was a deliberate action to reflect on and document Oxfam staff and partners experiences and lessons, drawing from best practices and contextualized applications of the approaches in specific countries. Its intended outcomes were the identification of programmatic entry points and engagements as well as shaping collective outcomes on the humanitarian-development nexus with various stakeholders. Bridging the nexus initiative remains a critical facet of Oxfam in HECA regional learning agenda[1]. Within Oxfam, the one programme approach standard and ambition, envisages a stronger synergy between humanitarian, development, and peace interventions, supported by a robust cross-cutting pillar on influencing.

At the start of the initiative, a regional learning event was held in Arua, Uganda in 2019 with the aim of building a common understanding of Oxfam’s one programme approach and its intersections with the broader sectoral triple nexus. This was then followed by a series of country level actions, reflections, and documentation, involving Oxfam and partners in leveraging knowledge and expertise in responding to contextual priorities and needs. Country level efforts focused on the identification of practical ways to breathe life into the concepts. It’s intentional that the approach is evident in programme design processes, implementation, and monitoring of programmes, as well as reflection and learning. These conversations were happening at a critical time when Oxfam countries were also formulating their new strategic plans and therefore a unique opportunity to integrate the initiative in the transformational journeys at the outset.

1.3 Purpose and objectives of the consultancy

Purpose

Oxfam in HECA region now wants to build on these initiatives by consolidating the learning from the country level actions and hosting a final regional learning event to support knowledge sharing and exchange. The regional learning event is intended to keep the momentum and shape the design of life-saving interventions that address the one programme approach and the triple nexus especially at a time when Oxfam seeks to create transformative change in new ways. Within the ongoing transition to new strategies, this is an important opportunity to harmonize approaches and endorse a critical set of tools to effectively integrate one programme approach and its intersections with the triple nexus in Oxfam’s programming.

Oxfam is therefore seeking the support of an individual consultant to lead in the consolidation of learning including co-facilitating a virtual regional learning event that is scheduled for 23rd and 24th August 2022. The learning event will bring together Oxfam staff from across the confederation as well as external stakeholders.

Objectives

1. To consolidate the critical experiences and learnings from country level reflections and efforts on the bridging the nexus initiative
2. Support the finalization of the checklist or guideline for operationalization of the Oxfam’s one programme approach and critical elements of the triple nexus
3. Co-organize and co-facilitate the final Bridging the Nexus virtual regional learning event
4. Finalize the documentation piece for wider dissemination and sharing
5. Expected deliverables.
6. A synthesis of the workshop proceedings (report) from the Bridging the Nexus learning event, inclusive of a harmonised understanding of the Nexus, experiences and lessons, best practices and lessons learnt, and practical ways to integrate the Nexus in different contexts
7. Achecklist or guidelines to operationalize and track adoption of the one programme Approach-Triple Nexus.
8. A compendium of case studies (at least 3) on bridging the nexus from across HECA and other parts of Oxfam
9. Scope of work

The scope of the assignment includes the technical aspects indicated in section 1.3 & 1.4 above. The documentation of the experiences, best practices and lessons learnt will cover the period from 2019 when initiative started to date (August 2022). Consultations will be conducted in all HECA RP countries (Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, S. Sudan, DRC, and Somalia) though strong emphasis will be in countries like Uganda and Ethiopia that had specific initiatives relating to integration of the nexus in programming.

1. Methodology:

The consultancy will entail desk review of existing works on bridging the nexus and virtual consultations with focal persons from various countries. The consultant will work closely with the RP Regional Programme Quality Lead and the regional bridging the nexus consultative group. The regional learning event will be virtual and participatory in nature and will be developed further once the consultant is onboard.

1. Timeframe

The assignment will last 23 working days (0.5 days for signing of contract, 15 days preliminary consultations with stakeholders and preparation for the event, 2 days for facilitating the event, and 10 for writing the learning event report, case studies, finalising the checklist, and the knowledge piece, and 0.5 days for final report presentation).

Activity

Number of days

Sign contract for the assignment

0.5

Consultations with stakeholders on the Nexus and preparing for the event

15

Facilitating the learning event

2

Writing the learning event report, case studies, checklist, and knowledge piece

5

Final presentation of the case studies and knowledge piece

0.5

6. Qualification and experience of the consultant

The required qualifications for the consultant include the following: He/she should possess a degree in communications, Social Sciences, Project Development and Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, or Development studies with at least 7 years’ experience in International Development, preferably working with an INGO that has both humanitarian and development programmes. He or she should have a first-hand experience in integrating triple nexus within humanitarian and development programmes. He/she should also have relevant skills in facilitation of regional events; excellent writing skills, high moderation skills that enhance learning; and knowledgeable in the development sector or programme work.

7. Supervision/management of the assignment

The consultant will be supervised by the HECA RP Programme Quality Lead and will work closely with the regional bridging the nexus reference group.

8. Payment

The consultant will be paid 30% upon approval of the inception report and 70% after submission and approval of the deliverables specified in section 3 above.

[1] This outlines key strategic learning areas and questions to focus efforts on collective learning within the region.