Consultancy to Facilitate Reflection and Learning on Nexus Programming

In 2021, Trócaire began work on the development of a framework and practical operational guidance to support Trócaire’s country teams and local partners on the conceptualisation and implementation of nexus programming (both double nexus and triple nexus). A team of two consultants was contracted to review Trócaire documents, review external documents, engage with Trócaire staff, and engage external stakeholders also working on nexus. A Draft Nexus Guidlines and Framework was completed in February 2022. The Nexus Guidelines and Framework is intended to help Trócaire and local partners to operationalise nexus from the perspective of programming, financing, staffing and coordination with other stakeholders. A Tool was also developed to bring the components of the Nexus Guidelines and Framework to life. The tool presents the various components of the framework and prompts actions that could be taken in relation to each component in different programme phases from the preparatory phase to the longer term thereby providing a detailed step by step breakdown for country teams.

The DRAFT Nexus Guidelines and Framework is available here and the Tool is available here

In 2022, three of Trócaire’s country programmes are implementing nexus programming: Myanmar with funding from UNOPS and funding from Irish Aid; Ethiopia with funding from Irish Aid and DRC with funding from an in-country pooled fund. This presents us with the opportunity to facilitate learning on nexus programming across three country contexts, to pilot the DRAFT Nexus Guidelines and Framework and adapt if necessary, and to gather case study material that supplements the guidance to date. A learning research on nexus programming has already been commissioned in Myanmar and will run from May to October. Therefore, this assignment will focus primarily on DRC and Ethiopia but an opportunity for learning and sharing across all three countries should be built in.

1. Objectives of the Consultancy

The objectives of this consultancy are as follows:

· Facilitate reflection spaces for country teams and local partners (where possible) in DRC and Ethiopia as they implement Nexus programming in 2022

· Assess the usefulness of the Nexus Guidelines and Framework for Trócaire and local partners as they embark on nexus programming and if necessary adapt the Guidelines and Framework to improve its usability and maximise its relevance (both Trócaire staff and partner staff)

· Provide advisory support to the countries participating in piloting the nexus approach on questions related to operationalising the Guidelines and Framework

· Provide a space for participating countries to share and learn from each other (virtual learning spaces / in person learning space)

· Facilitate an end of assignment Learning Seminar which presents learning to a wider audience, open to all Trócaire staff and local partners.

2. Scope of the work

The following should be considered during the course of the assignment:

· Approaches implemented by Trócaire country teams and partners in operationalising nexus, challenges they meet, how they overcome them and what learning they generate

· Usefulness of the guidelines and framework as a tool to support nexus programming. Are there gaps? Is further elaboration needed? Is the appropriate level of detail provided? Would it benefit from more tools, schemas, examples or checklists? What do the Nexus principles mean in practice? Does the guidance work for both double (Hum/ Dev) and triple nexus (Hum/ Dev/ Peace) ? Are there other critical questions that should be included?

· The value of the Nexus Tool (and its proposed components) in supporting programme design and planning

· Generation of case studies, mini case studies, tips that can be used alongside the Guidelines and Framework

· Identifying the roadblocks to a nexus culture? How we overcome them? What work practices support nexus culture and programming?

3. Methodology

The methodology should aim to capture the views of the practitioners (Trócaire country team and local partners) as the most important voice in this assignment.

Country colleagues have busy workloads so an efficient, well planned and jointly agreed schedule of engagement is important. This could include 7 monthly check-ins through Zoom calls with colleagues in DRC and Ethiopia. The Nexus Tool could be utilised to structure discussions. See tool and explanatory video here.

An in-country meeting of Trócaire and partners is a possibility in each country or it could be possible to bring staff and partner representatives from each of the two countries involved together.

A final on line learning seminar with participation from all three countries, including Myanmar should also be planned.

4. Potential Outputs

· A final report summarising key learnings gathered.

· A revised version of the Nexus Guidelines and Framework

· Case Studies from the experience of DRC and Ethiopia and/or third countries

· Other products that will help create ownership of the Nexus Guidance and Framework (to be discussed and agreed with Trocaire).

5. Timeline & Time allocation

May– December 2022