Consultant – Protection Needs Assessment in Iraq

Context and Core Functions / Responsibilities

The humanitarian situation in Iraq continues to be characterized by general instability, protracted internal displacement, lack of public services, as well as inadequate shelter and housing. Humanitarian and protection needs remain significant across the country, despite the discontinuation of the humanitarian cluster system and the transition away from a post-conflict context. IOM’s Protection Division (PxD) aims to support people facing complex challenges and risks as a result of human rights violations by finding sustainable solutions.

As part of its programming, the Protection team provides general protection, gender-based violence (GBV), and trafficking in persons (TiP) case management. Part of its activities include case management, protection information services (i.e., counselling, referrals, and awareness raising), protection data (assessments and monitoring), protection advocacy, reintegration assistance, and national stakeholder capacity development. In its interventions, the PxD programming strives to improve knowledge of and access to direct assistance and protection services. In partnership with other stakeholders, IOM Protection programmes respond both in humanitarian and non-humanitarian settings, by applying a six-pillar approach: 1) Thematic Guidance; 2) Direct Assistance; 3) Convening & Dialogue; 4) Advocacy & Communication; 5) Training & Capacity Building; and 6) Data, Research & Learning.

Through the scope of this consultancy, IOM is looking to conduct a protection needs assessment that will inform IOM’s programmes targeting vulnerable Iraqi communities who have experienced conflict-related rights breaches, such as GBV survivors and victims of trafficking (VoTs), including IDPs and IDPs returnees in areas of return and relocation. In particular the objectives of the assessment are:

– Identify the current status of protection risks and needs in areas of operation

– Identify the gaps in the availability of and challenges in accessing quality protection services

This consultancy will be directly supervised by the Protection Officer with overall supervision by the Protection Coordinator and Head of the Protection Division.

Core Functions / Responsibilities

Methodology

1. Desk Review: The consultant will go over materials related to IOM Iraq protection projects, as well as review of secondary literature on protection in Iraq.
2. Briefing: The consultant will have a preliminary discussion with the Protection staff at IOM Iraq to ensure they share the same understanding of the objectives, tools, available data sources, data collection methods, and the structure of the final report.
3. Data collection: After the initial briefing, desk review, and inception report, the consultant will go on a mission to Iraq to perform data collection with relevant stakeholders. This will include KIs, FGDs and surveys. The number of KIs, FGDs and surveys to be done should be proposed during the inception report and agreed on with the Protection Coordinator. The stakeholders include IOM Protection staff and other protection service providers in Iraq, target communities including IDPs and returnees. Travel to Iraq and hiring of enumerators; if any, will be covered by the consultant and should be included in the detailed financial proposal. Visa process will be supported by IOM.
4. Debriefing: After the mission is complete, the consultant will provide a debriefing to the Protection team discussing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
5. Drafting the assessment report: The consultant will create the assessment report based on the outline in the inception report. They will then share the draft with other IOM staff, partners, and stakeholders and incorporate their feedback. The consultant will make the necessary revisions and submit a final version to IOM.

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results:

Deliverables

1. Inception report detailing proposed methodology and overview of secondary data review as well as proposed timeline and a workplan. The inception report should be delivered within two weeks of the start of the consultancy.
2. Development and translation of data collection tools, and training to enumerators on tools. The tools should be developed within two weeks of the inception report.
3. Supervision and coordination of data collection. Data collection should take place during the second month of the consultancy. Data collection will take place in areas of IOM Protectin interventions which include Sumel camps in Dohuk governorate, Sinjar, Baaj, Hamadaniya and Mosul in Ninewa governorate Kirkuk center in Kirkuk governorate, and Kaim in Anbar governorate.
4. A draft report should be provided to the Protection Division and all comments and inputs from IOM Protection Division should be taken into consideration when drafting the final report. This should be delivered within the first week of the third month of the consultancy.
5. Final report, with executive summary, detailing analyzed findings and recommendations. The final report will also be revised by IOM PxD relevant staff and comments should be taken into consideration for the final draft. The final report and debriefing should take place during the third month of the consultancy.
6. Stakeholder debrief and Powerpoint Presentation (PPP), by the last week of the third month.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

Education & Experience & Skills

• An advanced degree in social sciences, international development, economics, or similar;
• Ability to travel to Iraq;
• Proven expertise in needs assessment design and reporting;
• Extensive experience in protection related research, including assessments;
• Knowledge of IOM Protection programs in the MENA region;
• Knowledge of Iraq and the regional context;
• Experience working with teams in complex, volatile and remotely managed contexts;
• Full command of the English language (spoken and written) will be required. Command of the national languages (Arabic/Kurdish) would be an advantage.

Languages

• Fluency in English language is required.
• Working knowledge in Arabic language is an advantage.

Competencies

Values

• • • Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.
      – Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
      – Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators

• • • Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
      – Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action-oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
      – Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
      – Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.
      – Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.

The application should include:

1. Motivation letter
2. Profile/CV highlighting the consultant’s qualifications and relevant experience;
3. One examples of similar 1) tools and 2) reports developed under previous assignments;
4. A detailed workplan based on the deliverables listed in the TOR;
5. Two references who can be contacted if the application proceeds to the final selection stage;
6. Detailed financial proposal including all costs (expert fee, travel cost (round trip to Iraq and data collection trips within Iraq), data collection and analysis cost…etc… in a separate PDF file.