Peace and Conflict, Gender and Inclusion Assessment and Analysis

Johanniter, an international humanitarian agency operating in South Sudan seeks to generate interest from legally recognized and competent companies/individuals for the Peace and Conflict, Gender and Inclusion Assessment and Analysis to be conducted in Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan and Adjumani and Obongi Districts, Uganda.

1. Introduction
This Terms of Reference (ToR) serve as a request for applications from an individual consultant or consultancy firms interested in conducting a Peace and Conflict, Gender and Inclusion Assessment and Analysis for Johanniter International Assistance in South Sudan and in Uganda (hereafter referred to as JOHANNITER).

1.2 Project Background
JOHANNITER through funding from the Transitional Development Assistance provided by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) is planning to implement a project titled ‚Strengthening the resilience of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda and internally displaced persons in South Sudan as well as their host communities through a holistic approach‘. The implementation of the project will be carried out over a period of 36 months from October 2022 to September 2025. During the inception phase, the project will be laying the foundation for the implementation in 2023-2025, conducting a baseline survey, and in-depth peace and conflict, gender and inclusion assessment and analysis.
The intended project objective is to increase the resilience of South Sudanese refugees and their host communities in Uganda, as well as internally displaced persons, returnees and their host communities in South Sudan. This refers to increasing their social and economic resilience to strengthen their self-reliance and build positive coping mechanisms to be utilised at times of re-occurring external shocks. Building resilience will be achieved through four groups of integrated measures:

1. Food security for vulnerable target households in the project catchment areas in Uganda and South Sudan through improved knowledge about nutrition as well as subsistence and commercial agriculture production is enhanced.
2. The target group increases chances of employment and income at the household level through improved access to vocational education and training (in Uganda only)
3. The target groups have improved access to safe water, dignified sanitation facilities and knowledge of good hygiene practices by 2025 (in South Sudan only).
4. Peaceful coexistence and social cohesion among the target population are improved through the provision of psycho-social services and conflict mitigation efforts.

1.3 Purpose and objectives
The purpose of this assignment is to undertake a participatory peace and conflict as well as gender and inclusion assessment and analysis in the target locations in South Sudan and in Uganda to support JOHANNITER in contributing to local peace-building efforts in the target communities through its planned programming and to minimise the risk of exacerbating any existing or creating new conflicts.
Furthermore, the purpose is to support JOHANNITER to use an inclusive programmatic approach that involves the target groups in all phases of the project; to contribute to reducing the vulnerability including reducing safeguarding risks (sexual exploitation and harmful behaviour) and enhancing resilience as well as safety and well-being of the
project participants. The results and recommendations of the assignment will feed into the planned BMZ-funded programming and its activities.

Specific objectives of this assessment are:

• Conflict analysis. To analyse the conflict dynamics in the targeted locations in South Sudan and Uganda and the anticipated positive and negative effects on the planned JOHANNITER program delivery, the consequences on its different target groups including different ethnic groups, men and women, boys and girls, host communities, internally displaced persons and returnees.
• Gender and inclusion analysis4. To identify gender, inclusion and safeguarding-related risks, needs and capabilities of the target groups; to provide concrete realistic recommendations for mainstreaming gender and inclusion in the project to integrate the gender and inclusion perspective and the different needs of people into all phases of the project cycle (including monitoring, evaluation, accountability, learning and reporting) and ensure they are sufficiently embedded in project management, implementation and reporting.
• Identify JOHANNITER’s impact. To identify the anticipated positive and negative effects of the planned JOHANNITER programming on the current or future conflicts, its potential for positive contribution to local peace-building efforts and potential negative contribution to exacerbate existing or create new conflicts through analysis of the current and future JOHANNITER intervention approaches.
• Do no harm analysis. To identify the main risk factors, mitigation measures, opportunities and synergies and provide concrete feasible recommendations and measures for addressing the gaps including identification of the entry points for service delivery, mainstreaming conflict-sensitive and inclusive program delivery contributing to social cohesion; and conflict resolution integration into all phases of the project cycle.
• Do no harm training. Provide a refresher training on the Do No Harm principle for the selected JOHANNITER team.
• Desirable: Identify communication channels or mechanisms for seeking information and raising concerns that are preferred by the communities and would support JOHANNITER in ensuring accountability to the affected population.

2 Scope of work
The focus will be on in-depth assessment and analysis of the conflict and gender imbalance, its characteristics, causes and dynamics, its impact on JOHANNITER planned and ongoing programmes and its target groups and identifying potential opportunities for an inclusive and conflict-sensitive program implementation as well as to provide recommendations for peacebuilding activities.
The geographical scope covers three counties of Eastern Equatoria State, South Sudan: Ikotos, Magwi, Torit and two districts of Adjumani and Obongi in Uganda, as well as policies and frameworks at the national level, that may impact the implementation in these locations. The assessment will be done in a participatory manner and will target all groups of the population (women, men, girls, boys; returnees, displaced populations, host communities; disabled people and people with special needs – elderly, pregnant and lactating women; community and religious leaders; community groups; county and state/district level government, etc.). The assessment should be conducted independently by the consultant(s) with logistic support from JOHANNITER and the consultant(s) will lead the execution of the assignment from the inception to final reporting.

3 Methodology
The consultant(s) is/are expected to propose scientifically, culturally and socially appropriate participatory approaches that will be used to address the objectives of this ToR. The consultant(s) will develop the necessary tools and carry out exercises to meet the objectives of the assignment. Detailed methodology, including the design of data collection tools and formulation of specific questions, will be developed by the consultant(s). A mixed-method participatory approach should be employed, that considers the use of primary and secondary data sources to collect relevant qualitative and quantitative data. Additional propositions to be determined by the consultant(s) and discussed before contracting will form part of this ToR.
The consultant(s) may work remotely during selected stages of the assignment but is expected to also physically visit the target locations. Tentative dates of the in-country physical presence should be clearly indicated in the application.

3.1. Process
The assignment shall be undertaken within the following phases:

1) Preparation phase

• Review of project documents and secondary sources of information;
• An inception meeting between the consultant(s), the JOHANNITER team and the implementing partner (in Uganda only);
• Submission of inception report;
• Development of primary data collection matrix and tools necessary for the study (including training needs assessment tools for do-no-harm training).

2) Conflict analysis phase

• Primary data collection from a variety of sources;
• Organizing a workshop with relevant stakeholders to jointly deepen the analysis and to include different perspectives (alternative method could be suggested);
• Consolidation and analysis of data and report writing;
• Developing/validating entry points for the JOHANNITER regional programme.

3) Gender and inclusion analysis phase

• Primary data collection from a variety of sources;
• Organizing a workshop with relevant stakeholders to jointly deepen the analysis and to include different perspectives (alternative method could be suggested);
• Developing/validating entry points for the JOHANNITER regional programme;
• Consolidation and analysis of data and report writing.

4) Do not harm analysis phase (it could alternatively also be included into the conflict analysis).

5) Do no harm training phase.

6) Completion phase

• Submission of the draft report(s) for JOHANNITER reviews and feedback;
• Final report prepared based on several rounds of feedback from JOHANNITER and dataset submission to JOHANNITER.
• Facilitating a debriefing session for JOHANNITER staff.

3.2. Management of the assessment

JOHANNlTER shall prepare a contract that the consultant(s) shall sign to commit themselves including our Code of Conduct; the consultant(s) shall be answerable to the JOHANNITER team. The Heads of Mission in South Sudan and Uganda shall represent JOHANNITER and Senior Programme Managers in each country will be the focal persons for day-to-day communication.

• The consultant(s) shall work closely with the JOHANNlTER teams and should be reachable via phone/email/face-to-face during the whole duration of the consultancy.
• JOHANNITER shall be responsible for the day-to-day field management.
• The consultant(s) shall be responsible for the execution of the data collection analysis, report generation and submission.
• JOHANNlTER will provide the field-level logistical arrangements. All field costs shall not be included in the consultant’s bid, but should be included as expectations from JOHANNITER.
• JOHANNlTER will facilitate access to all required sites and government officials for any requested data/ information by the consultant(s).

4 Deliverables

The expected deliverables include:

• Inception report covering a detailed Peace and Conflict, Gender and Inclusion Assessment and Analysis methodology and adjusted work plan.
• Final agreed versions of the data collection matrix, tools and sampling methodology.
• Data set of all data collected.
• Consultative workshops (if any) agenda and meeting minutes.
• Do-no-harm training needs assessment tools, results and training materials. Comprehensive Peace and Conflict Assessment final report with the findings and recommendations after incorporating JOHANNITER feedback. The report will be prepared in English language in electronic version and with an attractive design, following a structure agreed on with JOHANNITER.
• Comprehensive Gender and Inclusion Analysis final report with the findings and recommendations after incorporating JOHANNITER feedback. The report will be prepared in English language in electronic version and with an attractive design, following a structure agreed on with JOHANNITER.
• PowerPoint presentation covering the findings and recommendations (between 15-30 slides).

5 Duration and time frame
The assessment shall be undertaken between 16th January 2023 and 15th April 2023.
The recommended total number of days allocated for the consultancy is 75 working days (15 working weeks). The consultant(s) is/are responsible to define the number of days required for the whole exercise in his/her proposal and agree later with Johanniter.
A proposed feasible schedule for this assignment should be included in the technical proposal. The schedule should at least indicate the below activities with an indication of number of days allocated for each of them:

• Inception meeting with the JOHANNITER team
• Review of available literature and datasets
• Finalization of technical proposal and budget
• Preparation and submission of inception report
• Drafting and finalising data collection matrix and tools
• Collection of data/information from primary sources and conflict analysis
• Collection of data/information from primary sources and gender and inclusion analysis
• Training needs assessment
• Do No Harm training delivery
• Submission and review of draft reports
• Submission of final reports
• Debriefing (mandatory) and presentation of the findings to the JOHANNITER team (desirable)

6 Profile of the consultant(s)
The consultant(s) must demonstrate their experience and expertise on:

• Master’s degree in peace and conflict studies, conflict resolution, conflict analysis and management, gender studies, human rights, development studies, social sciences, or any other relevant academic qualification or an equivalent experience of the lead consultant.
• Strong specialist knowledge in conflict analysis and peacebuilding as well as development practice and theory; and/or strong demonstrated experience in conducting conflict analysis and/or research on conflict and its causes or approaches to conflict transformation – minimum 7 years of proven experience of undertaking similar peace and conflict studies.
• Strong understanding of gender and inclusion concepts and frameworks; and/or strong demonstrated experience of gender and inclusion analysis approach – minimum 7 years proven experience of undertaking similar gender and inclusion studies.
• Proven experience of undertaking similar consultancies for an external client.
• Sound theoretical knowledge of development theory and/or experience of project management for an NGO or UN agency in delivering humanitarian or development projects.
• Good knowledge and proven experience in research design, implementation, data collection and analysis; previous experiences of practising participatory methods for conducting research and planning.
• Expertise in designing and writing high quality documents for publication.
• Understanding of the political, social, cultural and security context in South Sudan and Uganda.
• Cultural sensitivity and adherence to do no harm principle.
• Excellent English language writing skills.

Desirable:

• Contextual knowledge of Eastern Equatoria and Adjumani and Obongi Districts.
• Experience with German Government – funded projects
• Have an eye for details.
• The consultant(s) is/are strongly encourage to include in the technical proposal a simple table responding clearly to each of the above requirements.

7 Submission requirements
Interested consultant(s) is/are required to submit complete proposals in soft copy to [email protected] with subject line “BMZ-Conflict and gender assessment” by 05th January 2023 (midnight East Africa Time) starting 12th December 2022. Please note that hard copies dropped at the JIA Offices and incomplete packages will not be considered.

8 Mandatory Submission requirements

• A technical proposal (max 15 pages). The technical proposal should describe the methodology to be used for undertaking this assignment and also explain how their professional experience matches the requirements for this consultancy. The consultant(s) should also include the CV(s) of a lead consultant(s) as well as individuals directly responsible for the work on the ground.
• A financial proposal with a clear breakdown of costs and proposed terms of payment. Detailed descriptions of cost either as a fee per day or per cost category. The financial proposal should also clearly state, what other financial commitments are expected to be covered by JOHANNITER.
• An Indicative Work plan (max 2 pages),
• At least 3 traceable referees,
• Profile of the consultancy firm if it’s not an individual consultant,
• Legal Company registration documents (Registration Certificates, Memorandum and Articles of Association clearly showing the company shareholders.
• Tax registration and clearance certificates including exemption certificates where applicable.
• Bank Statement for at least the last six months and Audited Accounts for the past 12 months.
• Banking details and for companies and institutions and
• Duly signed and stamped copy of the declaration of suppliers and TOR.

9 Evaluation Process.
A tender evaluation committee shall be set up in accordance to Johanniter procurement guidelines/policy taking into consideration all relevant donor requirements. The evaluation process shall include:

• Preliminary evaluation where all bids shall be evaluated to determine whether they were submitted in line with the administrative instructions including all mandatory requirements.
• Technical, Financial Capacity and essential criteria. All bids that pass the preliminary evaluation shall be evaluated for financial stability, if it meets technical requirements and other essential criteria listed below before a contract is awarded.
• Reference checks to validate information provided shall be conducted prior to award of contract.

10 Award Criteria.

When analysing the offers, Johanniter will take into consideration the following award criteria to achieve best value for money:

• Company profile, background and expertise.
• Financial capacity.
• Technical proposal.
• Delivery timelines.
• Evidence of execution of similar contract.
• Letter of reference from other International NGOs or reputable companies