REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (REOI)-INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT
FOR
CONSULTANCY SERVICE FOR DOCUMENTATION OF THE FRAMEWORK AND EXPERIENCES OF IMPLEMENTING THE CROSS-BORDER DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
BACKGROUND:
In 2011, IGAD Heads of State and Government agreed to establish the IGAD Drought Disaster Resilience and Sustainability Initiative (IDDRSI) to step up efforts to implement development investments as a way of ending drought emergencies. The Initiative emphasizes enhanced partnerships and increased long-term investments in sustainable development strategies, policies and programmes that will help to build resilience to future climatic and economic shocks.
Cross-border cooperation in the implementation of IDDRSI is made imperative by the recognition that the development of entire cross-border areas, as single ecological zones, is more preferable and cost-effective than the separate uncoordinated development of individual parts of the cross-border area under multiple jurisdictions. Such cooperation in development also enhances community interactions in the cross- border areas and simultaneously helps in reducing conflicts.
Dialogue among cross-border communities is used as the principal method of consultation in a decision making process in which local stakeholders from the different participating countries, coordinated under the auspices of IGAD, determine development priority areas for mutual investment. The implementation of IDDRSI in cross-border areas is thus managed and coordinated within the framework of the IGAD Regional Drought Resilience Platform.
Through support received from the EU/BMZ within the framework of the action titled “Strengthening the Ability of IGAD to promote resilience in the Horn of Africa,” IGAD has been implementing a series of activities to identify policy and resource gaps in the cross-border areas; and develop proposals for initiatives that would increase the resilience of communities in these remote and peripheral border regions. This four-year action contributes to the EU Trust Fund objectives on strengthening the resilience of communities, particularly the most vulnerable; and on improving governance and conflict prevention and reducing forced displacement and irregular migration. The action is aligned with the Valletta Action Plan priority domain on the development benefits of migration and addressing root causes of irregular migration and forced displacement.
To date, the Action has funded 22 studies, policy briefs, research documents etc. released by IGAD and GIZ to contribute to evidence-based policy and programming. We propose to review and repackage the knowledge contained in these documents, as well as the framework that guides cross-border cooperation and other existing content on the subject matter, so that it can be widely accessible and usable by the regional IDDRSI platform. The cluster approach was established to enable a coordinated and collaborative approach to building resilience to disasters and development. In 2020, has had to cope with and respond to the Covd-19 pandemic, Desert Locusts and floods. The documentation process should highlight the role of the cross-border cluster approach in these responses and outline lessons that could be applied in future.
The documentation will endeavor to explore the cross-border approach to these responses, identify lessons that were learnt from the experiences of the Member States and define how these lessons could be applied in future planning processes.
IGAD is seeking the services of an individual consultant to undertake the documentation of the historical development of the cross-border cluster approach, the experiences and case studies of existing cross-border facilitation mechanisms, and articulate the successes, failures and lessons that can be drawn to influence action at policy formulation and implementation levels.
OBJECTIVE OF THE CONSULTANCY:
The objective of the assignment is to document the historical development of the cross-border cluster approach, the experiences and case studies of existing cross-border facilitation mechanisms, and articulate the successes, failures and lessons that can be drawn to influence action at policy formulation and implementation levels.
SPECIFIC TASKS
- In consultation with the cross-border cooperation working group coordinator, develop an inception report that conceptualizes the process and content of the documentation.
- Review and synthesize existing documentation to articulate the historical development of the cross-border cluster approach, the experiences and case studies of existing cross-border facilitation mechanisms, and articulate the successes, failures and lessons that can be drawn to influence action at policy formulation and implementation levels.
- Undertake virtual/online consultations and key informant interviews with relevant persons to triangulate and enrich the existing content.
- Share reports for review/comments by IGAD/stakeholders and incorporate feedback into the final version.
- Undertake substantive editing and proof-reading of the content and prepare the documents for publication in line with IGAD’s style guide.
DELIVERABLES
- An inception report that includes how the consultant will implement the tasks
- A draft report that fulfils the specifications presented in the inception report, and including an informative executive summary.
- A final, edited and proof-read report that incorporates comments by the IGAD team and adheres to IGAD style guide.
- PowerPoint presentation of the report, targeting the senior management.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
Minimum requirements:
- Post-graduate education in social sciences such as: economics, agricultural economics, development economics, sociology, communication and rural development and related fields.
- Applicants with monitoring, evaluation and learning experience will have an added advantage.
- At least 10 years’ experience of working on climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, livelihoods or related fields especially in the borderlands of the IGAD Region.
- In-depth understanding of resilience, climate change, risk and vulnerability.
- Proven technical writing experience search as thematic reports, policy briefs, books, research papers and similar publications.
- Evidence of undertaking similar assignments in the last three years.
- Prior experience in and/or knowledge of the IGAD region will be an added advantage.
- Fluency in spoken and written English. Knowledge of French will be an added advantage.
IGAD Secretariat now invites eligible Individual Consultants with the requisite experience to indicate their interest in providing the services. Interested Consultants must provide information indicating that they are qualified to perform the services.
Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance IGAD procurement regulations.
TENURE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The time envisaged for the consultancy is 34 calendar days
HOW TO APPLY
Interested individual Consultants may obtain further information at the address below during office hours from Sunday to Thursday 7:30am to 2:30pm local time, or by email to procurement@igad.int with copies to Christine.bukania@igad.int
The consultants should submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) to: procurement@igad.int with Copies to Christine.bukania@igad.int not later than 15th October, 2020 at 23:59 Hrs. EAT (GMT+3).
Women are encouraged to apply
Procurement Unit
Administration and Finance
IGAD Secretariat
Avenue Georges Clemenceau
E-mail: procurement@igad.int
P.O. Box 2653,
Djibouti, Republic of Djibouti
