Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Germany
Closing date: 28 Feb 2016
Background:
Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e.V. is a German Christian non-governmental organisation, dedicated to excellence in the field of first aid, ambulance services, social service programmes and other projects in the medical and social field. The Federal Headquarters are based in Berlin, Germany. Johanniter International Assistance is the department for and emergency relief, humanitarian assistance and development cooperation, implementing and supporting projects worldwide, mainly in the health sector. www.thejohanniter.de
In DR Congo Johanniter has been active since 1995, with a focus on North Kivu since 2008. The overall objective of Johanniter’s Program in North Kivu, DRC, is to reduce mortality and morbidity by improving the health conditions and reducing vulnerability of displaced people host population. Johanniter’s interventions aim to improve, in close cooperation with the Congolese Ministry of Health, the provision of and access to quality primary health care and to support the improved nutrition status of children under five, pregnant and lactating women and other vulnerable people (such as elderly people, people with disability, people living with HIV/AIDS, and survivors of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV)). Furthermore, the improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene is part of Johanniter’s DRC program
The World Humanitarian Summit (WHS), to be held in Istanbul, Turkey from 23 – 24 May 2016, is our opportunity to confront global challenges facing humanitarian action. At the Summit, leaders at the highest level from all stakeholders - including Member States, affected communities, humanitarian organizations, civil society and the private sector – will meet to reaffirm our shared commitment to humanity and to announce concrete actions and commitments that will enable the humanitarian community to better prepare for and respond to crises.
In the context of the World Humanitarian Summit, Johanniter coordinates – in close cooperation with the German NGO network VENRO - the German actors’ contributions and participation in the preparatory consultation as well as in the Summit itself. Furthermore, Johanniter manages a WHS consortia project, funded by the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is including the organization of trainings to enhance the Accountability to Affected People.
Rationale for the trainings:
One of the key recommendations which has come out of the broad WHS consultation process is to
- Enable people to be the central drivers in building their resilience and be accountable to them, including through ensuring consistent community engagement, involvement in decision-making, and women's participation at all levels. Build on positive local coping strategies and capacities in preparedness, response and recovery, and ensure relevant demand-led support that reduces reliance on international assistance. (WHS SG Report, Agenda for Humanity p. x)
Based on initiatives of ALNAP, HAP, CDAC, IASC Transformative Agenda, GHD Principle 7 and lately the Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS Standard 4) it has been underlined especially during the WHS Global Forum (June 2015 in New York) that Community Engagement is a decisive quality aspect of humanitarian assistance in order to ensure that the assistance is needs-based and relevant for the affected people including various specifically vulnerable groups, that their capacities for rehabilitation are being strengthened and that resources are efficiently and effectively used. This idea not being new at all, it has rarely been put into practice in many humanitarian projects though.
One important tool for strengthening Community Engagement in humanitarian assistance is the training of staff and partners in basic communication with affected people as a base for their information, participation and active engagement.
Purpose of the consultancy
The consultancy is designed to hold two trainings on Community Engagement and participation of women, one in Germany (in English) and the other in DR Congo, DRC (in French), and to suggest recommendations for further action. Furthermore, the trainings shall be evaluated and the results be documented and made available for Johanniter International assistance HQ and field level, local partners, as well as for the German humanitarian NGO community and the German Federal Foreign Office.
Objectives:
Support German humanitarian NGOs as well as the Johanniter DRC team and stakeholders in DRC to improve the quality of their programming through a deeper understanding of how better to engage with communities - and specifically with women in the communities - to find out their needs and design programs that effectively address the challenges and risks faced by communities
For DRC additionally: facilitate that communities’ perspectives on past and ongoing integrated health programs of Johanniter as well as on priority needs for future activities are evaluated within the training.
Support better accountability to affected people in program implementation
Lay the base for building better relationships with communities through more open, and less program focused dialogue
Test assumptions that we already know and understand what communities and women need by engaging staff on how to fully listen to them.
Deliverables and Methodology:
Hold - in English - a 4 day workshop in Berlin (including 1 full day of practical exercises in town) for 24 participants from German humanitarian NGO program staff applying a highly participative methodology which is apt to reach the above objectives.
Hold - in French - a 5 day workshop in the project area of Johanniter in North Kivu, DRC, (including 2 full days of practical exercises in the field) for 30 participants from Johanniter program staff, local partner program staff, community health workers and other community representatives, using a highly participative methodology which is apt to reach the above objectives.
Document quality training reports.
Conduct 3 months after each training a participatory qualitative evaluation of the trainings i.e. engaging the training participants respectively the communities and women, to check whether the trainings had the desired effect, whether candidates are able to implement their learning in their respective workplaces or to their regular work routines. The combined effect for those participants who attend both trainings shall also be taken into consideration. Ideally the evaluations shall have process, outcome and impact elements.
Document a quality evaluation report (in English) with clear recommendations for further action by the participating institutions.
Key tasks and responsibilities of the consultancy:
The key tasks include but not limited to;
Preparation of training notes
Facilitating a 4 days training program in English in Berlin and a 5 days training program in French in DRC (North Kivu) on the above topic
Provide relevant resources and reference to the trainees
Document 2 quality training reports (one in English, one in French) with clear recommendations for further action by the participating institutions
Conceptualization and organization of participatory evaluation of the trainings involving training participants and the communities, and its documentation (in English).
The consultant shall ensure:
that the final products are designed and conducted to respect and protect the rights and welfare of the people and communities involved,
and the analysis approach and other international humanitarian standards.
Time frame and conditions
Starting date: April 2016; End date: Sept 2016, the exact dates for each activity to be closely coordinated with Johanniter.
The total timeframe for the consultancy (incl. preparation, travels, trainings, report writing, evaluation, documentation etc.) should not exceed 25 days.
Travel expenses will be reimbursed according to the German Federal Travel Expense Law (Bundesreisekostengesetz). Flights and hotel (in Germany) will be paid by Johanniter. In DRC, local transport and accommodation will be organized and paid by Johanniter.
Professional fee: the consultant is expected to provide a financial proposal that shows the rate and total cost.
Tax and insurance: The consultant shall be responsible for his/her income tax and/or insurance during the assignment.
Code of conduct: The consultant is bound by the principles and conditions of Johanniter’s Code of Conduct.
A contract will be signed by the consultant upon commencement of the consultancy which will detail additional terms and conditions of service, aspects on inputs and deliverables.
Person/Institution Specification:
Minimum of 3 years proven experience in organizing and conducting Community Engagement Trainings with a strong participatory approach and practical field exercises, including in low resource settings and unstable countries.
Proven experience in conducting training needs assessments and training evaluations in a participatory way and ensuring the active participation of women.
Familiarity with the People First Impact Method (P-FiM) or a similar participatory method adapted to community engagement in humanitarian settings
Familiarity with humanitarian needs assessments, Health and WASH programs and humanitarian projects in general
Working experience in DRC an asset
Excellent communication skills in French and English a must, Kisuaheli an asset
Cultural sensitivity, gender sensitivity, and team spirit
Willingness to travel to Berlin and to the rural areas of North Kivu, DRC, for 1 week each
Availability to conduct the Berlin training within 4 days to be completed latest by May 21st , the DRC training within 5 days to be completed latest by July 31st 2016, and the last evaluation to be completed latest by Sept 11th 2016 - the exact dates to be closely coordinated with Johanniter.
Ability to work under unstable security conditions and in remote rural areas.
How to apply:
Please send your application to inez.kipfer-didavi@johanniter.de until February 28th 2016.
Please indicate “Community Engagement Trainer” in the subject of email. Only short listed candidates will be notified. Thanks for your understanding.
All applications should include:
Cover letter: A short (maximum one page) letter addressing the above mentioned criteria
Technical Proposal(maximum five pages) highlighting: brief explanation about the Consultant with particular emphasis on previous experience in this kind of work; profile of the Consultant to be involved in undertaking the training; understanding of the TOR, the proposed methodology for the training, evaluation and documentation of both . Detailed CV of the professional to do the training and evaluation as well as work plan should be annexed to the technical proposal.
Financial Proposal: The financial proposal should provide cost estimates for services rendered including daily consultancy fees, international transport cost, stationeries, and supplies needed.