DEADLINE EXTENSION: Terms of Reference For Developing knowledge and learning Agenda for Oxfam Somaliland/Somalia Program

Terms of Reference: Developing knowledge and learning Agenda for Oxfam Somaliland/Somalia program.

Date: 7^th Feb, 2021

Background and Context

OKF fund started in 2016 in support of Oxfam’s to become a knowledge-based organization. The aim was to make all decisions and day to day to work knowledge-driven, and to put into use people’s experiences and expertise to improve organizational thinking’s, system and processes. In 2019 Oxfam received OKF fund to implement learning project titled’ Harnessing learning champions among Oxfam projects and partners’

The learning project aims to bring shifts in organizational thinking and practice on how we collect, document, and apply knowledge and learning generated within and outside Oxfam. The learning project was ending Dec 2020, but Oxfam received the approval of non-cost extension due Covid-19 and changes of the project’s scope, timeline and activities.

In parallel, Oxfam started the country map review process to review 2020 strategy and develop new OCS that set new program directions. With global OCS, learning framework and country OCS in hand, Oxfam plans to develop learning agenda as learning and knowledge and learning are core in its programming.  We are committed in putting knowledge and learning in the core of Oxfam’s business.

As result, Oxfam plans to use the OKF funded project to strengthen knowledge and learning systems. We would develop learning agenda for country program that is feeding to both the country OCS and global frameworks. In this new learning agenda, we would set up system, guidelines and tools for capturing, documenting and utilising knowledge in our business development and program implementations.

The learning agenda would follow a consultative process with the support from Oxfam knowledge and impact team at global level. We aim to have pragmatic and easy to implement learning strategy to enable the organization to learn and improve operations and processes.

Consultancy Objectives  

The consultancy aim to develop learning agenda for the country program. The agenda would strengthen systems, capacities and practices of Oxfam . The guideline would identify learning priorities, tools and practical steps for implementations.

Specific objectives of the consultancy

• Develop learning agenda responding to Oxfam global, regional and country program frameworks.
• Identify learning priorities/questions for three program pillars: Just economy and economic, Gender justice and inclusive governance, Conflict-sensitive humanitarian response and resilience.
• Develop implementation plan on how to answer the program learning questions in all the three pillars.
• Develop learning tools and practical guideline on closing the learning loop – how we practically implement the agenda.

Deliverables

1. Cocreation workshop organized and report is available (endorsed by Oxfam)
2. Other key documents (e.g workshop report, tools, desk review report, consultation meeting notes, any interview/discussions notes) to support learning agenda document are available
3. Learning agenda document is available (approved by Oxfam management)

 Rationale of developing the learning agenda:

Since 2018, Oxfam team took key steps in improving the program quality in aspect of digitalising MEL, conducting program reviews and incorporating ICT4D. On similar note, we realised that vast of amount of learnings generated within our program that could provide learning opportunities and growth.

However, we face challenge on how we systematically learn – having learning priorities, guidelines and best practices to apply learning within business development and program interventions. This challenges our notion of Oxfam being knowledge based organizations to remain effective, relavant and to have impactful programs.

To address the challenge and respond to Oxfam global and regional learning framework requirments, we are aiming to use the OKF fund as opportunity to strengthen the existing learning and knowledge systems and capacities.

This action utilizes co-creation processes to understand and document K&L priorities, best practices and frameworks from other organizations to come up robust analysis on how to improve K&L capacity. We aim to have learning agenda that is responding to country and global learning requirements.

Methodology

We encourage the consultant to use innovate, collaborative and suitable methodologies in designing knowledge and learning organizational framework. This assignment would mix approaches such as conducting desk review, consultation meetings and facilitating co-creation workshop. During the process, Oxfam would like consultant to have the following considerations

• As learning is complex, the consultant ned to use innovation and system thinking approach to develop understanding of the underlying challenges and solutions towards learning and knowledge.
• Create empowering and inclusive process for all relevant stakeholders such as Oxfam, partners and other groups to provide their input and feedback. Everyone ownership to this document is important, as it would make easy to implement.
• Strong knowledge of Oxfam is important, as the learning agenda is responding to Oxfam global, regional an country learning requirements.

With these considerations, the consultant would specifically use the following approaches/Data collection instruments:

• Desk review: the first action of the consultant would be to review all necessary documents such Oxfam, global, regional and country program frameworks. This would give detailed information of Oxfam program directions. The review would give the consultant on the Oxfam learning frameworks at global and regions. It is expected the consultant to do literature review of learning documents developed by other scholar and organization to draw learnings and recommendations.
• Co–creation workshop: this very central as we want to invite Oxfam staff, partners and learning specialist to do system thinking analysis of the knowledge systems and practices within Oxfam. In that analysis, key learning priorities, activities and tools would be developed. Prior to the co-creation workshop, consultation meeting would be conducted to prepare key focus themes or topics for the co-creation workshop.
• Consultation meeting: this would space to talk to Oxfam senior management team, staff and partner to document requirements, expectations and to provide perspective of what learning in Oxfam could be. Information from consultation meetings would of twofold: it would inform the co-creation workshop. There would be pre-identified information about Oxfam learning system, approaches and practices. On another level, information from consultation meetings stakeholder views on what to include in the learning agenda and how to implement.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCE:

• Education to at least degree level in social sciences, international development, or another relevant field.
• At least more than 5 years’ experience in program research, learnings, evaluations and program managements.
• Excellent writing, facilitation and communications skills. The consultant must able to write comprehensive and technical reports.
• Sound in knowledge with working different stakeholders to make sure all required information are received from target groups.
• Sound knowledge in organizational knowledge management, and learning. The consultant must work similar learning exercises.

Application Procedure

The consultant must meet the above-required qualification and experience. Interested applicants who meet the requirements should submit a detailed technical proposal, including a detailed work plan, a proposed budget for the assignment. All applications should submit on or before the deadline via SOM-Consultancies@oxfam.org by 18^th Feb 2021.