Terms of Reference for documentation of lessons learned, best practices and facilitation of learning event for every Voice Counts (EVC) Project

1. Background and context of the EVC project

Every Voice Counts (EVC) Programme is funded through the ‘Dialogue and Dissent’ strategic partnership programme of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and aims to contribute to inclusive and effective governance processes in fragile settings. The programme is being implemented by CARE Nederland (CNL), The Hague Academy for Local Governance, RNW Media, CARE Country Offices (COs) and local partners in Afghanistan, Burundi, Pakistan, Rwanda, Somalia and Sudan.

A key obstacle to achieving stability and sustainable development in fragile settings is the structural exclusion of segments of society from local, district level and national governance processes. The EVC programme Theory of Change (ToC) addresses this by focusing on inclusive governance processes, referring to the extent to which governance processes provide space to overcome the systemic exclusion of disadvantaged groups seeking to participate in decision making, in particular women and/or youth

CARE believes that inclusiveness leads to governance that is more effective since institutions and policies will then be accessible, accountable and responsive to disadvantaged groups, protecting their interests and providing diverse populations with equal access to public services such as justice, health and education. The ToC identifies four “domains of change” in which change is required to realize our long-term objective: to contribute to inclusive and effective governance processes in fragile- and conflict-affected settings. The domains are mutually constitutive and change in one can trigger change in the other.

1. Domain 1 is centered on empowerment of members of excluded groups – in particular, women and/or youth on lobby and advocacy, as most members of excluded groups are affected by harmful norms and traditions, discriminatory social structures, lack awareness of their rights and responsibilities and have limited capacities to articulate and act on their needs.
2. Domain 2 focusses on strengthening the lobby and advocacy role of civil society as it has a key role to play in influencing policies and practices on behalf of excluded groups and in holding public authorities and other power holders to account.

3. Domain 3 is about responsive public authorities and other power holders. We believe that responsiveness increases when public authorities and other power holders have stronger capabilities as well as stronger incentives to act upon the needs and interests of excluded groups.**

1. Domain 4 focuses on expanding and strengthening formal and informal space for dialogue and negotiation. We believe that increased engagement and effective interaction between all actors leads to policies and practices that had better take into account the interests of excluded groups.

The EVC programme has contributed to Domain 1: Empowerment of Excluded Groups through their mobilization and awareness raising activities geared toward informing youth and women about their rights and responsibilities and building their capacities to engage in lobbying and advocacy on their own behalf. Their efforts have contributed to women and youth holding positions for the first time in local government councils, state parliament, and appointed positions within government Ministries. Additionally, offline forums and awareness raising activities and digital campaigns have contributed to a raised understanding of the rights of youth and women to participate in political processes and to have their voices heard.

Domain 2: Civil society organizations are effectively influencing policies and practices on behalf of excluded groups and are holding public authorities and other power holders to account is one of the areas with the most encouraging progress. CSOs also increased their capacity to coordinate and as a result of EVC activities, new umbrella networks, encompassing what were before many independent CSOs, have emerged. CSOs now enjoy a greater legitimacy and access to power holders after approval of the CSO Act in South West State and the memorandum of understanding between CSOs and the Parliament in Puntland.

Under Domain 3: public authorities and other power holders are responsive to and act upon the needs and interests of excluded groups, CARE and their implementing partners have increased the capacities of power holders through training on inclusivity and accountability in governance. As a result, power holders’ perceptions of youth and women have begun to change and changes to laws and policies has made it so women and youth are able to participate in formal positions of power.

Under Domain 4: Excluded groups, civil society organizations, public authorities and other power holders effectively interact through formal and informal spaces for dialogue and negotiation were some of the most successful of the EVC programme. Numerous spaces for dialogue were created during the EVC programme in Somalia. Forums, meetings, consultations, and panel discussions all granted opportunities for marginalized groups to voice their concerns and ideas and engage directly with public authorities and to advocate and lobby on their own. In some cases, these interactions led directly to the adoption of new policies or laws that help to ensure that youth and women are included and that authorities are held accountable to these laws and policies.

Purpose of the actions

The actions namely the empowerment of excluded groups through their mobilization and awareness raising, strengthening CSOs role in effectively influencing policies and practices on behalf of excluded groups and in holding public authorities and other power holders to account, building the capacity of public authorities and other power holders in becoming more responsive to and act upon the needs and interests of excluded groups, creating a space for excluded groups, civil society organizations, public authorities and other power holders to effectively interact through formal and informal meetings for dialogues and negotiations, are some of the critical change areas/agents for the EVC program in Puntland and South West Somalia. The design and the implementation process has yielded opportunities, challenges and successes that can inform future programming for impact at scale.

Therefore, continuous learning and reflection is an integral part of the design and implementation process that allows timely decision-making and refinements of program intervention and implementation techniques. The documentation of lessons learned, best practices and success stories, including a brief video documentary will enhance institutional learning leading to the improved impact of the interventions, and it will further inform the wider socio-economic development in the region. Further, the lessons learnt will provide insights to other players advocating for inclusive governance at the local level on what works and what doesn’t work.

2. Scope and Methodology of the assignment

The assignment will focus on key project changes. This assignment will first aim to document the project outcomes/achievements, lessons learnt, and best practices including a brief video documentary. This part will adopt qualitative approach involving desk reviews and purposive field-level in-depth interviews with key community representatives and high-level stakeholders. Secondly, it will aim to disseminate project outcomes/achievements, lessons learnt, and best practices through a learning event that will to inform and establish a common foundational understanding on inclusive governance that promotes collaborative learning, and collective impact.

The assignment will also involve production of a short video documentary for use as part of the learning process. The short video documentary will be of a high quality and should run for approximately 3-5 minutes. The interviews will be conducted at the project site including places of work, government building, youth centers, and open air spaces. The consultant shall include ten (10) quality action orientated photos to complement the documentary.

3. Specific objectives of the assignment

a) To document the project successes, lessons, and best practices for learning and sharing with the entire program stakeholder, beneficiaries, including donors.

b) To review the existing success stories and case studies for improvement and consolidation with the new documentation.

c) To review completed assessments/researches/studies and develop them into learning briefs aligned to key result areas of the project.

d) Together with others, facilitate a 2-day Learning Event in Garowe, Puntland. This will include event-planning, presentation of the preliminary findings, moderation of discussions and note taking.

e) To capture key footage and interviews on thematic topics, relating to the project and showcasing the key project success stories and produce a short documentary film 3-5 minutes on the programs implemented

Additionally:

o The footage should capture wide, medium, and close-up shots of all activities so the editor can properly cut scenes together.

o General scenic b-roll of the country, region, and village to set the scene and introduce region and landscape. Include scenery, crowd shots, city shots, and rural settings as is possible. Time lapses are always encouraged. Also capturing scene-setter footage with room for adding graphics later is encouraged.

o Interviews with project participants, and other stakeholders. All Interviewees need thorough identification in the accompanying log for lower thirds, including name spelled correctly and applicable professional title. Model release forms must accompany interview footage and/or the person should give permission on camera for CARE to utilize the footage of them.

o Action-oriented b-roll of interviewees engaging in everyday project activities.

o Shots of CARE staff interacting with project participants and working on program

o Organize and catalogue the raw footage, and provide translated transcripts with referenced time codes, including detailed notes of key selections, so that it can be used efficiently for the video editing and production

o In addition to the documentary, capture at least 50 high quality pictures.

4. Deliverables

a) Prepare evidence-based learning briefs on key learning topics, and best practices on the selected project components (excluded groups, youth policy, social norms, local authorities, dialogue spaces, civil societies, youth alliances, etc.)

b) Develop a three-page brief for EVC Project that highlights major achievement/successes.

c) Four (4) success stories from the selected project component/domains (excluded groups, youth policy, social norms, local authorities, dialogue spaces, civil societies, youth alliances, etc)

d) Four (4) case studies from the selected project component/domains (excluded groups, youth policy, social norms, local authorities, dialogue spaces, civil societies, youth alliances, etc)

e) Facilitate the learning event and disseminate key lessons with the local project stakeholder and beneficiaries. The consultant will be required to submit a Learning event report.

f) Submit a gallery of high-resolution and compelling photos as part evidence to the selected project -components (Minimum 20 pieces, 5 per domain)

g) Produce a high quality documentary running for 3-5 minutes

5. Timelines and activities

Activities

Days

Stage 1: Documentation

Inception

· Desk review of project documents

· Submission of draft learning briefs

6

Field work (Success stories, case studies, video and photos)

· Conduct field visit to project sites

· interviews with communities

· Site observation/ photography sessions

7

Drafting the final learning briefs, success stories, case studies, video and photos. **

7

Hold a meeting to review the draft documents: Incorporate recommendations arising from the meeting

1

Stage 2: Learning event

Preparing stage

· Pre-event planning

· Event management

· Event reporting **

9

6. Terms and conditions

Logistics: The consultant’s travel (including airport tax), food, and accommodation costs during the assignment will be covered by CARE Somalia.

7. Consultant profile

The consultant should have the following essential skills and knowledge:

· Minimum of 8 years’ professional experience in developing countries, including previous experience working in Somalia. Advanced university degree in any of the social sciences, development studies or a related field.

· Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of governance sector, learning and knowledge management, resilience building, private sector partnerships building, institutional capacity development and other relevant subjects.

· Demonstrated experience in learning and knowledge management, methodology and tool development and learning event facilitation skills.

· Have an understanding of operating conditions in an insecure environment.

· Fluent in English and Somali (both reading and writing).

· Strong analytical and writing skills and the ability to clearly present findings and drawing practical conclusions and recommendations.

· Ability to facilitate production of a short video documentary on topical development issues

Note: The lead consultant should also submit the profile of Video documentary consultant as co consultant with minimum three years of expertise with video links of previous assignments.

8. Application procedures

Expressions of interest are invited from suitably qualified and experienced consultants with the capacity to undertake the above activities. The Consultant should submit a brief proposal with the following components:

· Cover letter (maximum 1 page) and updated CV’s of consultant and team members if applicable.

· A brief technical proposal and financial proposal:

· Similar assignment completed recently

Technical proposal

· Profile of the Consultant/firm to be involved in undertaking the assignment, a brief technical capacity of the consultant/firm to undertake the assignment with particular emphasis on previous experience in this kind of work.

· Maximum of two pages outlining the Consultants’ understanding of the TOR and the proposed methodology to conduct the assignment, including techniques and tools to be used. A proposed activities schedule/work plan with a timeframe.

· Copies of the CV for the consultant and the proposed team

Financial proposal

· Itemized consultant’s fees and costs – consultant should indicate professional rates and time input for each team member if applicable

· The validity period of quotation/proposal

· Please note: field travel, accommodation and transport cost; stationeries and supplies needed, will be taken care of directly by CARE International.

· Interested and capable candidates should send their application documents to——————

· The email subject line should read “documentation of lessons learned, best Practices and Facilitation of EVC project learning event” only relevant professional credentials should be attached with the application.

Annex 1: Learning event report format

The learning event report should include the following information:

i) Executive Summary of the Event.

ii) Introduction/Background.

iii) Location and Venue.

iv) Attendees.

v) Event program and themes presented.

vi) Group work and resolutions reached

vii) Conclusion and Recommendations.

Annexes

i) List of participants

ii) Presentations/Handouts

iii) Activity photo gallery