Ireland: call for proposals: advice to the Governance Program Baseline Survey

Organization: Trócaire
Country: Ireland
Closing date: 10 Jul 2013

Europe NGO jobs vacancies TENDERING PROCESSfor aBASELINE SURVEY FOR GOVERNANCE AND HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAMME IN SOUTH SUDAN
Terms of Reference and Tendering Process
Trócaire Trócaire is an Irish organisation, a member agency of the Caritas and Cidse networks, and has development and humanitarian programmes in over 20 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Organisational programme areas include: Governance and Human Rights, Livelihood Security, Gender, HIV and AIDS, and humanitarian response. Trócaire’s approach is to work with local partner organisations, supporting their work as catalysts for development.
Trócaire’s work on Governance & Human Rights seeks to challenge the social, economic and political structures that exacerbate injustice and exclude people. Empowering vulnerable and marginalised people to demand greater accountability from their government is a key approach to programming.
Since the mid-1970s, Trócaire has been working in Sudan supporting a wide spectrum of local organisations – both NGOs and church social agencies. With the separation of Sudan into two countries, Trócaire made a decision to focus its efforts in South Sudan.
Europe NGO jobs vacancies Programme IntroductionIn late 2012, Trócaire South Sudan began the process of developing a new Governance & Human Rights programme. The programme development process was participatory, it involved all local partner organisations and culminated into a workshop in November 2012 where key programme focus issues affecting governance and human rights in South Sudan were selected. Further programme planning by individual partners was undertaken in early 2013 and, in May 2013, a second programme workshop was held. This latter workshop facilitated finalisation on a number of key operational issues such geographical focus, programme and project strategies, and levels of collaboration. Trócaire uses the Results Based Management approach and programmes (and individual projects) are presented with a focus on results.
Currently (June), individual projects are in the process of being finalised and are due to begin implementation in the coming months.
In line with our commitment to measure programme progress and, ultimately, the impact, there is now a need to conduct a baseline survey for the programme as a whole.
Programme Details
Summary DetailsProgramme title: South Sudan Governance and Human Rights ProgrammeProgramme code: SUD1302Programme start & end dates: March 2013 to February 2018Geographical focus: South Sudan: Western Bahr el Ghazal, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Lakes, and Warrap States.Goal: Citizens demanding and engaging in productive dialogue with state actors to ensure participatory and accountable governance, respect, and protection of human rights.Specific Objectives: 1. To improve citizens engagement and participation in public decision making for accountability and effective service delivery; 2. To enhance the capacity of the Civil Society Organisations to ensure effective, participatory and accountable governance; 3. To enhance the capacity of the duty bearers to ensure democratic and accountable governance in delivery of public services.
Thematic areas of focus: 1. Participatory and accountable governance;2. Access to Justice;3. Gender equality – focusing on women empowerment to participate in decision making processes that affect their lives at community and higher levels.
Partner Organisations Focus of work in Governance Area of coverageHope Agency for relief and Development (HARD). Social Accountability; Governance; peace; and conflict resolution. Western Bahr el Ghazel and Northern Bahr el Ghazal state, with a focus on one county per state.Catholic Diocese of Wau - Justice and Peace Commission Military training on human rights; Women empowerment; Social accountability; and Human rights Awareness. Western Bahr el Ghazal, Northern Bahr el Ghazal; and part of Warrap state. Currently working with 10 J&P parish committees.Good News Radio Governance; Legal awareness; and human rights awareness. Catholic Diocese of Rumbek, Lakes State.Voice of Hope Radio Governance; Legal awareness; and human rights awareness. Catholic Diocese of Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal, Northern Bahr el Ghazal, and part of Warrap State.Loreto Sisters Children rights awareness, children participation in decision making, social accountability and good governance. Loreto School.Justice Africa Governance; Social accountability; Constitution dialogue; and CSO capacity building. South Sudan, with a more focus on Greater Bahr el Ghazal region.WOTAP Women participation in decision making; social accountability; and women empowerment. Bagari Payam in Western Bahr el Ghazal State.South Sudan Anti Corruption Commission Anti- corruption; Social accountability; and good governance. Western Bahr el Ghazal State.CEPO Access to justice. Western Bahr el Ghazal State.DMI Sisters Women participation in decision making; women empowerment. Gogrial County in Warrap State.
Objective:The purpose of a programme baseline is to provide an accurate profile of the programme’s target groups at the beginning of the programme cycle.
The survey will provide a description (“snapshot”) of the various governance issues (participation and accountability) as these issues exist currently and as they are experienced by various target groups.
It is also expected that the baseline will, through the benchmarking process and through the development of tools, provide the foundation for ongoing monitoring of the programme as well as the eventual evaluation.
Specific focusThe programme’s Results Framework outlines provisional indicators which have been developed as part of the programme design process and identify key issues which will indicate change in the programme. These indicators refer to expected changes to a number of groups/institutions. There are three main groups/categories where the programme is focusing and where change is expected:
• Community based structures – these include community based organisations/groups, traditional groups, or others whom the programme is engaging. The programme expects to improve the level of awareness, engagement and participation of these groups in governance processes. (see objective one above)
o It expected that the baseline will engage with a sample of approximately 20 community based groups.o The methodology of this engagement, in the baseline process, should be participatory.o Trócaire’s programme approach with these groups is one of empowerment with a particular focus on awareness, access (to rights/services) and action (to gain access).
• Local government – these include government institutions at state, county and sub-county level where the programme is operational. The programme expects to increase the openness and public engagement of appropriate government bodies. (see objective three above)
o It is expected that the baseline will engage with 4 states and county structures.o The methodology for this engagement, in the baseline process, should be through key informant interviews and an appraisal of existing practices which facilitate public accountability. (Some information collected from communities will complement.)
o The methodology should, if appropriate, also appraise relevant published and / or government materials whose purpose it is to inform the public of services and entitlements.o Secondary data may be available and could, if relevant, be used in lieu of or to complement primary data.
• Selected Civil Society organisations – these include Trócaire partner organisations and others. The programme expects to see an increased level of capacity amongst these organisations in the area of participation and accountability to the public.o It is expected that the baseline will engage with a maximum of 10 civil society organisations.o The methodology for this engagement should be participatory, focusing on the organisations and their staff.
Organisation of BaselineIt is expected that there will be a number of phases to the baseline process which include (in brief):
Phase one: Orientation and design• This phase will involve initial review of documents and the presentation of an inception report. The inception report should include an elaborated plan, methodology, draft data analysis instruments and sampling strategy of the field survey;• Literature Review; • Selection of enumerators (drawn from partner organisation’s staff) and their training with methodologies;• Initial field work to pilot/test tools;• Finalisation of methodology/tools and operational plan.
Phase two: Data collection• The main activity of this phase will be the actual data collection in line with the agreed plan, methodology, and sampling strategy from phase one.
Phase three: Data analysis and reporting• Analysing qualitative and quantitative data;• Drafting report, receiving comments, finalising report;• The core report should not be more than 30 pages (excluding appendices). A format for the report will be agreed during phase one above;• In addition to the main report, it is expected that a brief baseline report, specific to each partner project, will be produced.
Phase four:• Sharing findings with Trócaire/partners;• Proposing monitoring tools (based on baseline tools) for use by Trócaire/partners in ongoing monitoring of the programme. These will accompany the short project specific baseline reports.
Management of the Baseline SurveyOverall management of the baseline survey lies with Trócaire’s governance and human rights South Sudan programme officer. The consultant is expected to undertake the baseline, as outlined briefly above, and will have continuous engagement with the programme officer throughout the process.
Consultant ProfileThe consultant should have many of the following qualifications / experience:• Conducting baseline surveys, preferable in the governance and civil society sector;• Proven experience of using participatory methodologies as a means of data collection for programme baseline survey;• Proficiency in data analysis, documentation and report writing;• Good spoken and written communication skills in English;• Excellent skills in public policy analysis, advocacy programming and other change influencing processes;• Working with decentralised governance processes, devolved funds, and youth and women sensitive programming;• Engagement with / working through local partner organisations;• Training of local development actors to engage in primary research processes;• Developing high quality monitoring and evaluation systems for similar programmes;• Strong interpersonal and analytical skills;• Familiarity with South Sudan.
Tendering processProposals are invited from consultants interested to undertake this baseline survey. Proposals should include:• Summary methodology outlining how the baseline will be conducted (guided by this ToR). This summary should not exceed 2,000 words and should include the number of days required;• An up-to-date curriculum vitae that clearly outlining relevant experience;• A copy of a similar report;• A financial proposal stating consultancy fees and indicative international travel costs. (Local costs, such as transport, accommodation, logistics, etc will be budgeted separately by Trócaire.)
Criteria for selection of consultant:• Summary methodology - 30%• Consultant profile - 30%• Example of previous work - 15%• Cost - 15% • Availability - 10%
(Trócaire’s preferred start date is 22nd July or as soon as possible thereafter)
Proposals should be sent to Bernie Jennings bjennings@trocaire.ie by 10th July 2013

How to apply Europe NGO jobs vacancies:
email your proposal to bjennings@trocaire.ie by 10th July 2013