GBV and WASH Humanitarian Needs Assessment in the Syrian Arab Republic via ReliefWeb

Background information

NCA has been operating in Syria for the past five years, supporting local partners to implement GBV projects. Interventions have focused mostly on the prevention and treatment of Gender-Based Violence; WASH assistance; and COVID-19 prevention measures. Based on experiences in these thematic areas, and with regard to the continuation of Syria’s crisis, NCA sees a need to extend similar activities into 2022. To demonstrate that donor resources will be prioritized in geographical areas of greatest need, and that the 2022 project aligns with, or will inform, UN Cluster priorities, a Needs Assessment is required that will:

1. Conduct primary research at the field level among NCA partners, communities, officials in relevant government departments, UN personnel, other INGOs and local NGOs.
2. Assess NCA’s local partner capacities and limitations, as determined by the impact of their current and previous work.
3. Assess the capacity, and the terms and conditions, of local health clinics/hospitals and other services to safely provide relevant treatments to GBV survivors.

Based on the Needs Assessment findings, the consultant’s final document will provide NCA with credible recommendations for GBV, WASH, and COVID-19 activities. It may also highlight other humanitarian needs as observed during the research.

Contract purpose and Expected results

Overall objective:

The overall objective is to review, enumerate, and document the scope of, and need for, GBV protection, prevention, and remedial services and activities as identified by conflict-affected communities and other actors as summarised above. Linked to this is the prevailing factor of Coronavirus, where the need is to ensure that project activities do not increase infection risks for the target communities, and where relevant WASH-related improvements can further minimise risk.

Purpose:

The needs assessment is to be conducted at the field level, during which other cross-cutting or related factors, e.g., security, access, infection, must also be considered. The purpose of the assessment is to provide a comprehensive picture of the following:

Results to be achieved by the Contractor:

· The needs of GBV survivors (women, girls, boys and men) as they identify them;

· The current protection concerns women and, girls, and vulnerable boys and men face;

· The current coping mechanism women and, girls, and vulnerable boys and men resort to address their needs, minimize risk, and their effectiveness;

· The existing services targeted specifically to GBV survivors (MHPSS, health, protection, etc.), including the locations and the organizations that are providing them;

· Specific gaps in services (Case-management capacity of GBV counselling and referral services) for GBV survivors (specific locations);

· Exposure of vulnerable people, including persons with disabilities, to abuse and domestic violence;

· Domestic violence and negative coping mechanism as an outcome of financial hardship;

· Identify the barriers of vulnerable groups, including GBV survivors, to practice safe and adequate hygiene, menstrual hygiene management and COVID-19 preventive measures, e.g. in terms of water availability, availability and access of related material, infrastructure and facilities and lack in knowledge on personal protection and prevention of the spread of the disease, including vaccination;

· Status of local health centers regarding their capacity to provide basic services related to GBV and MHPSS, as well as to prevent the spreading of Coronavirus among their personnel, patients and visitors (with focus on power supply, WASH, medical waste management, accessibility for persons with disability and access to PPE and disinfection material);

· Specific gaps in the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health personnel and preventive measures in frontline health facilities in the targeted areas (e.g. availability of water and power supply, handwashing facilities and stations, disinfection, medical waste management, etc.).

· Gaps and needs related to the safety and protection of the users of the shared WASH facilities (water collection points, distribution sites, latrines, showers, washing areas, etc.) in communities, camps and collective shelters (with added focus on disability);

· Barriers in accessing complaints response mechanism, especially for reporting sensitive issues such as sexual abuse and exploitation

Applicant to include Assumptions and risk matrix with the application.

(Note: an assumption could be that the security situation permits the work to be completed or the Government is willing to cooperate. A risk could be limited access to the area, country etc. )

Scope of the Services

· Focus on GBV and WASH/COVID prevention

· Geographic coverage: 08 Governorates including camps and collective shelters, final list of governorates will be shared with shortlisted candidates.

GBV elements:

• GBV context: demographics, types of GBV, risk factors for GBV, survivor/perpetrator profiles, survivor needs and preferred ways of accessing support.
• Availability, accessibility, safety and quality of services: Types of services available, key actors,
• Disclosure, help-seeking and referrals: Entry points to seek help, existence of referral pathways and systems, service provider knowledge and attitudes towards GBV, availability of community-based support.
• Community Profile: community knowledge and attitudes towards GBV, community perception of GBV within community, practices/beliefs, existence of community-based support/protection structures.

WASH, COVID-19 Prevention and other elements:

· General hygiene, menstrual hygiene management and COVID-19 prevention needs of vulnerable women and girls, including GBV survivors (material and facilities)

· Safety and protection needs in and around WASH facilities (latrines, showers, water points, laundry areas, kitchen area, etc.) in households, communities, collective shelters, camps, schools and health facilities

· Power supply and WASH needs of safe centres and health facilities for maintaining basic services’ provision, in relation with GBV and MHPSS, and for enabling COVID-19 prevention

· PPE, disinfection and other material needs for COVID-19 prevention in safe spaces and health facilities

· Medical waste management needs in safe centers and health facilities, in relation with public health safety, including COVID-19 prevention

· Training/Capacity building needs for WASH personnel for mainstreaming GBV and PSHEA in WASH activities**

During the assignment, the consultant will report to the NCA Head of Programs. The consultant/s will be expected to make her/his/their own arrangements for visas, accommodation, permits, transportation, office facilities, and if necessary, translation from Arabic to English.

Timing, logistics and facilities

The full assignment is scheduled from the 15^th Oct 2021 to 30^th Nov 2021 and the research will be conducted in Syria. Further reporting requirements will be discussed with the selected consultant. Field work will take place in the respective governorates as described above under point B.3: Scope of services.

During the assignment, the consultant will report to the NCA Head of Programs. The consultant/s will be expected to make her/his/their own arrangements for accommodation, permits, transportation/fuel, data collection tools, enumerators, office facilities, security and safety, and if necessary, translation from Arabic to English.

Reporting

The selected consultant/s will be expected to submit the following documents in English:

a) Inception report. b) Assessment tools. c) Progress updates. d) Final Report.

Schedule:

The assignment will start by 15^th Oct 2021 and the final report and supporting documents are expected no later than 30^th Nov 2021. The consultant is asked to fill-in the below table with suggested dates for each of the tasks and milestone.

Core Tasks

By Date:

Scoping meeting with NCA and local partners through Skype:

· Detailed briefing on the assignment.

· Receive all relevant available project documentation

Milestone 1: Inception report including timeline, desk review and assessment tools:

· Please see above under Expected deliverables and milestones.

· Final versions will be subject of approval by NCA.

Field visits:

· Data collection on site as per agreed methodology, tools and schedule.

· Please see above under Scope of services.

Data analysis:

· Data cleaning and analysis

Milestone 2: Draft final report

· Please see above under Expected deliverables and milestones.

Milestone 3: Final report

· Please see above under Expected deliverables and milestones

· Final versions will be subject of approval by NCA.

The assessment cannot rely on data/information from the UN’s Syria Humanitarian Needs Overview, or the Humanitarian Response Plan, or other publicly available documentation regarding Syria’s humanitarian crisis. Such information may only be presented in support of the Assessment’s primary research findings.

The consultant is expected to develop an approach combining both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, relevant to the overarching purpose and research questions. Research methodologies will primarily consist of key informant interviews, focal group discussions, may include desk reviews, beneficiary satisfaction surveys, observations and case studies.

It is expected that the consultant will conduct in person data collection and will not rely on phone or remote surveys.

The final report is to be provided in English. It should contain at least the following sections (not exhaustive):

· Executive summary and introduction and context background to the assignment

· Description of the methodology, approach, scope of work, constraints, and opportunities

· Data presentation and detailed analysis

· Key findings, recommendations, and conclusions

· Conclusions related to the assessment’s findings and recommendations

Annexes to be included: The agreed Terms of Reference (ToR), work plan, assessment tool and protocols, databases, photos and references to sources of information for both qualitative and quantitative data.

The final report is to be submitted in English. All datasets produced during the consultancy, should be provided in a CSV compatible file. In addition, all communications materials produced during the assignment should be submitted to NCA. All related data, including the final report and guidance document are the property of NCA.

Qualification Requirements

• Highly competent and experienced team of GBV, WASH/public health (with focus on COVID-19 prevention) and data collection experts;
• Highly competent and experienced team of field coordinators, managers and enumerators;
• Vetting procedures for all staff, including for any external partners and collaborators, according to international donor requirements;
• Proven experience in conducting multi-sectoral needs assessments, covering GBV and WASH;
• Worked previously for a minimum of 5 years on assessments and evaluations;
• Provided two sample needs assessment reports of previous assignments;
• Proven familiarity with the culture of the focus population and an in-depth experience of the Syrian context;
• Expertise in digital data collection, information management, analysis and presentation, including data security;
• Fluency or working knowledge of Arabic is necessary;
• Fluency in English;
• Legal presence inside Syria and ability to safely access all targeted assessment locations;
• Specified name and location of registered bank account

How to apply

Interested candidates are invited to access the full Request for Proposals document in this link.

Please note:

Ø Applications must be sent to [email protected] by 11th October 2021 (COB Jordan time)

Ø Further details on the assignment will only be shared with shortlisted candidates.

Ø NCA will contact only shortlisted applicants that have submitted all required documents and fulfill the selection criteria for this assignment (as mentioned in the full RFP).