SayPro Protection Service Consulting (team or individual) – Review of Protection Approaches

Description

Diakonie Emergency Aid (DKH) are looking for a Protection specialist to conduct an external review of protection activities and approaches currently being implemented as part the ECHO and DKH funded “Protection and Humanitarian Assistance for People Affected by the Armed Conflict and Migrant Crisis in Colombia and Venezuela” program. The current program is implemented by partner organisations in the departments of Cauca, Guainía, Guaviare, La Guajira, Meta, Vichada and Putumayo in Colombia and in the states of Zulia and Amazonas in Venezuela. Project information Project Title: Protection and Humanitarian Assistance for People Affected by the Armed Conflict and Migrant Crisis in Colombia and Venezuela Locations: Cauca, Guainía, Guaviare, La Guajira, Meta, Vichada and Putumayo departments in Colombia, Zulia and Amazonas states in Venezuela. No. of beneficiaries targeted: 19,869 Duration and dates: 1 year (May 2022 – April 2023) Total Budget: EUR 1.9 M Donor: The project is funded by European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations – DG ECHO and Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe and is implemented by four Colombian partner organisations and three Venezuelan partner organisations. Overall protection result: People have improved access to protection mechanisms Protection subsectors: Protection information dissemination. Documentation, status and protection of individuals. Gender based violence prevention and response. Prevention of and response to violence. Protection information management and monitoring. Mine risk education. Partners and DKH coordinators also participate in protection coordination activities at departmental and national level. One of DKH’s national partners in Colombia is currently co-leading the Child Protection sub-cluster at national level (Area de Responsabilidad y Protección a la niñez AdRPN) 2. Colombia and Venezuela Contexts The protracted humanitarian crisis in Colombia continues to have a disproportionate effect on vulnerable and marginalized populations within the Colombian territory as well as migrants and refugees from neighbouring countries. Over 7 million people are estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2022[1]. The political and socioeconomic crisis in Venezuela has seen living conditions decline for a significant proportion of the population over recent years, with lack of basic services, erosion of livelihoods and hyperinflation amongst the most pressing problems. In 2021 it was estimated that 76.6% of households were living in extreme poverty[2]. Almost 2.5 Venezuelans are currently living in Colombia[3]. DKH has implemented protection interventions together with partners in Colombia for over two decades and in recent years has developed new partnerships with organisations in Venezuela. As such, partners have developed intervention strategies and approaches as a direct response to local protection concerns. Partners have subsequently modified and improved their approaches over several years to incorporate learning and to adapt interventions to better respond to new needs and priorities as well as differing levels of institutional capacity at local levels. 3. Scope and Focus of the Review DKH is interested in mapping partners’ existing approaches and activities against 1) current protection needs and priorities as well as 2) against international and national standards and recommended approaches. The ECHO/ DKH funded program is designed as a multisectoral intervention and includes education, WASH, food security and limited health activities as well as protection. However, the review will focus primarily on protection needs and approaches aimed at populations affected by conflict, with a secondary focus on Education in Emergencies. Education in Emergencies activities are considered as a component of the program’s Protection approach as they are closely linked to holistic risk management approaches developed together with families, community members and schools. Education in Emergencies activities are also considered to be a fundamental part of Protection approaches, as they support the development of protective environments and self-protection capacities. Education activities in affected communities also allow partners to develop relationships of trust with community leaders, families, and teachers which in turn allows them to identify and address sensitive protection concerns and cases. 3.1 Review Purpose and Objectives To map and summarise existing protection needs in Colombia and Venezuela, based on available secondary information. To review partners’ existing protection activities and approaches in order to identify promising practices and gaps in protection approaches. To compare existing strategies and approaches to national and international guidelines and intervention ‘routes’, identifying areas for improvement and opportunities for enhanced coordination. To provide inputs for the development of a comprehensive protection strategy for DKH in Colombia and Venezuela, including suggesting linkages with sexual and reproductive health and SGBV activities. 3.2 Review Questions Protection needs and priorities (Based on secondary information) what are the most pressing protection needs at departmental level in Colombia and at state level in Venezuela? Which population groups are most affected? Relevance of existing approaches (methodologies) To what extent do existing approaches respond to protection needs and priorities at departmental/ state level? Are there significant gaps in protection approaches in relation to identified protection needs at departmental/state and/ or national level? To what extent are differential protection needs catered for in the existing program (women, men, boys, girls, youth, ethnic minorities, and people living with disabilities)? Are there opportunities to create better linkages between protection activities, sexual and reproductive health activities and SGBV prevention and/or response activities? Quality of existing approaches (methodologies) What promising practices are currently being implemented by protection partners? Which activities, components or approaches require significant improvements and adjustments? To what extent do protection approaches follow or build on international and national protection guidelines and standards? Do any of the current activities or approaches have the potential to do harm to affected populations? Which core elements of existing protection approaches can be standardised across partners? Impact of existing approaches (methodologies) How is the impact of protection approaches assessed or measured in the current program (in relation to specific protection concerns and relevant outcomes e.g., recruitment/ involvement of children by armed groups, GBV)? (Based on existing monitoring data) is there any evidence of the impact (positive or negative) of the current approaches for program participants? 3.3 Suggested Review Methods The review will be primarily based on qualitative data gathered during document reviews, key informant interviews, case reviews and site observations. Quantitative data gathered during the course of program implementation (beneficiary numbers, indicator reports) will also be available for review. Applicants should include a summary of proposed data collection and analysis approaches in the technical proposal. 3.4 Data/ Reference Documents Available Program proposal and log frame Protection case management records (depersonalized) and summary reports Needs assessment for the program including protection risk analysis for the program Partners’ protection methodologies and protocols Review/ recommendations on SRH methodologies Narrative program reports Community and school risk management plans Mine risk education training materials National protection ‘routes’ DG-ECHO (2016). Humanitarian Protection Thematic Policy Document No. 8 ICRC (2013). Professional Standards for Protection Work GPCEA (2014) Guidelines for Protecting Schools And Universities from Military Use During Armed Conflict The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (2019). Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action. 3.5 Ethical and safeguarding considerations The specialist/ team is expected to promote and ensure the meaningful and safe participation of program participants in the review process in line with the relevant DKH procedures and established best practice for data collection and evaluations. The specialist/ team will provide an assessment of the risks for participants and partners of being involved in the review prior to the commencement of data collection. Risks and legal requirements associated with data storage and sharing must be included in risk analysis and mitigation plans. 4. Profile Applications will be accepted from individual consultants or teams. Essential Previous work experience in Latin America, preferably in Colombia and/or Venezuela Fluent Spanish and English (written and spoken) Previous experience working in humanitarian protection Knowledge of evaluation/ review methods and data-collection skills Knowledge of international protection frameworks and guidelines Desirable Knowledge of Education in Emergencies approaches and guidelines – joint proposals from Protection and Education in Emergencies specialists are welcome. Knowledge of the humanitarian architecture in Colombia and relevant protection actors Qualitative research skills Experience working with indigenous communities in Colombia 5. Activity Schedule Review activities are expected to be carried out between 10th October 2022 and 15th January 2023 in line with the following draft schedule. Phase 1: Review of protection needs and priorities Review secondary information relating to protection needs and priorities – 4 days Develop summary report of protection needs – 2 days Review of DKH protection analysis tool for needs assessments[4] – 1 days Phase 2: Review of protection activities and approaches Review of program documents – 4 days Key informant interviews with partner staff and DKH team members – 2 days Visits to program sites (site selection will depend on local conditions) – 10 days Data analysis and report development – 5 days Incorporation of feedback and submission of final report – 1 day Presentation of findings and recommendations to DKH and partner organisations – 1 day Total number of days: 30 6. Budget Please include a financial proposal with your application. DKH will cover international and national travel costs. These should not be included in the application. 7. Deliverables Phase 1: Inception report and indicative timeframe for the review Protection needs and priorities report Phase 2: Draft protection approaches review report Final protection approaches review report (including comprehensive recommendations for DKH’s Protection Strategy) Presentation to partners and DKH team members [1] ACAPS Colombia Complex Crisis Overview. 28/06/2022 [2] ACAPS Venezuela Crisis Overview. 14/10/2021 [3] ReliefWeb Latin America Report N°94. Hard Times in a Safe Haven: Protecting Venezuelan Migrants in Colombia. 09/08/2022 [4] DKH collects protection data as part of a yearly needs assessment exercise. The specialist’s input is required to review the data collection and analysis tool and provide suggestions for improvement. How to apply Application procedure Interested applicants should send the following documents as part of their application: Technical proposal (maximum 5 pages) Financial proposal CV Cover letter Examples of previous (relevant) assignments to: empleo.col@diakonie-katastrophenhilfe.org no later than the 23rd of September 2022.