Request for Proposal (RFP) - Resilience and Social Cohesion (Peace) in Northeast Nigeria Project at the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

Posted by Future on Thu 31st Mar, 2022 - nigeriantenders.com


The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) invites interested and eligible consultancy firms to express interest by submitting RFP documents for the following works:




The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is a United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. The agency is among the most widespread and recognizable social welfare organizations in the world, with a presence in 192 countries and territories.

Applications are invited for:

Title: Request for Proposal (RFP) - Resilience and Social Cohesion (Peace) in Northeast Nigeria Project

Reference:
RFP 9174064

Background
The complex emergency in the Lake Chad basin is affecting some 17 million people in Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, and Niger. It has devastated lives and livelihoods and forced millions to flee their homes. The majority of the displaced are sheltered by communities that are among the poorest in the world. Across the region, one in three families is food insecure, and malnutrition rates have reached critical levels. And one in every two people needs urgent humanitarian assistance. Recurrent attacks and insecurity as well as security measures have restricted free movement. Farming, trade, transhumance, and other activities are affected, depriving millions of people of their means of survival and limiting access to basic services. Moreover, the violence has also forced hundreds of schools to close.

In addition, the experience of displacement has often led to increased tensions and violent conflict within and between IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) and host communities with different ethnicities and religions and between those who left the conflict areas and those who stayed. It has been found that the host community was becoming increasingly hostile towards IDPs due to a perception of being excluded from the humanitarian assistance being provided to IDPs. There is also stigmatization of individuals seen as associated with non-state armed groups resulting in discrimination that hinders safe and meaningful access to humanitarian assistance. For many of the displaced, day-to-day survival remains an existential struggle.

Conflict and displacement have led to the direct loss of property, particularly farmland, which then gives rise to loss of livelihoods, assets, trade networks, and rights. Land to support the food needs of IDPs, returnees, and host communities is becoming more and more scarce. While IDPs who reside with host communities can rent farmland, the land is becoming smaller as the number of IDPs increases. Similarly, those who return to their communities may find their land already occupied by others; if these situations are not properly managed, there can be a potential risk to social cohesion.

The Resilience and social cohesion (peace) in northeast Nigeria project is an integrated and holistic response package to build resilience for women, men and children at individual, household, community, and institution levels, while supporting government systems to sustain equitable quality services and promote social cohesion. This project will be grounded in the humanitarian-development-peace approach which will focus on:
  • Interventions supporting provision of basic services related to health, nutrition, education, WASH and access to food, with development assistance to strengthen resilience
  • Sustainable livelihoods, income generating interventions and strengthening economic opportunities among targeted communities including youths to improve food production, employment, and incomes.
  • Peace building and improving social cohesion through activities that seeks to mitigate conflict between communities and government stakeholders, increase trust and collaboration within and among different groups as well as strengthening the capacity of institutions and communities at local and state levels.
By restoring basic services and supporting governance at the local level, this project can effect sustainable resilient change in communities. Transitioning from life-saving activities to longer-term approaches served to rebuild trust between government and said communities. The geographical coverage of the intervention is two LGAs, Bade LGA in Yobe state and Shani LGA in Borno State; with a target of 185,878 direct beneficiaries, and 1,035,373 indirect beneficiaries. Within the 1,000-day window of opportunity, households comprising of pregnant women and children 0-23 months will be the primary target groups.

The project will also target school-age children between 6-17 years. Household targeting will prioritize inclusion of vulnerable adolescent girls, female-headed households, the elderly, and people with disability based on the selection during the inception phase.

Purpose and Objectives of Assignment
The purpose of this assignment is to conduct a KAP study and barrier analysis to identify key drivers, barriers and enablers, knowledge gaps, cultural beliefs, behavioral patterns, and gender norms, that need to be addressed by the SBC strategy and program design in Shani and Bade LGAs. The KAP and barrier analysis should also dive deeply into actors and factors influencing behaviors and actions that will lead to the achievement of the project objectives and results in the following outcomes:
  • Children, adolescents, and women have increased inclusive and sustainable access and utilization of quality basic services at individual, community, and institutional level
  • Improved equitable access to and utilization of sustainable livelihood opportunities for youth, women, men, adolescent girls and boys for increased income and intake of diverse, safe, and nutritious diets.
  • Communities, government, and institutions have improved governance capacity and more effectively prevent, manage, and resolve local tensions and conflicts and enhance social cohesion.
Scope of the Assignment
In collaboration with the Technical Working Group (TWG) composed of UNICEF and WFP, the consultant will develop the research design for carrying out the participatory KAP study and barrier analysis on the listed behaviours of children, adolescents, and women. The locations for the KAP study are Bade LGA in Yobe state and Shani LGA in Borno state, the target population of 185,878 direct beneficiaries. The study will be based on mixed model strategy which combines quantitative and qualitative data using an appropriate survey strategy. Key assignments are highlighted below:
  • Literature review on gender norms and conceptual framework of the study.
  • Develop research design including research protocols, which could consist of quantitative and qualitative methods, with a detailed activity plan for carrying out the study; to be approved by TWG.
  • Conduct training on the protocols and ethical frameworks for the study.
  • Provide quality control and monitoring of data field work.
  • Lead the validation of the findings from the study to ensure accuracy, acceptance, and ownership at community and LGA/state levels.
  • Submit an analytical report on the KAP study and barrier analysis with evidence-based recommendations from key stakeholders at community level as well as policy makers
During the assignment, the consultant(s) will need to work with the TWG for the overall conduct of the KAP survey and Barrier analysis. The TWG will provide oversight and technical support to the consultant(s), with regular updates to the larger UNCEF and WFP team in addition, it will be necessary to engage with State and community stakeholders on the protocols of the study.

Qualifications or Specialized Knowledge / Experience Required
  • The organization should have qualified investigators/researchers at least two with master’s degree and above in social sciences (anthropology, sociology, psychology, behavioral sciences, gender study) and/or public health.
  • The consulting institution should have competence in conducting both qualitative and quantitative research with social and behavioral focus.
  • The consulting institution should include a gender expert as part of the team
  • The consulting firm should have substantial experience in conducting research in emergency settings and/or inaccessible communities. Research experience in Nigeria, particularly in the Northeast will be an advantage.
  • Show list of clienteles that should include international development agencies including the United Nations agencies.
  • Have local research network in Nigeria and the ability to conduct study in local language is desirable and will be an advantage
Application Closing Date
21st April, 2022.

Submission of Documents
All proposals should be submitted via email to: ngrsupply@unicef.org with the RFP number used as email subject title. Note that the technical proposal should be submitted separately from the financial proposal.

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