TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR A CONSULTANCY ON PRACTICAL APPROACHES TO LOCALISATION

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE

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Seven years on from the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit (WHS) in Istanbul, the impetus to localize aid is stronger than ever. Humanitarian needs have increased, and crises have grown in number, duration, and complexity over the last decade. In the face of this, it has been evident for a while that the current model of humanitarian assistance is unsustainable, giving way to a growing recognition of the critical role local and national actors have as first responders. 

This is also being recognized in the development and, crucially for International Alert, peacebuilding sectors. This localization of aid calls for a fundamental change in how aid is planned and delivered, challenging all actors within the existing structures of the international and national aid architecture to work differently. 

In Rwanda, the localization agenda has slowly taken root but needs a common vision as to what localization means in the context of Rwanda or the pathways to achieve this. There is a need for deeper discussions on the localization agenda and shifting power and decision making to local actors that are based in and responsive or accountable to the communities they seek to serve as they understand better communities’ priorities and opportunities for change, as well as the risks and constraints to development and humanitarian programming in a particular context. 

PURPOSE AND QUESTIONS OF THE ASSESSMENT

The main purpose of Alert’s project on Practical Approaches to Localisation is to seek to leverage participatory dialogue and strategic partnerships to ensure that local realities and voices on localisation are seen and heard by international actors (INGOs and donors) in the Rwandan context. This will inform local civil society actors, INGOs and representatives of donor agencies on the different forms to operationalise the localisation for peacebuilding in the Rwandan context. 

Specifically, the study will:

• Explore new insights from locally defined perspectives on peacebuilding and the localisation agenda,
• Identify more effective means of partnering with local organisations to shift this agenda towards practical implementation,
• Model the building of strong relationships and trust between target individuals/groups along and across scales (local, national, regional, global) to support localisation as a long-term commitment to mutual partnership,
• Building of capacities and benefit current discussions by providing practical approaches and models. 

METHODOLOGY

The study is purely qualitative, and the focus will be at the national and provincial levels. It will target local organisations that have worked closely with International Alert in the last five years and some others in the area of peacebuilding. We also seek to collect views of umbrellas of civil society organisations such as the Rwanda Civil Society Platform, an umbrella body of local NGOs. The intention is to reach as many respondents as possible, with the assumption that local partners’ staff can widely contribute to practically addressing localisation issues as they are the main implementors and closest to local beneficiaries. 

Document review

The consultant will make an in-depth review of various documents related to localization such as research publications on localisation theories/trends/practices, policy and legal documents, project reports, etc. This will be helpful in understanding the context as well in triangulating secondary data with primary data collected at provincial and national levels.

FGDs

At least three Focus Group Discussions per province and City of Kigali, i.e. 15 FGDs countrywide. FGDs will be composed by (i) technical government staff (District/ Province staff), (ii) CSOs staff (Local NGOs, Faith Based organizations, academicians) and (iii) opinion leaders including representatives of cooperatives, PSF, etc. 

Key informants’ interviews  

We are anticipating that the assessment team will conduct interviews with knowledgeable individuals at district level (District Mayor, CSOs representatives, etc.) and at national level (Government officials, International and Local NGOs, the donor community, umbrellas of Local NGOs, Lecturers in the field international relations, organization management, aid management, etc.). 

KEY ACTIVITIES

International Alert is therefore desirous to hire a national consultant who will perform the following activities:

1. To contribute to a detailed methodology of the study, with focus to categories and number of participants to Focus Groups Discussions and Key Informants Interview, survey tools and realistic timeline,
2. To conduct Focus Group Discussions and KII using the tools developed by Alert with contribution by the consultant following discussions with partners through the methodological workshop,
3. To lead the analysis and reporting process under the guidance and support of Alert’s designated study coordinator.
4. To develop a practice note based on findings from exchange with different participants to the study.

SCHEDULE AND DELIVERABLES OF THE ASSIGNMENT

An orientation session will be organized and conducted by the Lead Consultant and Alert team before the consultant starts the assignment. This consultancy will be conducted within 25 working days as below outlined:

• Orientation: 1 day
• Attend the methodological workshop with Alert partners: 1 day
• Inception report based on the methodological workshop with final detailed methodology, tools and realistic timeline: 3 days
• Conduct FGDs, KII at provincial and national levels: 10 days
• Reporting and submission of Draft report: 6 days
• Presentation of preliminary results: 1 days
• Integrating comments/ inputs and submission of final report: 3 days 

PROFILE OF THE CONSULTANT

Below are the specific skills and competencies expected of the consultants: 

• At least a Master’s degree in International Relations, International Development, Governance, Political Sciences, Public Administration or any other related to a similar field.
• Fluent in Kinyarwanda and English (oral and written).
• At least five years’ experience conducting research qualitative research in Rwanda.
• Proven experience working on interventions that focus on NGOs capacity assessments and localization.
• Strong interview and analytical skills – with capacity to collect, synthesize and report qualitative/ non-numerical data (produce reports that reflect first hand experience, truthful reporting and quotation of the actual conversations).
• Organized, time conscious and able to work under minimum supervision. 

HOW TO APPLY

If you have the credentials (above) and interested in taking on this assignment, please send your motivation letter, CV, technical and financial offers to Rwanda@international-alert.org . Deadline for receiving CV’s is 28 November 2023.

Done in Kigali, 20^th November 2023