Social Protection Consultancy

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home. The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has received a grant from Danida SPAdonor for the implementation of the humanitarian aid operation in Middle East. Part of this operation is the supply of social protection consultancy. Therefore, DRC requests you to submit a technical and financial proposal as indicated in the attached RFP package.

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency. Operating since 2003 in the Middle East region, DRC has addressed the needs and rights of vulnerable populations, working with both host and displaced communities, in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Yemen. DRC in the Middle East is delivering programming in several sectors across its countries of operations, among which Protection, Economic Recovery, WASH, Shelter, Camp Coordination and Camp Management and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding.

For further information about DRC, please refer to our website: https://drc.ngo/

In line with its Rights-Based Approach, and more specifically the imperative to engage with and hold duty bearers to account, DRC is increasingly aligning and linking its programming to local systems of Social Protection. Noting that there is no universal definition of Social Protection, DRC considers that it includes, but is not limited to, such elements as basic needs support, insurance, care and social services and labour market interventions and regulation, undertaken principally through resource transfer, service provision and policy development.

Social Protection systems, be they formal, state-provisioned or informal, community-based, are a key constitutive part of DRC’s commitment to supporting localisation, as well as a fundamental pillar in efforts to effectively bridge the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) nexus. Given the existence of social protection systems (of varying capacities and efficiencies) across the region, they also represent an opportunity for more effective and sustainable programming beyond the short-term nature of humanitarian responses given the protracted nature of the displacement challenges and needs across the region.

OBJECTIVES:

DRC is looking at defining its role in regards to existing social protection systems in the Middle East to understand how it may better link its approaches and programming to social protection systems, but also shaping and influencing them, in countries with situations of protracted displacement.

DRC is seeking to recruit a full-time Consultant with social protection strategy and operational design experience to support with this process for its operations in the Middle East. The consultant will have the objective to assess the opportunities for DRC in the Middle East region to link and adapt its programming and approaches to social protection systems, already in existence or not, in line with its mandate to provide sustainable solutions for refugees, displaced people and host communities coupled with the objective of enabling those we assist to live dignified lives.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The specific objectives of the consultant will be:

1. Summarize the existing social protection systems, their opportunities, specifically for displaced populations, and landscape of actors in countries considered
2. Assess the role DRC can play in Social Protection in the Middle East region – in line with its mandate and issues that communities impacted by displacement in the region face.
3. Recommend practical programmatic strategies and further analysis of key gaps in national policy frameworks to link up with or support Social Protection systems in the selected countries in the Middle East
4. Assess DRC staff’s understanding of Social Protection and knowledge of what exists, and build their capacities for them to articulate what Social Protection means for DRC programming

• Explore and compare the social protection systems existing in Turkey, Jordan, Iraq and Yemen versus the current support DRC is bringing to displaced and host communities within its economic recovery and protection sectors and through its multi-sector cash support, with a focus on safety nets in general and cash transfers in particular, and access to other services (e.g., child protection)
• Assess the status and strategies of the governments of the countries of operations in regards to social protection, with coordinating with relevant key stakeholders, in particular in terms of integration of displaced populations
• Assess and map out the stakeholders implementing social assistance and social insurance, either governmental, non-governmental or private sectors actors, and the opportunities for DRC to link with them
• Evaluate the possible linkages between DRC’s Graduation Approach programming and existing Social Protection systems in relevant countries
• Explore the role DRC can play specifically in terms of Social Protection systems responding to shocks influencing climate-linked displacement and in making existing systems more shock responsive, both in terms of social assistance and social insurance
• Map out the financing of Social Protection with specific schemes for displaced communities
• Map out donors’ interest and opportunities in financing Social Protection and opportunities
• Collect and analysis key lessons learnt and best practices emerging from social protection systems, specifically safety nets and cash transfers, and evaluate how DRC could adopt them
• Make recommendations, in terms of programme, to position DRC on Social Protection, either through adapting its current programming or developing new strategies
• Conduct a risk analysis of the potential adoption and implementation of Social Protection, with a specific focus on comprises and humanitarian principles
• Make recommendations on how DRC systems and support services should adapt to be able to implement Social Protection

DELIVERABLES:

The Danish Refugee Council is looking to build a strategy and concrete action plan to link up with Social Protection systems in the region. The consultant will thus deliver:

• A comprehensive strategy and action plan report outlining countries specific strategies and a regional strategy and a policy gaps analysis, and including data and analytical framework behind ultimate decision-making with respect to strategy
• Workshop presenting the strategies

ESTIMATED TIMEFRAME:

Over a period of five (5) months, estimated 75 days.

The consultant is expected to work remotely while conducting regular calls with DRC regional office in the Middle East (based in Amman), and relevant stakeholders in the region, taking into account the time zone.

Tasks/timeframe

Month 1

Month 2

Month 3

Month 4

Month 5

Inception report

Estimated 10 work days

Explore and evaluate role of DRC in terms of Social Protection

Estimated 10 work days

Estimated 20 work days

Estimated 20 work days

Draft report

Estimated 6 days

Organize workshop presentation

Estimated 3 days

Provide the workshop

Estimated 1 day

Final report

Estimated 5 days

DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED:

Interested applicants should submit a technical proposal and a financial proposal.

• Registration papers for the company, or individual establishment of the applicant.
• Previous similar consultancy on Social Protection conducted by the applicant. Please note clearly if you have worked with DRC in the past (when, for what service, where).
• Resume/updated CV for the applicant.
• Reference contacts.
• Financial offer (signed) that includes a budget breakdown, clearly mentioning the unit price per day.
• General description and historical background of the applicant, along with the conducted activities and previous related experience by sharing examples.

EXPERIENCE AND TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES:

• Advanced university degree in Economics, Public Policy (Social Policy) or International Development or a related field;
• At least eight to ten years of relevant operational experience in the development field, preferably in the social sectors in the Middle East with emphasis on program design and implementation in the area of social protection.
• Experience in engaging with stakeholders, specifically Government and donors, in regards to social protection policies;
• Extensive knowledge of social safety net systems;
• Sound understanding of the tools and techniques (including international models) for designing an integrated social protection system including financing models;
• High capacity for organization and coordination, as well as an ability to work with a high degree of independence in a team environment.
• Experience of working on social safety nets and social protection in the Middle East will be an advantage;
• Fluency in English is required.
• Candidates should have excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work in cross cutting team and a wide variety of stakeholders

Excellent analytical and report writing skills