UNDERSTANDING THE VIEWS OF MAJOR FOUNDATIONS REGARDING CVA

Background

The CALP Network is a dynamic global network of organisations engaged in the critical areas of policy, practice and research in humanitarian cash and voucher assistance (CVA) and financial assistance more broadly. Collectively, CALP members deliver the vast majority of humanitarian CVA worldwide.

What makes the CALP Network unique is its diversity. CALP members currently include local and international non-governmental organisations, United Nations agencies, the Red Cross/Crescent Movement, donors, specialist social innovation, technology and financial services companies, researchers and academics, and individual practitioners.

Together we seek to better meet the needs and improve the outcomes for people affected by crisis. To do this we ensure that CVA is a central, scalable component of quality, timely and appropriate humanitarian assistance, and that the need to sustain positive outcomes for people over the longer term is considered.

CALP has been funded by USAID since 2015. Current funding supports CALP’s work globally with regional focus in the Americas, Asia-Pacific and West and Central Africa.

Overall Objective

Cash is usually the preferred modality of humanitarian assistance for people affected by crises. Although it now represents 21% of international humanitarian assistance (IHA), it has the potential to be up to 50% – yet recent research has found that the growth in the use of CVA is plateauing. Two years ago, a review of policies was undertaken to understand the policies shaping the CVA landscape, that review included institutional (governmental) donors but did not include foundations.

This review will identify 30-40 major foundations which support humanitarian action and other forms of financial assistance relevant to humanitarian contexts. It will seek to determine to what extent they support the use of CVA and any concerns that serve as barriers to increasing the use of CVA. Alongside this, it will, seek to understand awareness of good practice and learning related to CVA and the extent to which this helps inform policy and funding decisions.

The review

The questions to be explored are:

• To what degree are major foundations, which support humanitarian work, supportive of CVA?
• Are there any common barriers or issue of concerns that limit foundations from increasing the level of supported channelled in the form of CVA?
• To what extent are foundations aware of and using CVA evidence and learning to inform their decision making? For those that are using such information, to what extent are they drawing on CALP resources?

It is expected that the review will be largely based on desk research supported with some key informant interviews.

Key deliverables/milestones

The following are the final deliverables to be completed by the end of the consultancy, unless otherwise discussed and agreed upon by the ACF-USA and Consultant:

1. Deliverable 1: Inception report, by July 22: 20% payment
2. Deliverable 2: First draft of External Report of overall attitudes of Foundations towards CVA, by August 16
3. Deliverable 3: Final draft of External report with feedback addressed and incorporated, by September 3: 50% payment
4. Deliverable 4: Report for CALP’s internal use which contains more detailed notes and contact information which will not be included in the external report, by September 20
5. Deliverable 5: Introductory briefing meetings (ideally with a CALP staff member) completed with at least 10 Foundations, by September 20: 30% payment

The reports will used by CALP to inform strategic thinking and may be used to inform blogs / think pieces on related issues.

The final external report should be no longer than 20 pages, it should provide:

1. An overall analysis related to the questions above
2. A summary of relevant policy positions of individual foundations

The internal report should provide any additional notes and contact details as may be useful to CALP.

Tentative timeline and activities

The CALP Network expects the consultant(s) to spend in the region of 20-25 consultancy days on this work.

Any additional days and/or modification of Start/End dates must be completed before additional work is commenced.

This is a competitive tendering process and value for money makes up part of the overall assessment of applications (as well as the robustness of the proposal and technical competence).

Management arrangements

This consultant will report directly to the Responsible Manager, listed above, who will be responsible for approving deliverable(s) and invoice(s). CALP’s Head of Network Development will provide overall oversight.

Action Against Hunger is a host of the CALP Network; we are a U.S.-based organization, and as such must comply with U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules and regulations. If you are selected for the consultant work, and choose to work with Action Against Hunger USA, you must provide the proper IRS form to determine your tax status either with a W-9 form or W-8 form, depending on your tax situation. Please visit www.IRS.gov for more information. Any tax questions should be directed to your tax advisor. Contracts and payments are dependent upon receipt of the signed IRS form. Payment of Invoices are net 30 days. Additional details provided in service contract.

We welcome applicants across the world, as long as they complete and submit the tax forms required before the signing of the contract.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the consultant may be required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames. Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a consultant to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

• Must provide own computer, internet, software, and other basic office supplies required to complete the duties for this consultancy
• Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as needed or required by contact with the Project Team or other partners. However, realistically we anticipate that all work on this project will be completed within normal office hours (UTC time zone).

Minimum details in application

For this piece of work, CALP is looking for the following expertise:

1. A strong understanding and experience of working with major funding foundations
2. Knowledge and understanding of the humanitarian landscape
3. An understanding of humanitarian CVA
4. Strong analytical skills
5. Excellent ability to communicate effectively in oral and written forms
6. Fluency in English
7. The ability to successfully deliver to agreed deadlines