Announcements

Consultancy service for conducting needs assessment

Project title: IDem: Increasing Motivation and Opportunities for Young People in Public Life

Duration of appointment: 20 days

Expected start date: 5 November 2024

Project background: The project’s main goal is to improve young people's and women's meaningful participation at local, provincial, and national levels, by addressing mental health barriers and transforming harmful gender norms that contribute to conflict and violence, in a gender-responsive and conflict-sensitive way, and building capacity, providing resources for leadership and activism, and providing spaces for collaboration with decision-makers. The project is at its inception stage. Informed by the findings of the needs assessment report Saferworld and the project implementing partners DIA, Institute of Youth Development and Peace Initiatives will select 10 locations in the southern part of Kyrgyzstan (in Osh and Batken oblasts) to work with youth and women on their relevant concerns. The findings of the report will be also utilized to inform the topics and the participants of the upcoming capacity-building training for youth and women from Osh and Batken oblasts.   

Purpose: The primary objective of this consultancy is to conduct a comprehensive mapping and needs assessment to identify barriers to youth involvement in decision-making processes, including mental health barriers to participation in public life. This will involve gathering data from key stakeholders—communities, particularly women and youth, and state authorities. The consultant will conduct the needs assessment to ensure relevant, timely, and evidence-based data is gathered.

Scope of work: The consultant/consultancy firm will be required to undertake the following specific tasks:

• Conducting field research: conduct up to 30 KIIs in Osh, Batken, and Bishkek; and up to 22 FGDs in Osh and Batken. Ensure that the assessment is collaborative, engaging youth in framing the research and contributing to discussions. Implementing project partners will assist in mobilizing local community members and leaders to participate in the research for KIIs and FGDs in Osh and Batken (and representatives of the national government in Bishkek).
• Data analysis: (a) map out potential project participants (youth and women) from diverse backgrounds, (b) identify their needs and barriers to participation, including different types of mental health and trauma barriers, (c) map out existing platforms and opportunities for youth and women for participation, (d) align findings with key government priorities to facilitate the emergence of resolutions that benefit a variety of stakeholders. The research should also be informed by key secondary literature (similar reports).
• Final Report (10-12 pages including Annex) in Russian language defining the following:
• 8 pages mapping report outlining (a) an understanding of youth and women's needs, barriers to their participation, including an analysis of existing among youth and women mental health barriers to participation, and (b) mapping out various existing platforms and opportunities for participation, (c) outline types of trauma prevailing among youth and women (to understand which trauma healing approaches will be best suited to address them in the later stages of the project).
• 2 pages document with an overview of national policies and identifying and integrating key government priorities with a set of practical recommendations so that resolutions that work for a variety of stakeholders can emerge.
• Annex consisting of (a) a list of potential participants among youth and women, (b) a list of youth and women-related topics/themes for the training based on the needs revealed.

Methodology: Mixed tools will be used to continuously gather data from key stakeholders including communities (with a focus on women and youth) and state authorities, such as FGDs and KIIs using the snowball methodology. Key interviews include national stakeholders in Bishkek, including key ministries, the Parliament, and state agencies. FGDs will be conducted involving youth and women in target locations in Osh and Batken. The format of the assessment will be collaborative and youth-sensitive as youth and communities will actively take part in the research discussions.

Timeframe: 20 days (5 November 2024 - 25 November 2024). The consultant will be required to undertake the assignment within the indicated period.

Compensation:

The consultants are requested to provide us with the total budget (including the expenses related to the research, such as transportation, accommodation, etc.). The total fee is payable according to the following schedule: 30% upon contract signing, 40% upon submission of the draft report, and 30% upon final report submission.

Approaches:

The consultant will manage the process from inception to completion, working closely with Saferworld and CSO partners; the consultant will be managed by the Saferworld Project Manager.

• The analysis, approach, and methods should adhere to Saferworld’s conflict and gender sensitivity approaches and community security model and strive for simplicity in design with practical application.
• The analysis, approach, and methods should be participatory, and youth-sensitive whereby team members, partners, and participants are involved throughout the process.
• The consultant is required to sign Saferworld’s Code of Conduct and follow its Safeguarding policy to be signed with the contract. 

Qualifications, Skills, And Attributes Required:

The consultant should be an expert in research, Monitoring & Evaluation methodologies, with knowledge of current relevant youth initiatives and conceptual frameworks, trends, and practices. S/he should possess solid work experience in Kyrgyzstan and/or have worked for regional/international organizations, preferably in the peacebuilding sphere. Preference will be given to young consultants or youth-led firms with proven relevant experience in undertaking a task of similar magnitude to ensure a youth-sensitive approach. The assignment will be contracted to a consultant/company with experience in the following areas:

• Experience working in fragile and conflict-affected contexts
• Strong experience and communication skills to facilitate interviews (including remotely when needed), with a range of actors
• Experience in producing high-quality, credible reports in Russian/English
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills (Kyrgyz/Uzbek/Russian) (Consultants will need to budget an adequate amount for translation services as part of their application in case they are not proficient in Kyrgyz/Uzbek)
• Knowledge of local context and actors
• Experience in peacebuilding, youth, and gender projects

Application process:

Saferworld invites expressions of interest from individual consultants/firms with the required skills and experience. The expression of interest should comprise:

• A cover letter outlining relevant experience, and suitability for the consultancy (maximum 1 page)
• A detailed work plan, timeline, outline of the methodology, and proposed budget for the consultancy. The budget should cover daily rate(s) and any related expenses. Rates should be in USD and inclusive of VAT. The budget should be inclusive of all possible costs, including all travel-related costs (local flights and in-country accommodation, translation costs if needed). Saferworld will pay the payments in three tranches upon completion of three main tasks.
• CV/company profile, including contact details for two referees/references
• A sample of previous work relevant to the assignment (in Russian/English)
• The consultant or company must provide the necessary tax documents; failure to do so will result in the deduction of taxes from the total consultancy fee.

Please submit expressions of interest with all supporting information to (znazarova@saferworld-global.org ) Your e-mail must have the subject heading indicating in the title: IDem Project Needs Assessment

The deadline for applications is 31 October 2024

We regret only shortlisted candidates/companies will be contacted. It is anticipated that interviews will take place the week following the application deadline.