DEC Cylone Idai Appeal 2019 Real-Time Response Review: Call for Expressions of Interest 354 views3 applications

Introduction

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) brings together fourteen of the largest UK humanitarian charities to raise funds in response to major international humanitarian crises. In order to support members’ activities, harness lessons and inform real-time revisions to ongoing humanitarian programmes, the DEC Secretariat will commission a review of the Cyclone Idai response, tentatively scheduled to take place between late May and early August 2019, with an in-country workshop to be held by early/mid-July and a draft report due by end July.

Background

Idai began as a tropical depression in early March, dropping heavy rain over Mozambique and Malawi before making landfall in Mozambique on 15 March as a tropical cyclone. It reached peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 195 km/h and made landfall 24 hours after this peak speed with sustained winds of 177 km/h. Idai is possibly the worst weather-related disaster to hit the southern hemisphere, with more than 1.7 million people in the storm’s path in Mozambique and 920,000 people affected in Malawi alone. The disaster has also devastated parts of neighbouring Zimbabwe, leaving hundreds of thousands of people displaced across the region. It is estimated that at least 2.5 million people require humanitarian assistance in the aftermath of this disaster.

On 21^st of March 2019, the DEC launched an appeal for funds to support member agencies in responding to the extensive humanitarian needs in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. At the time of posting, the collective fundraising campaign has raised over £21 million, including £4 million of UK Aid Match. While the initial focus of the response is on emergency relief and will prioritise assistance under WASH, shelter, food, health, NFIs and protection, it is expected that the disaster will have long-term implications, requiring early recovery and livelihoods support activities. The thirteen member agencies taking part in the appeal will likely spend DEC funds over a period of 3 years – split into Phase 1 (the first 6 months) and Phase 2 (the following 2.5 years) of the response.

Purpose of Response Review

The primary purpose of the Response Review is to instigate collective real-time reflection and learning to inform adjustments across DEC members’ response. The review draws on the initial phase of the response in order that lessons be applied in real-time and into the second phase (month 7 onwards) of the members’ programmes.

The Response Review and the report also serve an accountability function, both to communities and people affected by crisis[1], as well as to the UK public and other key supporters of the DEC appeal.

The Response Review will:

• draw out key lessons, at operational level, that can inform real-time adjustments and be utilised in the design and implementation of DEC Phase 2 Plans;
• highlight good practice in the humanitarian operations funded by the DEC;
• where relevant identify gaps, areas of unmet needs, and challenges to the humanitarian operations funded by the DEC, from both a sectoral and cross-cutting perspective.

The Response Review will focus in on specific areas of enquiry that will be determined through close consultation with members during the inception phase.

Expressions of Interest are invited from consultants interested in leading the Response Review, in order to undertake the field-based work no later than early July and deliver a draft report to the DEC before end July.

Essential requirements include:

The Response Review Team will consist of a minimum of two consultants and be appropriately gender balanced. The team should provide the following:

• demonstrated experience in real-time reviews of humanitarian programmes;
• a sound understanding of the context in Southern Africa i.e. Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe;
• expertise in one or more of the relevant technical areas for this response;
• a good understanding of the DEC and its Accountability Framework;
• a sound knowledge of Humanitarian Principles; the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief; the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability; and Sphere Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response, as well as an appreciation of key challenges and constraints to their application in the relevant context;
• strong facilitation skills and a creative approach to participatory workshops that focus on collaborative learning;
• demonstrated analytical, communication and report-writing skills.

Previous experience of working in the specific context and knowledge of relevant languages within the team is desirable. Experience with DEC or a DEC member agency is a plus.

Note that a DEC Secretariat member of staff will accompany the consultants during the field visit and contribute to in-country briefing and de-briefing; we may also seek further support from the membership if it is necessary to add to the team someone with another specific area of expertise.

[1] In line with CHS commitment 7 “humanitarian actors continuously learn and improve”