Call for proposals for research, analysis, and advocacy to strengthen humanitarian systems’ accountability in oPt

[PLEASE ACCESS OUR FULL TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR MORE DETAILS ON THIS PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY]

After the publication of a first report on Gaza in January 2024, GTS is planning to conduct additional research. We are interested in forging a strong, equitable partnership with an oPt-based entity, and intend to sign an agreement for the next two years to collaborate on making community voices heard.

Ground Truth Solutions invites proposals from research firms, academic institutions, or independent consultant(s) to establish this partnership, investigate and champion the views of people affected by crisis in oPt, jointly conducting research and evidence-based advocacy efforts to elevate community voice and agency and ensure that humanitarian response and resilience planning, implementation, monitoring, advocacy and funding decisions are informed by the views, priorities and perceptions of affected people.

Together with our partner, we want to hear from communities on their self-identified priorities to inform the response; provide a space for people to anonymously share views and create an accurate record of community views at scale; and inform out-of-the box ways of working and funding to best support the self-identified needs of the people of Gaza, as well as in the West Bank, as the humanitarian crisis changes shape. The anticipated three goals for our current work are:

1. People living in crisis in Gaza, or recovering from crisis in Gaza/surrounds, have an opportunity to share their views, overcoming multiple barriers to doing so in the absence of a conducive data collection environment, systematic needs assessments and independent, robust data that is being collected and analysed by entities other than aid providers themselves. In doing so, they have an opportunity to influence decision-making at a critical time, find ways to engage in the response more systematically, and understand their right to participate, receive transparent information and comment on decisions that impact them.
2. The humanitarian response is better informed as it makes decisions about how to allocate insufficient resources as the situation continues to change, factoring in short- or long-term ceasefires, continued access issues, forced displacement or other eventualities. This outcome is highly likely in Gaza due to a willing and supportive humanitarian country team and donor community.
3. The global narrative on aid in Gaza is more nuanced, more informed by citizen and refugee views, and global advocacy is supported by the systematic inclusion of voices from people impacted by the crisis, especially those with particular challenges or potential solutions for aid and support.

For our upcoming work in Gaza, the collaboration with the selected partner will include co-design and execution in four phases: the research scoping & design phase, the data collection phase, the analysis phase, and the dissemination & engagement phase. In each phase, both partners are to be expected equally according to their expertise and unique position. In particular, we are looking for a partner that can:

1. Research scoping & design phase

Support, guide, and contribute to scoping efforts to ensure impactful research and the definition of research questions that are informed by people realities and by the context. Provide insights and guide the selection of most relevant target groups based on the scope of the research and research questions. Support identifying the vulnerable and marginalised populations. Contribute to the definition of the geographic scope of the research and provide insight on accessibility and feasibility to conduct the research in specific locations in Gaza Strip.

2. Data collection phase

2.a. Quantitative Data Collection

Co-design a quantitative survey, including sample design, enhanced questionnaire testing (including cognitive testing + piloting), data collection (face-to-face surveys), and translation of any open-ended responses into English. We considering at the beginning one round of face-to-dace data collection in Gaza conducted around June with an overall sample of 1,500 surveys.

2.b. Qualitative data collection

The qualitative data collection will complement findings from the perception surveys to better engage with various stakeholders on themes of interest through dialogue with both aid providers and crisis-affected people. This will likely happen in the form of open-ended questions as optional adjuncts to surveys, dedicated qualitative interviews and/or adapted user journey interviews, case studies, and dialogue with the humanitarian community on opportunities, challenges, and ways they have been responsive to community agency.

3. Analysis Phase

The selected partner and GTS will jointly conduct the analysis for both the quantitative and qualitative data. It is expected that quantitative data analysis will inform the finalisation of the approach for qualitative data collection.

Together with our partner, we would like to:

1. Conduct joint analysis sessions and, when possible, foster the participation of people affected by crisis and humanitarian actors.
2. Ensure analysis inform the formulation of relevant recommendations for the betterment of the humanitarian response and support engaging a wide range of actors participating in the humanitarian response.
3. Use our analysis to inform further research objectives.