Market-Based Approach Consultancy

1.1. PRESENTATION OF SOLIDARITES INTERNATIONAL

(SI) is a French NGO, independent of any political, economic, ethnic or religious group. For more than 40 years, it has been providing humanitarian aid to populations affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters by meeting their vital needs (water, food, shelter) and strengthening their resilience. Particularly committed to the fight against water-borne diseases, the leading cause of death in the world.

1.2.CONSULTANT PROFILE / TEAM COMPOSITION
In general, the evaluation consultant / consulting firm will combine the following criteria:

1. A solid and diversified experience in External Evaluation and/or Research Assessments of humanitarian assistance activities, preferably in Northern Syria.
2. Experience in evaluation of emergency-based WASH and Market-Based interventions
   (preferably in emergency context for reputed donor agencies and international
   organizations).
3. Experience implementing evaluations leveraging concepts related to cost-effectiveness.
4. Strong knowledge on data collection, analysis, and protection.
5. Experience on managing evaluation assignment in remote management settings.
6. Full working knowledge of English and excellent report writing skills.
7. Full working knowledge of Arabic.
8. Demonstrated capacities to access and conduct evaluation assignments in Northeast
   Syria.

1.3. PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECT & ACTIVITY

In Northeast Syria, as part of its BHA-funded intervention, “Living Improvement For Emergency response, Life-saving Initiatives, and Necessities in Syria” or LIFELINE, SI is implementing a package of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) activities in selected informal settlements (InSe) and villages in Ar-Raqqa subdistrict, Raqqa Governorate, in Northeast Syria, in addition to provision of Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) and Winterization assistance. Under the WASH Sector, SI will namely ensure water supply for an estimated 48,164 individuals (representing approximately 6,800 households). Specifically, since June 2022, SI has been piloting a Market-Based Approach (MBA) to Water Trucking in 7 InSe, supporting a total of 7,768 individuals (1,704 households).

At the end of 2021, SI aimed to develop a more sustainable approach to delivering safe water to Internally Displaced People (IDPs) – to build resilience and reduce dependence on humanitarian aid. The MBA has a dual objective: (i) to support truck owners through an income-generating activity and (ii) to support the most vulnerable households in InSe through easier access to water in sufficient quantity and quality (the water distributed by MBA truck owners is half the price of market water).

The MBA is implemented in locations where the majority of households are willing and able to pay for water. SI financially supports local truck owners to provide a consistent supply of water at below market price to incentivize IDPs to re-engage with chargeable water delivery processes. Some households have nonetheless reported that they had to purchase water on credit. SI also supports truck owners with training and material to chlorinate the water before selling it to HHs (chlorine, water testing equipment). SI also regularly monitors the water quality that is being provided by the support truck owners at truck and household level (including by conducting FRC & E.Coli tests).

During the course of implementation, SI aims at gradually reducing the financial support to truck owners in 2 sites to prepare for exit from these sites by the end of the project, by progressively reducing financial support provided to truck owners. This plan remains contingent to several external factors: economic context, inflation, currency depreciation, availability of water, availability of fuel, etc. These sites have been selected due to the targeted population’s capacity to pay for water. The other 5 sites will be prepared for a potential phase out in 2026, based on the lessons learned from the phase out in 2 settlements in 2025.

1.4. PURPOSE OF THE EVALUATION
As SI enters the third year of implementation of the MBA pilot, SI has identified the need to conduct a formative evaluation in order to support its learning efforts around this pilot approach. Ultimately, the objectives of this assessment are the following:
• To inform the implementation of SI’s MBA exit strategy in 2 selected InSe.
• Assess the impact of MBA in terms of access to water and ability to cover basic needs, both for settlement residents and supported truck owners.
• Assess the cost-efficiency of the MBA approach, as well as potential needs for adaptation to increase cost-efficiency.
• Identify key criteria and related indicators to inform decision-making around 1) whether a location can be targeted by the MBA approach and 2) whether a given location be targeted by the MBA exit strategy.
This evaluation should allow to identify practical and operational recommendations to inf orm the implementation of SI MBA exit strategy, as well as its overall MBA implementation approach in Raqqa.
Detailed evaluation questions are available in the Evaluation TOR, which can be requested at the following email address:[email protected].

1.5. EVALUATION METHODOLOGY
The methodology will be co-designed by the consultant or consulting firm and SI during the first month of the consultancy. Some key methodological considerations are however outlined in the evaluation TOR, which can be requested at the following email address: amm.supply@solidarites – syria.org. Considering that the methodology and data collection approach will be co-designed by SI and the selected consultant during the first weeks of the consultancy, at this stage, applicants are not required to submit a fully finalized methodological approach or assessment timeline at this stage. However, applicants are expected to suggest appropriate methodological and data collection approaches, based on key methodological considerations outlined in this TOR.

1.6. DELIVERABLES
The consultant or consulting firm is expected to produce the following deliverables:
• Evaluation Inception Report, including detailed outline of the co-designed data
collection methodology, data collection tools, data collection plan.
• List of actionable recommendations for implementation of the MBA exit strategy.
• Draft (to be reviewed by SI) and final report.
• List of criteria and related indicators for implementation of MBA and MBA-exit strategy.
• At least one validation workshop: Interactive and participatory presentation of the preliminary findings to the WASH and Coordination teams in Raqqa, in order to discuss and validate findings (preferably in person).
• Presentation of findings to the NES Wash Working Group (preferably in person).
• 2-pager presenting key findings and recommendations in a donor-friendly format.

1.7. BUDGET
The budget will be provided by the consultant as part of the financial proposal. Budget for the proposed survey is limited and dependent on the quality of technical and financial proposal and relevant experience of the consultants and/or consulting firms applying for this assignment with SI.
Financial proposal may cover, as applicable:

• Local and/or international consultant(s) fees (per working day),
• International consultant(s) per diem for duration of field visit,
• Local and/or international transportation,
• Travel and health insurance,
• Visa fees,
• Booking of venues, refreshments and stationaries.

1.8 APPLICATION
Interested applicants are required to request the full TOR by email to amm.supply@solidarites syria.org with subject “TOR request MBA Consultancy”.
After receiving the full TOR, questions may be submitted to SI until September 11th 2024. All applicants will receive answers to their questions and questions of other applicants on September 12th 2024.
Final applications are due on September 19th 2024.
Important note: A contract will be proposed to the selected applicant only if the funding for the above mentionned programme is confirmed. Solidarités International reserves the right to cancel this consultancy offer otherwise.