Terms of Reference for Mapping and capacity assessment support to Local NGO Partners

Terms of Reference for Mapping and capacity assessment support to Local NGO Partners

1. Introduction

The Somali NGO Consortium (SNC) is a membership organization of national and international NGOs (with 120 member NGOs by end of 2023) that work together to create an enabling environment for the efficient and effective delivery of humanitarian and development assistance to Somali communities. The operating environment in Somalia is highly challenging and complex, due to recurrent climate related shocks, continuing conflict, weak governance, and restricted humanitarian access to populations in need. Some of our members continue to have challenges putting in place robust institutional structures for administrative and operational compliance on programming, targeting, finance & grants management, networking / coordination and reporting. This has limited their chances of accessing funding as well as meaningful engagement in mainstream (IASC) coordination and decision making processes. Particularly, Minority Rights Organizations (MROs) and Women Led national NGOs.

The Somali NGO Consortium (SNC) continues to facilitate inclusive dialogues and engagements between international and national member NGOs on critical pragmatic and operational issues across Somalia and Somaliland. SNC has offices in Somalia (Mogadishu, Garowe, Kismayo, Baidoa and Dhusamareeb) and in Somaliland we have an office in Hargeisa. The Consortium currently has over 120 members working across Somalia and Somaliland.

The number of organizations in Somalia continue to grow with 405 operating partners (national and international NGOs) reported in 18 regions in 73 districts. For effective continued support and advocating for national NGOs (including women-led NGOs and MROs), there is need to get updated mapping of national NGOs (especially MROs and Women-led national NGOs) across Somalia and Somaliland.

2. Objectives

The SNC has received funding from the World Food Program (WFP) Somalia in a project titled “Partner Coordination and Capacity Strengthening” which has the following outcome areas:

• To strengthen the capacity of Somali NGO Consortium in achieving its objectives as a national platform for NGOs – as part of the localization agenda by investing on an existing national platform.
• To improve presence, leadership and influence of national NGOs (including women-led and minority rights organizations) in humanitarian leadership, coordination and advocacy.
• To improve support and institutional capacity strengthening for national NGOs (including women-led and minority rights organizations) for efficient and effective humanitarian response.
• To enhance collaboration and efficiency among partner organizations by developing and implementing strategies for effective coordination, and by strengthening their capacities through targeted training and resource support,
• Through this project, the SNC intends to conduct a mapping exercise of national NGOs (particularly WFP partners, MROs and women-led national NGOs) across Somalia and Somaliland. This exercise will be conducted in two phases:

1. Mapping of national NGOs (WFP partners, MROs and women-led national NGOs) across Somalia and Somaliland.
2. Broad capacity analysis / assessment of MROs and women-led national NGOs using SPAT tool.

Phase 1

The primary objective of this mapping exercise is to:

• Identify which local NGOs are members of the Somali NGO Consortium and determine which of these members are also partners of the World Food Program (WFP), identify NGOs that are not members of the SNC but are partners of the WFP.
• Establish how many of these are women-led and Minority Rights Organizations.
• Map the geographical and thematic distribution of these NGOs.
• Establish how many of these are actively partnered with other UN agencies.
• To identify and assess the strengths, weaknesses, and gaps within the current partner network and their capabilities, in order to develop a strategic plan for optimizing coordination and enhancing their overall effectiveness and impact in achieving project goals.”

Phase two

The second phase of this activity will be to support women-led and Minority Rights Organizations to carry out an organizational capacity assessment using the SNC Harmonized Standardized Partnership capacity Assessment tool, generate results, establish an analysis of the capacity gaps and capacity improvement plan for each women-led and Minority Rights Organizations and lastly support these organizations to enroll and utilize the UN Partner Portal,

3. Scope of Work- Phase One

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

3.1 Data Collection and Analysis

• Identify Membership: Compile a comprehensive list of local NGOs that are members of the Somali NGO Consortium.
• WFP Partnerships: Determine which of these members are also partners of the World Food Program (WFP).
• Non-Member Partners: Identify local NGOs that are partners of the WFP but are not members of the SNC.
• Women-Led and Minority Rights Organizations: Identify and categorize NGOs that are led by women and those focused on minority rights.
• Geographical and thematic Disposition: Map the geographical distribution of these NGOs across Somalia, noting areas of operation and regional presence.
• UN Agency Partnerships: Identify any additional partnerships these NGOs have with other UN agencies and international organizations.

3.2 Data Verification

• Cross-check data with existing records from the SNC, WFP, government’s NGO registration documents / records and other relevant databases.
• Conduct interviews or surveys with NGO representatives to verify and gather additional information.

3.3 Scope of Work Phase Two

• Have an understanding of the utility of the SNC harmonized standardized Capacity Assessment tool (SPAT)
• Support the mapped-out women-led and minority rights organizations to perform an organizational assessment using the SPAT, generate an objective score and capacity gap analysis
• Support the organizations to enroll on the UN Partner Portal.

3.3 Reporting

• Compile the collected data into a comprehensive report.
• Provide visual representations such as maps, charts, and graphs to illustrate findings.
• Highlight key insights, trends, and potential areas for further collaboration.
• Deliver a well-organized report summarizing the findings, including visual aids such as charts or maps to illustrate key points.

4. Deliverables

The consultant will deliver the following:

• Inception Report: Outline the methodology, work plan, and timeline for the mapping exercise.
• Draft Report: A preliminary report containing initial findings and data analysis.
• Final Report: A comprehensive report detailing the mapping results, including visual aids and recommendations. The report should outline the current state of partner coordination and capacity, and suggest strategies for enhancing these areas.
• Presentation: A PowerPoint presentation summarizing the key findings and recommendations, to be presented to the SNC and stakeholders.

5. Timeline

The entire mapping exercise is expected to be completed within [6 weeks] from the date of commencement. Key milestones include:

• Week 1 & 2: Inception phase, including meetings with SNC representatives and review of existing data.
• Week 3 & 5: Data collection and verification & deployment of SPAT
• Week 4 – 5: Real time data analysis and draft report preparation.
• Week 6: Review and feedback on the draft report- Final report and presentation.

6. Qualifications and Experience

The consultant or consultancy firm should possess the following qualifications:

• At least a bachelor’s degree in development studies, business related course, international relations or related field.
• Proven experience in conducting mapping, capacity assessment and analysis of actors and stakeholders within a humanitarian context. Include in the application at-least 2 samples of similar work done within the last five years.
• Demonstrated strong understanding of the humanitarian and development landscape in Somalia, including coordination platforms.
• Demonstrated expertise in data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for engaging with various stakeholders.
• Ability to deliver high-quality reports and presentations within the stipulated time-frame.
• Analytical and problem solving skills.
• Understanding of contextual dynamics in terms of diversity, inclusion and cultural sensitivity.
• Proficiency in GIS and mapping applications.