DEADLINE: 30TH DECEMBER, 2021
OXFAM TERMS OF REFERENCE
CONSULTANCY SERVICE FOR: POLITICAL ECONOMIC ANALYSIS (PEA) AND SYSTEM STRENGTHENING NEEDS ASSESSMENTS IN KEBBI AND ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA
OSAID
STRENGTHENING ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP AND SYSTEMS FOR IMPROVED SERVICE DELIVERY IN KEBBI AND ADAMAWA STATE.
PROGRAM UNIT
BACKGROUND
OSAID is a project aimed at complementing the results delivered by PROACT project which was an European Union funded project that increased food security and resilience within the communities. The project supported the community members and government in both Adamawa and Kebbi states to become more active and responsive. OSAID project was developed to facilitate scale up of best practices as ‘impact at scale’ to the structures already put in place by PROACT in both Kebbi and Adamawa States. The project will be working to reinforce the pillars of resilience, enterprise development, market systems strengthening and responsible governance systems. The OSAID has three major specific objectives that would enable achievement of the main Impact on the people.
Specific objectives of OSAID project:
(1) Deepening financial inclusion system that supports inclusive rural economic development.
(2) Strengthening commodity market systems that works for the benefits of the rural poor.
(3) Stimulate grassroots movement of active citizens for the promotion of accountable and responsible governance systems.
The project recognizes the strategic importance of strengthening public governance systems and governments’ response capacity to delivering quality services for the citizens, especially the poor and marginalized. Additionally, the project is wish to facilitate inclusive access to market and favourable private sector engagement that would empower poor and rural households to tackle the root cause of poverty in both States. The project will leverage on government’s provisions to enable improved rural access to financial services to stimulate productive economic activities across rural communities.
Specifically, the project is designed to support government in strengthening their systems to accelerate inclusive growth and improvement in quality of social service delivery for the general citizens.
Oxfam and Partners have worked closely with different stakeholders and citizen groups across the states through the previous PROACT project which delivered sustainable livelihood solutions by creating Village savings and loans association that facilitated financial inclusion in rural areas. It also linked private sector actors such as Guinness Nigeria, Olam, and Flour Mill Association of Nigeria to rural smallholder farmers.
PROACT also led Policy influencing activities that ushered review of processes and practise by both Local and state Governments as is seen in budgeting processes. Some of the local governments have also commenced replication of the VSLA approach by 14 Local Governments, and the signing up to Open Government Partnership by both states.
The project has also supported the State governments to improve their Citizen-engagement and dialogue mechanism through the introduction of budget townhall meetings, while supporting Civil society organizations with the capacity to constructively engage with state actors.
Rationale and Approach
As the OSAID project set to kick start program intervention across the three pillars: deepening financial inclusion, facilitating market linkages and stimulating grass-root movement for change through building active citizenship for the promotion of accountable and responsive governance in both State,
It is therefore important to conduct Political Economic Analysis that will provide clarity on political and economic realities in both states for the implementing team to explore in achieve the project objectives.
Since the project aims to strengthen government systems at both State and Local Government levels, the exercise needs to understand:
- What are the systems that need to be strengthened to achieve a more responsive governance?
- What are the gaps and available opportunities for the project to leverage on?
- What efforts has the government and other players done to support in the Political and Economic situation in both states?
This exercise will not only give an insight into State specific gaps but also help identify and inform the policy and programming focus for the 12-month OSAID project in supporting and working together with Government, Civil society Organization, Private sector and Citizens.
This exercise will focus on the State specific Marco-level analysis, Local level and issues specific political economic analysis. It would inform targeting, Power, and Changes relationship amongst different structures, institutions, and Actors. Additionally providing a detailed risk and stakeholders analysis for the OSAID project.
Assignment Objectives
The main objective is to strategically conduct a context specific political economic analysis and a brief needs assessment of the State system strengthening needs in Kebbi and Adamawa State.
Other key objectives include.
(i) Provide a summary of stakeholders’ analysis regarding the project specific objectives
(ii) Identify risk and mitigation strategies associated with the project specific objectives in promoting accountable governance and inclusive market system in a sustainable manner.
(iii) Provide economic realities and potentials of each of the states that would be used during advocacies for the project aim to different stakeholders within the government
(iv) Support the project to identify engagements strategies.
(v) It would signal socio-political factors that could hinder project implementation.
Methodology
The service provider is expected to use different data collection approaches such as:
- Consultative approach to extract information
- Desk review,
- Use of qualitative and quantitative surveys
- To be completed within a 20-day period.
Through this process, the service provider will be supported to interact with wide range of state and non-state actors in Kebbi and Adamawa States, while drawing up an illustrative framework model that shows relationship between and amongst actors in relations to politics and economic development of both States.
Expected deliverables and outputs
The Deliverable from this exercise includes:
(1) A detailed non-ambiguous and easy to read Political Economic Analysis report, which should include state-specific power and stakeholders’ analysis; Risk and mitigation strategies associated with the project implementation.
(2) A brief evident summary of the State system strengthening needs assessments report. This shall be presented as a Power point presentation.
(3) The report shall contain:
- Executive summary
- Detailed Report
- Summary and recommendations
Duration of work
The consultant will have a maximum of 20-days to complete all deliverables and outputs agreed with Oxfam to an acceptable standard. While complying with Oxfam’s code of conduct during this assignment.
Payment schedule
Milestone Description Payment Remark 1. Inception Report A written inception report to the project team. The report will be expected to demonstrate clear understanding of the ToR, presentation of methodologies to be used for the PEA and the needs assessment. 40% of total sum. The written reports should be maximum of 10 pages. 2. Field work,consultativemeetings,datacollection,dataanalysis. Implementation of the PEA methodology and needs assessment, meeting with project stakeholders, data analysis, drafting of PEA and assessment report. NA Project team will provide support in contacting and introducingconsultant(s) to State and non-State actors. 3. Meeting for the presentation ofassessmentfindings. PowerPoint presentation of the detailed findings and report of the PEA and assessment to the project team for review and inputs towards the final drafting of reports. NA Project team will provide feedbacks on the draft reports, ask clarifying questions, and make recommendations towards finalising the reports. 4. Submission of final report. Final reports to be submitted after considering all feedback, inputs, and comments project team. The final report should be a maximum of 40pages with adequate use of charts, infographics, and tables. 60% of total sum. Payment will be due after the submission of draft assessment report to the project team for evaluation.
Technical Evaluation Criteria
The evaluation of the consultant will be based on what was submitted using the criteria below.
Understanding of the Terms of Reference Understanding of the assignment and background to the theme of political economy analysis practice. 5 Familiarity with the PEA analysis and assessment focused area clearly explained in the proposal. 10 15 Methodology Clear presentation of analysis methodology and approach. 15 Clear presentation of sampling technique and analytical procedures. 10 Inclusion of COVID-19 preventive measures and awareness in data collection, meetings and field works. 5 Clear presentation and inclusion of draft questionnaires, interview guides, and other tools necessary for objective evaluation of the capacity of the consultant(s). 20 Demonstrated experience using digital tools/software for data collection and analysis. 10 60 Previous Experience on similar assignment Listing of a minimum of 2 previous similar assignments. 5 Presentation of CV/Resume of at least two (2) qualified members of the Research Team including that of the Lead Consultant. 15 Experience working with Oxfam or other INGOs. 5 25 TOTAL SCORE 100
The scope of this consultancy includes all logistical arrangements necessary for the Consultant and her/his team to deliver the outlined works and should therefore reflect in the financial proposal for this consultancy. For the avoidance of doubt, these costs include cost of hiring and training of research assistants, transportation, accommodation, feeding, and other incidental needs of the team.
Project Management
All documents, project designs, data and information shall be treated as confidential and shall not, without the written approval of Oxfam, be made available to any third party. The utilization of the reports is solely at the decision and discretion of Oxfam while all the documents containing both raw data/materials provided by Oxfam and final report, both soft and hard copies are to be returned to Oxfam upon completion of the assignment. All documentation and reports written because of this assignment or otherwise related to it, shall remain the property of Oxfam. No part of the report shall be reproduced or published except with the prior, expressed, and specific written permission of Oxfam.
Technical Expertise, Skills and Knowledge
Interested candidates should be able to demonstrate evidence of the following qualifications, functional skills, and competencies:
- First degree and/or Advanced degree/MSc degree in Development Studies, Policy and strategic studies, Local Government administrative systems, public policy management and other related fields
- Expertise and experience in conducing political economic analysis at the National and sub-national level in Nigeria
- Good understanding of the socio-economic and socio-political context in Kebbi and Adamawa State, Nigeria.
- Ability to identify, work and interact with all relevant stakeholders in both States.
- Ability to provide policy advice and recommendations especially within the Nigerian context.
- Experience in designing practical, sector-specific PEA templates and tools.
- In-depth knowledge on development issues in Nigeria and personal commitment and drive for development research.
- Excellent analytical aptitude, oral communication, and virtual presentation skills.
- Evidence of excellent report writing skills, strong descriptive analytical skills, and ability to clearly synthesize and present findings
- Proven track record of maintaining strong professional partnerships and working in a multi-cultural environment.
- Ability to interact with host government, partners and/or others as requested by Oxfam
- Ability to comply with the Oxfam safeguarding policy and other related guidelines during the period of work.
Application
Interested and qualified consultants are expected to:
(i) Submit a one-page expression of interest, including a technical and financial proposal, specifying their PEA approach and methodologies.
(ii) Filled and completed “Request for Quotation” form with proper withholding tax deduction.
(iii) Recent professional CV of key personnel
(iv) Highlight of previous experiences relevant to the application.
A detailed 20-day workplan and timeline (that considers work in both States)
Applicants are advised to use https://combinepdf.com/ if acrobat abode pdf is not available to them to combine different documents into a single file.
TO APPLY:
Interested and qualified consultants are expected to download the full RFQ package from OXFAM-Website: https://nigeria.oxfam.org/get-involved-work-us/procurement-consultancy
Completed proposals (technical) and (financial) should be submitted to NGA.Bid@oxfam.org
Deadline: 30 December, 2021.
