NIGERIA INGO FORUM (NIF)
INVITATION TO BID FOR ORP CONSULTANCY
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Nigeria INGO Forum (NIF) was established in October 2014 to provide a collective platform for international NGOs to coordinate actions, exchange information and advocate for a principled and effective delivery of much needed assistance to affected population in Nigeria. NIF exists to facilitate members’ collective action in the principled and effective delivery of much needed assistance to save and improve the lives of poor and vulnerable people. To this end, NIF provides a coordinated approach through which INGOs, the Government of Nigeria (GoN), the UN, donors and other external stakeholders can exchange information, shared expertise, and establish guidelines for a more coordinated, efficient, and effective use of aid resources in Nigeria. Nigeria’s Northwest is one of the country’s six geopolitical zones. From East to West, it hosts seven of Nigeria’s 36 States: Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi.
The area represents 25.75% of Nigeria`s total land mass, and is home to an estimated 33 million people, or some 16 per cent of Nigeria’s population. The majority of the population – around 80% – is made up of farmers, pastoralists, agro-pastoralists, and small-scale entrepreneurs. Its major ethnic groups comprise the Hausa and the Fulani, whose traditional livelihoods consist of farming and herding, respectively.
The main shock the Northwest has been grappling with in recent years constitutes armed violence marked by a multitude of armed actors referred to as bandits on the one hand, and vigilantes on the other hand, in all of Zamfara State, as well as parts of Sokoto, Katsina, and Kaduna States. The violence provoked internal displacement, and is driven by chronic underdevelopment, ethnic friction, as well as climate change. In 2022, the crisis was further compounded by natural disaster in terms of significant flooding, especially in Jigawa State, Katsina, and Kano States; and a cholera outbreak in these same three northwestern states. The intensity of violence, and the unsuccessful attempts of the government to address the host of challenges, has evolved into a crisis of a humanitarian nature. The humanitarian impact of the crisis is marked by a spike in levels of acute malnutrition in Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina States; food insecurity, protection, shelter and WASH needs, as well as needs linked to basic services, such as education and health. It is also linked to the high poverty index which also is a driving factor in the ongoing violence. In an effort to address this situation and taking into account aid organizations’ mandates and implementation capacities, the Northwest Coordination Forum represents a platform to facilitate strategic and operational coherence among aid organizations implementing humanitarian-development and peace nexus-oriented activities in the seven northwestern states of Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara. The Northwest Coordination Forum serves to address the following elements: i) strengthen evidence-based programming among aid organizations present, including by sharing information on
assessments and other ongoing and planned activities in the Northwest; ii) coordinate donor engagement and advocacy initiatives of aid organizations.
2. PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY
The current Operational Response Plan (ORP) expired in December 2024 . Under the guidance and supervision of the Steering Committee, the Consultant will be responsible for the process of developing a second, updated ORP, leading consultations with UN agencies, INGOs, IOs and national NGO partners. The Consultant will be responsible for managing the whole process with
the aim to develop the ORP by April 2025.
In Nigeria, the Humanitarian Coordinated response (Humanitarian Program Cycle and Humanitarian Response Plan) does not cover North-West Nigeria. Various assessments have been undertaken independently by different organisations but given the increasing urgency and scale of humanitarian needs, there is a need to ensure a coordinated approach to the analysis of
those needs and to the response, to support targeted and effective action that is both preventive and responsive, and to support donors’ engagement. The complex origins of the deteriorating situation also call for the application of a Humanitarian – Development – Peace Nexus lens
The Humanitarian leadership has therefore tasked leading actors in North-West Nigeria to design an Operational Response Plan that addresses the humanitarian needs as well as the Humanitarian – Development – Nexus Approach across the seven states, based on existing assessments. The ORP will define activities by sector, based on actual needs defined in close
consultation with actors on the ground, as well as needed resources. This is a continuation of the previous 18-month plan, and the humanitarian leadership has requested the development of an initial Operational Response Plan (ORP). As noted during the last Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) meeting
3. RESPONSIBILITIES
Key Responsibilities:
1. Define ORP scope: Based on existing sources (ex. HNO, MSNA, SMART survey, and other UN and NGO assessments), and consultations with all relevant actors (UN agencies and NGOs), refining the people in need, geographical focus and analysis needs across the seven NW states.
2. Define operational response: Organize and lead ORP workshops (online or in person) as agreed-on with the NW Coordination Group co-chairs to define the required response approaches per sector, prioritization and modalities, and initial strategic and specific objectives.
3. Strategy development, costing, vetting: Draft, edit, finalize the ORP with guidance by the NW Coordination Group co-chairs, including strategic/specific objectives, multi-sectoral and sectoral targets, activities, and financial requirements.
4. Advocacy: Provide substantive inputs to advocacy, knowledge building and communication efforts.
4. ASSUMPTIONS & RISKS
The Consultant is expected to take reasonable measures to mitigate any risk that may impact achievement and timely completion of expected results as well as their quality
5. OUTPUT
The Consultant is to deliver a 20 pages document, “Operational Response Plan”, based on preagreed outline.
6. LOGISTICS AND TIMING
Location
In Person Abuja, Nigeria.
All applications/proposals must submitted through ng.tenders@nrc.no
The application should be titled: “09/NRC-NAT/NG/2025 – ORP Consultancy” in the e-mail subject.
Late bids shall be rejected, and no liability will be accepted for loss, late delivery or non-delivery, whatsoever.
NRC/NIF reserves the right to select/reject any bids, in part or full, as it may deem
necessary. No liability or claim in that respect would be admissible or entertained whatsoever.
