Terms of Reference (TOR) for Regional Political Economy Analysis of Refugee Responses in the Great Lakes
Who is the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat?
ReDSS is a secretariat working on behalf of 14 international and national NGOs working on forced displacement in East Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region. We were established in 2015 in response to a desire by the NGO community to be more proactive in shaping durable solutions policy and programming in the region. Our team works both a regional and country level and focusses on the translation of evidence and research into policies and programmes that can better deliver for displacement-affected communities. We do this through a range of activities, including: convening key stakeholders at multiple levels to produce consensus around collective actions that can be taken; supporting new evidence generation through commissioning and undertaking research and analysis; and building the capacity of key actors through delivering training and developing tools and guidance. We do not implement programmes directly, and by maintaining this distance are better able to play a neutral role across the system.
Purpose of the consultancy
ReDSS is seeking a team of consultants to conduct a political economy analysis (PEA) of refugee responses in the Great Lakes region. It will directly inform the government engagement strategies and advocacy of ReDSS and its members on displacement policy issues in the Great Lakes at regional and national levels, including identifying key targets, highlighting gaps and opportunities for collaboration, and recommendations for leveraging existing policy frameworks and cooperation mechanisms for stronger response. This includes engagement on displacement policy at both national and regional levels.
Background
Amidst record displacement globally, the need for pathways and engagement towards the realization durable solutions for refugees and displaced populations is critical. The Great Lakes region has been characterized by protracted displacement, cyclical conflicts and complex ethnic and political dynamics that have hindered sustainable return and reintegration efforts. These challenges call for the renewed collaboration between governments and international and local actors to promote multi-stakeholder and multi-pronged responses and foster conducive environments for lasting solutions.
This particularly calls for increased engagement by national governments and international, regional and local partners on addressing root causes of displacement and supporting the inclusion of and eventual durable solutions for refugees. However, this can be challenging, with each Member State balancing competing domestic concerns, including economic pressures, development priorities and security considerations. Shrinking international funding for refugee responses is also putting increased pressure on hosting states and reinforcing then need for increased inclusion in national systems and longer-term development approaches. Informal dynamics, which less visible, also influence refugee policy and decision-making processes – such as personal networks, shared cultural identities, and gender roles. Additionally, refugee issues in the Great Lakes are inherently cross-government and political, requiring coordination action and cooperation among multiple national governments, international and regional actors, and operational partners to address these sustainably.
In this context, ReDSS engages closely with governments, the ICGLR and other intergovernmental mechanisms (EAC and IGAD), and other stakeholders on the formulation of durable solutions policy, strategy and approaches. This PEA will provide key insights into these dynamics to inform these processes and ReDSS’ broader engagement on refugee issues in the Great Lakes.
Objective of the consultancy
The objective of this consultancy is to conduct a regional political economy analysis that will:
- Assess political will and dynamics between Member States regarding durable solutions for refugees, including existing regional cooperation, that could impact the adoption and implementation of the regional strategy.
- Map key stakeholders and analyse power dynamics affecting refugee policies and practices, paying particular attention to how these dynamics intersect with gender roles and influence priorities and decision-making processes.
- Identify other formal and informal practices or factors that shape behaviour and influence decisions and cooperation on refugee responses (e.g. economic or natural resource considerations, personal relationships or shared experience/identity, cultural factors, etc.) and assess how these affect incentives and the ability to achieve change.
- Assess previous regional displacement policy processes and existing cooperation mechanisms, including the role of international financing (humanitarian and development funding), to identify lessons learned and opportunities to mobilize exiting resources and frameworks for stronger future strategies.
- Consider the role that public advocacy drive by citizens of the region has played, if any, in shaping refugee policies and practices in the past, and current opportunities around this dimension moving forwards; and,
- Provide actionable recommendations on how to affect change and increase political will to effectively respond to refugee issues, particularly to guide engagement surrounding the adoption and domestication of the regional strategy.
Scope of work and Methodology
For the purposes of the consultancy, the Great Lakes region covers all twelve-member states of the ICGLR, namely: Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia. While it is expected that the PEA address dynamics across the region, particular emphasis should be placed on the regional Burundian and Congolese refugees’ responses. The specific scope of work will be established between ReDSS and the Consultant(s) – in consultation with other relevant actors – during the inception phase. In line with time and resource constraints, this could include – for example – focus on specific regional displacement contexts or priority thematic issues.
The consultant(s) will be responsible for developing a detailed methodology as part of the inception report. The methodology should align with the objectives of the PEA and outline the research questions, data sources and approach to data collection and analysis. While there is some flexibility in the proposed approach, it is expected to include a strong desk review and qualitative component (particularly key informant interviews) and be designed in a way to capture the nuanced political, social and economic factors shaping the refugee responses in the region.
The consultant(s) should also ensure the meaningful inclusion of diverse perspectives, including those of refugee, host community and government representatives – as well as other operation and political actors. A gender-sensitive approach is encouraged to better understand how gender norms impact refugee policies and practices.
The final methodology will be agreed with ReDSS and should balance breadth of perspectives and the need for practical recommendations with time and resource considerations.
Deliverables
The Consultant will be requested to submit the following deliverables:
Phase 1 – Review
Expected deliverables – Inception report
Indicative description tasks – A short inception report, outlining proposed analytical framework, agreement on the methodological approach, including research questions and a clear plan for how data will be collected and analysed.
Maximum expected timeframe – 5 working days
Phase 2 – Analysis
Expected deliverables – Presentation of draft findings
Indicative description tasks – A presentation of draft findings to be presented to ReDSS and other key stakeholders for feedback to inform the final report
Maximum expected timeframe – 28 working days
Phase 3 – Reporting
Expected deliverables – Final report
Indicative description tasks – A private report summarizing PEA findings, including an executive summary, mapping of key stakeholders, and recommendations for engagement and the process of strategy development. The final report should incorporate feedback from the presentation of initial findings as well as stakeholder feedback.
Maximum expected timeframe – 15 working days
Phase 4 – Conclusion
Expected deliverables – Dissemination
Indicative description tasks – A private briefing to relevant stakeholders on the PEA findings, to inform engagement strategies. Logistics for this briefing will be coordinated by ReDSS, with the consultant(s) expected to provide a presentation of findings.
Maximum expected timeframe – 2 working days
The Consultant will provide the documentationby email in both word and pdf format***.*** The Consultant will be expected to integrate comments from ReDSS and other key stakeholders in each phase.
Duration, timeline, and payment
The assignment should be completed by the end of April 2025. Payment of 30% of the agreed fee shall be provided upon submission of the inception report, with the remaining 70% provided upon successful completion of the deliverables
Proposed Composition of Team
This consultancy is open to submissions by individuals or research teams. We expect the proposal to prominently feature locally-led analysis, particularly emphasizing the lived experiences of refugee communities. This can be achieved either through the expertise of the consultant or team, targeted partnership or collaboration, or other specific design approaches to effectively integrate these perspectives in the process and conclusions.
Eligibility, qualification, and experience required
The consultant(s) should possess the following qualifications:
- Advanced degree in Social Sciences, Political Affairs, International Relations, Development Studies or a related field;
- At least 5 years of proven experience in conducting political economy analyses, particularly to inform responses to displacement, migration or refugee issues;
- Strong understanding of political dynamics in the Great Lakes region and experience engaging political actors;
- Demonstrated ability to engage with governmental and civil society actors in the Great Lakes region, including on sensitive topics;
- Knowledge of displacement and migration dynamics in the Great Lakes region a strong added advantage;
- Excellent analytical, writing and communication skills;
- Fluency in English and/or French (spoken and written). Knowledge of local languages in the Great Lakes region is an added advantage.
Technical supervision
The selected consultant will work under the supervision of:
- Elysia Buchanan, ReDSS Manager-Great Lakes
- Kelly Irankunda, Project Assistant
Location and support
Submissions for this consultancy are open to bids for remote work or work with team members based in ICGLR Member States. Ideally the (lead) consultant will be based in the Great Lakes region, particularly in a relevant country of ReDSS operations (Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda and DRC).
The Consultant(s) will provide her/his/their own computer and mobile telephone.
Travel
This consultancy is not expected to include travel.
Submission process
Please refer to the RFP Invitation Letter
Evaluation of bids
Please refer to the RFP Invitation letter for more information.
Data protection and confidentiality
While executing this assignment, the consultant and all the parties involved shall ensure effective protection of confidential and sensitive data and information in conformity with the humanitarian and protection principles and to applicable legal data protection standards[1]. All data collection and processing activities shall be executed in accordance with the following principles:
- Safeguarding individuals’ personal data is a crucial part of humanitarian mission to protect the lives, integrity and dignity of beneficiaries and participants and is fundamental in the provision of protection response and humanitarian aid.
- People-centred and inclusive: Evaluation activities will respect the interests and well-being of the population and stakeholders, in all relevant phases of the evaluation and which activities must be sensitive to age, gender, and other issues of diversity.
- Do No Harm: Evaluation activities must include a risk assessment and take steps, if necessary, to mitigate identified risks. The risk assessment must look at negative consequences that may result from data collection and subsequent actions.
- Defined purpose and proportionality: The purpose must be clearly defined and explained to the participants in the data collection process.
- Informed consent and confidentiality: Personal information may be collected only after informed consent has been provided by the individual in question and that individual must be aware of the purpose of the collection. Further, confidentiality must be clearly explained to the individual before the information may be collected. Consent must be genuine, based on the data subject’s voluntary and informed decision.
- Data protection and security: The evaluation process must adhere to international standards of data protection and data security.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
DRC will evaluate proposals and award the assignment based on technical and financial feasibility in line with DRC Procurement guidelines. DRC reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal received without disclosing reasons to applicants and is not bound to accept the lowest bidder.
CONFIDENTIALITY
All information presented, obtained, and produced is to be treated as DRC’s property and is considered confidential for all other purposes than what is outlined in these terms of reference.
Additional information
For additional information regarding these terms of reference, please send your questions to Regional Supply Chain Manager: procurement.RO01@drc.ngo
Please find complete bidding documents in the following link: RFP-RO01-003631 – Regional Political Economy Analysis of refugee responses in the Great Lakes
How to apply
Bids can be submitted by email to the following dedicated, controlled, & secure email address:
tender.ro01@drc.ngo
When Bids are emailed, the following conditions shall be complied with:
The RFP number shall be inserted in the Subject Heading of the email
- Separate emails shall be used for the ‘Financial Bid’ and ‘Technical Bid’, and the Subject Heading of the email shall indicate which type the email contains
- The financial bid shall only contain the financial bid form, Annex A.2 or vendors financial bid in own format
- The technical bid shall contain all other documents required by the tender, but excluding all pricing information
- Bid documents required, shall be included as an attachment to the email in PDF, JPEG, TIF format, or the same type of files provided as a ZIP file. Documents in MS Word or excel formats, will result in the bid being disqualified.
- Email attachments shall not exceed 4MB; otherwise, the bidder shall send his bid in multiple emails.
Failure to comply with the above may disqualify the Bid.
DRC is not responsible for the failure of the Internet, network, server, or any other hardware, or software, used by either the Bidder or DRC in the processing of emails.
Bids will be submitted electronically. DRC is not responsible for the non-receipt of Bids submitted by email as part of the e-Tendering process.