Consultancy - Research – compilation and analysis of best practices

IOM in South Sudan has a broad range of programming centered around three broad areas: humanitarian coordination and support; humanitarian response and resilience; and peacebuilding, transition and development. Humanitarian coordination and support includes leading/co-leading the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) and Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFI) Clusters, Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and management of WASH and Shelter and NFI core-pipelines, humanitarian hubs and common transport services. Humanitarian response and resilience includes CCCM, WASH, Shelter & NFI, health, protection, gender equality and inclusion, mental health and psychosocial support and the management of a Rapid Response Fund. Under peacebuilding, transition and development, IOM South Sudan implements programming on housing, land and property issues, transition and recovery, transhumance conflict prevention, community-based violence reduction, community development and migration management.

As part of its community development portfolio, IOM is implementing a World Bank-funded project (Enhancing Community Resilience Project - ECRP) that seeks to address key gaps in basic service delivery and strengthen local institutions capacity to better manage inter-communal tensions and resources across 10 counties in South Sudan. The project aims to contribute to the building of a national local-level institutional structure for governance and service delivery, in line with the Local Government Act (LGA) 2009. Under the LGA, responsibility for service delivery is devolved to the county/city level. Despite the established legal framework and its mandated responsibilities for local services, local governments have been largely unable to do so and their functionality varies across regions. These functions have been delegated to community-based facility management committees to ensure sustainability, who operate and maintain these facilities using different modalities based on various diverse factors.

Based on the above recognition, IOM will be carrying out a study on operation and maintenance (O&M) of community infrastructure to draw lessons that will inform the O&M model to be adopted by the programme. The study will focus on O&M solutions for community infrastructure in different context, including urban and rural areas in South Sudan, with the purpose of identifying best practices, as well as pro and cons of different O&M solutions in each context.

Under the direct supervision of the ECRP Programme Coordinator in Juba and, in collaboration with the Social Infrastructure Technical Lead and the WASH Programme Manager, the Operation & Maintenance Research Consultant will be responsible and accountable for analysing existing information and conducting field research in identified locations, as well as compiling a comprehensive report of the existing O&M models.

Study objectives

To date, there has been no systematization of knowledge and practices on O&M in South Sudan; with most humanitarian and development partners relying on developing project-specific system-based management models. To address this gap and to enhance understanding of O&M in the country, this study will:

• Map existing O&M practices, models and methodologies in South Sudan whilst comparing their effectiveness, by identifying critical points of failure as well as drivers of success;
• Assess sub-national governance linkages between O&M groups (usually community-based groups) and mandated local authorities, with a focus on depicting traditional authorities’ involvement, if any, across these arrangements;
• Evaluate role played by women and contribution of such initiatives towards women’s empowerment, as well as youth engagement models; 
• Provide recommendations on which O&M strategy works best for different geographical contexts (urban, peri-urban, rural) and for which sector/infrastructure type (water and sanitation, health clinics, schools, etc), clarifying which roles should different stakeholders play, in which O&M modalities (i.e. national government, local government, private sector, community leaders, community members – disaggregated by women, men, IDPs, youth, etc. as needed).

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing:

• ECRP + WASH CS.0112

Category B Consultants: Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment

1. Support sound ethical and methodological design and implementation approach for the O&M study, ensuring that gender sensitivity, gender analysis, protection, and conflict-sensitivity are integrated;
2. Map existing O&M practices, models, and methodologies in South Sudan and other relevant context, while comparing their effectiveness by identifying critical points of failure as well as drivers of success;
3. Lead on quantitative and qualitative data collection, analysis, and report writing for the O&M study;
4. Provide recommendations on which O&M strategy works best for different geographical contexts (urban, peri-urban, rural) and for which infrastructure type (water and sanitation, health clinics, schools, etc);
5. Produce high-quality policy-oriented report to be shared with Donors, Partners, and National Authorities based on the study, assisting IOM ECRP disseminating its O&M strategy whilst contributing to policy-making efforts within the relevant sectors;
6. Perform such other duties as may be assigned.

Deliverables

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results

• Deliverables are completed on time
• Research tools and methodology submitted to IOM is proof-read and edited
• Research report submitted to IOM is proof-read and edited
• Regular communication with technical supervisor and relevant IOM staff
• IOM technical team included in all decision-making processes throught the research

Education, Experience and/or skills required

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences  or related fields with minimum four years experience or Master’s degree in a Social Sciences or related fields with minimum two years working experience
• Strong background and at least two years’ work experience in community-based research
• Strong analytical, quantitative, and qualitative research skills
• Ability to consolidate information from multiple sources, write timely and succinct information analysis and report writing
• Preferably experience with research or report writing for World Bank
• Ability to design and develop O&M strategy, methodologies and tools
• Knowledge of SPSS and Excel for data manipulation and data analysis; as well as KOBO and Fulcrum
• Excellent computer skills: excellent knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and email/internet software, statistical analysis packages
• Previous experience in research for similar or related activities and/or GBV activities is an advantage
• Previous experience in equivalent role in South Sudan is an advantage

Travel required

The position is based in Juba with travel to the field for data collection purposes.

Competencies

Values

• Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences; encourages diversity and inclusion wherever possible.
• Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
• Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators

• Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
• Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action-oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
• Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
• Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.
• Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.
   

Application Procedure

Interested candidates are required to submit their motivation letter, Curriculum Vitae, financial proposal outlining their consultancy fees as well as a written sample of previous reports produced to vss@iom.int by 10 November, 2021, indicating in the subject of the e‐mail “Consultancy  - Research – compilation and analysis of best practices”

• Position Title: Consultancy - Research – compilation and analysis of best practices
• Duty Station: Juba, South Sudan
• Closing Date: Wednesday, November 10, 2021
• Estimated Start Date: Wednesday, October 27, 2021
• Attachment: Consultancy - Research – compilation and analysis of best practices