Sahel Migration Study - Region Central and West Africa

Founded in 1946, today the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) works in both new and protracted crises across 31 countries. Our 6,000 employees provide life-saving and long-term assistance to millions of people every year. NRC specialises in six areas: food security, education, shelter, legal assistance, camp management, and water, sanitation and hygiene. NRC is a determined advocate for displaced people. We promote and defend their rights and dignity in local communities, with national governments and in the international arena.

NRC’s expert deployment capacity, NORCAP, boasts around 1,000 experts from all over the world who can be deployed within 72 hours. NORCAP experts help improve international and local ability to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from crises.

NRC also runs the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre in Geneva, a global leader in reporting on and advocating for people displaced within their own country.

Consultancy: Sahel Migration Study

Geographic Coverage: The Sahel, with a focus on Mali and Niger

Duration: September/October 2018 (Negotiable)

Reports to: Regional Programme Director, Central and West Africa

Deadline for application: 25th August 2018.

Background

High levels of migration, both within and originating from, West Africa has long been a regular element of the economic and social life. Though not a new phenomenon, in recent years increasing focus has been placed on outwards migration. Additionally, changing economic and conflict dynamics in North Africa have changed the nature of the risks faced by migrants along their journeys.

Objectives

 Understanding key migration trends in the Sahel with a focus on Mali and Niger:

• Travel routes, entry and transit points, onward movement, and means of transportation
• Key drivers of migration and demographic information
• International, regional and national policy frameworks and their application
• Recommendations on NRC positioning and potential response strategy
  • Value-add of NRC to a migration response in the region
  • Key vulnerabilities and gaps in humanitarian service provision related to NRC’s core competencies (Information Counselling and Legal Assistance, Livelihoods and Food Security, Education, Shelter, WASH. Camp Coordination and Camp Management) as well as Protection
  • Recommendations on NRC programmatic response strategy
• Identify specific advocacy issues as related to NRC’s regional strategy
  • Brief stakeholder analysis of main targets

Travel to Mali and/or Niger will be undertaken as appropriate in order to carry out primary research and meet with relevant stakeholders. As well, interviews with key staff within NRC will contribute to the development of recommendations and identification of advocacy priorities.

Please note that for Niger, the consultant(s) will be required to manage all aspects of research and logistics, while for Mali NRC may assist with these aspects; this should be made clear in the technical offer that is submitted.

The expected deliverables are:

• Final report in English (max. 40 pages, excluding appendices) with Executive Summary in both English and French
• PowerPoint presentation in English and French containing findings and recommendations to be presented to NRC during restitution workshop (skype conference).

Mandatory requirements for the consultant(s):

• Advanced degree from an internationally recognized university in International development, Social sciences, Economy, Statistics, Law or other related fields;
• Minimum 5 years of proven experience in emergency/development project assessment for multi-sectorial programmes;
• Experience of qualitative data collection methods and strong analysis capacity;
• Fluency in written and spoken French and English, for all team members;
• Good communication and demonstrable team leadership experience;
• Computer skills (word processing, spreadsheets, statistical analysis software application, internet research, etc);
• Previous experience in the Sahel and/or on issues of migration a strong asset

The title of the email should be 'Consultancy for Sahel Migration Study’. Applications must include the following and should be submitted in English:

• Technical offer detailing the study framework, methodology, proposed timeline including realistic dates for when the study would be undertaken (max. 5 pages);
• Financial offer (Excel) detailing the costs of the evaluation (including consultancy fees, travel, per diems, personal insurance including evacuation insurance, etc.);
• CV of the of research lead and any other team members demonstrating relevant experience/knowledge (max 10 pages);
• Sample of previous research, assessment, or evaluation report (max 10 pages)
• 2 professional references who have supervised previous research or assessment work

Bids must include all required information/documents; incomplete applications will not be considered. Bids should be sent by email to Erin Hutchinson, Central and West Africa Regional Programme Director: erin.hutchinson@nrc.no - only.