Call For Interest Consultancy NRC - Durable Solutions for Syrian Refugees in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon

Terms of Reference – Invitation to Bid

Research Consultant(s)

Durable Solutions for Syrian Refugees in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon

Duty Station : Home based with potential missions to the field and Amman-Jordan

Reporting Line : Syria Crisis ICLA Research Adviser

Rights Respected, People Protected

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a non-governmental, humanitarian organization with 60 years of experience in helping to create a safer and more dignified life for refugees and internally displaced people.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) in the Middle East is seeking to identify a number of Research Consultants who will carry out regional and country specific researches and draft thematic policy briefs and reports. These policy briefs and reports will be developed based on the thematic priorities identified by NRC and UNHCR and will focus on issues related to civil documentation and HLP for Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq.

CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND

After more than eight years of conflict in Syria and displacement of Syrians both inside and outside Syria there is an urgent need for a greater focus on durable solutions for Syrian refugees. As of mid-2019 there are 926,717 registered Syrian refugees in Lebanon, 660,330 registered Syrian refugees in Jordan and 228,851 registered Syrian refugees in Iraq in addition to more than 3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey.

It is anticipated that an increasing number of Syrian refugees will choose to voluntarily return to Syria during the next 12 to 24 months. For those choosing to return it is important they can access and know how to obtain/replace relevant documentation, including both civil status and Housing, Land and Property (HLP) documentation, that can help them ensure their basic rights and give access to support upon return. For those choosing to remain for longer periods in host countries and/or accessing other durable solutions options, it is similarly important for them to have access to documentation and updated information about laws, procedures and requirements affecting their legal status both in host countries and in Syria in order to be able to make the best informed decision on their available options.

Legal and field research is required within refugee host countries, namely Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon, to develop a better understanding of documentation levels and requirements for Syrian refugees and in order to develop a body of knowledge of needs and related documents and processes pertaining to HLP and civil status documentation at the regional level. This in turn will further inform operational planning and preparedness for voluntary return to Syria, and to the extent applicable other durable solutions.

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY AND KEY ISSUES

NRC is seeking to identify a number of Research Consultants who will carry out regional and country specific researches and draft thematic policy briefs and reports. These policy briefs and reports will be developed based on the thematic priorities identified by NRC and UNHCR and will focus on issues related to civil documentation and HLP for Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. This includes for instance: specific HLP situations faced by returnees including proof of ownership, procedures for declaring missing and dead persons, inheritance proceedings, implications for the use of documents obtained in an unauthorised manner, and issues of guardianship for returnee children, as well as residency requirements and access to livelihood opportunities in the country of exile. An analysis of the specific challenges faced by Palestinian refugees will be included when relevant as well as a comparative analysis of Syrian IDPs. NRC will be developing several research and policy briefs.

Each research/policy brief should cover the following points:

· Intro to frame the issue

· Legal analysis of relevant legal framework, including Syrian law and country of exile law. Analysis of jurisprudence where applicable.

· NRC, MERO, Address Al-Sharif Abdul Hamid Sharaf St. 93, Shmeisani, Amman, Jordan. Tel +962 7 9108 6978• www.nrc.no

· Analysis of practice on the ground.

· Analysis of prevalence of issues for Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq including specific challenges faced by certain vulnerable groups through case studies

· Conclusion and Key Recommendations

Each research/policy brief will require an estimate of 15-20 days and will be desk-based. However, depending on the topic, travel to the region may be required for some of the researches.

DELIVERABLES

The key deliverable under the consultancy is the drafting of a number of research papers/policy briefs by August 2020 to inform the drafting of a regional report by December 2020.

NRC is seeking to contract a number of consultants for such tasks.

METHODOLOGY

The consultant will prepare a methodology for each research paper/policy brief which should cover the issues outlined in this TORs as well as the proposed means of identifying relevant information and data.

NRC, through its country field teams and regional presence in the MERO office, will make available legal information and data to assist the consultant as well as provide contact information for other relevant organisations. The consultant will also liaise with UNHCR, both at regional and country office level, who will provide existing information and data that could be relevant for the desk review.

CONSULTANT SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS

NRC seeks expressions of interest from consultants with the following skills/qualifications and expertise:

· Experience in the field of law, forced displacement and humanitarian assistance

· Strong knowledge of international law frameworks for durable solutions, refugees, displaced persons and international human rights law, particularly in relation to civil documentation and HLP rights

· Strong knowledge of the Syria crisis

· Excellent research and drafting skills including legal research and analysis

· Basic knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies including ability to incorporate field data into legal research and findings

· Ability to work well with various stakeholders at different levels including country teams, regional office, monitoring and evaluation staff and external stakeholders including UNHCR and other organizations and forums

· Proven capacity to coordinate and collate different inputs into research documents

· Fluency in written and spoken English

· Excellent teamwork and communication skills, flexibility and good organizational skills

· Excellent writing and communication skills

· Proven ability to operate under strict deadlines and high level of discipline and professionalism

STRUCTURE OF TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

Proposals must include complete and accurate information. The proposal must include, but is not limited to, the following items:

1) Profile/CV highlighting the consultant’s qualifications and relevant experience.

2) A letter of interest describing how the consultant will address each item outlined in the objectives of the assignment

3) At least 2 reports or work products from other research projects undertaken by the consultant within the past 5 years, with particular emphasis on projects of similar scope and effort.

4) Price quote for the daily rate*

5) The required currency for all pricing information is USD.

6) All bids are to be submitted in English language only.

7) All consultants, ltd or sole-trade, must be registered in accordance with the legal requirements at their base. The consultant must be able to submit documentation that proves that they are meeting all legal and tax obligation for the consultancy.

8) Bids shall include a signed copy of the Suppliers Ethical Standards Declaration” (see next page). The bid itself with the annex shall be submitted as attachments to a letter of interest by e-mail to mero.bids@nrc.no

9) Questions about this invitation to bid can be put forward by email to mero.logistics@nrc.no and that a Q&A feedback will be shared with all bidders with anonymization. Closing date for questions: 2 days before deadline.

10) Deadline for bids: All complete bids are to be received by NRC at mero.bids@nrc.no by March 22nd, 2020, at 17:00 Jordan local time (GMT+2)

11) Notification of selection: All bidders will be contacted with formal notification of final selection or information about any delay in the process.

12) As per Jordanian Income Tax Law, NRC in Jordan will withhold tax which is 10% for international consultants and 5% for national consultants, from the consultant’s fees and pay it directly to the Jordanian tax department. Proof of payment will be provided to the consultant upon request.

*Daily rate: the cost for this consultancy will be calculated on the number of days each research will require. Bidders are asked to fill their daily rate as it will be considered as price offer when multiplied by the number of days assigned to each bidder, number of days expected for this consultancy is 135 days; NRC has the right to split this consultancy on two or more bidders/ researchers if needed.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

NRC is not bound to select any of the companies who submitted bids and does not bind itself to select the lowest price offer.

NRC will award the consultancy contract after evaluation based on the following themes and prioritizations:

· Project methodology and suitability for NRC (40%).

· Value for money (30%).

· Proven ability and relevant experience with similar consultancies (30%).

The consultancy will be home based with potential mission to the field and Amman- Jordan between April 2020 until December 2020.

All complete bids are to be received by NRC at mero.bids@nrc.no by March 22^nd, 2020 at 17:00 Jordan local time (GMT+2)

The full invitation to bid is available here: https://www.nrc.no/tender/nrc-middle-east-call-for-interest-consultancy-durable-solutions-for-syrian-refugees-in-iraq-jordan-lebanon/

Note that questions about this invitation to bid can be put forward by email to mero.logistics@nrc.no and that a Q&A feedback will be shared with all bidders with anonymization.