Consultancy for Analysis on funding flow research learnings in relation with covid 19

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR AN ANALYSIS ON FUNDING FLOW RESEARCH LEARNINGS IN RELATION WITH COVID 19

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1. Background and rationale

While some aggregated data on funding flows to local actors exists at the global level, there is limited knowledge of how much funding – and through what channels – goes to local actors at the country level, particularly funding that reaches local actors indirectly. Deeper analysis at the country level can provide useful information for humanitarian actors to make practical changes in humanitarian financing systems, and better meet commitments made through the Grand Bargain and other international agreements.

The humanitarian sector has faced challenges for decades with how best to support and fund local responders. Implementing this ‘localization’ agenda has proved an uphill battle. Despite, the Grand Bargain commitments of international non-governmental organizations, UN agencies, and donors signed in 2016, the sector today is still primarily led by these actors. Local responders are often relegated to subordinate implementors.

With this rationale, Oxfam gathered financial data from 2015,2016 and2017 to assess international humanitarian funding flows to local actors in Bangladesh and Uganda. The two countries (Bangladesh and Uganda), were selected based on their engagement with Oxfam’s Empowering Local and National Humanitarian Actors (ELNHA) program, which aims at a better sharing of power and resources in the humanitarian sector between international humanitarian actors and local and national ones.

The reports assessed how much, and through which channels, direct and indirect international humanitarian funding goes to local and national humanitarian actors from international NGO’s, UN agencies, and the donor community in the financial years, 2015, 2016, and 2017. The 2015 analysis was published in the report Money Talks.

The 2016-17 analysis, also referred to as Money Talks 2, built on the 2015 report to understand trends and capture changes in funding flows through the years at the national level, based on new events. In the case of Bangladesh, the analysis specifically looked at any changes in funding flows to local actors in light of the influx of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.

The purpose of this consultancy is to complement the findings of Money Talks 2, with an analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on international funding flows to local actors in Bangladesh. The premise being that the humanitarian response to Covid-19 has challenged the current system – and could prove a catalyst for reform. Since the global spread of Covid-19, local humanitarian actors are being recognized for their critical role as never before. As travel restrictions have come into force, grounding international staff and initiatives in Bangladesh, local responders have continued to fill a crucial function as those able to access people in humanitarian crises. Advocates of localization have described Covid-19 as a ‘wake-up call’ for the sector, and argue the process of localization should be accelerated to meet growing needs. This analysis will help us to advocate and influence different actors with key recommendations.

Specific objectives of the research:

• To conduct an analysis of the modalities used for funding and how they promoted or did not promote localization in the Rohingya response in Cox Bazar, and in other disaster-prone areas of Bangladesh during the COVID-19 pandemic; and to the extent possible, build an understanding of the funding flows and amounts from donors to local actors since the COVID-19 response began;

• Capture any changes in funding trends from previous years in Bangladesh due to COVID-19, with a specific look at the accessibility of humanitarian funding for local women’s rights organizations, and qualitative findings on changing trends in local actors accessing international humanitarian funding, in line with COVID 19 situation.

The ultimate purpose of the research is to generate evidence for further discussion on international funding flows to local and national humanitarian actors in Bangladesh.

2. OUTPUTS, Scope of research, and the proposed approach

The research will produce one report (maximum 10 pages), that will complement the Money Talks 2 report as an additional chapter.

Because of the possible limitations in accessing up to date, comprehensive financial data linked to COVID, the research will primarily be a qualitative analysis of new opportunities for local actors, as well as barriers to, accessing international funding. The data collection approach will be based on the desk review, secondary data sources, and remote interviews, due to the restrictions on travel.

3. Duration of the consultancy, timing, and Deliverables

Given the existing materials and relationships, as well as a relatively narrow ToR, the anticipation is this research will be undertaken over a two-month period (1^st October 2020 – 30^th November 2020) and a suggested break-down of:

• 4 days for methodological and tool adaptation,

• 21 days for data and information collection (desk review and virtual interview)

• 7 days for draft report writing

• 1-day debriefing

• 4 days for the incorporation of feedback, comments, and retune final report and executive summary writing.

TIMING

DELIVERABLE

October 2020

1. Updated methodology: adapted design and tools

October – November 2020

1. Data gathering and analysis (remote interviews and online desk review)

November 2020

1. Draft country analysis

2. Final report, based on feedback from the review group

3. Executive summary and presentation of in-country findings

The suggested timeline is tentative and shall be confirmed with the selected consultants.

4. Logistics and other support

Oxfam ELNHA team, with the support of relevant country office staff, will assist the consultant with the practical organization of scheduling of interviews, etc.

5. reporting relationships

The contractual agreement will be under the general oversight of the Oxfam Program Manager ELNHA Bangladesh. For the content of the report and financing analysis, the primary relationship will be between the consultants and ELNHA team in Bangladesh.

6. Request For Proposal

The proposal submitted by the consultants will set out a research plan – bringing refinements, specificity, and elaboration to the ToR.

The evaluation of the consultants’ offers will focus on the value for money criterion, with attention to the technical quality of the proposal and the experience of the proposed consultant (CV). The selection of the consultant will follow Oxfam's policy and procedures. Oxfam withholds the right to conduct interviews with one or more potential consultants to seek further clarification on the submitted quotations, proposal and previous experiences of the potential researcher/consultants.

The technical part of the proposal should minimally contain the following:

• Work plan detailing the timing of the assignment, including the proposed division of tasks throughout the days;

• Reflections on existing methodology for the qualitative analysis, highlighting how the planned analysis will link to the existing report and information sources.

• Overview of perceived risks to the research process and mitigation strategies

• Proposed country report format and outline

In addition, the following information should be provided:

• Total budget with a cost breakdown in days or hours spent and the related fees for the tasks (making the distinction for each consultant).

• CVs of the proposed researcher/consultant, including previous experience with similar assignments.

The selected consultant is expected to be available to start in October 2020.

Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis and are to be submitted by e-mail to hrbd@oxfam.org.uk subject line as “**Proposal for analysis on funding flow research learnings**”

Last Date of Submission: Friday, 25 September 2020.

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