occupied Palestinian territory: Consultant Strengthening Emergency Preparedness in Gaza Development of Emergency Response plans

Terms of Reference (ToR)

Strengthening Emergency Preparedness in Gaza

Development of Emergency Response plans

Background

DCA through its partner MAAN Development Center is implementing an emergency preparedness project “Strengthening Emergency Preparedness in Gaza”. The project aims at strengthening the emergency preparedness capacity in Gaza. To this end, this Operation will establish emergency response support and coordination structures and plans. The structure will include Community Emergency Response Committees (CERC) in 15 high risk communities in Gaza benefiting about 105,000 persons. Supporting committees will be established at governorate level and central level encompassing DCA, MA’AN and other CSOs actors to support the community preparedness and response at the local level. The central level committee will work to links the local ER committees to the existing ER structures INGO’s clusters.

The CERCs will receive training in humanitarian aid and e, emergency response standards and procedures enabling for effective role and coordination at the time of Emergency. An Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans will be developed considering comprehensive involvement of the CERCs and the committees at the governorate and the Central Level. The Plans to be disseminated to the wider communities. The emergency response plans that will be developed through the project will include clear communication channels horizontally and vertically, where the CERC’s can provide information from the field to Governorate level committees hence to the Central level committee. The Central committee, which include DCA and partners’ representatives, will be considered as a focal point between the local committees and the DCA, where DCA can have accurate and timely assessments for the situation and the needs on the ground, hence respond to these needs through the established structure of the ER committees in an effective manner.

Furthermore, awareness raising activities will be conducted in the 15 communities to inform the girls, boys, women, and men about the Safety and Contingency Measures to apply during crisis situations.

The intervention includes the development of an operational manual for adapted cash voucher system. The system will be adapted based on an assessment for the existing cash voucher systems in Gaza, where a consultant will assess to what extent the existing systems are applicable, effective and accessible by people during and directly after the crisis. DCA key partners, emergency response committees and Local Stakeholders are going to be trained on the adapted system.

The following key activities will be implemented through the project:

Activity 1: Establish emergency response, support and coordination structure, where a total of 19 Emergency Response Committees (ERC) will be established (15 committees at community level, 5 at governorate level and 1 at central level)

Activity 2: Provide emergency preparedness and cash voucher training for the established ER committees according to needs identified.

Activity 3: Development of emergency response plans at community, Governorate and central levels.

Activity 4: Create ER awareness for the community members (how to be prepared for emergencies and related coping strategies - i.e. safety measures, First aid, how to access services, UXO's, etc). A total of 3,750 community members will be reached

Activity 5: Adapt a cash voucher system in Gaza that is effective and accessible during and directly after the emergencies by all vulnerable groups

The consultancy service will be related to activity no.3 (Development of emergency response plans). Hence, the consultant will need to develop ER plans to be used in an emergency situation in Gaza at three levels, the community, governorate and central levels.

Purpose and Scope

To develop a comprehensive Emergency response plan to be used in an emergency situation in Gaza. The plan should include a consolidation of three levels plans, the community level, Governorate level and the central level. The ER plan should address and consider the needs for the 15 targeted communities.

Specific objectives

• At community level - ER plan will be developed at the community level, where 15 communities will be targeted (3 communities in each of the 5 governorates). The community level ER plan will have community specific sections when relevant. This section will include a thorough mapping of means available in the specific communities, lines of communications, mapping of the area.
• At governorate level - ER plan will be developed and include the ER plan for the communities. It will also include elaboration for coordination and provide support to the target communities.
• At central level - ER plan will be developed and include a consolidation of the lower level plans i.e. the community and governorate level plans. Additional to this, the central level plan will give priority to internal coordination and coordination with clusters and other actors. It will also include plans for needs assessment, donor identification and appeal and proposal development.

Methodology

It is expected that the consultant will further develop the methodology to be applied. The following key elements should guide the development of the proposed methodology:

• Develop an action plan/methodology for the consultancy service in close coordination with DCA and MAAN
• A participatory approach should be ensured in the ER plans development, where MAAN, ER committees and other relevant stakeholders should be involved in and facilitate the planning process.
• The plans should define the needs seen by the committees for how to respond during emergencies (starting from day one of the crisis).
• Planning should include resource identification, Roles and responsibilities, emergency calling/ communication tree, needs assessments, coordination with other stakeholders, procurement and logistics, market surveys, response design considering humanitarian standards (SPHERE, HAP, DO NO HARM etc.), etc.
• The ER plan should ensure vertical and horizontal coherence at the three levels (community, governorate and central levels) with elaboration of the linkages and coordination mechanisms among them.
• The developed ER plan should elaborate the link between the project ER structures and the other related plans at the INGO’s cluster level.
• The ER plan should include reflections from the cash voucher system that will be adapted through the project (mentioned under activity 5 above)

Consultant Requirements

In terms of selection criteria:

· Significant experience with research and analysis and demonstrated experience in developing emergency response plan and humanitarian interventions including skills such as participatory planning and methodology (35/100)

· Good reporting, writing, and communication skills, with specific reference to analytical reports and studies (20/100)

· Demonstrate a strong understanding on humanitarian standards, Right to Participation, organisational capacity development, International humanitarian law and Human Rights, especially related to emergency response and preparedness (20/100)

· Proposed methodology and time frame including plan for methods and tools (25/100)

Output

• A comprehensive Emergency response plan including a consolidation of three levels plans, the community level, Governorate level and the central level. The ER plan should address and consider the needs for the 15 targeted communities (include community specific section).
• Presentation workshop in presence of ER committees, CBO’s, DCA partners and other relevant stakeholders to present the developed plans and describe the planning process and methodology.
• Submit comprehensive end of consultancy report including the planning methodology, outputs, challenges, best practices, etc.

Timeframe 14 days

• Submit an action plan/methodology for the consultancy service: W1 December 2015
• Develop the ER plan through participatory approach (with the involvement of the emergency Response committees and other relevant stakeholders): W2- W4 December 2015
• Presentation workshop to present the developed plans (initial draft) and describe the planning process and methodology: W4 December 2015
• Initial draft of the ER plan to be shared with DCA and MAAN (for comments): W1 January 2016
• Finalization of the ER plan and submission the end of consultancy report: W2 January 2016

A.Proposal ( including budget )

DCA is interested in receiving tenders from both individual consultants/teams and institutions. The following should, at a minimum, be included in the tenders:

• Statement of interest and previous experience with emergency response planning and humanitarian interventions.;
• Proposed methodology for developing the emergency response plans;
• Proposed timeline for developing the emergency response plans;
• Proposed team structure;
• CV(s) of lead consultant(s) with traceable references and electronic copies of 1-3 previous work/published materials

A financial proposal should be submitted with a breakdown of costs as follows:

• Professional fee;
• Travel and per diem;
• Any expected costs relating to meetings and other participatory processes; and
• Any expected (sub) contracts.

Proposal Submission Form

To be completed by candidates:Programme:

Contract:Proposal submitted by:

Name:

Address

Telephone number:

Fax number:

E-mail address:Date of proposal:

Financial proposal

My proposal for remuneration of my services is as follows:

Please submit the proposal in USD.**Currency** Amount Global Remuneration (fees only) USD Other Expenses USD VAT or other professional tax on services USD

CONTRACT AND TERMS OF PAYMENT

The consultant with sign a contract with the DCA Office in Jerusalem. In case of an International consultant, DCA shall cover all travel costs (public transport from home to airport, air ticket from home country to Israel A/R, all local travel costs associated with the assessment) and per diems for travel days and days worked in Palestine/Israel. The payment shall be made according to the following schedule:

• 50% of the fees after signing the contract agreement

• 50% of the fees plus full reimbursement of other expenses after submission and approval of final report

Duties and Taxes

The consultants shall pay all duties and taxes levied by its home government at any stage during the execution of the work and is requested to provide to DCA valid deduction of source otherwise DCA is obliged to deduct a certain percentage as per the Palestinian Income Tax Law 2013 depending on his/her residency. The deducted amount will be paid directly to the Palestinian Authority as required by law.

Please send a proposal to DCA procurement department, DCA Finance, Procurement, and Admin Officer, info.palestine@dca.dk, by Friday the 27^th November 16:00 Jerusalem time.

Information

General InformationPrincipal area of specialization Years of experience in principal area of sp. Other areas of specialization Years of experience in other areas of sp. Years of study / degrees obtained

Academic institutions Experience in the region of Contract Last three assignments in the field of the contract Languages

(indicate level on a scale from 1 to 5, for understanding, speaking and writing) Membership in professional organizations Experience in working in cooperation with local partners/participatory approaches

ReferencesName & country of customer Type of services Periods Contact person name Phone and Email

Criteria

The evaluation of the applicants will be based on 65 % technical and 35 % financial scoring.

Any technical offer collecting less than 80 points will be considered not compatible with the technical criteria of the contract and thus be excluded.

Candidate no.:1 2 Maximum points Score Score after interview (if amended) Score Score after interview (if amended)**Significant experience with research and analysis and demonstrated experience in , developing emergency response plan and humanitarian interventions including skills such as participatory planning and methodology 35 Good reporting , writing , and communication skills, with specific reference to analytical reports and studies 20**Subtotal on expertise 55 Demonstrate a strong understanding on humanitarian standards, Right to Participation, organisational capacity development, International humanitarian law and Human Rights, especially related to emergency response and preparedness 20 Proposed methodology and time frame including plan for methods and tools. 25Subtotal on Methodology 45 TOTAL TECHNICAL SCORE 100

Study sources

It is important that the most relevant background documents is shared and read by the consultant prior to the planning process takes place. These include project proposal, LFA, list of targeted CBO’s, localities and governorates, TOR’s for the ER committees, training programs/topics delivered to the ER committees.

Please send a proposal to DCA procurement department, DCA Finance, Procurement, and Admin Officer, info.palestine@dca.dk, by Friday the 27th November 16:00 Jerusalem time.