Short term business development consultant: Disaster risk reduction

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

USAID OFDA has announced an upcoming Annual Program Statement (APS) on Disaster Risk Reduction in Zimbabwe, in line with the Southern Africa DRR plan for 2012-2014. While the solicitation or final scope of work has not yet been released, it is envisioned that the APS will focus on the key areas identified in the abovementioned DRR Plan (livelihoods and market linkages, WASH, early warning systems, capacity building, CBDRM). Further, there is increasing indication that the call will have a regional focus and that projects covering multiple Southern African countries will be favored. The OFDA DRR regional strategy covers Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The IRC intends responding to this opportunity and, in preparation for this call, has already conducted two preliminary assessments, mapped other actors and established an initial network of potential partners. In addition, the IRC’s work in Zimbabwe in the past four years has included activities well aligned with the DRR Strategy, particularly through WASH and livelihoods projects.

Scope of work

The consultant will be required to travel to Zimbabwe and take the lead in developing the IRC’s proposal for the OFDA APS.

The consultant will be required to work with the IRC team to design the project’s strategy, partnerships, proposal narrative, logframe and provide input to the Finance team for development of the budget.

In developing the proposal, the consultant will be reporting to the Zimbabwe program coordinator and will work in close collaboration with the IRC’s technical advisors (livelihoods, WASH and others as necessary), in-country sector coordinators and the Business Development Unit. The consultant is expected to work independently and in a time-sensitive environment.

The tasks listed below are not entirely sequential and may be carried out simultaneously with one another.

• Targeted Stakeholder Analysis

Building on work already carried out in the pre-solicitation assessment and by the country program, the consultant will be identifying the key partners from the public and private sector that may add value to the proposal based on the parameters that will be outlined in the APS.

• Competition & Partnerships

The consultant will also be responsible for identifying potential partners (international and national, NGO and private sector) in coordination with the Country Office, and analyzing the pros and cons for each. The consultant will discuss potential roles for partners and work with the Program Coordinator to determine partnerships. Particularly, if the APS has a multi-country focus, a rapid analysis of partners with a regional presence will be required.

• Regional Needs Assessment

If the APS invites proposals for regional programs, the consultant will need to work very closely with the IRC team to develop a strategy for conducting needs assessments in other countries. This may include desk research, drawing on expertise and information from regional partners and, if feasible within time and budget constraints, consider field visits.

• Preparation of Full Proposal

Develop strategies for the proposal and compile relevant data and information so that it can be easily integrated into a proposal. The consultant will be responsible for writing the full proposal, or sections of it should IRC decide to sub, with support from HQ technical staff.

• Regular communication with IRC Headquarters

The consultant is expected to communicate regularly with the Program Coordinator and other IRC stakeholders.

• Support budget development

Provide all relevant information and input to IRC finance team to assist in developing a reasonable and competitive budget. For this task, the consultant may draw on remote support from the IRC’s finance team locally and at HQ level, as well as from the Business Development Unit’s budget officer.

Expected deliverables

1. Stakeholder analysis: map actors / projects working on child labor (child protection, education and livelihoods) in Tanzania;
2. Partner recommendations;
3. Geographical area recommendations;
4. Proposal development workplan;
5. Proposal template;
6. Assessment report;
7. Full proposal and annexes.

Dates for various draft to be agreed upon once the consultant has developed the workplan.