CONSULTANCY – Research: Feasibility of using a CVA with a “route-approach” in select contexts in the Americas.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The CALP Network is a dynamic global network of over 90 organizations engaged in the critical areas of policy, practice and research in humanitarian cash and voucher assistance (CVA) and financial assistance more broadly. Collectively, CALP members deliver the vast majority of humanitarian CVA worldwide.

What makes CALP unique is its diversity. CALP members currently include local and international non-governmental organizations, United Nations agencies, the Red Cross/Crescent Movement, donors, specialist social innovation, technology and financial services companies, researchers and academics, and individual practitioners.

Together we seek to better meet the needs and improve the outcomes for people affected by crisis. To do this we ensure that CVA is a central, scalable component of quality, timely and appropriate humanitarian assistance, and that the need to sustain positive outcomes for people over the longer term is considered.

We envision a future where people are enabled to overcome crises with dignity, by exercising choice and their right to self-determination. This helps to sustain their well-being over time.

To do this we catalyze the power, knowledge and capacities of our diverse global network, alongside other local, national, regional, and global actors, all of whom are seeking to secure better outcomes for people living in crisis contexts. Our role as a collective is to generate alignment in the approaches and actions of those within and across our network, to help optimize the quality and scale of humanitarian CVA.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

Overview

This research will build upon CALP’s 2022 study People are on the move: Can the world of CVA keep up? Analysis of the use of CVA in the context of human mobility in the Americaswhich looked at the issue of CVA used for people on the move.

Main objective

The main objective is to understand the feasibility of using a CVA with a “route-approach” in select contexts in the Americas.

CONSULTANCY RATIONALE

One of the findings from the study was that there is a need to take a “route” instead of “country” approach when providing CVA to people on the move. Also, the report featured a case study in the report Payment ecosystems along migratory routes took a country-by-country view of potential of FinTech platforms as one possible solution enable the generation of financial services at scale that are more aligned to people’s needs—including people in movement. This study seeks go deeper into the findings of the case study focusing on the financial service provider landscape and Know Your Customer (KYC) across select migratory routes in the Americas.

OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The main research question is:

• How can humanitarian actors and financial service providers be ready to provide cash and voucher assistance (CVA) in contexts of human mobility in the Americas?

Specific questions

• What are the current most feasible FSP options to deliver CVA on a migratory route that meets different people’s needs (i.e., based on the Framework the accompanies the report)?
• What role can national payment gateways, national and international payment aggregators, Central Banks play in allowing continuous access to financial services along the routes?
• What are the confirmed KYC requirements to access financial services, for people on the move along the main routes[1]?
• Within the identified KYC requirements, are there any “quick-wins” that could ease access to financial services?
• How can humanitarian actors build strategies that enable continuous access to financial services for people on the move along routes?

KEY DELIVERABLES / MILESTONES

The following are the final deliverables to be completed by the end of the consultancy, unless otherwise discussed and agreed upon by the ACF-USA and Consultant:

• Deliverable 1: Inception report and tools for data collection: due 24 March 2023
• Deliverable 2: First draft of report: due date 31 May 2023.
• Deliverable 3: Final approved report and data sets: due date 30 June 2023; the final report should be no more than 50 pages including all annexes.

These are estimated dates and the exact timeframe for deliverable #1 and #2 will be decided with the consultant. The date for deliverable #3 is non-negotiable.

TENTATIVE TIMELINE & ACTIVITIES

This scope of work will cover approximately 30 days between the 27th of February and the 30th of June 2023.

Any additional days and/or modification of Start/End dates must be completed before additional work is commenced.

WORKPLAN/METHODOLOGY

The work will be led by CALP with the input of a steering committee comprised of actors in the region. Steps of the consultancy include:

• Engage periodically with the Steering Committee formed of network members and CALP staff to discuss research orientations, progression, key findings and related decision making.
• Desk review based on the documentation available (report, publications, studies, etc.)
• Key informant interviews and/or focus group discussions, as appropriate, to both complement existing documentation in the mapping exercise and deepen in the case studies.

CALP will provide an initial list of key documents and informants.

MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS

This consultant will report directly to the Responsible Manager, listed above, who will be responsible for approving deliverable(s) and invoice(s). Additional technical support will be provided by the Americas Deputy Regional Representative.

Action Against Hunger is a host of the CALP Network; we are a U.S.-based organization, and as such must comply with U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules and regulations. If you are selected for the consultant work, and choose to work with Action Against Hunger USA, you must provide the proper IRS form to determine your tax status either with a W-9 form or W-8 form, depending on your tax situation. Please visit www.IRS.gov for more information. Any tax questions should be directed to your tax advisor. Contracts and payments are dependent upon receipt of the signed IRS form. Payment of Invoices are net 30 days. Additional details provided in service contract. There are no travel costs associated with this contract.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the consultant may be required to sit for long periods and to concentrate on work, including typing, and turn out heavy volumes of work accurately, within short time frames. Must be able to proofread own work accurately so that only minor corrections are needed on an infrequent basis.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a consultant to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions, Travel and Environment

• Must provide own computer, internet, software, and other basic office supplies required to complete the duties for this consultancy
• Must be available to work outside normal office hours or on the weekends as needed or required by contact with the Project Team or other partners.

MINIMUM DETAILS IN APPLICATION

For this piece of work, CALP is looking for the following expertise:

• Good understanding of current good practices regarding CVA globally and in the Americas.
• Knowledge of financial service provider ecosystems in the Americas.
• Experience working in the Americas preferably in contexts with considerable human mobility.
• The ability to communicate technical subject matter (in oral and written forms) to people with varying technical knowledge/skills and from different educational and cultural backgrounds.
• Fluency in Spanish; Knowledge of English is desirable.
• Excellent research skills including the capacity to collect and analyze large quantities of information and identify critical trends and findings.
• Excellent writing skills that are succinct and accessible

**Note that this report can be written in Spanish or English with a strong preference for Spanish.

How to apply

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND PROCESS

Expressions of Interest should include:

• Technical proposal (maximum four pages);
• Financial proposals (maximum 1 page) based on a daily rate quoted in USD only
• CV(s) of consultant(s); and
• An example of previous work preferably written in Spanish.

All the items should be sent to [email protected] and [email protected] no later than 11:59 Nairobi, 13 February 2023 with the subject line: “CALP Americas Study”.

Any additional clarifications on the consultancy should be addressed [email protected].