Qualitative Researcher Consultancy: Policy Paper and Brief on Localization in Outbreak Readiness and Response

Background

When major disease outbreaks occur, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are often on the frontlines, using their deep connections with affected communities and expertise to support outbreak readiness and response. READY, an initiative funded by USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance and led by Save the Children and a consortium of partners, is supporting NGOs to respond to major disease outbreaks more effectively in humanitarian settings. Through investments in a robust and diverse capacity-strengthening portfolio, knowledge and best-practice sharing, and engagement with key coordination groups to identify and respond to real-time needs, READY is equipping national and international humanitarian NGOs with knowledge and skills to be ready to respond to major disease outbreaks through integrated and community-centred approaches. For more information about READY, visit us at www.ready-initiative.org.

READY is looking for a consultant to lead on the development of a policy paper on ‘Localization in Outbreak Readiness and Response: The Perspective of Local and National NGOs’.

Humanitarian actors are increasingly advocating for locally led responses supported by international expertise that respects and amplifies national partnerships and leadership. Shifting from a competitive to a collaborative landscape is a key challenge that affects power structures and funding, particularly of international organizations. A similar emphasis is now being placed on epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response and there have been many commitments by international actors to move towards localization (e.g., Grand Bargain, Pledge for Change, organizational commitments).

This paper will seek to understand the perspective of local actors (NGOs and CSOs) on localization efforts and its effect on outbreak readiness and response. It is expected the policy paper will include exploring areas such as coordination, participation, shifting of power, INGO partnership models, funding mechanisms and implementation culture. Importantly, the paper will highlight and share recommendations from L/NNGOs and CSOs themselves for delivering change.’

Timing

Timeframe: March 2023 – June/July 2023

Level of Effort: 40 days

Consultancy Deliverables

• A policy paper report with key recommendations (10-20 pages maximum)
• An accompanying policy brief (1-2 pages)
• Dissemination and engagement activities, to be confirmed

Specific tasks:

• Develop a detailed workplan and timeline for proposed activity, including review periods at key milestones for READY and donor representatives
• Participate in regular consultation and supervisory meetings with the READY team, assigned academic students from READY partner the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health (CHH) and others as relevant throughout the process.
• Oversee and finalize a literature review methodology and write up, together with the students from CHH. This will include peer- and grey-literature using appropriate key terms and search engines with agreed inclusion criteria.
• Develop key informant interviews (KII) guide/focus group discussion (FGD) for consultations which may include a questionnaire, informed by the literature review findings (CHH students will support this process)
• Utilize consultant’s and READY’s network to undertake purposive sampling to engage local actors from the Global South to participate in the KII or FGDs.
• Prepare and undertake KIIs and FGDs using standardized questionnaires/structures according to the distinct categories and topics to explore.
• Collate and analyse gathered data from the above, together with the literature review to produce the policy paper deliverable draft
• Incorporate reviewers’ feedback and finalize policy paper
• Develop and finalize a two-page brief based on final policy paper
• Develop a presentation and support the dissemination plan to engage key decision makers
• Work with READY to seek potential publication options
• Planning and execution of webinar launch event

Qualifications needed

• Expertise and experience in the development of policy briefs/papers and/or journal articles
• Demonstrated skills and experience for conducting literature reviews and qualitative research
• Experience in data collection and interpretation
• Familiarity and experience with literature search engines and qualitative data analysis software
• Strong analytical, research, and writing skills
• Strong humanitarian and/or infectious disease outbreak network including International NGOs and National NGOs
• Experience working in humanitarian contexts especially within partnerships with national or local actors and preferably within outbreak preparedness and response
• Knowledge and familiarity with global humanitarian coordination structures, relevant stakeholders, localization commitments and efforts to shift power to local organizations in humanitarian settings
• Ability to succeed in a fast-paced professional environment with team members from multiple organizations.
• Strong skills in using online platforms for consultations together with Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, and Excel
• Professional proficiency in Arabic, French, or Spanish is desirable