Consultant: Preliminary Support and Background Review

About InterAction

InterAction is the largest U.S.-based alliance of international non-government organizations (NGOs) and partners. Celebrating our 40th anniversary this year, we mobilize our Members to think and act collectively to serve the world’s poor and vulnerable, with a shared belief that we can make the world a more peaceful, just and prosperous place – together. Using our collective voice and convening power, we seek to shape important policy decisions and actions across a wide range of issues – including foreign assistance, humanitarian relief, development, economic equity, food security, and climate change.

Our Members are premier international global development, humanitarian, and sector-supporting organizations that work in almost every country and manage more than $15.4 billion in programs annually. InterAction’s revenue comes from dues, government, private foundation and corporate grants, and fee-for-service programs. Additional information can be found at www.interaction.org.

Background

Six years after the implementation of the IASC Policy on Protection and the 2013 IASC Statement on the Centrality of Protection, an independent Review was carried out in 2021-2022 to assess the implementation of the Policy across a range of humanitarian crises. The Review sought not only to identify the critical issues that had impacted the implementation of the Policy but also to increase understanding of the key enablers of and barriers to progress. The review found that partial progress has been made towards its implementation. However, the ambition and intent of the Policy have not been met, and there is still a significant gap between policy and practice. Several recommendations point to the need to ensure conceptual clarity of the Centrality of Protection and to ensure protection is seen and acted upon as an outcome, in other words, actions aimed at reducing or preventing risk as the end result. Underneath both recommendations points to the recognition that there is a system-wide gap in capacity both in knowledge and skills across the entirety of the humanitarian community, from global and country-level leadership, among all the sectors and coordination, to field-level operations.

While progress is underway to roll out the IASC Toolkit on the Centrality of Protection that will include clarity of concept, the benchmarks for HCs/HCTs to implement the CoP, and an IASC Measurement Framework, there remains a significant gap in what capacities are needed across the humanitarian system to ensure the successful uptake of outcome-oriented methodologies and approaches that support the measurement and achievement of protection outcomes.

About the Project

Since 2012, InterAction has been at the forefront of results-based approaches to protection. Through its signature work on Results-Based Protection, InterAction has carried out numerous roundtables, interagency dialogues, field-level workshops, and trainings with humanitarians around the world to identify and distill the key elements of results-based protection in order to achieve protection outcomes. This body of work has helped shape the IASC policy on the Centrality of Protection and was referred to within the Review as evidence of an effective approach in support of protection outcomes.

As a co-champion with UNHCR, InterAction is leading efforts within the humanitarian community to promote and adopt the Centrality of Protection. In this commitment, InterAction is spearheading an interagency process to help set in motion the development of a system-wide competency framework for the Centrality of Protection. This consultancy intends to lay the groundwork for developing this competency framework.

Position Type

Consultancy

Essential Functions

InterAction seeks applicants who can undertake the initial background steps to inform the scope direction, process, and assessment of the funding landscape for the development of a system-wide competency framework for the Centrality of Protection.

The consultants will be expected to undertake several key activities to achieve the expected deliverables. These include:

• Undertake a desk review and bilateral discussions with key informants to identify existing interagency competency frameworks within the humanitarian sector. Explore processes, partnerships (i.e., academic and practice), models, and noteworthy challenges that should be considered as InterAction embarks on the development of an interagency system-wide competency framework.
• Identify and weigh different interagency processes within the humanitarian system that could be considered as part of the development and interagency endorsement process (i.e., IASC Principal endorsement, aligning with Professional Standards for Protection, CP/GBV Standards, etc,).
• Identify key partnerships between organizations, academics, and donors that InterAction should consider as Advisors, members of a Reference Group, or other interagency bodies that would commit and engage in the development of a system-wide competency framework for the Centrality of Protection.
• Undertake at least one interagency dialogue/workshop to tease out the scope of what this process could look like based off finding from the desk review.
• Draft a Terms of Reference (ToR) outlining the scope of an interagency competency framework for the CoP. This should include objectives, a timeline, roles and responsibilities for each actor engaged in the interagency initiative, including InterAction’s role, the role of an Advisory Group, Reference Group, Partnerships, or others recommended to include in the process.
• Outline a costed plan/funding strategy that would support the development and rollout of a system-wide competency framework.

Deliverables

• A Scoping Paper that highlights key findings from the desk review and any bilateral conversations that help to identify key considerations, including potential partnerships that should be considered as part of the development and rollout process
• A Summary Paper (2-3 pages) outlining the discussion points and recommendations from an interagency dialogue/workshop
• A ToR outlining the scope of the development process for the interagency competency framework that includes:
  • Clearly defined objectives and a timeframe
  • A terms of reference outlining roles and responsibilities, including, if relevant, an Advisory Committee or Reference Group, InterAction, and other stakeholders
  • A list of recommended stakeholders within the humanitarian and academic communities to serve on an Advisory Committee and/or technical resource group
  • A list of steps that should be undertaken once an interagency group is formed, including initial decision points, areas that will need dedicated discussion, and any additional activities that should be carried out, including interagency workshops, meetings, review processes, testing phases, or other essential steps that will ensure a trusted interagency process towards an agreed-upon competency framework for CoP
  • A proposed budget including cost-shared opportunities, for undertaking the full plan/process
  • A list of supporting activities and resources required to support the development process.
• A Costed Plan that outlines a funding strategy that including the key activities and funding/resource requirement (including cost-share options) to develop an interagency competency framework for RBP
• A detailed concept note that captures the scope of the project, the process, and a proposed budget.

Qualifications

• Experience with competency frameworks; firsthand experience developing them or engaging in a process to develop a competency framework is highly desired;
• Demonstrated experience designing interagency processes that help build trust and ownership of the final result/deliverable
• Program management experience, including developing concept notes, proposals, and project budgets
• Experience engaging with academic-humanitarian or development partnerships;
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of humanitarian crises, including the humanitarian architecture and how it functions (i.e., clusters, humanitarian country teams (HCT)), roles of agencies, and other actors
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of academic institutions and their connection with humanitarian operations
• Familiarity with protection in the context of the armed conflict, the Centrality of Protection, and/or results-based protection is highly desirable
• Familiarity with outcome-oriented ways of working, including skillsets that support systems thinking, design thinking, and realist and qualitative evaluation methodologies, is helpful though not required to carry this consultancy
• Ability to quickly absorb and distill large amounts of information and accommodate diverse perspectives
• Strong listening and facilitation skills
• Ability to convey complex ideas clearly, succinctly, and in jargon-free oral and written communications
• Experience working within a team, engaging multiple organizations, and managing different perspectives, expectations, and contributions
• Able to work independently, taking initiative and managing activities and deadlines without significant guidance
• Excellent verbal and written communication with a wide range of stakeholders
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and mange time and competing demands effectively while working under pressure with tight deadlines
• Able to balance the need to work independently while collaborating closely with the InterAction team and other relevant actors
• Fluency in English required, other languages desirable

Expected Start Date

October 1st, 2024

Reports to

Senior Advisor - Protection

Travel

None

In addition

InterAction is an equal opportunity employer that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. InterAction does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, and individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws.

There are no extraordinary physical requirements for the performance of the essential functions of this position. InterAction will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

All applicants must be able to provide documentation that they are legally eligible to work in the United States for an extended period.

InterAction does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of InterAction and InterAction will not be obligated to pay a placement fee.

To Apply

Please submit a proposed work plan indicating how the above activities will be carried out, noting which deliverable will be completed and when within the October to December timeframe. All Applicants should include:

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Cover letter that addresses qualifications relevant.
• Proposed workplan outlining activities and timeframes to meet all deliverables
• Consultancy proposed day and hourly rate

Deadline is September 16th.

All applications must be submitted through ADP for consideration. Incomplete applications will not be considered.