Tender on Faith Based Psychosocial Programming, December 2015

TENDER ON FAITH BASED PSYCHOSOCIAL PROGRAMMING, DECEMBER 2015

Islamic relief

BACKGROUND

Islamic Relief is an international aid and development charity, which aims to alleviate the suffering of the world's poorest people. It is an independent Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) founded in the UK in 1984.

As well as responding to disasters and emergencies, Islamic Relief promotes sustainable economic and social development by working with local communities - regardless of race, religion or gender.

Our vision:

Inspired by our Islamic faith and guided by our values, we envisage a caring world where communities are empowered, social obligations are fulfilled and people respond as one to the suffering of others.

Our mission:

Exemplifying our Islamic values, we will mobilise resources, build partnerships, and develop local capacity, as we work to:

Enable communities to mitigate the effect of disasters, prepare for their occurrence and respond by providing relief, protection and recovery.

Promote integrated development and environmental custodianship with a focus on sustainable livelihoods.

Support the marginalised and vulnerable to voice their needs and address root causes of poverty.

We allocate these resources regardless of race, political affiliation, gender or belief, and without expecting anything in return.

At the international level, Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) has consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council, and is a signatory to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Code of Conduct. IRW is committed to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) through raising awareness of the issues that affect poor communities and through its work on the ground. Islamic Relief are one of only 13 charities that have fulfilled the criteria and have become members of the Disasters Emergency Committee (

IRW endeavours to work closely with local communities, focussing on capacity-building and empowerment to help them achieve development without dependency.

Please see our website for more information

Lutheran world federation

The LWF is a global communion of 145 churches in the Lutheran tradition, representing over 72 million Christians in 98 countries.

LWF strives to put faith into action within and beyond the communion, and seek God’s Word and Spirit to guide us.

This action takes a variety of forms from theological reflection and dialogue with other churches and faiths, to deepening relationships, sharing about our faith, serving those in need and advocating for a more just, peaceful and reconciled world.

Please see LWF’s website for more information

Policy and Research

Policy and research is vital to ensuring long-term change in communities around the world.
The Policy & Research teams at Islamic Relief and Lutheran World Federation works with beneficiaries, field offices and partner organisations around the world to provide sound research, up-to-date analysis and clear guidance on a range of issues, such as:

• Climate Change and Food Security
• Human Development and Poverty
• Child Protection
• Islamic Microfinance
• Conflict Transformation
• Gender
• Faith Perspectives
• Influencing the UN Development Goals

PROJECT BACKROUND

Introduction

New and continuing global humanitarian crises are resulting in huge populations of refugees and internally displaced persons, with consequent serious impact on hosting communities throughout the world. UNHCR is at the forefront of engaging with these displaced communities. Alarming statistics reflect the increasing number of displaced persons globally. The total number of persons of concern to UNHCR by end of 2014 stood at 54.9 million, compared to 42.9 million at the end of 2013. Responding to these crises

are various faith communities, whether that is an international NGO, community organisations or the displaced persons themselves.

The importance of faith communities is recognized by UNHCR and its partners. In December 2012, UNHCR organized a Dialogue with faith leaders, faith-based humanitarian organizations, academics and government representatives from countries around the world on the theme of “Faith and Protection”. Participants embraced a recommendation for the development of a code of conduct for faith leaders to welcome migrants, refugees and other forcibly displaced people, and to stand together against xenophobia. In response to this call a coalition of leading faith-based humanitarian organizations and academic institutions drafted “Welcoming the Stranger: Affirmations for Faith Leaders” to enable them to use this and additional resources as a practical tool to foster support for refugees and other displaced people in their communities.

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) both participated in the aforementioned initiatives as key contributors and further confirmed their commitments to follow up the strengthening of faith-based partnerships. LWF and IRW, operationally two of UNHCR’s largest faith-based partners, are well-positioned to articulate the linkages between faith, protection and resilience, and to elaborate frameworks for faith-based approaches to psychosocial support and community-based empowerment. Please refer to the ANNEX for additional information on LWF and IRW.

Problem Statement

We believe that there is a gap in understanding the importance that faith and belief systems play in people’s lives, including in the lives of refugees and the communities hosting them. Often this is reflected in humanitarian response activities.

• A majority of refugees and displaced persons are persons of faith, yet the predominantly secular humanitarian and development aid environment often overlooks this dimension of their identity in the name of impartiality. However, a recent UNHCR commissioned study of mental health wellbeing within displaced Syrian communities found that prayer and religious contemplation were key coping mechanisms regardless of someone’s age or gender[1]
• As a consequence, psychosocial support to refugee communities – in line with humanitarian principles – is not always as effective as it might be, because it does not take account of people’s faith traditions and belief systems.
• Additionally, there are no guidelines for how humanitarian actors (faith-based or otherwise) can offer such faith-sensitive psychosocial support without compromising humanitarian principles.

• Faith has the potential to be a source of hope, empowerment and resilience, in providing a vision of a better life for all.

Objective

The consultant will;

Research and author Islamic Relief and Lutheran World Federation’s faith based psychosocial research. S/he will work in consultation with relevant stakeholders – including but not exclusively: Islamic Relief and Lutheran World Federation staff, beneficiaries and humanitarian actors in the field and other releveant persons (i.e. staff of other NGOs and UN agencies). The research will seek to address the following:

1. To explore how faith plays a part in the psychosocial wellbeing of the displaced.
2. To explore the way that faith leaders and local faith communities add resilience to displaced communities
3. To formulate a framework in which faith can play a role in psychosocial programming which will lead to preliminary draft guidelines

Scope of this project

The scope of work involves researching and authoring the research project

Islamic Relief and Lutheran World Federation reserves the right to extend or limit the terms of reference of commissioned policy briefing paper according to arising needs and revisions required.

The internal consultation and operationalisation of the policy briefing paper falls out the consultancy remit/

deliverables

The consultant will produce a reseach document which reflects the questions outlined in the objectives section. The consultant will explore the following issues in relation to the objectives described:

• Explore the issue of faith based psychosocial programming – including the arguments for and against.
• Have an understanding and awareness of existing publications and activities relating to faith based psychosocial programming.
• Explore the views of different faiths in regards to faith based psychosocial programming.
• Have an in-depth understanding of the current discourse surrounding psychosocial activities in humanitarian situatuions including the IASC guidelines pertaining to psychosocial programmes.
• Research the effects of faith in psychosocial programmes – both harmful and perceived benefits.
• Explore programmatic approaches to faith based psychosocial actitives in communities from different geographical regions.
• Consultation with relevant Islamic Relief and Lutheran World Federation Staff throughout the entire project to ensure briefings meet required standards.

timescales

Timescales for this particular project are as follows;

Contract duration – 3 months

Direct report - Policy and Strategy Manager (IRW)/ Global Programme Coordinator (LWF)

Location - N/A

Job Title - Consultant: faith based psychosocial research

Project output

The following are expected outputs for this project;

• Improved psychosocial wellbeing of individual refugee households: will result for refugees targeted through this project.

• Strengthened community roles: in the protection of refugee communities will be in evidence as a result of this community-based psychosocial support approach.

• Replication: in other locations where faith-based psychosocial activities are needed, will be anticipated.

• A Code of Ethics: for faith-based and faith-sensitive psychosocial support, emerging out of this interreligious cooperation, will be initiated through this Muslim – Christian cooperation with plans for further development subsequently through participation of other faiths (Jewish, Buddhist and Hindu).

Payment terms

Our preferred payments terms are printed below, if unacceptable, consultants are expected to propose generous payment terms.

• 30%: Upon signing of contract and initiation of the assignment;
• 70%: Upon submission of final report and presentation.

consultancy CONTRACT

This will be a consultancy contract for a certain term and may be extended further, the consultant is advised to include timescales for this project in their proposal. The consultant is expected to work from a location that is yet to be confirmed. The consultant will report directly into ‘Policy & Strategy Manager.

The terms upon which the consultant will be engaged are as per the consultancy agreement. The invoice is to be submitted at the end of the month and will be paid on net payment terms 28 days.

The applicant will need to provide all equipment required to undertake the necessary tasks and this must include suitable IT and communication equipment.

All potential applicants must fill in the table beneath in appendix 1 to help collate key data pertaining to this tender. The applicant must be clear about other expenses being claimed in relation to this consultancy and these must be specified clearly.

A copy of the terms of reference is available upon request though all the data contained within the TOR has been included in this tender document, a copy of the consultancy contract is also available on request. The successful applicant will be required to sign two copies of the consultancy contract and retain a copy for his/her perusal and the second copy to be submitted (must be signed) to Islamic Relief Worldwide within 48 hours of receipt.

For this consultancy all applicants are required to submit a covering letter with a company profile(s) of all stakeholders and the CV of the lead consultant(s).

A proposal including , planned activities, methodology, deliverables, timeline, and cost proposal (including expenses) are expected.

Other relevant supporting documents should be included as the consultants sees fit.

All applicants must have a valid visa or a permit to work in the UK (if travel is required to the UK). A valid visa/work permit is also required for those areas required to be visited as part of this consultancy.

TENDER DATES AND CONTACT DETAILS

All tenders are required to be submitted beforeMonday 11thJanuary 2016 11.00am (UK time) and be returned to

For any issues relating to the tender or its contents please email directly to

Quotations must include the following information for assessment purposes;

1. Payment terms (28days preferred)
2. Full break down of costs including expenses and VAT
3. References (two are preferred)
4. Technical competency
5. Demonstrable experience of working in similar environment

Note; The criteria is subject to change.

appendix 1

Please fill in the table below it is essential all sections be completed and where relevant additional expenses be specified in detail.

Note

The applicant is expected to pay full taxes in his/her native country (s), native country is referred to here as the country of residence.

appendix 2

BACKGROUND NOTE

Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and

Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW)

LWF and IRW signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in August 2014, and began working together at the field-level with joint pilot projects in Jordan and Kenya. This Christian-Muslim cooperation in a world full of sectarian and religiously-framed violence could reinforce the value of collaboration with the UNHCR on strengthening a faith-influenced approach to protection. operationalizing the commitments made in these two MoUs.

LWF and UNHCR signed a MoU in October 2014, reinforcing their longstanding strategic partnership with a special focus on four areas: humanitarian assistance; faith-based partnerships; education and cash-based interventions.

UNHCR, LWF and IRW all share a special focus on working with refugees and forcibly displaced persons. The LWF and IRW desire to combine their longstanding and varied experience as faith-based humanitarian organizations and expand their current collaboration with the UNHCR to more effectively work with, assist and find durable solutions for refugees and other persons of concern, reinforces and operationalizes the commitments made in the MoUs.

LWF and IRW are well-positioned to articulate the linkages between faith, protection and resilience, and to elaborate frameworks for faith-based approaches to psychosocial support and community-based empowerment (LWF: through three departments dealing with humanitarian and development work, theology and Lutheran member churches; IRW: through the International Programmes Division and the Department for Strategy and Policy).

Both organizations have internal resources and partners with expertise in psychosocial support (LWF: Church of Sweden, which has developed a manual on Community-Based Psychosocial Support, and the ACT Alliance Community of Practice on Psychosocial Support which is developing Psychosocial training materials for faith leaders. IRW: Psychosocial programming and policy work, including in child protection).

LWF and IRW have interfaith networks with faith-based organizations working together with many of the same refugee and IDP populations worldwide. LWF is locally rooted through its Lutheran member churches, and IRW has links to local mosques and religious leaders, opening strong connections to local communities near to the refugees and host communities.

[1]Hassan G et al, Culture, Context and the Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing of Syrians; A Review for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support staff working with Syrians Affected by Armed Conflict, Geneva, UNHCR 2015