Consultant, Assessment of the Regional Response Tools in the Americas

Duration: Approximately 30 to 45 days
Start: April 2013
LOCATION: Ottawa, Panama and other field locations

Background and investment Profile

The Canadian Red Cross Society (CRCS) is a non-profit, humanitarian organization dedicated to helping Canadians, as well as the most vulnerable throughout the world. The First Responder Initiative (FRI), which is co-funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Canadian Red Cross Society (CRCS), is a three year project which began in July 2010 and will carry through to July 2013. The FRI program is nearing completion and as such CRCS is planning a number of assessments of key activity areas: impact, relevance of results; and lessons learned to provide guidance for the future.

The RIT (Regional Intervention Team) system was first piloted in the Americas, and is one of the key activities of FRI. The RIT tool was developed in response to a study done by the IFRC following Hurricane Mitch in Central America in 1998 and floods and landslides in Venezuela in 1999. One of the recommendations was to develop coordinated regional response teams with a high degree of knowledge in disaster preparedness and response. The RIT, which is a Federation response tool is comprised of a network of human resources highly qualified in different areas of humanitarian work (water, finance, logistics, health, relief, telecommunications, etc.) available at short notice. RITs have been historically used as a tool to respond to medium-scale disasters both at the coordination and implementation (field) levels. RITs assist the National Society (NS) during emergencies in needs assessment; perform a coordination role and support development and implementation of an Emergency Plan of Action.

Although some statistical data is available online through Red Cross Movement (RCM) information management systems, a deeper evaluation of the RIT system through more qualitative analysis is warranted to assess the contribution CRC has made since the onset of FRI in July 2010. This will inform improvements to the RIT system, and also While having an in-depth look at the RIT system, the study will also review the ways forward and look at the opportunities that IFRC has to strengthen the Regional Disaster Response system in the Americas, and what additional regional response tools, i.e. equipment and/or resources would be useful. This is timely given the recent discussions surrounding the development of RRUs (Regional Response Unit). The plan is to have RRUs developed by National Societies (NS) in the Americas to respond to medium scale disasters. Mirroring the ERU (Emergency Response Units) tool at the global level, the RRU tool as envisioned today will aim to deliver humanitarian assistance following medium scale disaster, in conjunction with the RIT system, and/ or with ERUs to larger scale events. The CRCS has invested much in the Americas, and will continue to prioritize its support to the region. As well CRCS is an ERU-ready NS, and has experience in the development of such response tools. Bearing this in mind, the CRCS would like to evaluate progress made to date, and provide a solid assessment on decision-making of ways to proceed in the coming years.

Objectives of the Assessment

The assessment will inform:

• The current trends, capacities, and needs in terms of disaster response in the Americas;
• The existing capacity and effectiveness of the RIT roster; and current gaps of RIT profiles;
• Whether the training curriculum reflects competencies/skill sets needed by NS, and whether they are aligned with the realities of the field work;
• What resources and expertise should be further developed for future RIT delegate development and integrated into future trainings;
• Relevance of the utility of an RRU tool, and what expertise (water, relief, health, etc.) the NS are most in need of. This will establish the relevance of an RRU tool and the potential gaps/opportunities the tool can fulfill;
• What gap in terms of a health-related disaster response exists, and what equipment and human resources would be most useful to the NSs in the Americas.
• Key challenges and issues to be addressed in the development of RRUs, including funding mechanisms and sustainability; and
• Recommendations for RIT and RRU next steps to guide CRCs further support to the development of Regional Response Tools

Scope

An analysis of key trends in disasters, vulnerabilities and capacities within the region.

1. Assess disasters types, disaster profiles, types of response, priority areas of needs and numbers affected
2. Highlight data on disasters that have received no or limited attention and identify key causal factors
3. Highlight key trends, social, economic changes affecting vulnerability
4. Map resources of regions (Caribbean, South America, Central America in terms of disaster response capabilities: RIT, NIT, resources, and training capacities
5. Map historical response experience of each NS and key areas of expertise
6. What NS capacities exist to store, maintain equipment?
7. What capacities already exist in terms of HR (roster, training, management) for use of regional response tools?

An analysis of recent RIT operations over the last 5-7 years within the three regions of Americas Zone – Caribbean, Latin America and South America.

1. Type of disaster, numbers affected, and key areas (health, coordination, etc.) of the operations
2. What factors of the disaster (type of need, NS lack of capacity, extent of damage, etc.) triggered the NS to request a RIT?; What RIT profiles, and key skills/competencies that were required?
3. What was the added value of the RIT deployment? Therefore, what skills, expertise and resources (equip, HR) were transferred to the NS?
4. What additional support would have been beneficial for the NS? Therefore, what were the limiting factors within the response?
5. Does the current RIT roster reflect demand? This will be based on Total # on roster, alert response rates, # by profile, gap analysis, database set-up, recruitment/retention strategies, etc.
6. Analysis of theory and practice: what skills are useful in the field, what gaps exist, what content could/should be still integrated

Feasibility of regional response unit tools.

1. How will the RIT system and specifically the RIT responders support the development of a Regional Response Tool (RRU)?
2. What are the benefits of an RRU?
3. How can an RRU be more cost-effective?
4. How can it facilitate a faster response?
5. Is it a sustainable tool? What are the financial sustainability challenges? What are the implications of the proposed funding mechanisms?

Methodology

This will include desktop research on humanitarian trends and statistics in the Americas, Zone RIT files and database, DMIS documentation, reports, and IFRC and DREF appeal and reports. It will also include primary research, for example, interviews, survey, focus groups, etc with NS involved in RIT deployments, RIT responders, key Americas Zone staff, and Partner NSs.

Deliverables

Upon selection the consultant will submit and have a work plan approved; submit a draft report, which CRC and IFRC can provide feedback on, and a final report. Details to be defined in work plan.

Qualifications

The review will be carried out by a team of 1+: a Team Leader and additional consultants of the Team Leaders choosing. The Consultant team should have the below qualifications:

1. Minimum 5 years experience in consultancy and management of consultancy teams with strong research and analytical skills
2. Minimum 10 years experience/background with the Red Cross Movement
3. Experience in the Americas’
4. Minimum 10 years working experience in Disaster Management and/or Disaster Risk Reduction, operational disaster response experience preferred.
5. FACT, RIT, ERU training preferred
6. Working experience with RCM National Societies required.
7. Human Resources, Training Development and/or Logistics training/working experience background advantage.
8. Language skills: English and Spanish fluent required (for field visits and interviews). French l is an asset.

A CRC staff will work with the Team Leader to coordinate assessment. IFRC will also provide an internal advisor to guide access to relevant stakeholders, documents and provide guidance to assist in implementation of evaluation.

Application Procedure

Interested candidates should submit their application material by to the following email: careers_in@redcross.ca quoting reference CON13-12. Application material is non-returnable, and we thank you in advance for understanding that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for the next step in the application process.

1. Curricula Vitae (CV)
2. Proposal outlining methodology and work plan.
3. Cover letter clearly summarizing your experience as it pertains to this final report, your daily rate, and three professional references.
4. At least one example of an assessment report most similar to that described in this TOR.

Posted:  March 12, 2013