Terms of Reference for Financial and Capacity Assessment Consultancy
EuropeAid/154792/DH/ACT/Multi **
GENERAL INFORMATION
Services/Work Description **
Financial and Capacity Assessment
Project Title **
Nassej: Connecting Voices and Actions Together to End Violence Against Women and Girls in the MENA Region
Duty Station
East Jerusalem, West Bank and Gaza
Type of the contract **
Consultancy
Duration **
2 months
Expected Start Date
15th December 2021
Expected End Date
28th February 2022
I. BACKGROUND
Oxfam is an international confederation counting 20 organizations working together with partners and local communities in more than 90 countries. Oxfam has been working in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel (OPTI) since the 1950s, a country office was established in Jerusalem in the 1980s. Oxfam mainly works in the most vulnerable communities, in Gaza, East Jerusalem, and Area C.
Naseej is a regional project that connects women voices and actions to end violence against women in the MENA region. The project will tackle Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in conflict and occupation affected areas, through channeling financial support to women rights and civil society organizations and community based organizations (WROs, CSOs, and CBOs) to prevent and respond to SGBV. This will be done in parallel with technical and capacity building support to strengthen capacities in these organizations to support their work. in conflict and occupation affected areas.
The project’s overall objective/Impact is to contribute to more gender-equitable societies in Iraq, Yemen, and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) in which women and girls live free from violence across all spheres of life. The Specific objective of the project is to support women's rights civil society organizations (WROs) in the target countries to effectively prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) during conflict
The Intermediate Outcomes of the project are: 1) partner WROs show improved organizational capacity to function more independently and effectively to deliver prevention, response, and advocacy programs/initiatives on ending SGBV, 2) SGBV is less socially acceptable in targeted communities, including among men and boys, and 3) Oxfam and WRO partners more effectively influence national and
international policy and decision makers on SGBV policy and legislation and international humanitarian law (IHL) obligation
II. OBJECTIVES OF THE SERVICE
Under Naseej project, Oxfam will contribute to strengthening the capacity of 8 partner organizations and improve their organizational capacity to enable the organizations to implement their project interventions effectively and build their capacities to operate more independently beyond the project’s life. (Intermediate Outcome 1).
The objective of the service is to support the 8 Partner organizations' Finance and Administration Department in reviewing the existing internal systems and processes and develop improved processes to ensure that the overall financial management system of the Partner organizations is strengthened, robust, and aligned to the Donors’ Financial Rules and Regulations. These areas may include (but are not limited to): financial management, procurement, and HR.
The consultant/ consultancy firm is expected to hold face to face meetings in the partner organization premises (considering COVID 19 restrictions)
III. SCOPE OF THE SERVICE
The Financial Management firm will provide support to the Finance and Administration department of the 8 Partner organizations to ensure that there are adequate financial management systems throughout Partner organizations implementation and that the Partner organizations are adhering to the Donors’ Financial Rules and Regulations. This should enable the Partner organizations to have a systematic and disciplined approach to evaluating and improving the effectiveness of risk management control and governance processes.
The consultancy firm/consultant shall work in close consultation with the Finance and Administration Department and the general managers of the Partner organizations. The consultancy firm/consultant will directly coordinate all of his/her responsibilities and duties with the Oxfam Gender Programme officer responsible for this activity.
The areas to be assessed include carrying out an internal assessment of the existing;
Ø Internal Control processes
Ø Administration and Financial management system
Ø Procurement management system
Ø Reliability and integrity of financial and operational information
Ø Information systems environment
Ø Effectiveness of operations
Ø Compliance with Donors’ policies and regulations
Ø Safeguarding of assets
Ø Effective, efficient, and economical use of resources
Ø Identifying capacity gaps and areas that may require improvement
IV. EXPECTED OUTPUTS / DELIVERABLES
The Consulting firm will be expected to produce the following outputs during the period of the consultancy:
Ø An assessment report for the 8 Partners Organizations;
Ø Progress report submitted to Oxfam throughout the assignment; this should include a proposal of suggested modalities for the capacity strengthening plan.
Ø The Project Completion Report which will include individual capacity building plans for each partner based on assessment findings
Ø Conduct a session Oxfam to present the assessment findings and recommendations.
V. METHODOLOGY / APPROACH OF THE SERVICE (WORK)
The firm will be expected to carry out this assignment by:
· Assessment of existing internal control measures
· Consultation with concerned parties such as general managers, finance and procurement staff.
VI. DURATION AND TIMEFRAME OF THE WORK /DELIVERABLES/OUTPUT
This consultancy assignment is expected to be completed within a period of one month. The assignment will be based in, Westbank and Gaza and may be required a team that already exists in these areas.**
Deliverables
Duration
1
An assessment report for the 8 Partners Organizations; (3 days per Partner)
24 working days
2
Progress report submitted to Oxfam throughout the assignment; this should include a proposal of a suggested modalities for the capacity strengthening plan.
3 working days
4
The Project Completion Report
3 working days
5
Conduct a session for Partner organizations to present the assessment findings and recommendations.
2 working days
Total expected working days
32 working days
VII. MINIMUM CONSULTANCY REQUIREMENTS
This is a high profile consultancy assignment requiring senior and professional inputs based on substantive experience and qualifications of the contracting firm and consultants, based on a team approach comprising several experts. The firm will be invited to submit a detailed technical proposal alongside CVs for the lead consultant and finance experts (see below).
Note: the consultant/ Consultancy firms that do not meet the above eligibility criteria will not be considered for further evaluation. Necessary documentation must be submitted to substantiate the above eligibility criteria.
The prospective consultant/ consultancy firm is expected to meet the following requirements:
Ø at least 5 years of practical experience in finance management and systems development preferably have a lot of engagements with the not-for-profit sector.
Ø Knowledge of relevant sectors and access to stakeholders and relevant information sources, especially in OPT
Ø Experience working with international organizations.
Ø Capability to deploy strong analytical aptitude, communication and presentation expertise.
Ø Capability to deploy good communication expertise in English language(s)
Ø It shall demonstrate its capabilities, understanding of the TOR
VIII. PROPOSED STANDARD TECHNICAL PROPOSAL EVALUATION CRITERIA
Herewith please find the Technical Proposal Evaluation Criteria along with respective allocated weight; while the proposed weight between the technical and financial offer is 70%/30%.
Summary of Technical Proposal Evaluation Forms
Score Weight
1
Expertise of Firm / Organization
30%
2
Proposed Methodology, Approach and Implementation Plan
40%
3
Management Structure and Key Personnel
30%
Total
100%
How to apply:
Submission process
Interested consultants (firms or group of consultants) should submit letter of interest, technical proposal, and financial offer no later than the December 10, 2021, to the attention of OPT–Jerusalem Procurement Procurement.jerusalem@oxfam.org
All docs are requested in English language.