Consultant, Development and Pilot Application of an Anticipatory Action Institutionalization Assessment Methodology

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is supporting governments and National Societies to strengthen the integration of anticipatory action (AA) into national disaster risk management (DRM) systems, in line with commitments under the International Conference (IC34) Resolution on anticipatory action and the objectives of the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) initiative.

Recent IFRC research on Strengthening National Disaster Risk Management Systems through Integration of Anticipatory Action provides evidence and recommendations on the institutionalization of AA within national DRM systems. In parallel, the EW4All Maturity Index provides an emerging framework for assessing progress across the early warning value chain, while the Anticipation Hub Institutionalization Tracker provides additional indicators and questions related to AA integration. While there is a lot of alignment between these trackers and the IFRC AA institutionalization research, they do not cover all the key elements outlined in the research.

IFRC seeks a consultant to develop and pilot a practical assessment methodology that enables government counterparts, with support from partners including National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and IFRC, to assess the extent to which AA has been institutionalized within national DRM systems at a national level and identify concrete actions required to strengthen integration.

The assessment process is intended to support government ownership, multi-stakeholder dialogue and joint action planning. It is not intended to function as an external audit or ranking exercise. The methodology should facilitate evidence-based reflection among government institutions and partners on the current status of AA institutionalization and priority actions for strengthening integration within national DRM systems. It is envisioned as a government-owned, multi-stakeholder assessment process facilitated by IFRC and the National Society.

The consultancy will pilot the methodology in Ethiopia and South Sudan and produce country-specific recommendations and action pathways for governments.

Findings will also inform, and be added to, the IFRC toolkit for governments on AA institutionalization under development.

Job Purpose

The purpose of the consultancy is to:

• Develop a practical assessment methodology and country dialogue tool to support government-owned reflection and action planning processes on the institutionalization of anticipatory action within national DRM systems;
• Pilot the methodology in Ethiopia and South Sudan, producing country assessment reports and recommendations that support implementation of IC34 commitments and strengthen EW4All Pillar 4.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will:

1. Develop an Anticipatory Action Institutionalization Assessment Methodology that leverages:
   • IFRC research on AA institutionalization;
   • EW4All Maturity Index dimensions and indicators;
   • Anticipation Hub Institutionalization Tracker questions and indicators.
2. Develop a practical country dialogue and self-assessment tool that can be used by governments, with support from partners including National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and IFRC.
3. Apply the methodology in Ethiopia and South Sudan.
4. Produce country assessment reports including country-specific recommendations for strengthening AA institutionalization.

Scope of work

Please find here the detailed tasks.

Assessment Governance and Stakeholder Engagement

The assessment shall be government-owned and conducted through a participatory, multi-stakeholder process.

In each country, the relevant national disaster management authority (or designated lead institution for DRM) will be invited to serve as the primary government counterpart.

National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies will support stakeholder engagement, coordination and dialogue in line with their auxiliary role.

IFRC will provide technical oversight and quality assurance.

The consultant will act as an independent facilitator and technical resource person responsible for applying the methodology, facilitating consultations, synthesizing findings and preparing draft outputs.

Deliverables

• Deliverable 1: Inception report and workplan.
• Deliverable 2: AA Institutionalization Assessment Methodology and Facilitation Guide.
• Deliverable 3: Country Dialogue Tool and Assessment Framework.
• Deliverable 4: Country Assessment Report - Ethiopia.
• Deliverable 5: Government Action Brief - Ethiopia.
• Deliverable 6: Country Assessment Report - South Sudan.
• Deliverable 7: Government Action Brief - South Sudan.

Duration and Level of Effort

Estimated level of effort: 43 working days.

Indicative breakdown:

• Inception and desk review: 5 days
• Methodology development: 7 days
• Dialogue tool development: 5 days
• Ethiopia assessment, validation and report: 11 days
• South Sudan assessment, validation and report: 12 days
• Final revisions and publication support: 3 days

Expected duration: approximately 4–5 months, depending on stakeholder availability and validation processes.

Reporting and Management

The consultant will report to IFRC and work closely with relevant regional and country teams, participating National Societies and technical partners as required.

All deliverables will be submitted in English and remain the property of IFRC.

Education

Required

• Advanced degree in disaster risk management, climate adaptation, public policy, governance, development studies or related field.

Experience

Required

• At least 10 years of experience in DRM, anticipatory action, early warning systems or resilience programming.
• Demonstrated experience conducting institutional, governance or capacity assessments.
• Experience working with governments, National Disaster Management Authorities and National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Preferred

• Experience in Eastern and Horn of Africa contexts is desirable.

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

• Familiarity with EW4All, DRM governance systems and anticipatory action approaches.
• Strong analytical, facilitation and report-writing skills.

Competencies, Values and Comments

Application Instruction

Please submit your application in English only.