Context to the Consultancy

Background of the CCO

The Comité de Coordination des ONG (CCO) is a coordination platform created in February 2010 in response to the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti with the objective to support the coordination of International non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in emergency and transition activities. A group of INGOs members of the UN Humanitarian Country Team (UNHCT) decided to get together prior to the meetings to prepare advocacy points in order to ensure that key humanitarian issues were on the agenda of the forum and to that actions were taken to address these issues. With the creation of the IHRC, the international NGO community also recognised the importance of a united INGO voice to advocate to the IHRC to influence and guide the direction and overall management of the reconstruction efforts. As such a group of INGOs were elected to form an ad hoc structure to facilitate this role. In September 2010, these two ad hoc groups merged to become the Comité de Coordination des ONGs (CCO) in Haiti.

The CCO is composed of four (4) main structures: a 2-member Secretariat, a 5-member Management Team, a 16-member Steering Committee, and a Plenary Assembly. As of 1 November 2012, the CCO Plenary Assembly consists of 39 members.

Re-visioning Process: On 30 July 2011, a workshop was held aimed at reflecting on achievements to date, challenges/setbacks, lessons learnt and to reassess and define goals, objectives and needs of the CCO moving forward. The following objectives were defined
i) Networking and outreach with stakeholders, especially with the Government of Haiti, related to the following needs:
ii) Common positioning and advocacy
iii) Representation, access and lobbying on common INGO interests
iv) Information-sharing: Need for a forum to provide continuity for new INGOs country directors coming in the country

Current Context: The humanitarian context, and thus strategies for influencing decision-making, has changed significantly over the past 2 ½ years, shifting from post-emergency to transition. As such, there is an increasing need for coordination with other platforms, especially the Cadre de Liaison Inter-ONG (CLIO). Formal linkages between the CCO and the CLIO are progressing incrementally based on the outcomes of discussions with that forum, with a view to making the best use of the complementarities of both forums.

Aim and Objectives of the Consultancy
Specific objectives of the consultancy will include:

a. to assess the coherence between mandate, goal, objectives, expected results and activities of the CCO since September 2010.

b. to assess the results and impact of CCO efforts since September 2010.

c. to assess the ongoing need and relevance for the continuing of the CCO in the future.

d. to provide recommendations to ensure continued humanitarian advocacy efforts in Haiti

Expected Outputs
In alignment with the overall aim and specific objectives of the consultancy, the consultant will be expected to deliver on the following outputs, all being the sole property of the CCO:

• Preparation and presentation a written assessment report (no more than 30 pages) in English OR French for an internal CCO audience that addresses and reflects the following:

o Executive summary

o Highlight of CCO activities carried out between September 2010 and November 2012.

o Assessment of coherence between mandate, goal, objectives, expected results and activities.

o assessment of results and impact achieved.

o analysis and recommendations on ways forward in the future for the CCO.

o CCO Steering Committee member comments /feedback.

• Preparation and presentation a written assessment report (no more than 15 pages) for an external audience that addresses and reflects the following:

o Highlight of CCO activities carried out between September 2010 and November 2012.

o Assessment of results and impact achieved.

o Analysis and recommendations on ways forward in the future for the CCO with a perspective of advocacy towards the external stakeholders (donors, UN Agencies, Government of Haiti, civil society)

• Supplementary documents including minutes of meetings with key stakeholders interviewed, questionnaires, and other documents consulted/used.

• In-country presentation/submission and debrief preliminary internal report

Assessment methodology

The consultant will work in close collaboration with the CCO secretariat and Management Team. He/she will meet with members of the Steering Committee members and Plenary Assembly members in addition to conducting interviews with the main stakeholders in the country including : donors, UN agencies, key relevant Government personalities and ministries. He/she will also assess the overall context of coordination: other platforms, their mandate and ways of working; other coordination mechanisms (HCT, Clusters...) and interaction with the CCO. He/she will also look at the Haitian context to assess the priorities to focus on to achieve the goals and recommend potential improvements for the CCO.

PROFILE OF CONSULTANT
Successful consultants will be able to demonstrate the following skills and experience:
• University degree in subjects related to international affairs, advocacy, NGO management
• A minimum of 5 years experience implementing assessments, evaluations and lessons learned, with an emphasis on advocacy evaluation; Familiarity with different participative methodologies for evaluation
• Overseas work experience in post-disaster environments; specific Haiti experience strongly desirable.
• Experience in management of NGO and participation as a member of a coordination platform (strongly desired)
• Proven analytical and problem solving abilities
• Ability to work independently and to meet deadlines
• Good interpersonal skills, along with excellent oral and written communication skills
• Written and spoken fluency in English and French (required); knowledge of Creole (strongly desired)

Application Process
The CCO invites bids from individuals with the experience and skills described above. Interested candidates should send:
• Curriculum Vitae and covering lettering introducing the candidate and how the skills and competencies described above are met, with concrete examples
• Copies of relevant diplomas
• A maximum two-page outline of the proposed evaluation process, including:
o Proposed outline of strategy & methodology – including both theoretical and practical methods
• A brief budget covering all major costs and clearly identifying daily rates charged on any consultancies
• A clear indication of availability / dates
• One example of a relevant previous evaluation

Anne-Charlotte Schneider, CCO Coordinator, and sent to:
CARE OFFICE
92 rue Grégoire, Petionville, Haiti and/or
ccohaitiassistant1@gmail.com