A. Nonviolent Peaceforce Philippines (NPP) and its working approach
NPP is one of the Country Programmes of Nonviolent Peaceforce, a global civil society organisation, with the mission to protect civilians in violent conflicts through unarmed strategies, building peace side by side with local communities and advocating for the wider adoption of these approaches to safeguard human lives and dignity.
Established in 2002, NP has worked in numerous conflict-affected areas worldwide, with current operations in South Sudan, Myanmar, the Middle East and Philippines. NP launched its programme in the Philippines in 2007 following invitations from local civil society and endorsements by key parties in the GPH-MILF peace process and actively supports the peace process and safety and security of civilian communities by helping monitor the ceasefire. Overall, NP employs Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP) as a methodology, deploys unarmed civilians before, during and after conflict in order to reduce violence and protect civilians from its harmful impact.
Within every conflict-affected area we enter, and throughout our work worldwide, NP wants to achieve four overarching goals:
• To facilitate and support safe space for fostering lasting peace.
• To reduce violence and increase the safety and security of civilians affected by violent conflict.
• To develop and promote the theory and practice of unarmed civilian peacekeeping so that it may be adopted as a policy option by decision makers and public institutions.
• To build the pool of professionals able to join peace teams through regional activities, training, and maintaining a roster of trained, available people.
B. Briefly about Programmes
In 2009, NP was invited by both Government of the Philippines (GPH) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Peace Panels along with three local civil society organisations to compose the Civilian Protection Component (CPC) of the International Monitoring Team (IMT).
The GPH and MILF entrusted NPP, as a member of the CPC, with the responsibility to monitor, verify and report the compliance and non-compliance of both parties with respect to their duty to protect civilians and their properties during conflict.
NPP deploys International and National Civilian Protection Monitors in conflict-affected areas in Central, North-Western and Western Mindanao to document and respond to civilian protection related issues. The proactive and protective presence of NPP in vulnerable areas instils trust among communities in the ongoing peace process and supports GPH and MILF in fulfilling their responsibilities towards civilians.
In addition, NPP encourages and supports local communities in their own efforts to deter and mitigate violence. Since 2007, NPP has collaborated with communities, local civil society partners and government structures to strengthen, consolidate and expand existing community-based protection mechanisms as well as support the establishment of new ones in vulnerable areas. These inclusive early warning early response (EWER) structures utilise information coming directly from the community to identify, prevent or contain emerging conflicts before they escalate, thereby limiting the impact on civilians. NP believes that members of conflict-affected communities are best placed to recognise conflict indicators or triggers and to identify the most viable conflict resolution and protection mechanisms for their community.
While conflict indicators are identified and monitored by trained local volunteers, NPP supports in fostering linkages with a range of stakeholders who can address early warning signals and respond to civilian protection needs. Moreover, NPP’s contribution towards strengthening EWER structures and mechanisms supports communities, local civil society and authorities in creating a sustainable impact in violence reduction and community resilience.
Furthermore, NPP has been proactively and responsively addressing child protection needs stemming from armed conflict (including in the context of rido) in Central and Western Mindanao since 2011. Within the overarching framework of Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), the focus has been on the Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on Grave Child Rights Violations (MRM-GCRVs). Aside from the reporting and documentation of GCRVs, NPP, in response to these violations, facilitates referral pathways and links the identified needs to duty-bearing entities and service-providers that includes enabling quick response to suspected presence of explosive remnants of war (ERWs). In order to enhance the protection of children in situations of armed conflict, NPP also raises awareness of diverse stakeholders including but not limited to government line agencies, armed forces, non-state armed actors, and so forth. Through these interventions, NPP bolsters effective and systematic responsive efforts by means of advocacy, programmatic interventions, and joint missions with other organisations and institutions.
Where we work,
NPP implements programming through field teams in four geographic areas:
1. Central and South Central Mindanao: Maguindanao, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Saranggani and General Santos (SOCSKSARGEN)
2. North Cotabato as well as two adjacent municipalities in Lanao del Sur and two in Maguindanao
3. Lanao region, covering both Lanao provinces
4. Western Mindanao, covering Zamboanga City, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi
C. Purpose of the task
In response to the changing context in Mindanao that includes low intensity conflict, transition to stabilisation in terms of the GPH-MILF Peace Process as well as escalating violent conflict led by extremist elements, which has resulted in, among others, sustaining protracted displacement as well as triggered new rounds of large-scale displacement in some of the areas, the outcome of the assessment will inform the development of NPP’s gender-responsive programming in unarmed civilian protection based on the needs of conflict affected civilians.
D. Specific objectives
Specific objectives of the task are as follows:
1. Assess the current civilian protection causes, concerns and needs in NPP’s geographic programme areas and in accordance with the thematic foci including protection during conflict, in displacement, return, resettlement and local integration[1], human rights defenders/civil society activists, sexual and gender based violence[2], and women’s participation in peace and security.
2. Produce information on protection trends and early warning indicators[3] and recommend key contingency preparedness planning that may be included within NPP’s future programme design to strengthen local protection capacities and anticipate new emergencies/risks and to deal with significant changes in the evolving humanitarian landscape.
3. Determine key risks and vulnerabilities faced by children[4] and protective factors available to them in the short, medium, and long term, while providing some knowledge of where the main information gaps are on the ground.
4. In order to better facilitate referral mechanisms, conduct comprehensive mapping of Who, What, When, Where, for Whom (5Ws of Protection Actors and Available Programmes) on the key civilian protection issues and identified gaps (including CAAC), which may further inform NPP’s programmatic and geographic complementation and convergence.
5. Assess the impact of the current conflict context and civilian protection concerns on the GPH-MILF Peace Process, and identify barriers for civilian participation and possible conflict triggers related to the transition period, process of Normalisation and peacebuilding in the context of the Peace Process.
6. Identify the current limitations of as well as potential opportunities for NPP to harness technology for ‘civilian protection’ initiatives and recommend some key steps for strengthening ways to leverage technological advancements in NPP’s programmatic deliverables.
E. Methodology and Process
• The consultant will take up both quantitative and qualitative methods for the Needs Assessment. The consultant/agency will be appreciated for using gender-sensitive Participatory Tools and Techniques for data collection, which may include but not be limited to In-depth interviews, Field visits, Key informant interviews, Focus group discussions, etc.
• Comprehensive desk review of all relevant documents i.e. peace agreement, review related literature, books, records, NP programme reports, evaluations and assessments, available Child Protection Rapid Assessment Toolkits, related Government policy papers, and so forth as deemed important.
• The consulting firm/bidder will conduct gender-balanced interaction with both NPP staff and potential stakeholders on a sample basis.
• The consulting firm/bidder will have to fully engage our primary participants (stakeholders) (i.e. Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Coordinating Committee on Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), Office of Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP), International Monitoring Team (IMT), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippines National Police (PNP), Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), affected communities and community-based EWER structures, government line agencies, local partners, religious leaders, I/NGOs, etc.) who as our core network play the most significant role in the UCP and peace process.
The information will be collected from project areas, Central, North-Western and Western Mindanao, Philippines: Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Cotabato City, North Cotabato, Maguindanao, SOCSKSARGEN, Zamboanga City, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
The sample will need to be stratified by sex, age, and categories of exclusion, such as, ethnicity, ability, occupation, and geographical remoteness. For the qualitative survey, the participants should be from communities, civil society, armed groups, the security sector, policy makers, government service providers, I/NGOs.
F. Indicative Time frame
Presumably, 45 working days would be required for the task, which can also be decided upon discussion between both parties. It is expected that the whole task should be finished within two months from the starting date.
G. Reporting and Presentation /Results expected
Output 1: The consulting firm/bidder will submit a comprehensive assessment report in both electronic version and signed hard copy. The document should be very precise and address each specific objective. The consulting firm/bidder will submit the following:
1. Inception report on the execution of the assignment within ONE (1) week of the commencement of the consultancy.
2. Share questionnaire and field test result before finalising the questionnaire
3. Draft comprehensive report within 35 days and the report including at least the following:
4. Title Page
5. Table of contents, figures and tables
6. Abbreviations /acronyms page
7. Executive summary (2-3 pages)
8. Introduction
9. Methodology
10. Limitation of the methodology
11. Rational of the assessment
12. Findings
13. Lessons Learn
14. Conclusions and Recommendations
The consulting firm/bidder can suggest and add any other heading, if considered necessary.
The consulting firm/bidder will also provide regular feedback/briefs to NPP Programme Manager and Program Development Officer.
Output 2: The consulting firm/bidder will produce a comprehensive assessment report
Output 3: The consulting firm/bidder will also deliver a high-quality Power-Point presentation before finalising the report.
H. Key contacts and report
Information Management Officer under Programme Manager of NPP will be the contact point from NPP. The consulting firm/bidder should report to Programme Manager.
I. Mode of payment
The payment will be done according to the following time frame/arrangement:
• 1st instalment will be 20% of the total amount; and perceived 5 working days after signing the Agreement
• 2nd instalment will be 50% of the total amount, and perceived after the draft report
• 3rd instalment will be 30% of the total amount, and perceived after satisfactory completion of the task
The payments will be made in A/C payee cheques in the name of the consultant/firm. NPP will deduct income tax at source as per the rules of GPH and it will be deposited to treasury of GPH. Besides no other benefits shall be admissible beyond what is stipulated in the contract, nor does it guarantee a regular position in NPP.
J. Copyright and ownership of data
Copyright of all information, findings and the final version lie with NPP
K. General
1. Required logistics support, as prescribed in the agreement, will be provided by NPP.
2. All documents prepared during the assignment will be treated as NPP property.
3. Assignment will not be sub-contracted to anyone.
4. In the event that, additional time is required to complete the contract, over and above that previously agreed to, without changing the scope of work, then it has to be agreed by NPP in writing.
5. In case of any change made, in the scope of work by NPP because an increase or decrease in the cost or time required for performance or any part of the work under the contract, equitable adjustment in the contract price, delivery schedule, or both will be amended in writing.
6. Confidentiality of all the assignment will be assured at all times.
L. Preparation of the Proposal
The consulting firm/bidder shall bear all costs associated with the preparation and submission of the proposal. The consulting firm/bidder shall submit technical and financial proposal to hrm-npp@nonviolentpeaceforce.org
All costs should be quoted in the Philippines peso (PhP) and will remain valid up to Forty-Five Days (45) from the day of proposal submission.
1. Outline of the Technical Proposal
It is mandatory that the proposal should maintain the following format:
*Topic**Title of the survey*
Understanding of the Task
Technical aspects of the proposal
Methodology (state detail about the sampling design and strategy, data collection systems/
techniques/methods, Data Processing & Analysis, Ensure data quality)
Operational plan
Proposed team with names and curriculum vitae
Submitted by: (with contact details)
Detailed CVs’ of the team members should be included in the annexure of the technical proposal. It is desirable that the proposal should contain the abovementioned sections only.
2. Outline of the Financial Proposal
The budget of the task should be broken down in details as like the following format:
Consultancy fees
Questionnaire development cost
Data collection cost
Communication and transportation cost
Data processing & analysing cost
Reporting cost
Miscellaneous (stationeries, printing, etc.)
The firm/bidder may include/exclude any necessary heads from the abovementioned format. All the pages of the financial proposal should be signed by the respective person of the firm/bidder
3. Competence Required:
Qualification and Experiences
• Must have minimum of 5 years of overall working experience with donor funded projects / national or international organisations / international donor, etc.
• Must demonstrate minimum 3 years’ relevant experience in conducting assessment in protection including child protection, SGBV, protection in displacement, etc.
• Must possess a strong understanding of civilian protection in situations of armed conflict, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding programmes.
• Must demonstrate experience in the use of participatory methods for conducting research/studies
Knowledge and skills
• Excellent analytical, interpersonal, communication and reporting skills.
• Excellent technical knowledge on peace process context in Mindanao.
• Competency in examining civilian protection issues.
• Mastery of written and spoken English.
4. Supervision:
Consulting firm/bidder will work under the supervision of Programme Manager.
5. Confidentiality:
All the outputs e.g. needs assessment reports, data base, etc. produced by this assignment will be treated as the NPP’s property. So, the abovementioned outputs or any part of it cannot be sold, used or reproduced in any manner by the assigned consultant/team without prior permission from NPP.
[1] such as ascertain % of IDPs willing to return to places of origin and why, or, % of IDPs unwilling to return and why, etc.
[2] such as frequent places and time of occurrences, population most at risk and its causes, factors that make cases of sexual violence unreported, main forms of SGBV among IDPs and their potential causes, availability of and access to SGBV services, etc.
[3] such as relationship between IDPs and Host Communities, or, relationship between evacuation centre-based IDPs and home-based IDPs, etc. taking into account the political, religious, socio-economic, and cultural context
[4] with particular emphasis on physical harm, gender based violence, family separation, recruitment into armed groups, psychosocial distress of children, among others
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested consultant/agencies are requested to read and strictly follow the detailed Terms of Reference and the circular and submit both technical and financial proposals by no later than September 4, 2017.
The proposals should be sent to: hrm-npp@nonviolentpeaceforce.org