CARE is an international humanitarian aid organisation fighting global poverty, with a special focus on working with women and girls to bring lasting change to their communities. As a non-religious and non-political organisation, CARE works with communities to help overcome poverty by supporting development projects and providing emergency assistance. CARE International (CI) has been working in the Pacific region since 1989, with established Country Offices in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, and projects implemented together with partners in Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa, Kiribati and Tuvalu. Key programs in the Pacific focus on resilience and reducing the risk posed by disasters and climate change as well as advancing gender equality through activities to empower women and girls, increase women’s access to economic opportunities, and reduce gender-based violence. CI has been actively responding to the largest natural disasters in the Pacific including Tropical Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu in 2015, Tropical Cyclone Winston in Fiji in 2016, Tropical Cyclone Gita in Tonga in 2018, Tropical Cyclone Harold (Vanuatu/Tonga/Fiji) in 2020, Tropical Cyclone Yasa in Fiji in 2020/21, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region and most recently the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha’apai (HTHH) volcanic eruption and tsunami disaster response. CARE’s programs in the region are implemented in partnership with a diverse range of local NGOs and civil society organisations.
Introduction to Australian Humanitarian Partnership Programme – Tonga Response
The Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) Tonga – Hunga Ha’apai Disaster and COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Consortium was established in response to an AHP activation which took place in May, 2022. Consortium members include the CAN DO Network, CARE (Consortium lead), Oxfam, PLAN and Save the Children, along with their local partners. Important exploratory work will be conducted, starting in late 2022, to determine the most effective and meaningful coordination mechanisms relevant to context. Delivery of the AHP Hunga Tonga – Hunga Ha’apai Disaster and COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience programme will require efficient and effective coordination, both within the Consortium and between the Consortium and external stakeholders, including Tonga’s National Emergency Management Office (NEMO), government line ministries, local NGOs/CBOs and the private sector. The Consortium Coordinator plays a key role in providing or facilitating the provision of technical support to Consortium members and partners and ensuring that the Consortium adopts a coordinated and cohesive approach, particularly in the areas of Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) and Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI).
Scope of Work
CARE Australia, as consortium lead, is working with all consortium partners to coordinate activities supporting in-country partners as a part of the Tonga – Hunga Ha’apai Disaster response. A core component of this work is to support in determining the most effective and meaningful coordination mechanism(s) for the Australian Humanitarian Partnership (AHP) Tonga – Hunga Ha’apai Disaster and COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Consortium in the Tongan context. Consideration should also be given to effective means of coordination with the broader humanitarian infrastructure in Tonga, as it applies to resilience and recovery outcomes.
CARE Australia, on behalf of the consortium, is seeking a consultant/s to map the current humanitarian infrastructure (including Government ministries and offices, clusters, civil society organizations, UN agencies, Red Cross and INGOs), review existing coordination mechanisms and structures in Tonga, both formal and informal, together with ways of working and communicating and to seek the input of key stakeholders in-country as a part of advising the next steps and way forward for coordination of the AHP project. The consultant/s will work together with CARE and Australian NGOs, but importantly, in close coordination with in-country partners, to map existing coordination mechanisms and to propose a way forward based on in-country partner preferences and feasibility noting this could be building on existing structures. The product to be delivered at the end of in-country consultations will be used to support the way forward for the AHP partnership in Tonga, and shared with varied stakeholders including donors, partners and government.
The scope of work included in this consultancy is as follows:
1. Review of existing coordination mechanisms and structures:
- Desk review and consideration of relevant AHP project documentation (e.g. design document, MEAL framework, Disaster Ready programme information, previous activation histories, specific AHP guidance material);
- Consideration of any other relevant reports or guidance (specifically relevant to the Tongan context) with a focus on coordination, engagement and working collaboratively across CSO, NGO, government and other stakeholders.
2. From consultations, produce a mapping of humanitarian infrastructure (including a desk review of previous humanitarian crises in Tonga, who has been involved in responses, and how coordinated), with comment on effectiveness of coordination.
3. Drawing on the desk-top review, conduct of discussions/meetings in Tonga with in-country AHP partners to determine existing, feasible and desirable coordination and communication modalities across partners, stakeholders and engaged partners within the AHP partnership and response.
4. Prepare and deliver a synthesised guidance note, based on findings, of the potential avenues for ongoing coordination and engagement of the AHP Tonga – Hunga Ha’apai Disaster and COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Consortium going forward, including reflection on effective means of linking organisations / projects with community, subnational and national structures.
Selection Criteria
- Post graduate qualifications in international development, humanitarian response, gender or equivalent
- Extensive technical knowledge and experience in humanitarian response coordination
- Experience and understanding of partnership broking and working with civil society partners
- Tonga and Tongan language skills an advantage
- Flexible and responsive work ethic
- Excellent written communication skills
Fees and Payment
The consultant is expected to provide their daily fee rate as part of their expression of interest.
Expression of Interest
Expressions of Interest should include:
- A maximum 1-page cover letter including a statement of capability introducing the consultant/s and how the skills and competencies described above are met, using concrete examples and a budget.
- Current CV of the consultant/s.
- Daily fee rate.
Please refer to the attached Terms of Reference for more information. Expressions of interest and requests for further information should be submitted to Lucienne Heyworth, AHP Project Coordinator: [email protected] by May 22nd, 2023.