Primary research study call for proposals: Localisation in the COVID-19 Humanitarian Response

Terms of Reference

Purpose: The British Red Cross seeks a partner to lead, co-design and directly implement research to critique and analyse the interplay of localisation in the COVID-19 humanitarian response.

The British Red Cross particularly encourages applications from consultants, academic institutions, research institutes or think-tanks or policy institutes in the Global South.

The research will explore the following questions:

• How do different stakeholders perceive the localisation agenda and its intersection with institutional racism and anti-racism within the international humanitarian sector?
• What have been the experiences of National Societies and other national and local actors, in terms of implementing localised responses during the pandemic?
• Has the global pandemic and disruption to the ‘status quo’ for major humanitarian responses prompted a leap forward in the localisation agenda?
• Has it a principled humanitarian response to COVID-19 and other simultaneous crises been harder to guarantee, given that international actors have not been able to respond as they might have pre-COVID-19?
• What risks are evident in a less internationally- dominated response context and how should these be managed?
• What can be learnt of the impact of how responses have been led, funded and conducted during the pandemic and how do these compare to responses pre-COVID-19? What lessons can we take away from this?

Outputs: Report (of less than 50 pages) and complementary summary report (of less than 10 pages), featuring evidence, findings and recommendations for policy makers, the International Red Cross and Crescent Movement.

Audiences: The research is intended to be presented at a range of high level events internationally, in the UK and in the countries that the research took place and will be used to support British Red Cross’s engagement with, and influence of, policy decision makers – including the UK Government - , the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, civil society and other key local, national and international humanitarian actors, INGOs, UN agencies, states and donors, as well as the broader humanitarian and international policy and research community. The research will also be helpful to inform British Red Cross’s own programme and partnership responses.

Commissioned by: Humanitarian Policy Department – British Red Cross

Responsible: External consultant/s under supervision of Senior Humanitarian Policy Adviser

Timeframe: Completion and dissemination in Q1 2021

Location(s): Global with case studies on focus contexts.

Background

COVID-19 – a local response to a global pandemic

Within ten months of being identified in December 2019, COVID-19 has killed over one million people worldwide, with over 33 million cases reported. Beyond the immediate human toll, the pandemic has led to lockdowns across the globe as countries have sought to control the spread and alleviate pressure on health services, with associated social and economic impacts that are likely to reverberate for years to come. This is an unprecedented worldwide crisis during which nations have looked inwards for safety, global solidarity distorted, and leadership shaken. Humanitarian actors have been overwhelmed with the need to respond to the multitude of concurrent emergencies, domestic and international, with little extra resource and significant limitations on operations due to this new and invisible threat. The response is primarily a local response, as front-line community responders in their local and national context, Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies are at the forefront, responding to the local needs of those affected by COVID-19 in their own countries and communities. Whatever the context, epidemic control interventions will only be effective when they are relevant, contextually appropriate and co-owned by affected populations.

Localisation in humanitarian response

Localisation rose to prominence after the 2016 World Humanitarian Summit and the Grand Bargain commitments to increase support and funding to local and national actors engaged in humanitarian response and specific commitments in the areas of partnership, capacity strengthening, coordination and financing. Although there are many different definitions of what constitutes localisation in humanitarian response, at its heart is the recognition of the need to shift the dial to invest more in local capacity and reduce dependence on international organisations and to promote and facilitate increased community engagement and accountability in the design and implementation of humanitarian programmes. For example, local actors in the Pacific (government, national societies and local and national NGOs) developed their own definition of localisation as “a process of recognising, respecting and strengthening the independence of leadership and decision making by national actors in humanitarian action, in order to better address the needs of affected populations”. At the British Red Cross, we are committed to supporting principled humanitarian actions that is “as local as possible and as international as necessary,” while continuing to recognise the vital role of international actors, in particular in situations of armed conflict.

Intersections with the anti-racism agenda

Amidst this context, the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, US, on 25^th May 2020 sparked protests, debate and calls for action to address racism and injustice around the world.

The continued wave of Black Lives Matter and other anti-racism protests, has put a spotlight firmly on deeply ingrained historic and systemic racist attitudes and discrimination against Black people and people of colour – including in the humanitarian sector and in our own organisations, at individual and institutional levels. The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is committed to help achieve the required changes to all systems that are oppressive to people of colour.

The humanitarian sector must be open to painful and uncomfortable conversations, revealing hard truths about racism and related discrimination. These include entrenched problems of power imbalances and subtle, insidious, and unconscious inequity engrained in our structures and history, as recognised in the statement on behalf of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, on building an environment free from racism and discrimination. At the British Red Cross, we commit to continuing to play our part in listening, learning and mobilising.

Research Purpose

British Red Cross is seeking a research partner to co-design a set of research objectives, research questions and approach and to directly conduct and deliver upon this research against jointly agreed outputs. The partner will co-lead a project steering group that will include British Red Cross stakeholders and representatives of national and local actors.

From the outset, this research seeks to bring together diverse experiences, insights and approaches to shed light on the intersection of the three topics of COVID-19, localisation in humanitarian response and anti-racism. In gathering the perspectives from National Societies and other national and local actors, this research will work to understand and bring out common themes around the relevance of localisation, the opportunities and risks, successes and shortcomings. These voices and learnings will be brought to a wider group of stakeholders and decision-makers for frank discussion and constructive debate.

Whilst the research design, specific objectives and outputs are to be defined in collaboration with the research partner, some preliminary thematic areas of interest within the general scope could include:

• Opportunities and constraints posed by the COVID-19 context for National and Local actors.
• How risk management, compliance burden and structures of control play into progress on localisation.
• Approaches to localisation as part of institutional and sector commitments towards anti-racism.
• Humanitarian principles and the concepts of externality and internationalism as limiting factors in progress on localisation.
• New models of remote support piloted during COVID-19 vs surge deployments
• Funding flows and financial instruments, the use of regional and global pooled funds

Methodology

In proposing a suitable research methodology, applicants should focus upon an appropriate approach to capture the voices and perceptions of the people whom the localisation agenda is principally concerned with and who are involved in the response to COVID-19. A wide geographic spread, potentially supported by country case studies, would be optimal to ensure a representative picture and relevance of findings.

Given the current context, research is to be conducted remotely unless the partner has a pre-existing presence in one or more countries of interest. British Red Cross will facilitate contacts within the National Societies of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, who will be a principle audience for both the consultation and sharing the results of the project. It will be considered advantageous if potential partners possess existing networks that could contribute towards a wider range of representation in the research.

During the project period, the research partner will be expected to present initial insights and findings to targeted audience groups, both to provide updates on progress but also to create space for discussion and debate between stakeholders from different perspectives. These opportunities for active engagement during the research process can both act as a forum for contributions as well as a means of dissemination.

Limitations

• At this stage it will be difficult to make any judgement on success, impact or outcomes of the COVID-19 response. The research will have to focus more upon a real-time look at perspectives, proxy indicators, and lessons learnt from how successfully the localisation agenda was implemented in the emergency response to COVID-19.
• Given the continuing crisis, high workload and restrictions affecting National Societies, it is likely to be quite challenging to engage widely with National Society volunteers and affected communities. Interviews and discussion groups will likely have to be conducted remotely.
• Given the likelihood of many countries dealing with a second wave of COVID-19 during Q4 2020/ Q1 2021, this may further hinder fieldwork and overall progress of the project.

The countries in which the research will take place will need to be discussed and agreed with British Red Cross. Where possible, British Red Cross will provide introductions to National Society partners within the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Outputs and Timeframe

Activity Timeline

• Deadline for written questions/to register interest:16th October 2020
• Submission deadline for research proposals: 25th October 2020
• Presentations by shortlisted candidates: w/c 26th October 2020
• Selection of research partner: 2nd November 2020
• Research plan including data collection and analysis tools: 18th November 2020
• Kick off workshop with project steering group of British Red Cross and potential national and local partners: w/c 30th November 2020
• Interim findings presentation: w/c 11th January 2021
• Draft report: 26th February 2021
• Final Report delivered: 21st March 2021

Outputs

• Workshop with key British Red Cross Plan staff to design primary research

• A 10–20 page summary research report featuring evidence, findings and recommendations for policy makers, the International Red Cross and Crescent Movement, civil society and other key humanitarian actors.

• A full technical research report including:

  1. Executive Summary;
  2. Introduction – Purpose of the review, methods used and limitations;
  3. Analysis – Findings of the review in relation to the objectives;
  4. Conclusions and recommendations – Summary of findings, key learnings and recommendations; and
  5. Appendix – List of documentation reviewed, people and organisations interviewed.

• PowerPoint presentation for use as part of the report dissemination.

The final reports need to be fully edited and proofread and of publishable standard. Two-to-three rounds of draft reports will be produced for comment by British Red Cross prior to finalisation. British Red Cross will be responsible for the design, layout and production of the final report, and for any additional reports.

Research Management

Consultant(s) will report directly to the Senior Humanitarian Policy Advisor, Sam Turner. The work will be carried out in close collaboration with the project manager, Lucilla Berwick, Humanitarian Policy Officer, with input from relevant colleagues in British Red Cross and partners within the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including partner National Societies.

Required Experience and Qualifications

We welcome applications from individual researchers/consultants, or teams consisting of researchers with affiliation to well established academic institutions, non-governmental organisations, research institutes or think-tanks or policy institutes, with expertise in conducting similar research to high ethical standards. The British Red Cross particularly encourages applications from consultants, academic institutions, research institutes or think-tanks or policy institutes in the Global South.

Applicants should meet the following criteria:

• Significant relevant experience in the subject area and research methodologies required
• Demonstrable experience in devising, managing and conducting multiple country primary research programmes
• Proven experience in policy research, analysis and recommendations in the field of localisation, the humanitarian response system, programmes/operations and policy analysis.
• Experience working to address institutional racism, or in the fields of inclusion and diversity will be considered highly desirable.
• Track-record of published research (whether peer-reviewed or grey literature) and experience of writing high quality research reports for consumption by external policy and programme audiences.
• Applicants with existing networks that could contribute towards a wider range of representation in the research will be considered highly desirable.
• Experience working with the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, UN or other national or international organisations and donors in the area of research and analytical report development.
• Fluent spoken and written communication skills in English. Other languages that enable wider communication with project stakeholders would be an asset.
• Existing research networks and partnerships in country would be advantageous.

Budget

The budget available for external partner costs under this project is £45,000, including all time and travel costs as well as any other associated costs. All expenses will need to be covered by this budget.

In the British Red Cross we will not tolerate any form of misconduct, including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse. We have a code of conduct in place and are committed to creating a culture of integrity in the organisation where misconduct is not tolerated, situations of abuse are quickly investigated and perpetrators are dealt with effectively.

How to apply:

British Red Cross welcomes a response to these Terms of Reference, by including:**A research proposal no longer than 10 pages, which must outline:**

1. Suggested approach including methodology and schedule
2. An overview statement of organisation and staffing for the project/capability statement demonstrating individuals’ qualifications and competencies
3. An outline of budgeted costs & timescales
4. Links or annexes to examples of previous work and relevant referee contact details (these will not contribute towards the page count).

Responses should be sent to: Lucilla Berwick (LucillaBerwick@redcross.org.uk) no later than midnight on 25^thOctober 2020 (BST)

• Zoom interviews will be conducted the week of 26th October 2020.
• To register interest or ask written questions, please email LucillaBerwick@redcross.org.uk, by a deadline of 16th October 2020.
• Questions and their answers will be sent on 19th October to all those who have expressed interest.
• Advanced expressions of interest are not required to be able to submit a proposal, this is simply a means of ensuring all potential bidders are able to receive answers to any questions asked.