Research Project on Community-Centred Early Warning Early Action

Research Project on Community-Centred Early Warning Early Action Context: Concern is commissioning a consultant to undertake research into community-centred Early Warning Early Action (EWEA) systems1 for slow onset environmental disasters. The research will examine the experience from a variety of actors working on community-centred EWEA systems (NGOs, government EWEA structures, donors.) It will consist of two main sections. a.

b.

A review of key EWEA systems for slow onset disasters to date. This will look at current examples and draw out learning of what it means and what is required for an institutional EWEA system, operating at scale, also to operate in the best interests of community. It will highlight examples of good practice, identify recurring obstacles to effective implementation and draw conclusions based on the learning. A review of the policy implications of the above, with an analysis of how global and national policy frameworks should be implemented in order to support the conditions for effective communitycentred EWEA, as well as key recommendations for governments, implementing agencies and donors, based on the conclusions of the first section

Purpose / Objectives: This study will examine how EWEA systems can function to better meet the needs of disaster-affected people. It will address how Early Warning information can be effectively disseminated to communities to drive their own Early Action on the ground. And it will examine how perspectives and priorities from community-level risk analyses can be fed into wider EWEA structures to deliver funding for Early Action as identified by disaster-affected people. 

 

The report’s intended target audiences are donors, implementing agencies and national governments of countries vulnerable to slow onset disasters. It will provide analysis on their role in supporting community-centred EWEA, including how this connects to existing policy commitments. The report will provide a good basis for joint advocacy with a number of other agencies currently pursuing the EWEA agenda. It will support Concern to make an important contribution to resilience conferences and policy events in 2018 / 9, including Regional Ministerial Meetings on DRR (2018), Global Platform on DRR (2019), as well as lobby meetings with DFID, IrishAid, EU and other donors.

Key questions the study would address (these can be adapted and refined based on discussions with consultant): Section one: based on a review of EWEA initiatives in a variety of contexts. 1. 2. 3.

1

What are the characteristics of an EWEA system which has community priorities and perspectives at its core? What are the experiences of agencies and governments in trying to develop these systems (successes and challenges)? To what extent does the fragility or stability of a context influence how EWEA systems can be implemented (NB this is a cross-cutting question which should be considered when examining all elements of EWEA during the study.)

BY EWEA systems, we mean systems which respond to information indicating the probability of an impending crisis with actions to mitigate its impact.

Section 2: based on a review of policy frameworks relevant to EWEA 1. 2. 3.

What are the commitments related to EWEA and to community engagement in global and national policy frameworks? What guidance does the learning from section one provide for the effective implementation of these? What conclusions can be drawn about the role of national governments, implementing agencies, donors and other actors to provide more effective support to EWEA initiatives.

Methodology: We will be keen to discuss different approaches to the project with the consultant but broadly speaking, we expect the research to include the following:  





A literature review drawing together learning from relevant reports, articles and evaluations of EWEA systems to slow onset emergencies including both fragile and stable contexts. A series of Skype interviews with key respondents to gather additional material. These respondents would include NGO staff and other stakeholders (academic institutions, government representatives, donors etc) involved in key EWEA projects identified through the desk research, as well as other people with expertise in this area. If feasible within the budget / timeframe, a field trip to a Concern programme featured in the study, to provide the basis for a more detailed case study of a Concern programme. (If this is not felt to be feasible, a Concern case study can be delivered based on findings of literature review and Skype interviews with key staff.) A desk-based study of relevant policy frameworks, and emerging policy processes on EWEA systems, supplemented again with interviews with key actors working on EWEA policy processes.

Outputs: The consultant will share learning and analysis in a discussion paper of no more than 20 pages. The paper will include the two sections (focusing on programme and policy) detailed above, a case study on a Concern EWEA programme and a set of conclusions about the ways in which the policy, funding and programme environment can be made more conducive to community-centred EWEA. The consultant will conduct a short workshop to present findings and also provide a detailed list of entry points for advocacy on EWEA and opportunities for presenting findings and influencing current processes.

Timeframe: The consultancy will take 10 - 15 days of the consultants time, beginning in December with a deadline for the final report of the end of February. The consultant will have two meetings with the senior policy officer during the research process in order to present emerging findings and direction of the study.

Necessary background and experience: The consultant will have a strong background in EWEA research, and will be expected to help shape research questions and approach. The consultant should also have strong contacts in this area, and a good awareness of relevant sources of information, allowing them to pursue the research independently.

Process for application: Interested consultants should send their CVs and a short cover letter as well as any relevant previous evaluation reports to [email protected] by 29th November. Interviews will take place, in person or on Skype, the week commencing 4th December.