United States of America: Consultancy

TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR)

Building and deepening relations with the Inter-American Bank (IDB) and creating opportunities forthe ICRC-IDB engagement

BACKGROUND

As it has been doing for the last 160 years, the ICRC is exploring and seeking partnerships that can help it improve on the delivery of and live up to the spirit of its mandate to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance. Such partnerships enable combining the resources and capacities of different actors and coordinating practical and context-adapted responses on the ground.

Many humanitarian issues tackled by the ICRC in Latin America and the Caribbean are closely linked to the development challenges countries in the region face, resulting in the importance to connect with development actors, have a good understanding of them as well as the development agendas of States, including the SDG’s. Therefore, in Latin America, the ICRC’s exclusively humanitarian and needs-based approach must to be thought as taking into account wider development logic promoted by States and actors such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

In line with the 2016 ICRC - International Financial Institutions (IFI) engagement framework, the ICRC 2019-2022 Institutional Strategy and the Americas Regional Strategic Framework, the ICRC intends to further engage with the IDB on its strategic direction as both organizational paths will increasingly overlap based on ICRC’s three streams of IFI engagement: (i) shaping humanitarian and diplomacy policy and agenda; (ii) building knowledge and expertise exchange; and, (iii) exploring operational collaboration potential.

In 2017 the ICRC and the IDB began discussions on possible areas of collaboration and joint engagement, and in May 2019 a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two institutions was signed. The ICRC and IDB have exchanging at various levels, including IDB in Washington DC and at the field level, between the ICRC delegations and the IDB country offices. The ICRC is now looking to expand this engagement further; the core driver of the ICRC's engagement with the IDB is to improve and expand the impact it can have on conflict and violence-affected communities.

OBJECTIVES AND DELIVERABLES

Along the three streams of IFI engagement mentioned above, the objectives of this consultancy are to:

1. Elaborate a Plan of Action:

   1. Elaborate a pragmatic, clear and feasible plan of action to advance the ICRC-IDB partnership in 2020, through 2021 and beyond;

   2. Identify potential joint pilot projects and ensure existing projects/engagements are included in this plan, with concrete priorities;

   3. Support the advancement of this plan with delegations and Geneva as far as possible;

This Plan of Action will draw from and leverage the below deliverables of the analysis, mappings, relationship building and networking.

1. Analyze and map six critical dimensions relating to the IDB-ICRC partnership:

2. IDB priority areas of interest and convergence with the ICRC’s mandate and programs/activities in the Americas, building upon the existing Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions;

3. key stakeholders, units and counterparts engaged on fragility, conflict, violence and resilience contexts and issues, and others as pertinent;

4. strengths, weaknesses and comparative advantages of the IDB as an institution to identify knowledge and expertise exchange opportunities;

5. key processes and guiding frameworks of the IDB;

6. critical milestones and events in the timeline of IDB’s annual calendar; and

7. relevant aspects of general organizational culture.

The above mappings will be “living documents” and evolve throughout the consultancy as relevant.

1. Advance IDB-ICRC relationship and networking:

2. Build on the above mapping, sustain, advance and deepen the network of relevant relationships (e.g. sectoral and country experts) across the IDB;

3. Create linkages for engagements with various ICRC colleagues at different levels – both in the field and at headquarters – as pertinent, whether in the domain of policy engagement, knowledge and expertise exchange, or operational collaboration.

TIMELINE, MILESTONES AND PROCESS

The ICRC estimates approximately 100 working days equivalent for this assignment to be conducted, between March and August 2020.

The core of the process will require open, regular and pro-active communication and engagement with ICRC colleagues in Washington DC, Geneva and in Latin American delegations in developing the deliverables as outlined above. This triangulation will require information sharing, aligning and re-aligning on a continual basis with all concerned parties. Regular consultation and updates are expected on progress against the scope of work, challenges and findings. Engaging with IDB counterparts will also be pivotal throughout this consultancy.

The process will be carried out through different periods of time spent in Geneva, Washington DC and delegations in the field.

Milestones of this consultancy include:

• Delivery of drafts of the six mapping dimensions outlined above, update on networking progress and a draft of the Plan of Action half-way through the assignment (latest by end of May 2020).

• Completed Plan of Action by early July at the latest, in time for the beginning of ICRC’s 2021 annual planning process.

• All deliverables will have been adapted to fit in the ICRC’s planning process, finalized and submitted by the end of the assignment.

QUALIFICATIONS

The ICRC believes that this posting be best carried out by a consultant with:

• Experience with the IDB, knowledge of its structure and familiarity with its work on fragility and conflict highly preferred;

• Familiarity with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, including the ICRC, and other international humanitarian and/or development organizations preferred;

• Track record in developing analysis of humanitarian and development-related trends and IDB policies related to key issues for ICRC (international humanitarian law, forced displacement, protection, essential services in conflict, etc.);

• Knowledge of and experience in humanitarian aid programming and FCV environments;

• Strong analytic and reporting skills; experience with IDB programmatic documents, project design process, M&E an asset;

• Excellent networking experience and pro-active relationship building, grit and resilience in engagement and drive;

• Independent, proactive and motivated team player, self-starter with strong organisational, communication and interpersonal skills;

• Excellent professional oral and written English and Spanish required; French and/or Portuguese an asset;

• Relevant academic background (e.g. international relations, development economics);

• Ability to travel between Washington DC, Geneva and ICRC field delegations in Latin America.

Interested candidates should, by Sunday 16 February 2020 before 23h/11pm EST, send to gguinta@icrc.org:

1. Letter/cover email of motivation in English;

2. CV in English detailing relevant qualifications to deliver on the above;

3. Information on availability;

4. Information on travel/work status for the USA;

5. Expected fee in USD for this assignment.

MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION

• The consultant will be managed by the Deputy Head of Delegation in Washington DC, in direct and frequent contact with the Americas operational team and the Resource Mobilization Country Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean based in Geneva.

• The consultant will also be supported by the Inter-Americas Affairs and the Policy departments in Washington DC.

• Liaising and working in close coordination with country and regional delegations in Latin America, both at management and sector-levels (e.g. protection, prevention and assistance) is expected.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Any intellectual product that results from this contract shall be the property of the ICRC.

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

ICRC’s Statement of Work for Service Agreement, the ICRC’s Code of Conduct, and ICRC General Terms and Conditions, available on demand, will constitute the minimum general conditions of the contract to be signed between the ICRC and the research consultant to whom this research would have been awarded.

Interested candidates should, by Sunday 16 February 2020 before 23h/11pm EST, send to gguinta@icrc.org:

1. Letter/cover email of motivation in English;

2. CV in English detailing relevant qualifications to deliver on the above;

3. Information on availability;

4. Information on travel/work status for the USA; Expected fee in USD for this assignment