HelpAge NGO Job. Consultant Vacancy

Consultant Jobs in Kenya

Hunger Safety Net Programme Phase II Social Protection Rights Component Call for a Consultancy to Development Complaints and Grievances Guidelines (CGG) and a Programme Charter of Rights and Responsibilities (PCRR)

Background 
In 2008, HelpAge International (HelpAge), with other organizations, commenced implementation of Phase I of the Government of Kenya led and DFID-financed Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP).

The objective of Phase I (April 2007 – March 2012) was to design and pilot cost-effectivemechanisms for beneficiary targeting, payment delivery and grievance management in four counties in Northern Kenya (Turkana, Marsabit, Mandera and Wajir).

The focus of this activity was to be a comparison of the cost-effectiveness of three different types of targeting methodology: a social pension (for all elderly people aged over a certain age threshold), community-based targeting (similar to the Emergency Operation (EMOP) targeting process), and targeting based on household “dependency ratio‟.

Phase II (2012-2017) is expected to roll out the mechanism developed in Phase I, along with the processes for payments and grievance management, to 150,000 households.

Beyond 2017 it is hoped that the Government of Kenya will carry the programme forward as part of an integrated national social protection strategy to include: effective integration of existing safety net programmes into a co-ordinated national social protection system, a commitment to social transfers as measured by spending on social transfer programmes as a percentage of national income, and an increase in the proportion of people receiving cash transfers relative to emergency food aid.

HelpAge is a global network of not-for-profit organizations with a vision of a world where older people fulfill their potential to lead active, dignified, healthy and secure lives.

With more than 70 affiliates and 300 partners across more than 50 countries the HelpAge network brings together hundreds of organizations worldwide.

HelpAge has a secretariat with offices in London and Brussels, seven regional centers in Africa (2), Asia/Pacific (2), Latin America, the Caribbean and Central Asia in addition to country programme offices.

HelpAge is responsible for implementing the Social Protection Rights component of the HSNP.

Purpose of the Consultancy 
The main purpose of the consultancy is to develop a CGG and a PCCR for use in the programme for claim holders and duty bearers in the counties where HSNP operates. The CGG also is expected to be used by the stakeholders involved in the HSNP Programme as well as afford easy adaptation to any other actors working on the National Safety Net Programme.

Scope of the assignment; The development of the PCRR will involve field visits in Turkana, Wajir, Marsabit and Mandera counties to assess the realities of beneficiaries of HSNP and how these claim holders can access their accountability rights. The assessments will include most of the stakeholders involved in HSNP.

Based on these assessments, a CGG and a PCRR for HSNP will be developed. 3.1 Complaints and Grievances Guidelines and the Programme Charter of Rights and Responsibilities Recipients of Cash Transfers within the HSNP have rights and responsibilities.

These are defined by the service level agreements between FSD Kenya and Equity Bank, and The Constitution of Kenya, and various national and county laws.

The rights and responsibilities should reflect HSNP’s shared traditions, identity and values.

In relation to HSNP the government and its agents have a set of options to deliver an accountable, transparent and customer-focused service.

The CGG should encourage the following:
Encouraging resolution within the service: The CGG should encourage people to resolve their concern directly with the Equity Bank and NDMA.

Working with Equity Bank and National Drought Management Authority (NDMA) can achieve a faster and more sustainable outcome for recipients of HSNP.

Many concerns can be resolved quickly, without needing further action.
Timely resolution and a flexible approach:

Not all complaints can or should be resolved through a formal process.

The CGG should encourage an improved framework of solution to complaints and grievances that offers a high degree of flexibility in deciding how to resolve concerns allowing the programme to select relevant, practical and efficient approaches.

However complex and substantive human rights violations may take longer.

A Rights-Based Approach to management of complaints:The CGG should look at rights and responsibilities in every complaint to ensure we manage it appropriately. The CGG should consider factors such as safety and dignity.

Natural justice imbedded in the complaints procedures: The CGG processes should ensure that the principles of fairness, responsiveness, efficiency, accessibility and accountability are applied to every case. Recipients and non- recipients of the cash transfers should have the opportunity to be heard and to provide information so that the programme makes decisions based on available information.

Rights of Review: The parties to a complaint should have appropriate numbers of rights of review. The CGG should allow for an internal review and the undertaking of a new resolution process. Parties may also request Integrated Programme Complaints Response Mechanism (IPCRM) to conduct an independent review of decisions.

Communications: The CGG should be committed to keeping right holders informed throughout the complaints process. This includes early confirmation of the issues being examined, consultation at regular intervals, and regular opportunities to provide more information. Case Managers should communicate to both parties at the end of the process to advise the outcome, and any required actions and their review rights.

The consultant will assess various documents and talk to Key stakeholders and develop a CGG report that will be the basis of synthesizing the short PCRR. 6.0 Methodology The PCRR development should be led through a participatory approach involving the direct beneficiaries of the HSNP, Local and National Government representatives, partner NGOs, Rights Committees and Advocacy Groups.

The possible methods for data collection include but are not necessarily limited to:

Document reviews including the following;
General constitutional provisions on Civic Political Social, economic and cultural rights that inform the rights and responsibilities of claim holders and duty bearers;
National and county statutory provisions and policies that inform the rights and responsibilities of claim holders and duty bearers;
Responsibilities and rights in relation to participation in the programme;
Responsibilities and rights in relations to cash transfer services;
Responsibilities and rights in relations to personal information;
Responsibilities and rights in relation to communications;
Responsibilities and rights in relation to complaints and grievances;
Responsibilities and rights in relation to fees and other charges paid and costs for cash transfers’
Service level agreements between various partners in the programme
Interviews with claim holders and duty bearers;
Focus group discussions with claim holders and duty bearers;
Key informant interviews with claim holders and duty bearers.

Time and Duration 
The consultancy should be finalized within 30 days of signing the contract.

Candidate profile
Education: 
Minimum a Masters Degree in law, development studies or equivalent combination of education and experience in a related area.
Experience and understanding of Rights Based Approaches;
Familiarity with participatory approaches.

Application Procedure
Applications should be made in soft copy including CVs and samples of previous work.
All Applications should include the following:
A cover letter (maximum 1 page)
A technical proposal (max 3 pages): The technical proposal should include:
brief explanation about the consultant with particular emphasis on previous experience in this kind of work;
profile of the Consultant to be involved in undertaking the evaluation;
Understanding of the TOR and the task to be accomplished;
Proposed approach and methodology draft work plan;
Structure of the expected final report;
Samples of work: At least one samples of previous work.
A financial proposal.

Send in your applications by 29th of November 2013 to hr@helpage.co.ke