Ground Truth Solutions (GTS) seeks the services of a research organisation to conduct a qualitative study aiming to co-design the themes represented in a three-year research project on resilience in Somalia. This study is part of a project implemented by GTS and funded by FCDO named “Resilience outside the box: Pathways to Inclusive Aid through Research and Dialogue in Somalia”.

Duration: 2 months (November – December 2024)

Location: Somalia

Reports to: Programme Manager

About Ground Truth Solutions

GTS is an international non-governmental organisation that helps people affected by crisis influence the design and implementation of humanitarian aid. We believe that intended recipients of humanitarian aid should have more of a say in how aid is provided. GTS regularly engages with people affected by crisis to discover whether they find humanitarian services relevant and fair, if they trust aid agencies, and whether they feel empowered. We also gather their ideas on how things could be done better. Through our research, we help communicate this feedback to policymakers and aid providers. Our goal is to make their perceptions the touchstone and driver of humanitarian effectiveness. To achieve this, we champion the views of people affected by crisis wherever decisions about aid are made.

About the project

This 3-year research project aims to explore the barriers and enablers to inclusive aid and resilience in Somalia, focusing on the voices and experiences of marginalised communities, and questioning what a future without relying on aid might look like. The participatory methodology will place crisis-affected people, local researchers, and civil society at the centre of knowledge production.

Objectives:

1. Understanding Community Perceptions: The project seeks to understand the perceptions and priorities of Somali communities, especially marginalised groups such as minorities, women, and people with disabilities, regarding humanitarian support, protection concerns, resilience-building efforts, and other topics of importance to them.

2. Addressing Exclusion: The research will identify mechanisms of exclusion and barriers that prevent marginalised groups from accessing aid and claiming their rights. It will also explore opportunities for inclusion that could reduce protection risks and promote resilience.

3. Supporting Humanitarian Actors: The project will provide humanitarian actors with insights and recommendations to better design programmes that align with local community priorities and resilience strategies. This will be achieved through creating spaces for dialogue, facilitating discussions with diverse stakeholders, and continuous engagement with local communities.

4. Empowering Local Voices: The research will empower local communities, civil society organisations, activists, and researchers by involving them in the research process, providing them with tools for advocacy, and ensuring that their voices are heard in the humanitarian decision-making process.

The research will be conducted through a co-design process involving community members from the very start. This will ensure that research topics are relevant and accurately reflect community priorities. The project will use a mix of quantitative surveys and qualitative methods, including interviews, focus group discussions, and participatory sessions. Locations for research will be decided in collaboration with local researchers, and depending on the research questions.

The consultancy

Ground Truth Solutions (GTS) is seeking the services of an independent contractor with a strong background in qualitative research to conduct qualitative research with community members as part of a co-design process. The aim of this consultancy is to co-design with community members the themes our research will focus on in Somalia over the next three years, with a focus on themes for a quantitative survey in early 2025. This will be supplemented by regular smaller co-design phases throughout the project (not part of this call for proposals at this stage).

What do we mean by co-design?

The aim of this round of qualitative co-design is not to develop specific questions for a survey tool, but rather to discuss with community members the issues that are important to them, so that we can ensure to address these themes throughout our three-year research project. These themes might be addressed in quantitative or qualitative research, or both. Our project has the broad theme of ‘resilience’, and as such it is important for us to understand how communities define this term, what aspects of resilience are most important to them, and what type of assistance will most support them in achieving what they see as resilience.

Methodology

Research questions we would like this activity to address include:

• What do people understand by the term ‘resilience’? What examples can they give as what resilience means for them?

• What themes and topics under the broad umbrella of resilience do people find important to discuss with humanitarian and government actors?

• What are the biggest barriers to resilience for people?

• How do people in rural areas see resilience and what would best contribute to people in rural areas being able to have resilient livelihoods, in their locations or elsewhere?

• How do young people see their prospects for the future, and how do they understand resilience?

• What strategies do individuals and communities have to cope with the shocks they face? How could humanitarians better work with existing community capacities?

We have a preference for a participatory research methodology where participants can shape the discussions according to their priorities. Applicants should suggest an approach and method(s) that they believe best suited to the task, and well justify their choice in the application. Applicants should also justify the demographics of community members they would suggest to include in their approach.

Sample and geographic scope:

Applicants should suggest multiple locations and a sample size for the proposed activities for this research within the parameters described below:

• At least one rural location

• At least one urban location/IDP camp

• At least one location in South/Central Somalia

A final decision on locations and sample size will be refined in collaboration with GTS. Applicants should bear in mind the aim of this research to understand what resilience means to different populations, especially minorities, women and youth.

Scope of work

The following are expected as part of the collaboration between GTS and the contractor on this activity:

1. Attend orientation meeting with GTS

2. Attend weekly meetings with GTS

3. Develop work plan with GTS team

4. Co-design and translate tools with GTS

5. Co-design sample with GTS

6. Identify eligible respondents in collaboration with GTS

7. Conduct and record discussions, translate verbatim transcripts to English, and submit detailed notes on the discussions

8. Revise and input on the findings presented by GTS

9. Present research findings, in collaboration with GTS, to relevant stakeholders, including participating communities

Deliverables

1. Transcripts and audio recordings of qualitative interviews/focus group discussions and other methods proposed

2. Summary of the conduct of each activity, including detailed notes from qualitative interviews/FGDs

Timeline

It is anticipated that all tasks will be completed by the end of December 2024. A detailed work plan will be agreed upon at the beginning of the consultancy.

Relevant experience & skills

• A degree(s) in Social Sciences, International Development, Humanitarian Action, or any other related area of study/equivalent experience, preferably focused on Psychology.

• A strong and proven background (e.g., through prior publications or references) in qualitative research in sensitive topics and/or humanitarian action.

• Familiarity with the context of Somalia, preferably with familiarity working with Civil Society Organisations and humanitarian actors and organisations.

• Excellent analytical and reporting skills.

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Somali. Excellent written English.

• Proven skills in conducting participatory research methods, including participatory group discussions (focus group discussions that employ participatory activities throughout)

How to apply

Application

Interested candidates are required to apply before 21 October at the following address [email protected] indicating “GTS Co-design – Somalia” in the subject line. The application must include:

• A brief cover letter and organisational profile.

• A narrative proposal outlining a proposed methodology; the deliverables and tasks; and expected number of days each task will take.

• An approach to limiting gatekeeping

• A detailed financial proposal

• A list of past similar experiences, as well as 1-2 examples of relevant previous work with more details (I.e.: prior publications)

• CVs of the main researchers involved

Please note that individual applications will not be processed. Only applications from companies or organisations will be processed.

Questions concerning this consultancy can be directed to the above email addresses. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Seeking to recruit a suitable candidate as soon as possible.