DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal Response Review: Call for Expressions of Interest

Introduction

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) brings together fifteen of the UK’s leading aid charities to raise funds in response to major international humanitarian crises. In order to support members’ activities, harness lessons and inform real-time revisions to ongoing humanitarian programmes, the DEC Secretariat is commissioning a review of programmes funded by the Pakistan Floods Appeal, scheduled to take place across the first quarter of 2023.

Background

Following the start of the rainy season in June, Pakistan was hit with extreme monsoon rainfall, leading to devastating flash flooding and landslides. 33 million people – more than 15% of Pakistan’s 220 million population have been affected [UN OCHA 4 Oct 22], as the heavy rains, flooding and landslides continue to destroy homes, critical infrastructure, and livelihoods. According to the United Nations, some 20.6 million people are estimated to need humanitarian assistance. At least 7.9 million people who have been displaced, with half a million in temporary shelters in relief camps [UN OCHA 4 Oct 22]. As of 4 October, according to reports, over 1,696 people have died and 12,867 have been injured. 768,598 houses have been destroyed, and 1,280,191 partially damaged [NDMA 4 Oct 22].

On 28 August, Pakistan’s foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari appealed to the international community for financial and humanitarian aid as the situation rapidly deteriorated. The floods come at a time when Pakistan faces one of its worst economic crises and extreme inflation. In response to the escalating humanitarian needs, the DEC launched the Pakistan Floods Appeal on 1 September 2022. Eleven Member Charities are responding as part of the DEC appeal, working with national and local partners across five provinces in Pakistan.

At the time of posting, the DEC fundraising campaign has raised over £31.5 million including £5 million UK Aid Match funding. The eleven member charities taking part in the appeal will spend DEC funds over a period of two years, split into Phase 1 (the first 6 months) and Phase 2 (the following 18 months) of the response. An initial allocation of £17 million has been made to members to support humanitarian programmes.

Immediate humanitarian priorities include water, sanitation, and hygiene (clean drinking water, water for cooking and maintaining personal hygiene for displaced populations), health (essential medicines, mitigation of the risk of outbreaks of infectious diseases), and shelter (tents, mattresses, blankets to support flood-affected communities).

Purpose of Response Review

The primary purpose of the Response Review is to instigate collective real-time reflection and learning to inform adjustments across DEC members’ response. The review draws on the initial phase of the response in order that lessons be applied in real-time and into the second phase of the members’ programmes. The Response Review and the report also serves as an accountability function, both to communities and people affected by crisis, as well as to the UK public and other key supporters of the DEC appeal.

The Response Review will:

• contribute to the identification of key areas of enquiry and evaluation questions in consultation with the DEC and members during the inception phase;
• draw out key lessons, at operational level, that can inform real-time adjustments and be utilised during implementation of DEC Phase 2 programmes;
• provide an overview and assessment of the response so far (against Core Humanitarian Standard commitments; Grand Bargain commitments and learnings from similar crises including the Pakistan Floods in 2010);
• highlight good practice in the humanitarian operations funded by the DEC;
• where relevant identify gaps, areas of unmet needs, and challenges to the humanitarian operations funded by the DEC, from both a sectoral and cross-cutting perspective
• draw out key learning from the response to date, to be incorporated during Phase 2 programmes.

Expressions of Interest are invited from consultants interested in leading the response review, in order to deliver a learning workshop and draft country report to the DEC by mid-March 2023, followed by a final report by end March 2023.

Essential requirements will include:

• Previous experience undertaking real-time evaluations/reviews of similar humanitarian programmes (supporting refugees, IDPs and host populations), including methodologies for engaging with crisis-affected people;
• Previous experience of undertaking multi-stakeholder reviews and promoting learning across organisations;
• A sound understanding of the context in Pakistan;
• A sound knowledge of Humanitarian Principles; the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief; the Core Humanitarian Standard on Quality and Accountability; and Sphere Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response, as well as an appreciation of key challenges and constraints to their application in this specific context;
• Clear written English;
• A good understanding of the DEC and how it operates.

Representatives from the DEC and its members will support and host the consulting team whilst field visits take place, but consultants should be confident that they are able to obtain the necessary visas and insurance, as required.