005 Call for Proposals: DRR Capacity building in Somalia

2020 Call for Proposals (Grants out)

UNDRR is the United Nations’ focal point for the coordination of disaster risk reduction, working with countries and a broad range of partners and stakeholders to support the implementation, monitoring and review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 in coherence with the 2030 Agenda and other instruments, for the multihazard management of disaster risk in development and the substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses.

UNDRR issues grants, in line with UN Financial Regulations and Rules, to apolitical and not profit-making organisations to facilitate, implement, or carry out activities related to UNDRR’s and the partner’s mandates and work programmes.

To this end, UNDRR invites not profit-making organisations to submit grant proposals that focus on the project described below.

Disaster Risk Reduction Capacity Building in Somalia:

1. Rationale:

Somalia is an Arab African country with an estimated population of 15 million with more than 75 per cent of the population estimated to live in a rural area, with agro-pastoralism and pastoralism being the main livelihood strategies. According to the Government, around 65 per cent of the land is arid and 35 per cent is semi-arid; making the country more exposed to climate-related hazards (mainly drought, desertification and floods). When coupled with the ongoing conflict, these factors increase the exposure and vulnerability of the population to hazards and disasters and yield devastating impacts on the socio-economic continuum of the affected local communities. Among those most vulnerable communities are 1.1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) who have been displaced because of conflicts and famine. Drought and inconsistent rainfall are underlying threats, along with flooding and earthquakes. Somalia has endured multiple severe drought episodes since 1965. A 2011 drought was one the worst in 60 years, resulting in 260,000 deaths and affecting 13 million people in the Horn of Africa.

Somalia is now at a critical juncture, where it has made true progress on the political and governance fronts, but where these significant, yet fragile, gains have yet to translate into sustainable development - mainly due to a lack of strong governmental institutions since 1991. Proof of the improved conditions came in 2017, when the collaborative efforts of aid agencies and authorities, aided by timely and historic levels of support from donors, staved off the threat of famine. But the damage caused by recent flooding has attenuated communities’ ability to recover from prolonged drought. The vast majority of the funding directed to provide humanitarian assistance indeed saved lives but has not strengthened the resilience of disaster-prone communities. Opportunities now exist to implement longer-term investment strategies and to build up the country’s resilience to the recurrent shocks. Recent evidence shows that doing so improves efficiency and establishes a foundation for long term development programmes. More importantly, it allows people to fend for themselves with dignity.

2. Purpose:

The project aims to improve the governance, understanding of risks and the capacity to address disaster risks at national and local levels in Somalia to better prepare for and respond to disasters, reduce vulnerabilities, loss of life and economic damages.

3. Outcome:

Strengthened national and local level implementation of disaster risk reduction.

4. Output:

• A coherent National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy aligned with Sendai Framework, climate change agreement, national development plan and the Arab Strategy for DRR is developed;
• A set of custom national targets indicators identified in line with global and regional targets and indicators for monitoring implementation are developed;
• An effective national multi-stakeholder, multi-sectoral coordination mechanism developed;
• A national historical disaster loss database system developed to measure human, physical and economic losses and damages;
• Sendai Framework Monitor updated on regular basis;
• Multi-hazard country profile that underlines risk factors across major sectors and most vulnerable areas developed;
• Local Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy and Local Resilience Action Plans in one city developed.

5. Suggested activities: Trainings and workshops to be undertaken in onsite and via video conferencing:

• Desk review for: i) Existing National disaster risk management (DRM) policy. ii) National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy, iii) National sustainable development strategy, iv) National Urban Policies, v) National land-use master plan; vi) national humanitarian policies- identify areas for linkages; vii) Arab DRR strategy; viii) Africa Programme of action; ix) Words into Action Series and other relevant documents.
• Multi stakeholder national consultations to update national DRR strategy in coordination with national project coordinator and UNDRR.
• National consultations to establish National multi-stakeholder Coordination Mechanism in coordination with national project coordinator and UNDRR.
• Collate, verify and input Disaster related historical data using the DesInventar Sendai system.
• Local Self Assessments using the Making Cities Resilient programme toolkit (Disaster Resilience Scorecards and Quick Risk Estimation tool.)
• Local consultations to develop a Local Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy and Local Resilience Action Plan.

6. Resources:

National Human resources with capacities in disaster risk reduction and knowledge of Somalia context are required. Experts with GIS knowledge and database knowledge are required. 

7. Elements specific to the project that the grantee should know:

The proposal is to include a number of training workshops in person and via video conference; Orientation on Disaster Risk Reduction, Developing National Strategies and National Coordination Mechanisms, Local Self-Assessments, Developing Local DRR strategies, Historical Disaster Loss Database (DesInventar), Sendai Framework Monitor (SFM) as well as any other trainings that UNDRR shall conduct/ and support the institution in conducting.  A COVID-19 contingency plan to carry out work will be required.  A monitoring and reporting plan should be submitted with the proposal.

The duration of the proposed project cannot exceed 10 months.  The maximum amount requested from UNDRR for the implementation of this project cannot exceed 98,000 USD. The project proposal must not exceed 10 pages (attachments such as scanned copies of entity’s registration, CVs of staff etc. do not count). 

For this purpose, please fill in duly all the sections of the application form, include the required documents (scanned copy of NGO/IGO’s registration certificate, CVs of staff etc.) and budget excel sheets, and send the complete application package (application form, budget excel sheets, entity registration certificate, CVs of staff, etc) to the following email address: undrrgrantproposal@un.org

cc:  jannan@un.org

Reference: 005 Call for Proposals:  DRR Capacity building in Somalia  

Deadline for applications: 18 August 2020 midnight New York, USA EST (Eastern Standard Time). Incomplete and/or late applications will not be considered.

Projects’ activities can include, amongst others, the following:

• seminars, workshops, trainings;
• capacity building activities;
• institutional strengthening activities and
• advocacy

The following types of activity will not be covered:

• capital expenditure, e.g. land, buildings, equipment and vehicles;
• individual scholarships for studies or training courses;
• supporting political parties; and
• sub-contracting

Due to the number of applications, only short-listed applicants will be notified.

Please note that the grant payment schedule will be determined with the selected grantee when finalizing the agreement.  UNDRR standard practice is:  not to exceed 40% of the requested amount upon signature of the grant agreement; remaining payments made based on a schedule of payments linked to production of project milestones and the final payment, 20%, will be paid after the end of the project, once final documents have been received, verified and approved by UNDRR.

Refund of grants: UNDRR may request organizations to refund, either in part or in whole any amounts paid in respect of a grant when:

• the project was not implemented in full or in part;
• the grant was spent for ineligible expenditures other than those mentioned in the budget proposal submitted to, and approved by UNDRR;
• no narrative, financial or audit report was submitted within the deadline established by the grant agreement;
• a narrative report and/or a financial report submitted was determined to be unsatisfactory;
• a negative evaluation of the project by UNDRR;
• any other valid reason provided by the UNDRR.