Assignment title:Consultant for a study on Association of the Blind of
Canton Sarajevo (USGKS) and The Swedish Association of the Visually Impaired
Stockholm Gotland (SRF SG’) collaborative project 1996 – 2021.
Location:Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Duration:Short-term contract; October - December 2021.
Date for tender:September 20, 2021.
USGKS
The
Association of the Blind of Canton Sarajevo
SRF
The Swedish association of
the visually impaired, (national level).
SRF
SG
The Swedish Association of
the Visually Impaired Stockholm Gotland
A long-term collaboration
between Association of the Blind of Canton Sarajevo (USGKS) and The Swedish
Association of the Visually Impaired Stockholm Gotland (SRF SG’s) will cease at
the end of 2021. The project is supported by MyRight. A long collaboration
(1996-2021), where a lot has been done to strengthen the USGKS and its members.
Together USGKS and SRF SG
like to share the knowledge and experiences from our 26 years of collaboration.
This is to inspire other organizations to seek cooperation and start joint
projects to increase the capacity of their activities to improve living
conditions for persons with visual or other impairments.
USGKS, SRF SG is now
looking for a consultant (individual or consulting company) to carry out data
collection, analysis and reporting in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina during
the period of October-December 2021.
Evaluate the 25 years of
collaboration.
Based on interviews /
conversations describe samples of activities and events that have been
important during the 25 years of collaboration.
Describe both positive and
challenging experiences from the USGKS side as well as SRF SG.
Create a report that
provides increased knowledge and inspiration for international cooperation
USGKS was founded in
1948. After the peace in 1995 USGKS was re-built. Initially the need for
humanitarian support and help to establish the work was crucial. Over the years
USGKS has concentrated on advocacy work reaching out activities to find and
involve members and study circles for the members.
SRF
SGis a regional branch under The Swedish Association of the Visually Impaired,
(SRF). SRF SG is advocating for the rights of persons with visual impairment in
the regions of Stockholm and Gotland. In doing so we adapt plans and decisions
from the national level of SRF to our local conditions.
MyRight
MyRight is the Swedish
disability movement''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s organizationfor
international cooperation. MyRight
supports the member organizations within the Swedish disability movement
administratively in the implementation of international projects.
It has been a long,
extensive and successful development cooperation project. It has among others,
comprised of the following;
-
Reconstruction of the
office building and recording studio after the civil war from 1992 – 1995.
-
Support to the
establishment of the organization, (internal structure and capacity building).
-
Study circles in
English, mobility and orientation, computer, digital platform and smart phone
usage
-
Support to improved and
extended advocacy work.
It’s significant to know that USGKS has
collaborated with other national and international organizations e.g. offered
members to run micro finance projects in collaboration with World Vision and
also to strengthen the role of girls/women in the organization collaborated
with "Kvinna till kvinna”. USGKS is very active in the collaboration with
MyRight and other disability organizations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
USGKS
has achieved significant results of their advocacy work. Among other programs
and structured plans with objectives to improve the situation for persons with
disabilities in the canton have been adopted by the government. Audio traffic
signals are getting more frequent. There is access to rehabilitation and
technical aids to a limited extent in the canton. Governmental home pages are
accessible. Within the framework of the collaboration, USGKS
has also actively worked to support the capacity building of other
visually impaired organizations in other Cantons. That also includes some capacity
building of
national organizations in the region of former Yugoslavia.
Education in the Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities, Agenda 2030, association knowledge and in applying
for financial support.
USGKS and SRF SG is now
looking for a consultant (individual or consulting company) to carry out data
collection, analysis and reporting in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina as well
as with the office in Stockholm.
However, this data
collection could be done from Bosnia e. g. through Teams or another technical
platform.
Time period: October-December 2021.
The
consultant we are searching for should, based on interviews, conversations and
documentation, pick a sample of activities or events that have been important
during the 25-year collaboration.
The main interests are to
assess and evaluate experiences and knowledge gained during the long
cooperation, and to describe to what extent the collaboration has full filled
the objectives for the project. It is important that the consultant''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s reporting
answers the questions below:
-
What significance had
the collaboration for the association''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s board, office, members and people with
visual impairments but also for other stake holders such as decision makers and
the general public? What do they see as strengths or challenges with the
completed collaboration?
-
How do USGKS, SRF SG and
MyRight view the project in relation to the efforts made and what was achieved?
For whom do they think the project has mainly had a positive effect?
-
Describe gained
successes and challenges that have existed throughout the project period as
well as to which extent gender and equality perspectives have been met and
dealt with?
-
What are the main
factors for the success of the collaboration? If possible, exemplify with
activities carried out during the 25 years of collaboration. Which of these can
be considered best practices and useful in other projects?
The assignment starts with
studies of relevant documents to be familiar with the project. The selection of
events will be done in close dialogue with working group of representatives
from USGKS and SRF SG.
Next part includes
administrative and technical preparations for the data collection, - Conduct of
interviews, transcript, and compile key data from the interviews.
The consultant should use
methods appropriate for the assignment such as:
-
Non structured or
partly structured interviews
-
Questionnaires, written
forms or carried out on phone or digital platforms. Please note: If
questionnaires are used, make sure that digital questionnaires are accessible
for persons who are using screen readers for those who cannot see a computer
screen with their eyes.
-
Focus group
discussions.
Findings and methods shall be described in a written final
report.
-
The report shall be
available in Bosnian and English.
-
The report should be
presented by the consultant and discussed with USGKS, SRF SG and our donor
organization, MyRight, in a seminar during which probable changes could be
discussed and made if necessary.
-
The consultant will
organise the seminar and prepare a presentation based on the findings from the
report. The seminar should be hold in the second part of December
-
The study is followed by
a working group consisting of representatives from USGKS, SRF SG and SRF.
Meetings will be held every second week. Initially maybe once a week, if
parties involved find it necessary. The group shall provide support to the
consultant''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s ongoing work.
-
Initially the working
group shall provide background documents and have meetings with the consultant
to introduce the consultant to the assignment and to discuss the structure of
the study together.
-
The communication will
take place at any appropriate digital platforms.
3.1 Consultancy starts October the first
3.2 Draft and final inception report
An inception report presenting
the key findings of the initial desk study and outlining the data collection
methodology and approach, including interview and/or online questionnaires and
guidance, should be submitted by the consultant no later than 15 October 2021
to USGKS and SRF SG. The inception report should include a detailed work plan
and timeline. The working group will assist and support the process.
3.3 Draft report outlining key findings, conclusions and
recommendations, clearly responding to the specific objectives of the Study
(see point 2 above) and the specific research questions designed in the
inception phase of the Study. The draft report should be submitted no later
than 10 December 2021 and should include the following sections;
-
Table of content.
-
Acronyms.
-
Executive Summary.
-
Introduction part
(objectives, scope, methodology).
-
Context and background.
-
Analytical synthesis of
key findings clearly linked to the specific objectives of the Study and
specific research questions.
-
Conclusion and
Recommendations such as best practices.
-
Appendices (as required
i.e. case studies, ToR, work schedule, list of respondents, reference documents
and others as required).
3.4 Final report taking into consideration
USGKS’s and SRF SG’s comments and feedback on the draft report, to be submitted
no later than 20 December 2021. Both the draft and final report should be
presented in English with executive summary also in local languages.
3.5 Workshop In the end of the consultancy the consultant shall hold a meeting for
USGKS, SRF SG, SRF and MyRight where the consultant presents (PowerPoint)
findings from the report.
All dates indicated above
are preliminary and will be agreed upon at the start-up meeting of the Study
and established through the approval of the inception report of the Study. The
implementation of this study will be affected by the on-going Covid-19. The
consultant should demonstrate due consideration to this situation in the tender
and provide alternative (online) research methods in case the pandemic will
prevent face-to-face interviews and meetings throughout the implementation of
the study. The Consultant, USGKS and SRF SG will collaborate to identify
innovative solutions to potential challenges faced in the design and
implementation of the Study.
Required skills,
competences and experiences
-
Academic degree in
relevant field (e.g., international law and human rights, development studies
or social sciences).
-
Professional work
experience in human rights-based development
-
Relevant knowledge and
professional experience in Disability, Children''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s rights and Gender equality.
-
Experience in designing
and implementing evaluations and participatory studies.
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Experience of writing
texts that engage readers who want to change the living conditions of others
and their own.
-
Experience in drafting
findings and recommendations.
-
Excellent writing and
editing skills in English and local language is required.
-
Conducts the
consultancy with utmost professional diligence in accordance with the timeframe
and this Terms of Reference.
-
Carries out the
consultancy in a manner and standards that best realise the objectives stated
in this Terms of Reference.
-
Follow the deliverable
with time frames and provide periodical update to USGKS and SRF SG on the
ongoing progress of the consultancy through emails, telephone or other digital
platforms.
-
Make available internal
USGKS and SRF SG documents relevant to this Study.
-
Instruct and support
the Consultant throughout the implementation of the Study.
-
Facilitate
communication with partner organizations and other stakeholders within our
network in Bosnia and Herzegovina and in Sweden.
-
Conduct continuous
digital follow-up meetings throughout the implementation of the Study.
-
Meetings to introduce
the consultant to the assignment and to discuss the structure and issues of the
study during the whole consultancy.
The
consultant should present a work plan and budget with daily consultant fee and
additional costs in the tender. The total cost should cover consultant fee,
travelling costs, communication, etc. including all applicable taxes and fees.
The consultancy is estimated to 60 work days equivalent to 480 working hours. during
a three months’ period of October to December 2021.
Payment to the Consultant will be made based on the actual number of
days – hours worked, deliverables accepted and upon certification of
satisfactory completion by the manager.
The payment is divided into three transfers (inception report, draft
report and final report and presentations). The amounts and dates of transfers
will be agreed in the start-up meeting and will be affected when the contract
between the Consultant and USGKS is signed.
In
the event of any dispute arising between USGKS, SRF SG and the consultant, who
will be signing the contract on implementation of project, a maximum and
genuine effort should be made by both parties to resolve such dispute through
discussions. If they fail to resolve it in this manner, an arbitrator agreed
upon by both parties should be appointed. If an arbitrator cannot be decided
upon, the dispute should be resolved through the law courts in the country.
USGKS and SRF SG shall hold all property rights, such as copyright on
matter directly related to, or derived from the work carried out through this
Project.
The consultant must respect MyRight Accessibility policy, and needs for
accessibility when involving respondents with impairments and pay particular
attention to provide accessibility of communication. More information about the
policy is available on: http://myright.ba/uimages/MyRight_Accessibility20policy20english.pdf .
Qualified candidates (individual or consultancy firm)
are invited to submit a tender, which should include:
-
A technical proposal:
The technical proposal should briefly and clearly describe the following
aspects; understanding of the task, and a preliminary methodology and approach
for implementing the study, preliminary work plan and timeframe.
-
Financial proposal:
Specifying daily consultant fee and all other estimated costs for implementing
the study, including all taxes and applicable fees.
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A detailed curriculum
vitae (CV): detailed CV of the lead consultant and all other team members.
-
A work sample of a
similar assignment and three references (names and contact details).
The Tender should be submitted by e-mail no
later than 20 September 2021to name Safeta Baković and email usgks@bih.net.ba.