The Impact of Armed Conflict on Hunger and Food Insecurity – Consultancy

Oct 22, 2017 | Concern Worldwide
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Concern Worldwide is an international humanitarian organisation dedicated to tackling poverty and suffering in the world’s poorest countries. Concern works in partnership with the very poorest people in these countries, directly enabling them to improve their lives, as well as using our knowledge and experience to influence decisions made at a local, national and international level that can significantly reduce extreme poverty. In 2015, we positively impacted the lives of 22.5 million people. The Strengthening Resilience of Afghanistan’s Vulnerable Communities Against Disasters (SRACAD) started in March 2015 and was expanded in 2016 under the ‘Replication Expansion and Deepening (READ)’ initiative.   Funded by DFID, SRACAD is led by a consortium of five organisations under the Afghanistan Resilience Consortium (ARC). The vision of the programme is for Afghanistan’s vulnerable communities to be able to cope and bounce back from natural disasters and climate change. Concern’s total budget of the 4 year programme is £3.1 million. 

The Impact of Armed Conflict on Hunger and Food Insecurity – Consultancy

 

1. Context

 Founded in 1968 as an Irish response to the conflict-driven famine in Biafra at that time, Concern is the largest humanitarian and development agency in Ireland. With vast experience of working in the poorest and most vulnerable parts of the world, Concern has an international reputation for our work in disaster risk reduction, rapid emergency response, innovative livelihoods, resilience, food security and nutrition programming. Concern’s efforts to ‘leave no one behind’ have increasingly taken the organisation to fragile contexts, where we have seen first-hand the devastating consequences of conflict and how levels of human suffering as a result of conflict have soared in recent years. Therefore, Concern is seeking to explore ways in which the cycle of conflict, hunger and human suffering can be broken. In 2018, Concern Worldwide will host an international conference to mark its 50th anniversary, titled ‘A resurgence of humanity: Breaking the cycle of conflict, hunger and human suffering.’ To support this, Concern is commissioning a series of systematic evidence review related to conflict, to provide background analysis, an assessment of evidence, and a series of recommendations that will feed into discussions at the conference, and into future programming in conflict-affected contexts to break the cycle of conflict, hunger and human suffering at organisational, sectoral, national and international levels. 2. Overall objective of the consultancy Concern is committed to producing high-quality, relevant, and actionable research that informs programming and learning and feeds into advocacy and policy. The objective of the consultancy is to produce a systematic evidence review on Conflict and Hunger and Food Insecurity, to inform actions that can ultimately contribute to Concern and the wider sector’s efforts to break the cycle of conflict, hunger and human suffering. 3. Specific objectives of the consultancy The specific objectives of the consultancy are to collect, synthesise, and critically evaluate available academic, policy and practitioner research and evidence on the following questions:
  • What are the overall trends in conflict, hunger and food insecurity evident in the last 35 years? How have levels, patterns and impacts changed over time?
  • What is the available evidence on the relationship between conflict, hunger and food insecurity? Do particular dynamics of conflict (different type, actors, intensity, etc.) shape specific patterns of hunger and food insecurity? What is the strength of this evidence, and what gaps remain in existing knowledge, evidence or practice on conflict, hunger and food security?
  • How does conflict affect different individuals’, groups’ and communities’ experience(s) of hunger and food insecurity? How does conflict affect issues of food availability, accessibility, utilisation, and stability across place (locations and their direct or indirect experience of conflict), time (at different stages or durations of conflict), and individuals or groups (for example, the diversity of experience by age or gender)?
  • What existing initiatives or approaches have been undertaken to address or mitigate the impact of conflict on hunger and food security? At what levels have these been undertaken, how successful have they been, and what gaps remain?
  • What insights does this combined evidence provide into improving future actions and policy on conflict, hunger and food insecurity? How can CSOs, NGOs, policy makers and the wider humanitarian system work more effectively to reduce, and support those directly affected by, conflict-related hunger and food insecurity?

 4. Methodology

The consultant will be charged with undertaking a systematic evidence review based on a comprehensive search strategy to collect, synthesise, and critically evaluate relevant academic, policy and practitioner literature. Particular attention should be paid to assessing the quality and rigour of the available evidence. Research employing qualitative, quantitative, (quasi-)experimental or mixed methods should all be consulted. 5. Deliverables
  • Inception Report: detailing the review strategy, proposed structure and key themes.
  • Draft Final Report: Synthesising evidence, conclusions, and recommendations (maximum 20 pages without annexes).
  • Final Report: Synthesising all evidence, conclusions, and recommendations (incorporating comments and additions from Concern teams), and including an executive summary (maximum 3 pages).

6. Profile of the Consultant

  • At least 5 years of professional experience in high-quality research;
  • Proven experience in performing similar analysis;
  • Expertise on conflict and hunger, food security, and/or nutrition;
  • Excellent writing, synthesis, and analytical skills;
  • French-speaking, Bilingual French/English highly appreciated.

7. Proposed Duration and Timeline

  • Inception Report: to be submitted 10th November;
  • Draft Final Report: to be submitted 1st December;
  • Final Report: to be submitted 15th December.

8. Reporting

The consultant will report directly to the Humanitarian Policy Officer.

 

HOW TO APPLY:

Application Procure
Applications must be entitled Conflict and Hunger Consultancy and be submitted to Caitriona Dowd, Humanitarian Policy Officer, Concern Worldwide, by Wednesday 1stNovember at caitriona.dowd@concern.net. Applications must include the following:
  • A clear and relevant proposal which is in line with the Terms of Reference;
  • A proposed budget that is as detailed as possible;
  • Inclusion of the CV and references of the primary consultant;
  • A proposed detailed work plan conforming to the duration of the programme.