Objectives of the NA:

• To identify and assess the immediate and long-term health, nutrition, and food security and livelihood needs of Afghan returnees in the Nangarhar border province.
• To understand the impact of returnees on the host communities and identify areas requiring support or intervention in terms of health, nutrition, and the food security and livelihood.
• To inform RI’s AFG Co’ response strategy and priorities based on the NA findings.
• Assessing existing services to avoid duplication and ensure effective coordination.

Scope of Work

The external consultant will:

• Conduct a thorough multi-sectorial needs assessment (MSNA), covering areas such as Health, Nutrition, WASH, Food Security and Livelihood, Protection, and any other identified priority areas.
• Engage with both Afghan returnees and host communities to gather qualitative and quantitative data on their needs, challenges, and aspirations.
• Identify vulnerable populations within the target groups.
• conduct rapid needs assessment and monitoring missions to the Torkham border areas in Nangarhar province, requiring financial assistance for RI to participate.
• Collaborate with health service providers and implementers to identify gaps in health and nutrition, coordinating with UNHCR and other humanitarian actors.

Role & Responsibilities of the Consultant

The consultant is expected to:

• determine the suitable NA methodology, refine the NA questions and generate tools for data collection
• develop a plan for conducting a needs assessment,
• provide training for local enumerators on data collection using NA tools,
• Overall supervise and manage needs assessment including facilitation of FGDs, data analysis, and data cleaning;
• analyze data, incorporate findings, and generate conclusions and recommendations into the report.
• work in close collaboration with RI Afghanistan staff designated and/or newly hired (local enumerators specific) to work on the needs assessment. the RI Deputy country director will be the primary contact and will supervise the consultant.
• interact with the MEAL Manager and share knowledge and findings with the designated staff of the above-mentioned team.

Deliverables

• Inception Report: draft a comprehensive methodology and work plan, including the timeline and support required from RI;
• Desk Reviews: review relevant secondary data to be included in needs assessment
• Data Collection Tools: generate and design assessment tools for collecting primary qualitative and quantitative data;
• Data Collection Training: Facilitate training for the assessment team (RI & collaborating partner Staff) and local enumerators to familiarize them with the assessment process, data collection tools, and interview techniques;
• Database Management: Coordinate and oversee field-based data collection and management (including data cleaning); Develop staff knowledge and understanding of action research protocols, management, and analysis of data;
• Needs assessment report: prepare first draft and final draft report submitting to the RI project management team.
• Interpretation Workshop: present ppt slides with major findings from NA to project team staff while brainstorming recommendations

Needs Assessment Report

The report will be structured with the following sections (illustrative, not exhaustive) to be included in the report (preferably not more than 15 pages):

• Cover page
• Table of Contents
• List of Acronyms
• List of Figures
• List of Tables
• Executive Summary (two to three pages) - presents the main methodology, findings, conclusions on gaps and needs, and recommendations. It should be a clear and concise stand-alone document that gives readers the essential contents of the MSNA report.
• NA Purpose and research questions

• Description of NA methodology - including data collection techniques; an explanation for how chosen methodology is designed to explore gaps; sampling methods; analysis plan, quality assurance and ethical protocols, and limitations.

• MSNA Results and Findings Conclusions (10 pages) – should present reasonable evaluative judgments on the relevant and required interventions.
• Recommendations and lessons learned (five pages) - should be as realistic, operational, and pragmatic as possible; that is, they should take careful account of the circumstances currently prevailing in the context of the action.
• Annexes – including data collection tools, MSNA workplan/timetable and other documents as necessary.