Consultant

The Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies is seeking a Consultant to conduct an assessment on the policy context of humanitarian aid-economic nexus in Yemen.

Job Summary

The Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies is an independent think tank that seeks to foster change through knowledge production with a focus on Yemen and the surrounding region. The Center recently launched a two-year project, “Applying Economic Lenses and Local Perspectives to Improve Humanitarian Aid Delivery in Yemen,” funded by the Swiss Confederation.

The aim of this project is to look into humanitarian aid from an economic lens, through research and creating a dialogue between humanitarian, development, and economic actors – with a particular focus on platforming Yemeni perspectives to allow for nuanced conversations reflective of local realities. It aims to examine how positive economic impacts from aid funds can be maximized in Yemen through rethinking current approaches and developing innovative options and mechanisms related to the aid-economy intersection. Emphasis will be on proactive engagement with both Yemeni and international actors, with a focus on amplifying Yemeni voices and insights, ensuring that a localized, bottom-up approach is pursued.

To achieve its aims, the project will engage with international donors, humanitarian and development agencies and their partner organizations in Yemen, as well public and private sector institutions, local aid and economic experts, women’s organizations, and other relevant civil society organizations. The focus of this engagement will be to identify gaps in aid-economy planning and where opportunities exist to improve collaboration and the exchange of information across the spectrum of actors involved. Based on these consultations, the project will develop recommendations and present them publicly in two assessment reports and eight aid-focused economic bulletins. Furthermore, a virtual platform will be developed for the various actors across the humanitarian-economy nexus to engage in dialogue, discuss the research findings, and plan for future developments. Sana’a Center will disseminate the research findings widely and conduct policy tours to advocate for its recommendations.

Purpose and Objectives of the Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to assess the policy context of humanitarian aid-economic nexus in Yemen and provide actionable recommendations.

The objectives of the assignment are to be carried out in two steps. This will involve producing an initial gap analysis of the current humanitarian aid-economic nexus in Yemen (unpublished) to act as a guide for the project’s future research development. Based on this gap analysis, the second step will be to develop the first assessment report (published).

Step 1:

1. Mapping the various humanitarian, development and economic actors and donors in Yemen.
2. Doing initial consultations with these actors to identify priority issues, gaps and opportunities that this project should examine, with a focus on maximizing the positive economic impact of aid funds in Yemen, rethinking current approaches, innovating novel solutions, and ensuring Yemeni voices are platformed throughout.
3. Developing a gap analysis document, with the results to be discussed with the Sana’a Center project leads to identify the focus of the first assessment report and potential avenues for project’s future research generally.

Step 2:

1. Based on the findings of the gaps analysis, developing the methodology for conducting an assessment of the operationalization of humanitarian aid and economic recovery focusing on a key issue identified in point 3
2. Carrying out an assessment and developing actionable policy recommendations accordingly for a published assessment report.

Key Deliverables

1. Gaps analysis document
2. Assessment proposal that details the methodology and tools for the assessment report
3. Final assessment report
4. Power-Point Presentation on the assessment report
5. Report on the entire assignment

Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will carry out the following tasks under the direct supervision of the Project Manager and under the overall guidance of the Research Department of Sanaa Center:

• Develop the detailed methodology, action plan and tools for this assignment and finalize them in consultation with the Project Team.
• Conduct a mapping to identify key humanitarian, development, and economic stakeholders, as well as existing initiatives pertaining to humanitarian and economic development discourse in Yemen, including policy gaps and opportunities.
• Conduct consultations with humanitarian, development and economic actors and donors in Yemen.
• Based on the consultations, identify policy and knowledge production gaps and opportunities for progress related to the aid-economic nexus discourse in Yemen.
• Based on all the above, draft a gaps analysis report.
• Debrief the Sanaa Center and the project Team on the findings of the gaps analysis and jointly identify topics to focus on in the assessment report.
• Develop a research plan for the assessment report approved by the Sana’a Center.
• Carry out the assessment and deliver a final report for publication (this includes working with the editorial department in the process of editing and refining the paper for publication).
• Develop a PowerPoint presentation on the key findings and policy recommendations.
• Develop a report on the entire assignment and submit it to Sanaa Center for approval.

Duration

The total duration of the assignment is 19 working days, as follows:

• Step 1: Gaps analysis, 7 working days to be completed by 23 January
• Step 2: Assessment report, 12 working days final draft to be delivered by 17 March.

Requirements

Qualifications

• University degree in economics, humanitarian aid, political science or a related field is preferable.

Experience

• A portfolio of previously published humanitarian and development aid research.
• Experience in liaising between governmental, non-governmental and non-profit institutions will be looked on favourably.

Knowledge and Understanding

• Understanding of the Yemeni context, political economy, humanitarian and aid context, and conflict dynamics.
• Insight into the international aid system and donors’ policies related to the humanitarian-development nexus.

Skills

• English language is an asset and Arabic language is preferable.
• Excellent research skills
• Excellent communication, writing and presentation skills.

Position Details

• Contract type: Service Contract
• Duration: Dec 20, 2022 – March 17, 2023
• Starting salary: To be determined based on experience.
• Location: Remote.
• Joining date: As soon as possible

The Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies

Founded in 2014, the Sana’a Center is one of the few independent research centers that has continued to operate in Yemen throughout the ongoing conflict. While the Center maintains cordial relations with all key stakeholders, it has remained fiercely unaligned with any of the belligerent parties. The Sana’a Center has thus maintained a unique position and the ability to work throughout Yemen and beyond.

The Center maintains a strong network across Yemen with access to key political, military and security figures, tribal leaders, the financial sector, economists, journalists, humanitarian actors, civil society, and other important stakeholders. The Center has also established a broad network and presence within the international community, connecting it to international organizations, diplomatic circles, regional and international policymakers, research centers and global forums.

The Sana’a Center’s reports and researchers are widely quoted in local, regional, and international media outlets, while the analysis of the Center’s experts is regularly sought out by local and international stakeholders.