CFPs: Improving Community Disaster Reduction Response in Homs and Aleppo (Syria)

Deadline: 16-May-24

UN-Habitat is seeking proposals to strengthen urban community-based resilience in three neighborhoods in Homs and four neighborhoods across four Directorates in Aleppo and to enhance the preparedness of these communities to effectively respond to potential disasters they may face.

The “Improving Community Disaster Reduction Response (DRR) in Homs and Aleppo” project is a key component of the Integrated Post-Earthquake and Early Recovery Project initiated by UN-Habitat following the devastating earthquake in February 2023. This initiative is part of a broader integrated approach to recovery led by UN-Habitat-Syria.

The project of “Improving community disaster reduction response in Homs and Aleppo” to which the CFP pertains, comprises a set of soft activities categorized under two main objectives: i) Strengthening urban community resilience response to disasters and shocks; and ii) enabling the participatory Hazard Vulnerability Risk Analysis and Assessment (HVRA) within the targeted neighborhoods. The two objectives comprise a set of trainings, coaching, and participatory HVRA support the project planning and design activities.

Purpose 

• UN-Habitat is intending to enhance the urban community-based resilience in the areas of DRR in 3 neighborhoods of Homs city and 4 neighborhoods within 4 Directorates in Aleppo. Consequently, to foster the readiness of the communities of these neighborhoods to effectively respond to potential disaster might encountering these communities.
• The intervention seeks to achieve this by providing training in areas such as Rescue, Emergency Preparedness, psychosocial aspect, Evacuation, and evacuation procedures. Another objective is to empower these community-based teams to actively participate in their neighborhoods and assist in conducting hazard vulnerability risk assessment for the purpose of development disaster plan. This will support the reintegration of returning residents, with a particular focus on women, youth, and individuals with disabilities.
• Ultimately, the intervention aims to strengthen the community’s capacity to contribute to the recovery plan of these neighborhoods, which have been affected by a prolonged crisis and earthquake. The implementing partner will collaborate with local, community and stakeholders to select team members from each of the identified locations in the two governorates to be master trainers and lead the process of DRR in their neighborhoods.

Funding Information

• Maximum proposed value in US$: $ 120,000.
• Anticipated start date: 11 June 2024
• Estimated duration of project in calendar months: Six (6) Months

Expected Outputs

• The expected outputs of the project are as follows:
  • A local community volunteers’ groups (15 – 20 community Volunteers) is formed and trained as trainers to train a volunteer Cadre of (20-25 members in each selected Governorates of Homs and Aleppo) on subjects of community outreach and Community Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM).
  • A participatory Facebook page for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of the project has been set up for volunteers and the community to use.
  • Conduct Hazard vulnerability Risk Assessment workshops and based on that develop Disaster Risk Management Plans including evacuation plans for every targeted neighborhood in Homs and Aleppo.
  • Awareness campaign about disaster response conducted in the targeted neighborhoods in Homs and Aleppo, using different channels (the target beneficiaries for each city: 25,000 (50% different age students half male/female through conducting schools’ safety program, 40% women, 5% disabilities and 5% elders).

Activities

• The IP shall be undertaking main activities as follows:
  • Draft the selection criteria and ToR of community-based volunteers’ groups. Discussed and agreed with UN-Habitat, for Homs and Aleppo.
  • Support formulating the local community volunteers’ groups in both Homs and Aleppo. The IP is requested to describe the proposed process of selection of volunteers.
  • Conduct training of trainer TOT to the local community volunteers’ groups on CBDRM. In the Proposal, the IP is requested to provide the proposed contents, methodology and implementation process of each training.
  • Both the DRR community volunteers’ groups to lead the hazard vulnerability risk assessment process and support conducting the participatory disaster risk plans and evacuation for each neighborhood, this including but not limited to the indication of areas of high risks, stakeholders mapping and analysis on current DRR capacity, broad designation of roles and responsibilities, safe evacuation routes, emergency, and temporary gathering points (public spaces) as well as the suggested primary public space with design recommendations for that space in both cities of Homs and Aleppo. In the Proposal, the IP is requested to provide the proposed detailed methodology for the sustainability of the disaster risk plan process and the group.
  • Conduct DRR awareness raising campaign in the target neighborhoods. In the Proposal, the IP is requested to provide a detailed methodology for the awareness raising campaign on community level. The detailed methodology should indicate at least the following elements: key messages within the disaster response topic, channels of communications and information dissemination, main stakeholders and involved entities and monitoring tools (for example, baseline and end of activities surveys and reporting). 6- Prepare reports of each activity including list of participants, dates, durations, description of steps, photos, main results, and other relevant details.

Locations 

• Town/City: Homs City with 3 neighborhoods (estimated population, 40,000). and Aleppo City, the target neighborhoods 4 neighborhoods within 4 Directorates (estimated population of 4 Directorates 976,000).
• Country: Syria.

Eligibility Criteria

• Legal Status
  • Certificate of registration/incorporation i.e.,
  • Proof of registration in Country of Origin.
  • Proof of registration of Country of operation
  • Proof of country operational presence
• Organization profile and details
  • Clear organization profile and structure of the organization indicating:
    • Organization’s vision, mission, and objectives
    • Management structure
    • Members of the Governing Board and their Designations duly certified by the Corporate Secretary, or its equivalent document.
    • Proof of membership to professional associations if any.
• Financial Capacity 
  • Audited company financial statements (balance sheet and income statement) and auditors report for the last two years.
• Exclusive bank account 
  • Is the organization willing and able to have a separate bank account for the funds provided by UN-Habitat?
• Integrity and Governance 
  • The organization should complete and submit a signed Partner Declaration Form
  • Provide the profiles of the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Head of the Organization and Chief of Finance

For more information, visit UN-Habitat.