National Coordinator Consultancy – West and North Africa Hub (WNAH)

• Role: National Coordinator
• Project start date: December 18, 2023
• Duration of project: 5 months
• Work location: Sierra Leone, Cameroon
• Type of contract: Consultant Agreement
• Direct contact: Project Manager, West & Northern Africa (WNA)

1.Background

The Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team United States, Inc. (HOT) applies the principles of open source and open data sharing for humanitarian response and economic development. Founded in the wake of the Haiti earthquake of 2010, responders and organizations recognized the need for accurate, accessible maps to aid in humanitarian response and the potential for international development interventions. Since then, HOT has utilized its network of tens of thousands of volunteers to contribute to OpenStreetMap, the free and editable map of the world. HOT’s network and tools enable everyone, local or international, to have an impact by putting places on the map.

The West and Northern Africa Hub (WNAH) is a branch of HOT that covers 24 countries in the region with the mission of making open data and free software a decision-making tool for development focusing on communities. The WNAH works with humanitarian organizations, governments, civil society, private operators, institutions, and other actors to use OpenStreetMap (OSM) tools; data collection, spatial analysis, and state-of-the-art cartographic production are the essential tools that the Hub will promote for socio-economic decision-making.

We want to be closer to communities so data and maps can be a tool for analysis and decision-making to improve people’s lives. Through a regional approach, by assisting local communities using open-source mapping data, tools, and software, we intend to contribute to community development by improving their livelihoods.

2. Project
Strengthening Gender Resilience Against Disaster Project
Disasters disproportionately impact women and girls, who often face increased vulnerabilities due to social and economic inequalities. Worldwide, women comprise 52% of the population yet represent 70% of all disaster deaths. In addition, women are more likely to be displaced by disasters, to experience violence and exploitation, and to face barriers to accessing essential services.
There are several reasons women and girls are more vulnerable to disasters. These include:
Gender roles and responsibilities: Women are often responsible for childcare and household duties, which can limit their ability to evacuate or prepare for disasters.
Lack of access to resources and information: Women may not have access to the same resources and information as men, such as early warning systems and disaster preparedness plans.
Social and cultural norms: In many cultures, women are expected to be submissive and defer to men, making asserting their needs and priorities difficult in disaster situations.
The consequences of disasters for women and girls can be devastating. They may lose their homes, livelihoods, and loved ones. They may also experience physical and psychological trauma. More needs to be done to address the gendered impacts of disasters. This project aims to significantly contribute to this effort by promoting gender-responsive disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) initiatives.

Project’s Objectives:
Provide women groups with added portfolios to build on disaster resilience
Map and analyze women’s groups/organizations to adapt training materials to their needs.
Develop strategies and recommendations to enhance the resilience and empowerment of women and children in the face of disasters.
Build the capacity of 20 women groups in two project countries (Cameroon and Sierra Leone) using a training-of-trainers approach.
Provide micro-grants to four women groups to train women and girls and conduct remote mapping activities in their respective communities.
Support women groups with technical skills and tools to promote open data and tools in their organizations.
Co-develop and organize campaigns to promote women’s involvement in Disaster preparedness, awareness, and response to disasters in their communities.
Organize workshops bringing together women groups, stakeholders, and national actors and share knowledge. and resource opportunities for effective women empowerment.

3.Scope of Work
Responsibilities:
As part of the duties, the local coordinator is expected to fulfill the following responsibilities:
Serve as project focal person at the national level and engage with stakeholders and project partners on implementation.
Coordinate the identification and recruitment of women groups for capacity building.
Supervise the conduct of women groups’ needs assessment
Supported by the Project Manager, execute the project’s scope.
Develop training materials on Disaster Preparedness, Awareness, and Response to build the portfolio for training of 10 women’s groups.
Package training materials and related resources and share them with the Project Manager to be added to the training materials repository.
Lead the capacity building of women groups in disaster risk reduction skills. This includes providing training on disaster preparedness, early warning systems, and emergency response procedures.
Support Microgrants (2 women organizations) and co-facilitate disaster preparedness, early warning systems, and emergency response training during microgrant activities.
Provide technical support to micro grantees to extend Disaster and Open Mapping training to other women groups.
Develop a blog post on the project’s impact at the end of project activities.
Coordinate, recruit participants, and co-facilitate knowledge-sharing workshops.
Submit monthly progress reports to the Project Manager.
Support the production of visual content for communication (Photos, videos, quotes….)
Submit final report

Project’s outcome:
10 women’s groups identified
20 women (2 per group) trained on disaster resilience and the use of open mapping data
2 women’s groups identified and prepared for microgrants activities
2 microgrants were distributed and implemented
50 women are trained in Disaster preparedness, response, and Open and Participatory Mapping methodology and tools.

4.Application’s requirement
Required Skills and Qualifications:
Master’s degree in disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, or a related field or equivalent.
At least three years of experience in gender-responsive disaster risk reduction
Experience conducting disaster response-related training and workshops
Passionate about open data and disaster mapping
Have good working relationships with national stakeholders
Skills in OpenStreetMap is an advantage
Ability to read, write, and speak (professional) English (Sierra Leone) and/or French (Cameroon)
Show proof of working on related projects in the last two years
Have a good network with women’s organizations in the focused countries
Exhibit skills of self-motivated and strive for continuous improvement
Ability to submit technical and narrative reports promptly

Timeline and deliverables

Deliverables

• Onboard and reviewed project documents, received first Task Order ( December 23, 2023)
• Identify and engage women’s groups
  Engage and update critical stakeholders on project activities
  Conduct project updates with women’s groups
  Conduct capacity building needs assessment
  Recruit contact details of nominated women representatives for training
  Develop Disaster management training materials and validate them with the WNAH team
  Support organizing logistics for training in the Country
  Submit a monthly report of activities (January 31, 2024)
• Lead Disaster management training component during the week of training
  Support Micrograntee’s application, selection, and awarding processes
  Submit a monthly report of activities (February 28, 2024)
• Support and coordinate micro grantees activities
  Co-facilitate micro grantees training and women organizations engagements
  Lead monthly microgrant reports from women’s groups (Mar 30, 2024)
• Support and coordinate micro grantees’ activities
  Co-organize project final workshop by inviting and coordinating national participation
  Develop and submit the final project report on national activities
  Support communications activities (interviews, blogpost) (Apr 30, 2024)