National Consultant, Red Cross of Serbia programme and services impact and relevance assessment, Serbia

Date of issue: 26-08-2024

Closing date (Belgrade time zone): 02-09-2024

Duty station: Serbia

Country: Serbia

Duration: Up to 60 days between September 2024 and June 2025

Category of Staff: Consultant

Grade: Consultant, Not Applicable

Organizational Context

The Red Cross of Serbia is a humanitarian, independent and voluntary organization and the only National Society in the Republic of Serbia. The Red Cross of Serbia is recognized by the competent authorities of the Republic of Serbia based on the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 as the only National Society in the Republic of Serbia and an auxiliary body to the public authorities. In relation to public authorities, the Red Cross of Serbia maintains an autonomy which allows it to act at all times in accordance with the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. The Red Cross of Serbia is structured in such a way that it has a network of organisations that covers the entire territory of the country, and this is its comparative advantage. Such a network of organisations enabled the Red Cross to focus its programmes on the level of the local communities. Further localisation of humanitarian activities requires interventions and capacity building of Red Cross organisations in municipalities and towns.

One of the strategic priorities of the RCS 2022 to 2026 Strategic orientation is to continue the transformation of the NS into a modern, strong organization capable of responding to humanitarian challenges. This assessment directly contributes to this NS strategic priority as it foresees the assessment of the relevance, effectiveness, efficacy, impact and sustainability of the RCS programme portfolio, changes in how the programmes are set up to respond to the changing needs of the population, and how the NS HQ programme department is set up to make it more efficient and effective.

Job Purpose

The purpose of the assignment is to assess the Red Cross of Serbia programmes and projects against its relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, impact and sustainability. Based on this assessment the outcome would be a programme department development strategy and action plan.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The Red Cross of Serbia will follow a proposed engagement process to get to the key deliverables: assessment of the programme portfolio, planning and carrying out assessment and planning process, report on assessment findings, programme developed strategy and action plan.

In close collaboration with the consultancy team leader, NS key programme staff, the domestic consultant  will develop, participate and input into the following:

1. Document review - Desk research that would include documents of the Republic of Serbia linked to programmes of the Red Cross of Serbia including assessments and reporting on vulnerability in the country from the perspective of disasters but also effects of social and economical circumstances, relevant Red Cross of Serbia programmatic documents, strategies, toolkits, guidelines and recent report on implementation of programmes and project, report on recent branch organizational and capacity assessment (BOCA) in 3 Red Cross branches,  and RCRC Movement strategies and policies listed in Annex 2.
2. Development of questionaries for key RCS HQ and RCB staff
3. Interviews with key staff and the analyse of responses
4. Field visits to RCB branches for interviews and getting to know the programmes being implemented in RCB (sample branches)
5. Report on findings from interviews combined with review of documents
6. Strategic planning four-day workshop with RCS HQ programme staff and representatives of the RCB
7. Programme development strategy and action plan

Deliverables:

• Assessment of the Red Cross of Serbia programmes and service
• Programme development strategy and action plan

N.B.

1. The consultants will be paired with the international consultant who will be a team leader. The team leader will have an in- depth understanding and knowledge of the RCRC Movement, as it would bring the RCRC Movement perspective, preferably  IFRC experience and knowledge of the relevant strategies, policies, programmes, methodologies and approaches and organizational development while the domestic consultant (sought in this call) would preferably be from academic institution, and it would bring in the knowledge and understanding of the context of Serbia with regards to state policies and strategies directed to area of work of the Red Cross of Serbia but also the knowledge of organizational development science bringing experience and of contemporary institutional development and management practices.  
2. The domestic consultant will be part of the team and deliver the tasks according to the joint action plan developed together by the team leader while the team leader will be overall responsible for process execution according to the agreed timeline
3. The deliverables, scope and timeline will be discussed with the Red Cross of Serbia and may be slightly adjusted.

Timeframe and days

This assignment is expected to be done by the mid of June 2025.  

Methodologies and working modalities

The Consultant will propose a standard timeline, which is to be tailored by the NS Head of programme, to ensure a realistic plan of work for the assignment.

Management and collaboration

The assignment will be overseen by the RCS Head of programme department.

Timeframe and consulting days

This consultancy will last up to 60 days in the period between September 2024 and June 2025.

• Consultant(s) will work remotely from home in Serbia in the stages of documents review, preparation of assessment tools and drafting the reports.
• The consultant will work in the Red Cross of Serbia premises and in the field in Red Cross branches during interviews with key staff, field visit to local branches and co- facilitation of the four – day workshop. 
• Consultant costs during the interviews, field visits and workshop, overnights, meals, travel costs are included in the overall consultancy fee and its disbursement will be sole responsibility of the consultant.

Travel and accommodation

The travel within the country will be up to five Red Cross branches and will be organized by the Red Cross of Serbia.  

The Red Cross of Serbia will be responsibility to organize transportation for field visit for the consultant.

Education

Required

• University degree in social science, public health, international development, development studies, organizational development or other related area or equivalent experience.

Experience

Required

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in conducting assessment processes and development of strategic documents in humanitarian and development field.
• Experience in course development.
• Experience in report and strategic document writing.

Preferred

• Experience working with a Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

Knowledge, skills and languages

Required

• Fluently spoken and written English.
• In-depth knowledge of the Republic of Serbia relevant thematic strategies, policies, programmes, methodologies and approaches and organizational development
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to work and coordinate with various stakeholders.
• Proactive, self-starter that can work with minimal oversight.

Application Instructions

• Please submit your application in English only.
• In the same document as your CV, please include the following:
• A financial proposal. The lump-sum feewhich you propose for the consultancy should indicate the breakdown of all costs. This fee should be inclusive of ALL considerations.