United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Research & Opportunity mapping – Cash Transfers Consultancy

Research & Opportunity mapping – Cash Transfers
Terms of Reference

1. Research Background
   There is a significant and growing body of experience demonstrating that cash-based interventions can act
   as an alternative or complement to in-kind assistance. Despite this cash still makes up only a fraction of
   overall humanitarian assistance. Cash transfers are not a sector in their own right but a tool that can be
   used – when appropriate – to meet different objectives, including improved health and nutrition outcomes,
   support to livelihoods, reducing the risk of protection and gender based violence and support continuous
   provision of education in different types of emergencies, depending on the context. Humanitarian agencies
   are increasingly incorporating cash transfers within their disaster response tool-box to deliver multi-sector
   objectives, and respond to different types of emergencies including: seasonal disasters, protracted crises,
   rapid-onset disasters and slow-onset chronic disasters. In applying both unconditional and conditional cash
   transfers as a tool during emergencies, the humanitarian sector will be able to encourage and support more
   beneficiaries to access education opportunities and ensure that protection interventions become more
   effective, as it raises the opportunity to raise more awareness about such key sectors.
   Cash and vouchers as a total of humanitarian spending in 2004 accounted for 1%, in 2016 the figure had
   risen to 6% with donors projected to significantly increase their investment due to the commitments made in
   the WHS and the Grand Bargain. Cash as a modality is now recognised to be cheaper and better value
   for money, it aids local recovery and gives disaster affected communities greater flexibility and choice. The
   requirement to build-in-house capacity and experience in the use of Cash is unquestionable and the scope
   for Plan International UK (PIUK) to increase its income growth through accessing funds that will be made
   available for cash based programming is clear. DFID’s partners are now expected to explain ‘why they are
   not using cash’, rather than the converse. UN agencies are also expanding their use of cash and voucher
   based systems. WFP now have a Cash unit in their headquarters.
   Blockchain technology will be central to PIUK’s Cash proposition and should lead to further innovations that
   would allow PIUK to scale up rapidly and deliver assistance more efficiently and effectively. Blockchain is
   a technical type of distribution database hosted across a network of multiple participants and
   provides a way to share information and transfer digital assets in a fast, tracked and secure way.
   Blockchain has the potential to transform the humanitarian sector by providing cost savings and traceability
   of information flows, and by reducing transaction times. Originally created to transfer financial value,
   Blockchain is now viewed as having the potential to be an efficient and secure way to transfer any type of
   information or asset including cash with cash based programming
   The opportunity to combine PIUK’s specialisms, with a strengthened CASH agenda through an innovation
   lens, should assist us in carving out a larger share of the market.
2. Objectives
   PIUK is seeking a consultant to conduct a review of existing evidence of cash transfers in the
   humanitarian market. This work is specific to Plan International UK.
   The ultimate product of the consultancy will be a concise 10-15 page overview of where the
   market currently stands and where opportunities exist for PIUK’s future engagement.
3. Content and Deliverables
   The main output is a 10-15 page report (with limited annexes as appropriate),which includes:
   ü How cash transfer programming and instruments operate within different geographical
   contexts and current trends
   ü A mapping of cash modalities that are best suited for PIUK’s mandate and where there is
   the greatest potential to scale up Cash in programming
   ü Who is funding what in the UK, US and globally – with a focus on donors funding activities
   in PIUK’s areas of expertise
   ü Map potential partnerships (options could include a Cash Transfer Programming (CTP)
   partnership with FAO or WFP on nutrition and UNICEF and UNHCR around health and
   protection integrated cash assistance)
   ü How PIUK can incorporate more widely, the use of cash as a modality, building the capacity
   of County Offices to implement Cash Based Assistance, as well as strengthening the areas
   where protection and gender can be integrated into cash-based responses.
   ü The potential to use Blockchain technology to put PIUK’s cash programming ahead of its
   competitors.
   ü Recommendations on where PIUK should start with to achieve some quick wins and
   longer-term wins
   ü What size grants/contracts can PIUK can realistically expect to secure in 12, 24 and 36
   months
   ü What investments might PIUK need to make to achieve the above
   ü What are the recent success stories from similar sized charities within the UK market with
   relevant donors.
   The consultant will annex, in their report, a list of contacts the consultant made / key individuals
   and organisations they spoke to, in order to inform their thinking and recommendations.
   The Consultant will also present their findings to Plan’s Humanitarian Team (a small slide deck or
   verbal presentation of the report is fine), upon completion of their report. Following receipt of the
   report, the Board will then make decisions on if and how to develop/grow PIUKs work in the Cash
   Transfers market.
4. Proposed methodology
   The consultant will undertake a desk-based review to scope the market. Drawing on the
   consultant’s own connections also speak with key stakeholders (from donors where possible) to
   supplement this scoping.
   With the assistance of the Plan Humanitarian Team and the Disaster Risk Management Unit, we
   will identify key stakeholders within PIUK and the boarder Plan family with whom the consultant
   will speak to.
5. Reporting
   Head of Disaster Risk Management, Ms Razmi Farook.
6. Consultant’s Qualifications
   The consultant is expected to have skills, experience and good understanding of the Cash
   Transfers market and programming, strong commercial awareness and experience with donor
   engagement.

Submission Guidelines & Timeline
Submission of proposals should be made by email to: lucy.goodyear@plan-uk.org
The proposals should include the following:
• Topline research framework/plan and a timeline based on the ToRs (maximum 3 pages)
• Your proposed daily fee in GBP (highlighting any VAT)
• Your CV (maximum 3 pages)
• An example of a similar report produced (or valid hyperlinks to online published papers or
reports).
Deadline for applications – 16th of October 2017
• Selection will take place immediately and consultants will be notified by 18th of October
2017
• Consultant to commence assignment – As soon as possible, preferably by 23rd October
2017 (please make it known if you are available before this date).
• Final Report submission – 25th November 2017, first draft by 20th November.
• Presentation to the team between 27th- 29th November 2017
• Assignment completion - 29th November 2017
Please ensure the subject line of the email reads: Research & Opportunity mapping – Cash
Transfers Consultancy
We expect the consultancy to require a maximum of 20 days of work over the period of 23rd
October – 29th November 2017.
The consultant should be available for the above dates. Consultants are encouraged to apply
early, as we will review applications on a rolling basis and possibly select ahead of the deadline if
the ideal candidate applies.