1. Introduction
Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organization for children. As part of our contribution towards ensuring that every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation, Save the Children has been working with armed forces in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) since 1998 and with the African Union (AU) for the last ten years to promote the rights of children in conflicts, post-conflict and protracted political emergency situations.
Save the Children’s Regional and Multi Country Programme Unit (RMCPU) engages with regional processes to accelerate transformative change for children, in all contexts, in East and Southern Africa by modelling effective program approaches, generating evidence, and influencing sustainable policy change. The unit primarily delivers regional mechanisms and multi-country interventions at Pan African level in East and Southern Africa region. Within a Pan African scope, the Unit additionally hosts Projects with a broad objective of integrating child rights within other regional mechanisms including the African Union (AU) and its institutions- the Africa Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), East African Community (EAC) and the East African Standby Force (EASF), Southern Africa Development Cooperation (SADC), as well as Multi-country research and advocacy initiatives in partnership with the respective SCI Country Offices and CS members.
2. Background:
Save the Children has been training military personnel in Africa since 1998, with a focus on pre-deployment training of peacekeepers. This initiative was a response to a key recommendation from the ground-breaking Graça Machel study on the impact of armed conflict on children which clearly stressed the necessity of putting the protection of children on the international peace and security agenda1. Since then Save the Children has addressed child protection needs through training of the military in several regional and country programmes. In East Africa this began with training the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army in South Sudan and the Ugandan National Armed Forces. In West Africa advocacy efforts led to the “Accra Declaration” which called upon the 15 ECOWAS Member States to introduce a course on child rights and child protection into their training curriculum both for their military units and for their peacekeeping contingents. It also called upon ECOWAS to set up a child protection unit within the organisation.
Since 2013, with support from Sida, Save the Children has worked towards strengthening Child Protection in African Union Peace Support Operations. The engagement has borne some incredible results including: The development and adoption of a harmonized and standardized curriculum and standards on child protection and child rights by the ECOWAS Standby Force (ECOWAS-SF), the East African Standby Force (EASF) and the AU Peace Support Operations Division (AU PSOD) respectively, which troop contributing countries are utilizing as their official training curriculum on child protection and child rights for their personnel; the development of a training management system and has provided platforms for learning and sharing information with key stakeholders in PSO through knowledge learning event and symposium. These efforts have enhanced collaborations and synchronized child protection engagements amongst respective PSO actors.
Building on the previous interventions and engagements, Save the Children seeks to continue augmenting efforts to protect girls and boys in conflict settings. As such, the ‘Integrating Child Protection in the African Peace and Security Architecture Project’ aims at strengthening the capacity of the Peace Support Contingents’ in East and West Africa respectively, to effectively deliver their protection mandate by protecting and preserving the rights of children affected armed conflicts. and protracted political disputes. This would be made possible through systematic and standardized, mandatory pre-deployment trainings for troops earmarked for AU mandated missions using qualified trainers, a standardized curriculum and training tools. Though training remains an important component in peace support operations, however for peace support stakeholders to effectively fulfil their mandate in preventing and responding to violence against children, child protection must be an integral part of peace support structures and processes.
Learning from its previous interventions and internal assessments, Save the children in conceptualizing the current project, identified some gaps that limit the protection of girls and boys in conflict situations. These include:
1 Limited capacity within African peace and security institutions to prevent and respond to violence against girls and boys in armed conflict 2 Limited evidence generated on children and armed conflict within the African context to support policy development 3 Peace support operations policy and practice are not informed by the girls and boys affected
3. Project Goal and Objectives:
Goal: African peace support forces prevent and respond to violence against children
Project purpose: Child Rights and Protection are institutionalized within the African Peace and Security Architecture
Objectives:
1 The AU, Regional Mechanisms /Bodies, and Member States have enhanced their capacity to prevent and respond to violence against children. 2 The AU, Regional Mechanisms/Bodies and Member States have an accountability framework for child protection in place which is implemented and monitored. 3 Policy and practice within Peace Support operations is informed by evidence and learning. 4 Girls and boys affected by armed conflict influence decisions and processes of the AU, Regional, Regional Mechanisms/Bodies and Member States.
To achieve the above objectives, Save the Children will work with existing stakeholders within the AU, Regional Bodies and Regional Mechanisms in East and West Africa, and national armed forces. With respect to the latter the project will place greater emphasis on the major troop contributing countries as a means of achieving impact on the ground. The project will continue to support the work of the ACERWC and engage civil society and girls and boys affected by armed conflict. The project ultimately contributes to Save the Children’s Ambition 2030’s global breakthrough on Child Protection: Violence against children is no longer tolerated.
4. Purpose of the Baseline:
The overall purpose of the baseline is to develop indicators and establish benchmarks for the Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning (MEAL) plan for the project. The result will be used in measuring and tracking change/trend among the target beneficiaries and project stakeholders.
The specific outputs of the consultancy are as follows:
• Provide baseline information to aid in developing project progress measurement scales for measuring project progress, achievements and impact hence ensuring accountability and learning.
• Review and update project MEAL tools, and develop a road map for measuring progress through formulation of clear MEAL indicators for the project;
• Review and make recommendations to aid in developing a project accountability framework to guide in the process of strengthening the existing accountability mechanisms for monitoring and reporting violence against girls and boys contextualized to PSO situations within AU missions, Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms and Troop Contributing Countries.
5. Scope of work
Focus on African Peace and Security Institutions especial, the Eastern African Standby Force (EASF) and ECOWAS Standby Force operational capability and measures put in place to prevent and respond to violence against girls and boys in conflict situations, child protection training criteria for troop and police contributing countries. Review the existing Peace Support Operations policy and practice with a view of identifying avenues for incorporating children’s voices.
6. Major tasks and deliverables of the study:
1 Establish a detailed work plan to be approved by the Senior Programme Manager. 2 Develop and present baseline study design (rationale, methodology) in a kick-off meeting to the team for review of process; 3 Carry out data collection, analysis, interpretation and write the baseline report with inputs from the team; 4 Present the baseline findings during the validation and dissemination meetings.
Approach and Methodology:
The lead researcher will propose methodology, tools, work plan and budget for the baseline survey. The lead researcher will also provide a capacity statement showing their previous experience in carrying out this type of work in the same or a similar context.
8. Time Line
The tentative schedule below foresees the team delivering on both end of project and the training effectiveness evaluation respectively.
Activity
Output
Dates
Inception Briefing and a discussion of the baseline process.
Inception Meeting
20th February, 2017.
Desk review of Documents and Existing MEAL Plans
Recommendations
21st to 23rd February 2017
Consultations with partners
Field visits
27th February to 8th March, 2017
Data Analysis
9th & 10th March, 2017
Submission of draft report and review
13th & 14th March, 2017
Final Report
20th March, 2017
Validation Meeting
24th March, 2017
9. Competencies:
The consultant (s) shall have extensive experience (at least 5 years) in qualitative and quantitative data collection methodologies and specific skills and experience in developing monitoring and evaluation systems and conducting baseline studies, preferably within the development sector or peace and conflict in East and West Africa.
• Minimum of Master’s Degree in Development studies, international relations, peace and conflict, humanitarian affairs, law with demonstrated experience in monitoring and evaluation systems.
• Good understanding of the African Union and its institutions including the regional economic communities and regional mechanisms.
• Abreast with new trends in monitoring and evaluation techniques across programs and countries;
• Demonstrate experience conducting participatory research with children
• Experience in conducting research with a gender lens
• Good understanding of sensitivity for conflict and security issues on the continent
• Demonstrated high level of professionalism and an ability to work independently with tight deadlines.
10. Remuneration
Daily rates will be determined after discussions with the consultant. Save the Children ESARO will cover for the consultant’s air tickets on economy class to relevant field sites, accommodation on bed and breakfast plus airport transfers in the field. All other costs shall be borne directly by the consultant. Remuneration will be based on submission of deliverables. Payment will be made as par the agreed schedule. Taxation laws for Kenya will apply on the overall consultancy fee.
11. Ethics, Child Safeguarding and Code of Conduct
As the consultant will be working on behalf of Save the Children they will be required to sign and adhere to the Child Safeguarding Policy and ethical guidelines. Note that background checks will be undertaken on all applicants.
The consultant will make clear to all participating stakeholders especially children of all ages that they are under no obligation to participate in the exercise and that it is purely voluntary. All participants will be assured that there will be no negative consequences if they choose not to participate. The consultant must obtain informed consent from all participants, including children and their care-giver if a child is to be interviewed. The consultant must receive prior permission for taking and use of visual still/ moving images for specific purposes. The consultant will assure the participants the anonymity, confidentiality and will assure the visual data is protected and used for agreed purpose only.
As regards the documentation, the title rights, copyrights and all other rights of whatever nature in any materials used or generated under the provisions of this consultancy will exclusively be vested with Save the Children International East Africa Regional Office.
12. Submitting expressions of interest
Save the Children invites expressions of interest from individuals with the experience and skills described above.
1 Interested consultant must submit the following documents:
1 Cover Letter 2 CV including reference details of previous clients 3 Sample of previous work in similar consultancy work (assessment/survey/baseline assessment), with contact details for commissioning client. 4 Technical proposal including: 5 Detailed interpretation of the ToR 6 Outline of methodology and data collection tools to be used;
• A timeline of consultant work plan (guided by Section 8 of this document)
1 Full budget based on activities of the consultant.
1 If an applicant intends to work in a team, they should indicate all team members and attach their CVs. Clearly highlight the Team leader (whose minimum qualification should be Masters’ Degree)
HOW TO APPLY:
Application Email: Please apply with a covering letter and up-to-date CV to: ‘MKogi.46969.3830@savethechildrenint.aplitrak.com’