1. Background
The over two year conflict in South Sudan has resulted in wide-spread displacement inside and outside South Sudan. 1.5 million People are displaced inside the country, and more than 600,000 have fled to Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda. Over 60% of the population seeking asylum in neighbouring countries is children[1].
In May 2015, a Regional Information Sharing Protocol (RISP) was signed by the members of Regional Child Protection Network: Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Plan International (PI), Save the Children International (SCI), World Vision International (WVI), UNICEF, and UNHCR. The purpose of the RISP is to provide regional guidance on, and facilitate cross border, inter-agency sharing of personal data in relation to unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) among UNHCR, NGO partners (through the Inter-Agency Child Protection Information Management System (CPMIS)/Rapid FTR Tools. The specific objectives of the RISP are to conduct data matching for the purposes of:
• Tracing children and parents who have been separated from each other in order to support reestablishing contacts among children and parents as well as their reunification, where it is in the best interests of the child.
• Tracking children who have been registered by UNHCR or a CP agency but whose current whereabouts are unknown.
Structure of the RISP
A Steering Committee was formed from SCI, UNHCR and UNICEF which coordinates and oversees the operationalization of the Regional ISP. This committee meets on a regular basis to discuss operational challenges, monitor the progress of activities, has developed additional documentation and guidance for RISP implementation. The committee reports to the Regional Child Protection Network in Nairobi on a monthly basis. The Steering Committee was formed by two focal points from SCI, two from UNHCR, and one from UNICEF, and is based in Nairobi.
The steering committee facilitates communication between the national focal points from CP agencies and UNHCR focal points in each of the countries of asylum.
Roles and Responsibilities of steering committee members
• SCI Regional Office is responsible for collating and managing the caseload data of unaccompanied and separated children and Enquirers (parents looking for children) using the Inter-Agency CPIMS.
• Save the Children together with UNICEF, is also responsible for capacity building activities on CPIMS FTR and case management for national focal point agencies. During 2015, several capacity building workshops and support visits were undertaken in the region to support start-up of CPIMS and ensure the quality of FTR activities.
• UNHCR is responsible for data matching the consolidated information collated by SCI through the regional CPIMS. The data matching process is done through regional proGres database. UNHCR is also responsible for channelling information on positive matches identified (for purpose searching and verifying matched adults) from the regional proGres database to the field operations and back to the regional team
The RISP will complete a one year cycle in May 2016, though only operational for data matching since November 2015, and has covered a complete cycle of data exchange and verification and referral. During the last year the RISP team has focused on building the cross-border system and putting the foundations in place for regular, safe and effective regional information sharing. Further work will be done to build capacity to address data quality gaps (Enquirer caseload and the lack of information triangulation between proGres and CPIMS in-country), strengthened the overall case management system, as well as refining the data collection and matching procedures. At this point, participating agencies would like to review the implementation and modalities of the RISP to identify its successes and challenges.
1. Progress Review Purpose and Scope
The purpose of the assignment is to analyse the extent to which the Regional Information Sharing Protocol has successfully supported the tracking and tracing for South Sudanese unaccompanied and separated children and their parents/relatives. Responded to coordination and capacity building needs of regional family tracing and reunification efforts for South Sudanese Unaccompanied and Separated Children in South Sudan and neighbouring countries of asylum. The Progress Review will look to:
• Review the extent to which the RISP has achieved its stated objectives;
• Identify successes and challenges in the implementation of the RISP;
• Make recommendations for the way forward in terms of supporting tracking and tracing UASC and their relatives.
• The review will look at capacity building and coordination activities which have contributed to family tracing and reunification in the region.
• Methodology
Save the Children is asking the consultant to propose a methodology that will most effectively meet the requirements of the Progress Review. The consultant will need to analyse all relevant sources of information such as the RISP (core document), program documents, RISP guidance documents produced by the RISP steering committee, RISP steering committee meeting minutes or other documentation, , specific Progress Review reports, program strategy documents, the CPIMS and regional database and all other documents that may provide useful information. S/he will also need to carry out key informant interviews with different members of the RISP steering committee as well as staff, other implementing partners and other agencies and actors as needed in the different countries targeted. The institution/consultant will participate in brief workshop convened with country focal points, scheduled for May 31st. A list of key informants will be provided beforehand by Save the Children.
The final report of 20 pages maximum will be provided with an extractable summary for external dissemination.
1. Roles and Responsibilities
Save the Children in coordination with the RISP steering committee will:
Provide initial terms of reference
Recruit the consultant
Provide all necessary data, reports, access to individuals / beneficiaries to participate in the data collection.
Approve and contribute to writing the final report
Finance the travel costs related to the Progress Review
Organize the logistics of the periods of field work
Assist in booking international and local travel
The consultant will:
• Design the Progress Review tools
• Manage the different stages of the Progress Review project
• Conduct all in-country KIIs.
• Produce a final report of approx. 20 pages for submission to Save the Children, RISP steering committee members for final dissemination to agreed external actors.
• Facilitate a 2,5 days regional meeting by the end of May to present the findings of the report.
1. Deliverables of the Review
The consultant is responsible for submitting the following deliverables to Save the Children:
o The research methodology
o Data collection tools
o Copies of all data collected
o An initial report within one week of finishing the KII
o A final report
SCI, UNICEF and UNHCR will approve and contribute to writing the final report.
1. Specification of the Consultant/Institution
Consultants /and or institutions must provide proof of the following qualifications and expertise:
o An advanced degree in one of the following areas: social science, development economics, sociology, or public health
o Experience in designing research projects
o Strong skills in monitoring, evaluation and learning methodologies.
o Experience in carrying out Progress Reviews relating to CPiE and/or FTR programmes in Africa.
o Full availability during the consultancy period
o Excellent written and oral communication skills
o Fluency in English
o Examples of equivalent work
1. Contract Arrangements
The assignment is for a period of 20 working days over a period of 2 months. The consultant can work from a location of her/his choosing, but would be expected to travel to Kenya and to another locations in the region to conduct the KIIs. The steering committee of the RISP will select the locations of travel, with some consultation with the selected consultant. On-going and additional consultations would be expected to be undertaken remotely.
1. Timing.
Save the Children is aiming to submit the final Progress Review report to the RISP steering committee by 30th of May 2016.
The researcher is therefore requested to carry out the field work during April and May ensuring that a first draft of the report is available for Save the Children by 20th May.
[1] [1] http://data.UNHCR.org/SouthSudan/regional.php
HOW TO APPLY:
Interested candidates are required to submit their CV, expression of interest and salary requirements for a maximum of 20 days’ work to:
Mazen Haber mazen.haber@rb.se, Holder, Harriet Harriet.Holder@savethechildren.org and Geoffrey Oyatgeoffrey.oyat@savethechildren.se