Job Description

Posted on July 28, 2021

Terms of Reference
Baseline of “Keeping children and young people safe and protected: Strengthening Civil Society Organizations as a Driving Force”
1. About Plan International
We strive to advance children’s rights and equality for girls all over the world. As an independent development and humanitarian organisation, we work alongside children, young people, our supporters and partners to tackle the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge. For over 80 years we have been building powerful partnerships for children, and we are active in over 75 countries.
2. Project Background
The project “Keeping children and young people safe and protected: Strengthening Civil Society Organizations as a Driving Force” is to be implemented in collaboration with Generation Alive (GAL) and Vision of Hope (VoH) in 7 wards of Lusaka district. The project overall goal to enhance Civil Society Organizations’ contribution to the rights of children in Zambia with the specific focus on protecting children’s rights, including vulnerable children and youth in street situation.
The primary beneficiaries are children and youth and their closest family members; whose situations on the streets are diverse and span between the following situations: living on the streets including nights; spending some portion of their days or nights on the streets; staying at centers established for the care of street children; and living at home (not currently active on the streets) but at-risk of ending up on the streets. In order to have a lasting impacting, the project will target local Civil Society Organisation (CSOs) and/or Community Based Organisation (CBOs) working on issues related to child protection and gender equality as well as policy markers in various Ministries such as the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services (MCDSS) and the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Child Development (MYSCD). In addition, the project will also target government service providers, such as teachers, health providers, paralegals, police/victim support unit, prison warders, local court magistrates, and social welfare officers
3. Purpose of the Baseline
3.1 Assessment of Baseline Values for Project Indicators
Plan International Zambia and its implementing partners (Generation Alive and Vision of Hope) are commissioning this baseline in accordance with the provisions for its funding proposal. The main objective of this baseline study is to measure the status of project outcome and selected output indicators as outlined in the project log frame at the beginning of the project. The baseline will set the benchmark for the objective and indicators. The baseline study shall also provide strategic recommendation relevance of the design and sustainability of the project.
Indicator
Remark
1
% of parents and caregivers who report positive parenting practices
Outcome indicator 1a
2
Number and description of Active Community Structures / Mechanisms established that prevent and respond to incidences of children and youth moving into street.
Outcome indicator 1b
3
# of children and youth withdrawn from the street and re-integrated with families, disaggregated by age and sex
Outcome indicator 2a
4
# and % of CAY that report changes to their wellbeing as a result of structured psychosocial support
Outcome Indicator 2b
5
% of children and youth who receive basic services like food, clothing, disaggregated by age and sex
Outcome Indicator 3a
6
% of girls and young women who receive SRHR information and services
Outcome Indicator 3b
7
% of youths who receive education/skills development support
Outcome Indicator 3c
8
% of local NGO that report increased capacity in dealing with protection and SRH Rights for children, youths, girls and young women
Outcome Indicator 4a
12
% CBO that report increased capacity in dealing with protection and SRH Rights for children, youths, girls and young women
Outcome Indicator 4b
13
# and % of community-based child and family protection mechanisms which meet minimum quality
Outcome Indicator 4c
14
# of vulnerable families participating in VSLA Groups
Output Indicator 1.1a
15
# of parents trained in parenting skills
Output Indicator 1.2a
16
# of active youth and sports clubs in the community
Output Indicator 1.3a
17
# of girls and young women clubs formed in community
Output Indicator1.3b
18
# of girls and young women participating in youth and sports clubs
Output Indicator 1.3c
19
# of children & Youths identified and linked to rehabilitation centres
Output Indicator 2.1a
20
# of girls reintegrated in families
Output Indicator 2.1b
21
# of children & Youth trained in vocational skills
Output Indicator 2.21
22
# of Children and youth accessing various services at drop-in centres/shelters
Output Indicator 3.1a
23
# of Staff at Vison of Hope and GA trained in governance and Management including finance & grants
Output Indicator 4.1a
24
# of coordination meeting held
Output Indicator 4.2a
25
# of CSO participating in collaboration and engagement meetings with duty bearers
Output Indicator 4.2b
26
# of dialogue meetings held on the enactment of the Child Code bill.
Output Indicator 4.3a
27
# of Advocacy meetings with MYSCD
Output Indicator 4.3b
28
# of joint advocacy briefs developed
Output Indicator 4.3c
29
# of staff trained to advocate and monitor policies
Output Indicator 4.3d
3.2 Additional Baseline Research Questions
The baseline will, in addition to collecting data to measure the indicators, seek to answer the following questions:
A. Relevance:
Evaluation questions:
To what extent has the project design responded to the needs and priorities of the children in street situation?
To what extent has the project addressed gender inequalities which exits in Child Protection for children in street situation.
Identify other key areas that could be targeted to make project design more relevant during the implementation.
B. Sustainability:
What are the key factors required to ensure project sustainability?
What are the challenges identified at project design that might affect the implementation and overall sustainability of the project, and solutions to overcome them?
3.3 Child rights, gender and inclusion Research Questions
The baseline will also assess the differences/ power imbalances between girls and boys / women and men in the project.
4. Users of the Baseline
The baseline findings will be used by Plan International and implementing partners (GAL and VoH) to inform programming. Its results will also be communicated to the Plan national office (Swedish National Office-SNO) and project donor (European Union). The baseline study will set the benchmark for the indicators at the beginning of the project and will be used as reference for the monitoring and evaluation of the project progress throughout the project lifetime.
Additionally, the baseline study recommendations will be used by the project team to adjust the project strategy as well as activity planning.
5. Methods for Data Collection and Analysis
The study will be conducted by a consultant to be hired by Plan International Zambia in consultation with Implementing partners and the SNO.
The proposed project baseline study requires both qualitative and quantitative data/information analysis. To meet the objectives of the project baseline study, the baseline study will be undertaken through various methods including interviews with beneficiaries, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Key Informant Interview (KII), and other methods (as it finds necessary by consultant) to gather required information and data.
Remark: The consultant needs to develop tools to collect data for all indicators. The tools shall be developed in a child friendly manner and represent gender equality, i.e. the tools do not perpetuate gender stereotype etc. The tools will be shared with Plan International Zambia, Implementing partners and the National Office for Approval to ensure that aspects of Safeguarding are incorporated before they are rolled out.
5.1 Sample
For the primary data collection, the consultant should outline the intended sampling strategy that includes a description of:
Sample size (or expectations of the evaluator(s) in calculating it)
Necessary respondent disaggregation (refer to Plan International’s Minimum Beneficiary Disaggregation)
Number of sampled locations (Wards) in Lusaka District
Sampling approach
5.2 Participant selection and recruitment
Stakeholder participation at various level in the evaluation process will be critical. The evaluation team should ensure both external and internal stakeholders are meaningfully involved in the review process. These will include; Children (Boys and girls) , families, local authorities , Ministries (MYSCD and MCDSS), civil society organizations, community based organizations, service delivery partners, focal point persons, representatives of governing bodies and beneficiaries of Plan International programs and projects
6. Ethics and Child Protection
The consultant shall comply with Plan International Zambia Safeguarding Children, Young People Policy and other required policies. The consultant and all related staff must sign the Safeguarding Policy as part of the contract and commit to adhere to it during the course of the contract period
Plan International is committed to ensuring that the rights of those participating in data collection or analysis are respected and protected, in accordance with Ethical MERL Framework and Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy. All applicants should include details in their proposal on how they will ensure ethics and child protection in the data collection process. Specifically, the consultant(s) shall explain how appropriate, safe, non-discriminatory participation of all stakeholders will be ensured and how special attention will be paid to the needs of children and other vulnerable groups. The consultant(s) shall also explain how confidentiality and anonymity of participants will be guaranteed.
7. Key Deliverables
Deliverable
Format
Length
Due
Detail
Inception Report
Word Document
max.15 pages
Inception report shall include
o an updated timeline;
o detailed methodology, including draft sampling methodology and size;
o draft data collection tools;
o ethical considerations;
o consent forms for any primary data collection;
o (draft) methods for data analysis;
o brief justification of the methods and techniques used (including relevant underlying values and assumptions/ theories) with a justification of the selections made (e.g. of persons interviewed).
Draft Baseline Report
Word Document
max. 30 pages
including an Indicator Tracking Table with baseline data inserted
Final Baseline Report (including Executive Summary)
PDF Document
max. 30 pages
Cleaned Data (including transcripts)
(including data files (e.g. Excel, SPSS), transcripts of qualitative data, syntax/ code books etc.)
Final Data Collection Tools
Completed Consent Forms
Other Communication Products for Dissemination
8. Budget
The consultant shall lead the field data gathering and is expected to propose a budget that covers all related costs for baseline study (including taxes, travel cost, insurance, visa cost, per diems as well as translation cost) together with the proposed methodology in the research proposal for this consultancy work.
Plan International Zambia will assist the consultant in coordination and making appointment with relevant stakeholders for data collection.
Milestone
Detail
Amount to be Paid (%)
Expected Timeframe
Upon contract signature
50%
Upon submitting the final report
50%
9. Expected Qualifications
Plan is looking for a qualified, highly self-motivated, enthusiastic and innovative consultant/consulting firm with the following skills and qualifications:
Post graduate degree or PhD preferred in Social Sciences, Development Studies, must have extensive experience in research, baseline surveys and evaluations, particularly on the areas of gender, SRHR, child rights and child protection,
Minimum of 5 years’ experience in conducting similar studies,
Experience in managing and supervising surveys in large scale and ability to ensure accurate information and data and meeting the deadline.
Proficiency in statistics
Experience in the design of methodology, tools and questionnaires related to gender, child rights, child participation, and other social development issue,
Experience in data collection and analysis using participatory methodologies Experience in training data collectors,
Good interview and analytical skills,
Fluency in English, Ability to work with communities in relevant local languages.
10. Contact
Interested Consultants should send queries and submit their proposals to:
Plan International Zambia
Email: Planzamtenders@plan-international.org /wendy.chileshe@plan-international.org
11. Applications
Interested applicants should provide a proposal covering the following aspects:
Detailed response to the TOR
Proposed methodology
Ethics and child safeguarding approaches, including any identified risks and associated mitigation strategies
Proposed timelines
CVs
Example of previous work
Detailed budget, including daily fee rates, expenses, etc.
Police Certificates of Good Conduct – especially where there is primary data collection
Please send your applications to Plan International by 03.08.2021 by 16:00PM