Bangladesh: Child safeguarding Consultancy

1.Background

1.1 About Humanity & Inclusion

Handicap International which runs program under its operating name Humanity & Inclusion(hereafter referred to as HI) is an independent and impartial international aid organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. Working alongside people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, our action and testimony are focused on responding to their essential needs, improving their living conditions and promoting respect for their dignity and their fundamental rights. HI is currently implementing projects in almost 50 countries worldwide.

1.2 Context in which the consultancy takes place

Growing Together! (GT) is a regional project implemented in refugee camps and internal displacement settings in Bangladesh, Thailand and Pakistan. The project is directly implemented by country teams in each location and in addition counts with a regional coordination unit based in Thailand. The consultancy will take place in the programs/missions where the project is implemented, and will work at program/mission level, and not at project level.

Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in South Asia with one of the highest densities of population in the world – 160 million. Since 1991-92, close to one million refugees from Myanmar's northern Rakhine State of the Muslim ethnic minority, commonly referred to as the Rohingya, have sought protection in south-east Bangladesh (Cox’s Bazar district). The last influx, with more than 700,000 arrivals from August 2017, has created more pressure on resources and increasing humanitarian needs. Refugees remain in a chronic emergency situation due to long-term challenges to find a durable solution to their status in Myanmar and Bangladesh and therefore require continuous humanitarian assistance. The host Bangladeshi communities are also affected by the presence of a large refugee population living in the region. In addition, this coastal region is continuously dealing with the impacts of natural disasters, mostly cyclones and flooding, during which meagre assets of the local population are damaged or destroyed.

HI has been working in Bangladesh since 1997, with a focus on creating sustainable changes in terms of ensuring rights and inclusion of people with disabilities in society. In Cox Bazar’s district, HI has a strong knowledge and experience in chronic emergency response. Thanks to three projects implemented before the crisis, HI is providing services in rehabilitation, protection and PSS, with an inclusive mainstreaming approach to refugees and host population.

Pakistan has important strategic endowments and development potential. However, Pakistan faces significant economic, governance and security challenges to achieve durable development outcomes. The persistence of conflict in the border areas and security challenges throughout the country affects all aspects of life in Pakistan and impedes development. There is a new Government in place since mid-2018, however the overall security situation still needs improvement. There are restrictions to media reporting in country. Another important development in 2018 was the government decision to merge the Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) with KP, raising hopes that such merger would aid the multi-sectorial development of this conflict affected border region. The relationship with neighboring countries, in particular with Afghanistan and India, is complex due to unresolved border issues such as dispute over Kashmir territory or militant groups crossing to/from Pakistan. Afghan/Pakistan border is also subject to thousands of migrant & refugee movements. There still remains over 1 million registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

Pakistan remains one of the lowest performers in the south Asia region on human development indicators, especially in education and stunting. Infant and under five mortality rates present a similar dynamic. Gender disparities persist in education, health and all economic sectors. Pakistan has one of the lowest female labor force participation rates in the region.

Thailand is part of the regional Myanmar-Thailand program which was created in 2016 with the merge of 2 existing missions. Setting up cross border initiatives and integrate the coming return of refugees from Thailand to Myanmar is at the heart of the regional strategy. In Thailand, HI started working in 1984 and first focused its actions on the delivery of mobility and assistive devices. Thailand has a long-standing history in receiving refugees from neighbouring countries even though it is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol and does not have a formal national asylum framework. Myanmar refugees have been hosted on the Thai-Myanmar border for over three decades; currently, about 90,000 refugees live in nine temporary shelters. Camp management is controlled by the Thai authorities, in collaboration with locally appointed refugee committees. 13 NGOs that are gathered under the Committee for the Coordination of Services to Displaced Persons in Thailand (CCSDPT) are providing services within the camps. In light of the political movements in Myanmar since early 2012 through the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and the general elections in late 2015, a platform for further dialogue on voluntary repatriation between key stakeholders led to the start of the facilitation of voluntary return. Although this process is still very slow, CCSDPT members are coordinating closely to timely react on all known scenarios.

1.3 The project in which the consultancy is framed

Project name

Growing Together! (GT)

Project Goal

Enable children with disabilities and other vulnerable children (age 0-12) to develop their full potential on an equal basis with other children and acquire fundamental educational and social skills through inclusive play, arts, games, sport, culture, and early years’ education in displacement settings in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Thailand.

Location

Bangladesh, Pakistan and Thailand

Target groups (Beneficiaries)

· 3,968 children with disabilities and other vulnerable children in early childhood (50% girls and at least 25% with disabilities).

· Parents of children under 5 years old.

· 4,968 children with disabilities and other vulnerable children of primary school age (50% boys/girls, at least 20% with disabilities).

· 91 local child-development service providers.

Partner

· Pakistan: CHIP

· Bangladesh: MUKTI

· Thailand: Karen Women Organization (KWO), Karen Refugee Committee Education Entity (KRCEE).

Funding

IKEA Foundation.

Start date

June 2016

Length

48 months

1.4 Justification for calling upon a consultant

In order to enhance child safeguarding, GT regional coordination aims to have a consultancy to support its compliance in each country where GT project takes place, through the development of trainings and policies’ roll-out. Even though child safeguarding implementation differs from country to country, from the GT regional perspective it is encouraged to have some level of uniformity. Therefore, the aim is to have a consultancy that focuses mainly on safeguarding implementation at country level and not only at the Growing Together project level in order to ensure sustainability, highest impact and avoid duplication of structures between activities/micro level and processes and practices at country level. For this, it is important to consider that some of the countries are part of a regional program where main processes are mainstreamed, and hence the need to work hand in hand to avoid duplications or contradictions. Specifically, this is the case for Thailand, which is considered a site for Myanmar-Thailand program and hence the need to involve Myanmar focal points to ensure one harmonized plan for Myanmar-Thailand regional program is in place. Cox’s Bazar, is as well considered a site for Bangladesh mission due to its level of activities.

It is expected for the consultancy to identify gaps and support the adjustments of countries according to the context and needs of the population and towards the sustainability of child safeguarding processes at organizational level. At global level, HI has a Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) toolkit ready for roll-out (currently being updated) and a Child Protection policy. Nevertheless, no HI training is available on child safeguarding, only external resources are available at this stage.

2. OBJECTIVE AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES

2.1 Objective of the consultancy

To enhance child safeguarding[1] implementation with an emphasis on child-centred approaches in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar-Thailand programs, while contributing to an increase of the programs’ prevention, protection, risk management and response capacities through tailored implementation plans, considering the context and needs of each program.

2.2 Expected outcomes

· The programs have a child safeguarding audit contributing to map gaps (including specific capacity building needs), building up the programs’ baseline and have a referent to measure the programs’ progress towards compliance[2].

· The programs have a tailored child safeguarding implementation plan with practical recommendations and timeline for implementation (i.e 30-60-90 day timelines).

· The programs’ focal points are trained on child safeguarding which will guide the program and its staff into safer practices.

· A Training of Trainers (ToT) module on child safeguarding is developed and ready for internal use.

· A child-friendly (considering disability, gender and age) approaches manual is developed to provide practical recommendations to the teams on developing and/or adapting for instance child-friendly accountability mechanisms; Information, Education and Communication (IEC) child friendly material for policies’ awareness, etc.

· The programs have remote support for the implementation of the action plan for an initial startup phase (3 months, one monthly meeting).

3. METHODOLOGY

The exact methodology should be proposed by the consultant(s) in the applications.

The methodology should include support to the 3 programs (including Myanmar-Thailand) conceiving the delivery of a child safeguarding training to countries’ focal points.

The main focal point of the consultancy is the GT Regional Project Coordinator. The technical feedback on tools and the inception report will be delivered by the Regional Project Coordinator, the Regional Child Protection and Development Officer, the Regional Technical Coordinator and HQ Safeguarding Policies Officer.

The consultancy will consist on:

1.Desk phase, assessment and action plan (steps/methodology to be detailed by the consultant) during which the consultant will:

· Collect and read existing HI safeguarding policies and project documents;

· Have initial Skype meetings with the Program Directors, GT Regional Coordination and HQ focal points if need to;

· On this basis, develop an inception report including but not limited to an i) audit tool based on HI’s internal safeguarding implementation matrix assessment; ii) a work plan for each country tailored to the structure/team of each program including the list of stakeholders to meet (i.e number of interviews, meetings, activities to visit if applicable); iii) questionnaires[3], etc. HI team will validate the inception report.

· The assessment tool and needed interviews can take place remotely with countries to have a preliminary idea of the level of support and the type of training needed.

· Field phase if needed to build up the assessment tool and provision of training(s).

· Organise a debriefing session with each of the Program Directors and HI GT Regional Coordination, to present the findings and validate the proposed child safeguarding plans; (to be switched to another phase according to the consultant’s action plan).

2.Training of focal points (steps/ methodology to be detailed by the consultant).

· The training modality for the focal points can be proposed by the consultant: one regional training, on-site trainings, webinars, etc, considering the budget implications this could have.

Note: The consultant should indicate a back-up plan for undertaking this phase in case that due to security/visa restrictions the consultant cannot travel to Pakistan.

3.Development of trainings and manuals (steps/methodology to be detailed by the consultant).

· Child safeguarding Training of trainers’ module. Material to be used by the programs’ focal points.

· Chid friendly approaches manual to provide practical recommendations on how the countries can ensure for instance accountability mechanisms are child friendly, based on HI’s disability, gender and age policy.

4.Remote support and debriefing during which the consultant will:

· Provide once a month the equivalent of one day advice/support (during 3 months) on the implementation of the action plan for the 3 programs (the 3 programs should be covered in the equivalent of one day).

· Final Skype meetings with each Program Director, GT Regional Coordination and HQ Safeguarding Focal Point.

· Final report on practical recommendations. (No more than 10 pages).

4. DELIVERABLES

· Produce an inception report in English, including all proposed tools (as indicated in the Desk, assessment phase information).

· A child safeguarding assessment/audit per program.

· A tailored action plan per country with identification of priorities and practical recommendations.

· A debriefing session with each of the Program Directors and HI GT Regional team, to present the findings and recommendations and proposed action plan.

· Child safeguarding training module.

· Child friendly approaches manual.

· Child safeguarding training to focal points.

· Once a month remote support during 3 months.

· Final Skype meetings with key stakeholders.

All the deliverables need to be provided in English and confidentiality will be respected when representing personal information. A consent form needs to be used prior taking any photo, any inclusion of pictures of children will have the statement within the document…. “All names & information about the location of children and family privacy in conformity with HI Child Protection Policy”

NB: The deliverables remains the intellectual property of HI exclusively.

5. TIMELINE

The safeguarding and child protection consultancy is expected to start on the 1^st of August 2019. The deadline for the submission of the final report and finalised resources is the 15^th December 2019 the latest including HI validation. The consultancy will be planned in accordance with the project team (HI and partners) and dependent on activities planned for the proposed timeframe.

6. BUDGET The applications should not exceed the value of 27,000 Euros.

[1] HI relevant institutional policies: Child protection; Protection of beneficiaries against sexual exploitation and abuse; and set forth by HI Code of Conduct: prevention and abuse safeguarding. HI is a member of Keeping Children Safe initiative, a global network of organisations working to safe-guard children in every country of the world.

[2] HI already has a safeguarding policies implementation baseline, which can be adapted to focus on child safeguarding.

[3] If applicable, bear in mind time needed for the country teams to translate questionnaires from English to Karen, Burmese, Urdu and Bangla.

7. PROFILE OF THE CONSULTANT

The consultancy can be carried out by an expert or a team of experts/ support staff.

If a team of experts is selected, the consultancy will be put under the responsibility of one team leader. This person will ensure all communication with GT Regional Coordination and the programs’ teams and will be the sole responsible for managing the organization of the consultancy.

The expert or team of experts should combine the following skills, experience and knowledge:

Required

· Written and spoken English;

· Proven experience in child safeguarding assessments/audits and implementation;

· Proven experience in child protection;

· Experience working with people with disability, preferably on inclusion;

· Experience in refugee and IDPs contexts;

· Experience working with vulnerable/ marginalized groups; Having undertaken similar consultancies. **

Preferred

· Experience working in conservative cultural contexts;

· Experience on child participation, inclusive education, early child development and early years education for children is an asset;

· Experience working with Non-Governmental Organizations; experience working with HI is an asset;

· Cross cultural & field-based experience in developing contexts;

· Experience working in countries of intervention (Thailand, Bangladesh, Pakistan) is an asset;

· Knowledge of local language(s) is an asset.

7. FORMALITIES

Proposals from interested consultant(s) should include:

1. Letter of expression of interests, including how the skills and competencies described in the Terms of Reference are met (compulsory);

2. Curriculum vitae (compulsory) detailing the consultant’s experience and qualifications; reference of previous assignments done or sample of work accomplished;

3. Technical proposal (compulsory) describing the approach, methodologies and activities proposed to accomplish the objectives of the assignment. It should include a proposed timeline considering contextual limitations (see enclosed below);

4. Financial proposal (compulsory). All costs related to the consultancy without exceptions should be figured in the financial plan of the consultant, including consultancy fees differentiating i) field days; ii) desk days and development of materials; and iii) remote support), domestic and international travel if needed, visa, accommodation, interpreters, logistics, etc. (transportation to the refugee shelters will be provided by HI);

Note: No per diem will be paid to the consultant(s). Also, international travel days will not be considered as working days and will not be paid.

The consultant will be responsible for its own security in all three countries, HI will not cover any insurance fee during the consultancy period.

1. 3 references of which 2 should be from a previous similar experience;

2. List of relevant documents requested for the contractual process in case of selection (Passport, insurance …).

NOTE - Camp/ field visit limitations:

· The consultant will need to comply with HI security regulations of each country. A security briefing will be provided by the security focal point of each country before arrival to the country or upon arrival.

· It is suggested that the consultant take a suitable amount of cash before living to the areas of activities implementation.

Thailand:

· No entry to the camps without camp-pass permission (it takes approximately 2 weeks from the moment the formal request is submitted to have a camp pass);

· No camps visit during bank holidays;

· No work/interviews on the weekends at the temporary shelter level;

· Mae La is 45 minutes from Mae Sot (MST); Umpiem Mai and Nu Po camps are about 2 and 6 hours from MST (main HI office in Thailand)- accommodation at Umphang (mid-way for both camps).

· Mae La Oon and Mae Ra Ma Luang are 6 hours from MST by land. There is an HI guesthouse in a Mae Taw La village (no access to phone connection, limited access to internet).

· Ban Mae Surin and Ban Mae Na Soi are 7 hours from MST by land. The consultant will stay in Ma Hong Son in a hotel. There are direct flights from Bangkok to Mae Hong Son.

Pakistan:

· No entry to the target area (Peshawar and Nowshera) without No Objection Certificate (NOC), permission from Home Department which is granted once the visa is issued; the documents should be submitted to the Home Department at least 2 weeks before the visit for the NOC to be issued.

· Activities can be only implemented from 8:30 am until 3:30 pm;

· No work / interview on the weekends;

· Respect to local cultural norms and standards and follow the local dress code in the field;

· In-case if the consultant is a male, he should always be accompanied by HI women staff during data collection.

· Separate group meetings with women, men, boy and girls as per local culture;

· Peshawar is 2.5 hours from Islamabad, Humanity & Inclusion (HI) office;

· Peshawar target area (Lala Kalay) is 1 hour from Peshawar, while Nowshera Jalozai target area is 1.5 hour from Peshawar.

· Mobility in Peshawar is limited due to security reasons.

Bangladesh

· Activities can only be implemented from 8:30am until 4:00 pm;

· “No entry to the camps without camp-pass permission which could be processed in 1 or 2 days after submitting the visa and allows tourist/business visa holders to access the camp for 3 days only;

· No work / interview on the weekends, which are Fridays and Saturdays;

· Travel time from Dhaka towards Cox’s Bazar by air is 50 minutes;

· Travel from Cox’s Bazar to Ukhiya by car is about 45 minutes (due to recent works the journey is taking up to 1.5 hours);

· Travel from Cox’s Bazar to Kutupalong and Teknaf host community is about 1.5 hour by car minutes (due to recent works the journey is taking up to 2.5 hours.

Evaluation of the proposals/ applications will be made through a selection committee in 2 phases:

· Administrative selection: checking for completeness of application (all compulsory items listed above).

· Technical selection: criteria to select the best application will be based on the quality of the technical proposal, competitive financial proposal, human resources skills and previous experiences, demonstrated expertise of the applicant.

Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration for technical selection.

The deadline for submission of proposals is the 17^th June 2019 at midnight Thailand time.

Proposals should be submitted to the following email: gtrecruitment@thailand-hi.org, including the subject “Proposal – Child Safeguarding Consultancy”.

Only candidates who passed the administrative selection will be taken into consideration for the technical assessment and they will be afterwards notified of the final decision. Selected applicants may be invited for a (phone/skype) interview. HI reserves the right to contact the applicants for further information before the final selection of the selection committee.

“Humanity & Inclusionis committed to protect the rights of the children and opposes to all forms of child exploitation and child abuse. HI contractors must commit to protect children against exploitation and abuse”.