Consultant

TERMS OF REFERENCE

GBV and Child Protection Risk Assessment Consultant

INTRODUCTION

IRC is one of the world’s leading humanitarian and post-conflict development organizations, working with communities in over 40 countries. The core of IRC’s mandate is to support and empower people who have been affected by conflict and disaster. IRC’s portfolio consists of government, multilateral, and foundation funding that spans short-term and protracted humanitarian response through long-term development initiatives. Alongside other thematic areas, IRC has extensive global expertise in health and reproductive health and is a leader in gender focused programming.

IRC has been working in Pakistan since 1980 and delivers a wide range of programming to Afghan refugees, temporarily displaced persons and other marginalized/underserved communities across the country. Programs focus on Health (including WASH), Disaster Risk Reduction, Protection (including Women’s Protection & Empowerment), Livelihood, and Education. 

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The proposed project seeks to provide support and protection to around 108,9801 Afghan refugees’ children (boys and girls) and 70,2222 at-risk women and girls, inclusive of Gender Based Violence (GBV) survivors in 19 refugee hosting districts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.

The proposed project will contribute to strengthening and expanding the Child Protection (CP) and Women Protection (WP) & Empowerment interventions in 43 Refugee Villages (RVs) and host communities, 19 districts of KP province in phased approach. In addition, the scope will be extended to prevention and response activities for Afghan Refugees. These interventions will include child protection and GBV case management services, capacity building of service providers and community-based structures, community outreach activities, and CP/GBV mainstreaming.

Following are the outcomes and outputs of the project:

Impact Statement:

Women and child refugees and asylum seekers are safe from violence, exploitation, harmful practices and other forms of rights violations Outcome Statements:

1. The risks of GBV are reduced, all survivors have adequate and timely access to quality services to effectively addresses root causes of GBV

2. Children of concern are protected from violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination and have access to child friendly procedures and services. Output Statements:

1. All survivors have timely, safe and adequate access to quality GBV services and receive quality case management.

2. GBV is prevented by addressing ender inequality, discrimination and unequal power relations.

3. The workforce has and applies the knowledge and skills needed to promote gender equality and prevent, mitigate and respond to GBV

4. Child protection services are provided to children of concern

5. Children, family and communities are engaged to protect children

1 47.40% of refugee population living in refugee village

2 30.8% of refugee population living in refugee village

TERMS OF REFERENCE

GBV and child protection risk assessment consultant

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSESSMENT

The purpose of this assessment is to identify risk factors contributing towards children, women and girls facing abuse, violence, and exploitation. The assessment findings and recommendations will help in provision of effective and coordinated prevention and response services to children at risk, adolescent girls and women. The child protection committees and women support networks established under the project will consider this recommendation to develop community safety action plans for children, women, and girls. Moreover, the recommendations will also be helpful for developing and implementing capacity building plan for service providers and other stakeholders.

The specific objectives of the assessment are:

• The SCALE of needs and Child protection /GBV risks

• The PRIORITIES for the required response – including geographical and programmatic areas of priority

• HOW the response should be configured – including what existing capacities the response can build on.

• Creating an evidence-base for advocacy with stakeholders (Donors, government etc.)

• Providing some knowledge of where the main information gaps are.

1. To assess the risks associated with the current child protection system (CPS) in locations and identify the major gaps in the current system and practices including gaps in provision and access to services for women and girls

List practical recommendations

o To strengthen the CPS to address key child protection issues and risks in the targeted districts.

o To promote access to safe and quality services, available in the targeted districts.

3. To highlight capacity gaps in the system to support development of effective capacity development plans

4. To identify the gaps in provision and access to existing services for women and girls

5. Recommendations for service providers to make services accessible, safe and quality services

SCOPE AND FOCUS

This risk assessment is intended to identify the CP/GBV risks, response priorities, gaps in access and provision of quality services to the children, women, and girls. The consultant in supervision of project leads will conduct interviews with refugee and host community members (boys, girls, men, and women), service providers (I/NGOs, UN agencies and government) and other stakeholders by using agreed data collection tools including individual interviews and focused group discussions (FGDs) to achieve its objectives. The assessment shall determine the extent to which services are appropriate for and accessible to children, women and girls requiring protection, the quality of such services and the extent to which the services are gender sensitive. The said recommendations may assist district authorities to increase coverage and improve the quality-of-service delivery for children with concerns & survivors of Gender Based Violence.

Furthermore, the assessment will be used as a tool to sensitize and advocate with relevant stakeholders for increased attention to the protection of children, including strengthened public child protection service delivery and enhanced public sector (fund) allocations.

METHODOLOGY

The consultant shall adopt an appropriate sampling method that will allow correct conclusions about the study population. The sampling methodology and size will be agreed together by IRC and the consultant. IRC should in all cases review and decide whether to approve any further modifications or changes made. The study proposes mixed methods of information gathering, these include:

• A literature review of available secondary sources on the context and implementation sites.

• Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) held with relevant stakeholders who are engaged in policymaking and

implementation of protection related activities in the selected locations (including government officials, CSOs, NGOs, INGOs etc.). Interviews with girls and boys, woman, and men from the selected study locations. **Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with boys and girls, and youth communities in the selected study locations.

The process should be participatory and should ensure that Government representatives, partner organizations and their protection networks are proactively involved in the process. The methodology must be designed to ensure that voices of children, women and girls are heard. Data collection and analysis will meet the principles of ethical research. Respondents must provide informed consent. Data collectors will be trained on how to identify and respond appropriately to situations of concern they might encounter. Findings and analysis should report separate for boys and girls and should distinguish the risk specific to age categories and children with disabilities

TIMEFRAME AND LOCATION

Audience: This Assessment will be used by IRC senior management team, program team Support Unit, other humanitarian actors, UNHCR and relevant government agencies.

Duration of Assessment exercise: Approximately 6 weeks (with approx. 2 weeks in the field).

Estimated dates of assessment: *************************

Location of consultancy: 19 District Of KPK

ASSESSMENT DELIVERABLES

The study Team will submit an inception report including, Study objectives, scope and key study questions, description of the methodology, including design, data collection methods, sampling strategy, data sources, and study matrix against the key study questions

• Data analysis and reporting plan

• Caveats and limitations of study

• Risks and mitigation plan

• Ethical considerations including details on consent

• Stakeholder and children communication and engagement plan

• Key deliverables, responsibilities, and timelines

• Resource requirements

• Data collection tools (in line with the study matrix)

Deliverables

Estimated Working Days

Tentative Date

Inception Meeting with IRC Team

Inception Report containing the following:

▪ Revised Methodology

▪ Sampling strategy

▪ Key study questions (Data Collection Tools)

▪ List of Key Informant for Interviews

▪ # of FGDs with Boys, Girls & Youth

3 days

Completion of Desk Review

Completion of Data Collection

First Draft of Assessment Report

15 days

Final Assessment Report

7 days

REPORTING

In all matters in relation to the assessment, the consultant will report to the Deputy Director Program based in Islamabad Office. The consultant will work closely with the project team leader and Senior Coordinator MEAL based in IRC Country Office, Islamabad. 9. FINANCIAL DISBURSEMENT

The Assessment budget (agreed) will be transferred to the consultant on deliverable bases in tranches. The detail is as below.

Milestone/Deliverable

% of Among to be released

Submission of Inception Report

10%

Completion of field information collection, debrief meeting and 1st draft of report

40%

Sharing of Final Reports

30%

Approval of Report/sustainability plan from Senior Management and Donor

20%

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

All products arising from this assessment will be owned by IRC. The consultant will not be allowed, without prior authorization in writing, to present any of the assessment results as his or her own work or to make use of the assessment results for private publication purposes. 

ASSESSMENT QUALITY & ETHICAL STANDARDS

The assessment team should take all reasonable steps to ensure that the assessment is designed and conducted to respect and protect the rights and welfare of the people and communities involved and to ensure that the assessment is technically accurate and reliable, is conducted in a transparent and impartial manner, and contributes to organizational learning and accountability. The assessment team will also commit to adhering to IRC Way including safeguarding policies, and Code of Conduct.

QUALIFICATION OF CONSULTANT/ CONSULTANCY FIRM

The IRC welcomes expressions of interest from seasoned consultants, individuals or firms in academia, social research, or humanitarian assessment with a background in humanitarian aid, research methods, Protection, GBV expert, Child Protection expert, development studies, or other related fields. The lead consultants should possess:

• A minimum of 10 years of progressive and relevant experience in research on child protection, GBV, complicated emergency and humanitarian programs

• The lead consultant/s should at least have a post-graduate degree in any relevant discipline; a PHD shall be preferred.

• The co-consultants should also have at least post-graduate degree in relevant disciplines.

• Demonstrable experience in leading assessment of humanitarian programs responding to major complex emergencies, with specific emphasis on protracted displacements and GBV.

• Sound and evident experience of assessing programs with multiple stakeholders and partners engaged including government.

• Knowledge of strategic and operational management of humanitarian operations and proven ability to provide strategic recommendations to key stakeholders.

• Strong analytical skills and ability to clearly synthesize and present findings, draw practical conclusions, make recommendations and to prepare well-written reports in a timely manner.

• Experience in qualitative data collection and data analysis techniques, especially in emergency operations.

• Knowledge and experience working with INGOs both directly implementing and working through partnership preferred.

• Experience of working in community considering the cultural dynamics of working around women and girl’s protection in the communities.

• Excellent English writing and presentation skills, with relevant writing samples of similar assessment reports.

Note: In case of consultancy firm, the firm should be registered with Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan and have a demonstrable relevant experience and profile for last 05 years at least. The firm should also provide evidence of conducting similar studies in the past.

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL

Interested consultant/Firm must submit both Technical and Financial proposal separately. Applications should include:

A) Technical proposal:

The Consultant should incorporate followings in technical proposal

1.Assessment title, methodology (state detail about the sampling, data collection systems, techniques/methods, key parameters, key questions, and respondents, etc.), Understanding the tasks, Data quality assurance & data management, sample size, assessment framework, expected deliverables and timelines (max 3 pages)

2. Team composition should mention in the technical proposal (proposed position/expertise, key tasks, allocated of time in %, Name, brief education and experiences and rate/man days required for this assignment)

3. Recent curriculum Vitae (max.3-4 pages) of the lead consultant and team members as annexure

4. Recent 2 reports of similar assignments must be attached within the proposal along with 2 references and their contact details.

B) Financial Proposal:

The Consultant should submit a detail financial proposal.

C) Selection procedure of the consultant/firm:

Individual consultant/firm will be evaluated through Cumulative Analysis Method.

IRC CORE VALUES & COMMITMENTS:

The IRC workers and partners/consultants must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Adult Safeguarding, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons.

IRC is committed to ensuring that consultant is suitable to work with children and women / girls and have the knowledge s/he needs to uphold and abide by the IRC’s Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy. Level of interaction with clients: Frequent direct contact with clients

IRC recognizes that gender equality is fundamental to the achievement of our organizational mission. As such, IRC is committed to the promotion of gender equality in all aspects of our operations and programs. Our organizational policies, procedures and actions demonstrate this commitment.

Women candidates and persons with disability are highly encouraged to apply.