TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE CHILD RIGHTS IN FULL PROJECT (CRIF)

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

Whilst Zimbabwe has made significant progress in strengthening the legislative framework post the adoption of the current Constitution, research has established that a lot still needs to be done if the country is to get to a point where children in Zimbabwe live lives that are free from all forms of violence. SAYWHAT’s work with children and young people in Epworth and Hopley has shown that few development partners support juvenile offenders’ post-trial and post-prison integration with families and schools. The growing number of juvenile offenders interfacing with the justice system therefore requires a coordinated reintegration plan for juvenile offenders so that their rights are safeguarded especially at the backdrop of community stigmatization. This problem seats in the context that children and young people in Epworth and Hopley are still experiencing other traditional problems such as Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) creating an environment of multiple vulnerabilities.

The humanitarian situation induced by the covid-19 pandemic has been identified by this project as one of the root causes for further disruption of both prevention and protection services in the targeted districts. Cases of GBV rose sharply in Zimbabwe in 2020 at the beginning of covid-19 lockdowns with the national GBV hotline recording a 200% increase. Such realities come as most GBV service providers operations were interrupted to access communities especially in peri urban and rural districts.

The above challenges have also been documented by SAYWHAT in its SASA, She Can and Spotlight project reports whilst various CSOs within the referral pathway have also unearthed the same. The above noted projects have identified as a major problem that children and young people in these areas are exposed to SGBV and SRH challenges both at family and community levels. Statistics from the Victim Friendly Courts further revealed that 64, 2% are rape offenses recorded in Harare and an average 53, 2% across other provinces in Zimbabwe.

Furthermore, the government social welfare district mechanisms have compromised capacities to respond in real time either to prevent or protect adolescence and young people in peri-urban and rural communities. These challenges are found in the context where peri-urban and rural communities do not have adequate, accessible and available protection services to absorb the growing numbers of adolescence and young people survivors who might need to access medico-legal and psychosocial support services.

The project will thus be rolled out with a view to improve on the coordination of the provision of post –trial psycho-social support for children and juvenile offenders  which will in the medium term contribute to improved psycho-social well- being and socio-economic development for children and young women in the 2 districts. The CRIF project will also be aimed at coordinating the provision of legal services and awareness on the rights of juvenile offenders by rights-based Civil Societies (CSOs) in the 2 districts where these rights-based NGOs have not ordinarily operated, which intervention will in the medium term contribute to improved protection of children and young women’s socio-economic rights in Zimbabwe. Lastly the CRIF project will be aimed at empowering children and young women to fully ascertain their rights in formal and informal protections, which intervention is successfully executed will in the medium term contribute to enhanced respect and promotion of children and young women’s rights in the 2 districts of Hopley and Epworth

The targeted results for the CRIF are as follows.

1. Improved coordination of the provision of post –trial psycho-social support for children and juvenile offenders in the districts of Epworth and Mazowe

2. Improved access of post –trial psycho-social support services for children and juvenile offenders
3. Improved access to SGBV protection and awareness services to children and young people in Epworth and Hopley

Purpose of the Rapid Assessment

The Rapid assessment seeks to establish the state of availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality (AAAQ)[1] of post- trial psychosocial support services for children and juvenile offenders in Epworth and Hopely communities in Zimbabwe. The consultant is expected to collect both quantitative and qualitative data which shall inform the results of the assessment. The consultant is also obliged to capture credible and correct data sources that can be traceable for reference purposes.

Scope of the assessment

The assessment is expected to cover Epworth and Hopely communities focusing on the AAAQ framework on access to services. This translates to Availability, Accessibility (Physical, Financial, Administrative, Social and Information), Acceptability and Quality.

Methodology

The consultant is expected to use relevant and applicable/appropriate methodology, as per their experience, to gather information and data, analyze and logically present to the satisfaction of the contracting organization (SAYWHAT) and funding partner in this case, UNICEF.

1. Demonstration of the relevant and appropriate methodology in the application process is an aided advantage.

Expected Deliverables

Concept Note/Inception report and Data collection tools: The concept note shall detail the scope of work, methodology, including sampling, data collection methods, data analysis methods, data quality assurance plan, risk management, staffing, and ethical considerations in conducting the assessment. This must be submitted on the 9 October 2022.

First draft report: 29^th October 2022. This shall be done either virtually or face to face during a Validation meeting facilitated by the consultant to discuss preliminary findings.

Final Report: The layout of the report shall be as follows.

• Contextual analysis (Epworth and Hopely)
• Objectives of the assessment
• Methodology
• Findings
• Conclusions
• Recommendations
• Annexes (including the list of stakeholders consulted during the assessment, key documents and websites consulted, terms of reference, etc.
• A PowerPoint presentation summarizing the contents of the final report will be submitted to SAYWHAT on the 27^{th of} October 2022.

The table below shows the implementation calendar for the baseline

Duration of the Rapid assessment

The Assessment is estimated to take 30 days.

Required Expertise

Firm/Entity

Mandatory

• Mandatory for Firm/Entity to have a minimum 5 years of national, regional or international experience in research
• Mandatory for Firm/Entity to be registered in Zimbabwe,
• Proven experience in designing and implementing research studies within the child protection sector, supported by a minimum of three (2) traceable references
• Demonstrable evidence of similar work undertaken previously, supported by one work sample which is no more than 5 years’ old

Desirable

• Previous experience working with the UN on other assignments

Team Leader

Mandatory

• Master’s Degree in any of the following fields: Education, Development Studies, Social Work, Evaluation, or other related studies; a PhD will be an added advantage
• At least 10 years of relevant experience in conducting research at the national or regional level
• Proven experience in conducting research studies within the child protection sector, supported by at least two (2) references
• Proven experience in data collection, analysis and reporting, supported by at least two (2) references

Desirable

• Previous experience working with the UN on other assignments
• Failure to meet any of the mandatory criteria will result in disqualification of the submission.

Required submissions

• All interested Consultants are required to submit a Technical and Financial proposal separately via email. The technical proposal should be no more than 10 pages, and will be assessed on the following;
• Approach to assignment that demonstrates extent to which the Consultant understands the requirements as set out in TOR;
• Feasible and technically sound methodology, appropriate for fulfilling the overall purpose of the assessment
• Realistic work plan with specific treatment of key deliverables and priorities
• Expertise and experience of the Firm/Entity; expertise, experience, and qualifications of the Team leader
• The financial proposal should be no more than 4 pages and should detail the following.
• An appropriate Price Schedule which includes, as a minimum, the consultancy rate per day, and number of workdays per main activity to assist the Contracting Department to determine, which items may be negotiated, if applicable, or which items can be modified as per the budget. All prices shall be quoted in US dollars.
• Copy of CV with at least 2 references related to conducting research in the child protection and development sector.

Management

• The Consultant will work closely and will be supervised by the SAYWHAT Monitoring and Evaluation Officer to ensure the finalization of all tools and progress with the assessment.
• The Consultant will report to SAYWHAT Programs Coordinator.
• The Consultant will be responsible for own overheads and logistical requirements such as office space, administrative and secretarial support, telecommunications, and printing of documentation.
• All deliverables will be prepared in English.

Submission of proposal

• The Call is open to consultants with the right expertise and capacity to cover engagements and data collection from all two (2) districts.
• Interested Consultants to submit technical and financial proposals separately via email to procurement@saywhat.org.zw no later than 9 October 2022.

[1] UNICEF Availability, accessibility, adaptability and quality guide can be accessed here: https://gbvguidelines.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/AAAQ-framework-Nov-2019-WEB.pdf