Terms of Reference

Task title: Child Friendly Space Quality Assessment and Recommendations

2. PROJECT OVERVIEW

In the current NE Nigeria Humanitarian Response Save the Children has established 20 Child Friendly Spaces and plans to expand to X more.

Child Friendly Spaces (CFSs) provide children with protected environments in which they participate in organized activities to play, socialize, learn, and express themselves as they rebuild their lives. CFSs are designed to protect children from physical harm and psychosocial distress and to help them continue learning and developing both during and immediately after an emergency.

3. OBJECTIVES OF CONSULTANCY

SC is committed to strengthening its accountability to all stakeholders, donors, partners and especially local communities in which we work, through developing evidence based models that have proven to be effective and efficient.

Save the Children requests with this TOR to conduct an assessment on the quality and practicality of the current Child Friendly Space Model and make recommendations – with a focus on cross sectoral integration. Illustrative research questions include:

·  Do current Child Friendly Spaces and activities meeting Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action?

·  How are the CFSs acting as effective drivers of community involvement in child protection and psychosocial well-being interventions and what are the factors that might enhance or hinder this collaboration?

·  How well are Child Friendly Spaces acting as centers for program innovation and integration and how can they improve to better support children’s psychosocial wellbeing?

·  What formal /informal community-based mechanisms are available and linked to CFS to prevent and respond to child protection risk and improve children’s psychosocial wellbeing?

4. TASKS AND DELIVERABLES

Tasks:

·  Develop methodology and assessment tools based on current Child Friendly Space Guidelines, Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, Child Protection Rapid Assessment Tools and Child Friendly Space Quality Assessment Tools

·  Review proposals, reports and budgets from all CFS-related projects

·  Review recommendations of past CP TA trips

·  Conduct interviews with a selection of stakeholders (CFS staff, parents, SC staff, partners, multi-sectoral experts, etc.)

·  Hold Focus Group discussions with children in various age groups

·  Deliver presentation on key recommendations (for new modalities of implementation)

·  Develop capacity building plan for CP, CFS and ECD staff

Deliverables:

·  Assessment workplan and tools

·  Assessment report on Child Friendly Spaces with recommendations

·  Presentation to Emergency Team on key recommendations (including cost model for “new” CFS)

5. LEVEL OF EFFORT

The total contract amount is expected to cover the Consultant’s fees, assistant, his/her technical expertise, researchers as necessary, and any travel expenses associated. This will all be coordinated with emergency team and MEAL Officer.

6. DURATION

This assignment is expected to take place 14 working days.

7. CONFIDENTIALITY AND RECORD OF RIGHT

All materials, reports and other documents produced by the consultant under this consultancy will be the sole property of Save the Children. The consultant will maintain high level of confidentiality with external actors/stakeholders, with regard to all the materials and reports produced under the consultancy. For any use of the produced materials/reports/documents, other than for the purpose of the projects and Save the Children Egypt program, the consultant must receive consent from Save the Children in writing.

8. CHILD SAFEGUARDING

Save the Children is a child rights organization where all its staff and consultants, associates, and vendors sign off Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy that aims to reduce the possibility of incidence of child abuse and exploitation. The consultant will sign and abide by Save the Children’s child safeguarding policy along with the agreement.

9. QUALIFICATIONS

1) Extensive experience with child protection in emergency responses

2) Demonstrated understanding of recovery and sustainability issues

3) Critical and creative thinker, capable of analyzing complex information and producing creative solutions

4) Experience in advocacy and development of new programming ideas

5) Knowledge of Child Friendly Spaces