Terms of Reference
Review of FTR programs in South Sudan and Ethiopia
1. Background
Save the Children has ongoing programs responding to the protection needs of Separated and Unaccompanied children in most of countries in East Africa and the horn affected by various crisis. The countries in this categories are Ethiopia, South Sudan, Kenya, Somalia and Sudan. On 15 December 2013, violence broke out in South Sudan’s capital Juba and quickly spread to other locations in the country. Seven out of the South Sudan’s ten states have been affected by the internal conflict, with Central Equatoria, Jonglei, Lakes, Unity and Upper Nile states being the hardest hit. The conflict has displaced over 1 million IDPs within South Sudan, while over 300,000 have become refugees in neigbouring countries with the largest caseloads moving to Ethiopia and Uganda.
According to UNHCR records while 65% of the refugees are children, 12% are separated from or unaccompanied by their parents and caregivers, resulting from both voluntary and involuntary separations. Movement between sites and countries is also fluid. Individual countries have some systems in place for tracing and reunification of children. Better developed procedures to ensure effective cross-border tracing and restoration of family links for refugee children are still needed. Because of the nature of the conflict and the number of countries affected, this requires a regional approach with a high level of interagency collaboration between UN, ICRC and Child Protection NGOs as key actors.
Save the Children is committed to the protection of children in programming areas throughout the Horn of Africa. This includes supporting family-based care for separated and unaccompanied children and taking all necessary and feasible steps towards tracing their families. It is with this intention that a review of current Family Tracing and Reunification programs in Ethiopia and South Sudan which are in response to the current escalation is being commissioned.
2. Overall objective and scope
To strengthen Save the Children ongoing Family Tracing and Reunification programs through reviewing exisiting child protection programatical procedures and promoting best practices on FTR and Alternative Care in Ethiopia and South Sudan.
To support cross border Family tracing and Reunification efforts between Ethiopia and South Sudan through consultation with key stakeholders in the region to identify existing challenges and opportunities. The outcomes of the review will be used to feed in program strategies and to advocate for an effective and timely Cross Border Tracing and Reunification mechanisms.
Tasks:
1. Conduct a desk review of existing FTR project documents reports, policies, methodologies, assessments and data bases in Ethiopia (Gambella) South Sudan, Uganda and Kenya as well as efforts at information sharing by the East Africa Regional Child Protection working group.
2. Consultation with key stakeholders in South Sudan and Ethiopia Save the Children country programs and other external partners to gather feedback on existing capacity of FTR programing. The task also include a review of the utilisation of existing internal FTR programming tools, FTR case management and CPIMS tools. the task should emphasis on the contextualisation of separation to the different contexts across the different countries targeted but specifically in South Sudan the country of origin. The rate of separation is multifaceted, the task will need to bring clarity to the nature of the response SCI is currently implementing and identify ways for moving forward in providing FTR services including family interim care and best interest determination.
3. Analyse gaps and opportunities, and identify approaches and for cross border FTR based on interviews and discussions with key stakeholders and partners. The task includes discussions with key informants and stakeholders on movement patterns of UASC, and to map existing FTR services on border crossings and in the refugee camps or host communities provided by Save the Children and other actors. The task will be accomplished during field visits to accessible border crossings in Ethiopia and South Sudan where save the children is working.
Cross Border FTR is an intricate process involving external actors and mandated agencies who have influence on controlling the flow of the information on the UASC cases across the borders. The review will focus on understanding the current position of the different actors (Government, UNHCR, UNICEF and ICRC) and to develop and information exchange pathway, that will be endorsed later by the different actors during a regional consultation meeting.
Expected outputs
1. A participatory detailed stakeholder’s interview questionnaire for Save the Children key staff involved in the FTR programs, and an additional interview questionnaire for external key stakeholders. The questionnaire should focus on assessing the links between the quality of operational FTR programs and the existing cross border mechanisms, and to shed light on the programmatic and coordination gaps.
2. A final review report including a section with practical lessons learned and key recommendations on actions to address: the identified challenges of cross border FTR, while reflecting on the coordinated role of the key actors, as well as highlighting gaps in structural and programmatic components. The report will also highlight steps towards enhancing the quality of existing FTR programs while referring to key guiding documents such as the Child Protection Minimum standards, IASC guidelines on UASC.
3. Guidance for FTR programming on enhancing the quality of response and prevention of separation programs, as well as adressing case management and provision of care to UASC.
4. Recommendations on information exchange pathway, on conducting coordinated cross border FTR mechanisms in the region concerning South Sudanese UASC.
3. Target group(s)- Key informants:
The primary target group is Save the Children Child Protection and humanitarian staff based in Ethiopia, South Sudan and in the East African regional office in Nairobi. Equally important other key partners and stakeholders who have crucial contribution or who are mandated to conduct cross border family tracing and reunification will be interviewed such as ICRC, UNHCR and UNICEF as well as relevant governmental officials implicated in the Family tracing and reunification work in both countries. A detailed contact list will be provided at the start of the consultancy.
4.Methodology
This will be a desk-based review of strategies, policies, approaches, methodologies, tools and other relevant written material collected, Key information will be also obtained through contact with key Save the Children Staff in Ethiopia and South Sudan as well as other key stakeholders.
Activity / Dates / Persons Responsible / Expected Output / Duration / CommentsDesk Research in country literature review
Finalization of consultancy timeline / august 2014 / Consultant / Draft of literature review (max 10 pages) / 10days / To be shared with SC staff and Thematic Advisor for finalisation
design of key informant interviews / August 2014 / Consultant / Key informant interview questionnaire / 2 days / To be shared with Thematic Advisor for approval and finalisation
Travel time / September / Consultant / None / 3 days / Fly to Juba and Addis and back
Conducting face to face interviews and possibly visit to project sites / September / Consultant / Detailed interview minutes / 15 days / Includes 2 days of incountry travels, depending on security situation in specifically South Sudan.
Debriefing / September / Consultant / Minutes of the meeting / 1 day / Recommendations/ feedback to be share with Management team in South Sudan and Ethiopia.
Finalisation of report / September / Consultant / Final report (30 pages maximum) / 10 days / To be shared with SC staff and Thematic Advisor for finalisation, the report should include tasks 3 and 4 mentioned above
The evidence generated through the research is expected to:
Increase knowledge of stakeholders on the existing cross border family tracing mechanisms and on best ways of manage the sharing of information across the borders.
Identify existing preconditions for cross border collaboration among different stakeholders.
The final report will be presented in a consultancy meeting in East Africa region that will aim at addressing obstacles, and presenting strategies to involve the relevant stakeholder in cross border FTR mechanisms and systems.
5.Qualifications of the consultant
At least 6 -8 years of professional experience in Child Protection in emergencies, social services or related field.
Experience in working with Family Tracing and Reunification or related programmes.
Familiarity with the interagency tools and principles on Unnacompanied and Separated minors.
Prior experience workin on FTR in east Africa is a plus.
Demonstrated experience in research and analysis.
Fluency in spoken and written English.
Strong analytical and drafting skills.
Strong facilitation skills and demonstrated experience in leading workshops in an international context.
7. Time frame
The finalisation of the consultancy is scheduled to take 41 working days. The work should start as soon as possible.
Those that would like to express interest in this consultancy are requested to submit a CV with three referees and a cover letter outlining technical competencies and experience to Mazen Haber before the 15th of August 2014.
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