Terms of Reference for Individual and institutional SSA

Position Title: Child Protection Consultant for Information Management and Monitoring and Evaluation

Fee: Level NO-B

Location:Based in Kenya Country Office, Nairobi with travels in Kenya

Duration:120 days/6 Months

Start Date:1 March 2015

Reporting to: Chief, Child Protection Section

Budget Code/PBA No:SC 130286

Background and Justification

High quality data, monitoring, evaluation and research are critical for determining the scale and scope of child protection violations, identifying vulnerable groups of children and adolescents, determining risk and protective factors anddesigning policy and programming. It is also key to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of programmatic interventions to prevent and respond to child protection issues and ensure accountability. However, child protection offers particular challenges due to the sensitive and often hidden nature of the issues including the question of measurability, confidentiality and definitions.

In Kenya, reliable, large scale data on child protection concerns is to a large extent unavailable. Data is insufficiently shared between actors, including the UN, the Government and NGOs. Most actors in the field of child protection and child rights have their own monitoring and evaluation systems focusing on project activities, and case management systems to record children in their programme. As a result a lot of data collected remains anecdotal and scattered. Systems and approaches are not streamlined, use different indicators and remain unlinked.

The Child Protection Section in UNICEF Kenya Country Office (KCO), together with the Government of Kenya (GoK), have engaged in the area of information management, monitoring, evaluation and research for several years. Information management and monitoring and evaluation were highlighted as a key area of action in the Government of Kenya’s draft Child Protection System Strategy (2011). The Strategy outlined that an information system should be developed to “include individual files on children, collect and compile data on specific indicators, monitor institutions that care for children, and share secure information across agencies as appropriate”.

Several actions have been taken to strengthen the information management for child protection, including development of the National Child Protection Database. In 2013, the Government of Kenya (GoK) through the Department of Children Services (DCS) in the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Services, convened a Steering Committee on the National Information Management System for Child Protection to spearhead the development and implementation of a Strategy for Information Management in Child Protection, and lead the upgrade and roll-out of the National Child Protection Database. The daily work of the Steering Committee is carried out by a Technical Working Group (TWG) consisting of representatives from GoK, UN, NGO and other Development Partners. The TWG has developed a strategy document and a draft costed action plan for the next 3 years. These documents are currently being finalised and implementation is ongoing.

Actors in child protection have also come together to start a Technical Working group on Monitoring and Evaluation in Child Protection to discuss and explore how to improve monitoring, evaluation and evidence building on child protection in the Kenyan context. Since its inception in 2013, the group with over 20 organisations represented, have met regularly every six weeks. In 2014 the group organised trainings and workshops for its members, and shared information on best practises and ongoing research and programming initiatives.

Related initiatives that UNICEF engage in include the upgrade of the Gender Based Violence (GBV) Referral Map. The plan, as outlined by a Concept Note, is to develop the online referral map into a site that provides a fully branded GBV/Child Protection information portal, integrated with the service providers’ map which is easily accessible on computers and mobile phones and with the ability to record prevalent data and hotspot mapping.

The above mentioned initiatives are implemented in the framework of the UNICEF-GoK Kenya Country Programme 2014-2018, and the Outcome Strategy for Child Protection. The work is crucial to ensure results are reached for children in Kenya, and has a direct impact on the ability to provide data on both the situation of children in Kenya and the progress and success of programmatic interventions. Due to gaps in the human resources in the Child Protection Section it is suggested that external technical expertise is brought on board to ensure that this work continues to advance.

Scope of Work

Child Protection Information Management System (CP IMS)

  • Provide technical support to the Department of Children Services in the implementation of the 2014 Child Protection Information Management Strategy (e.g. prepare strategic documents, ensure continuous dialogue with DCS, suggest line of action)
  • Manage UNICEF financial contribution to the DCS including financial monitoring and reporting
  • Ensure the integration of recommendations brought forward by the UNICEF CP IMS consultant reviewing information needs and capacitiesinto the costed implementation plan and other strategy documents. Consultant’s final report with recommendations available in February 2015.
  • Support the DCS in coordination the meetings and work of the National Steering Committee for the IMS and the Technical Working Group for the IMS
  • Collaborate and coordinate with key partners in the CP IMS work such as USAID/Measure Evaluation, as well as NGOs such as Plan Kenya and Goal Kenya
  • Ensure that the linkages betweenUNICEF, NGOs and Government are in place

Monitoring and Evaluation

  • Coordinate and support the meetings of the Kenyan Technical Working Group for Monitoring and Evaluation in Child Protection (every 6 weeks). Organise trainings and other activities in line with the 2015 annual work plan of the TWG in collaboration with the members[1]
  • Carry out tasks related to monitoring and evaluation in the UNICEF KCO Child Protection Programme as designated by the Chief of Section (e.g. review results frameworks for new Program Cooperation Agreements (PCA) , support the sections quarterly reporting

Other tasks

  • Contribute to the development of the Gender Based Violence referral map into a fully-fledged child protection and GBV information hub in line with concept note by exploring and suggesting various options and proposed actions

Methods

The consultant will be based in the UNICEF KCO Office in Nairobi in the Child Protection Section, and work together with section staff under the supervision of the Chief of Section. Close collaboration and frequent contact with focal persons within the Department of Children Services and other partners is required to carry out the tasks.

AWP areas covered

Outcome 4: By 2018, children, families and communities utilize child protection services, underscored by a functional child protection system that prevents and responds to violence, family separation, and harmful practices in regular and emergency situations at national and county levels, including in vulnerable urban areas.

Output 4.2. By 2018, The Government of Kenya has adequate technical and financial capacities and coordination mechanisms for evidence based implementation of the child protection system at national and county level.

Expected Deliverables

  • Bi-monthlymeetings of the TWG on CP IMS (co-organised with DCS) are held, and at least one meeting of the National Steering Committee on IMS
  • Finalised Costed Implementation Plan for the CPIMS, with commitment of UNICEF outlined and started
  • Regular meetings of the TWG on ME, and at least one group activity (such as training) carried out
  • Arrangements made for the upgrade of the GBV referral map

Reporting Requirements

  • Regular communication with UNICEF team and reporting to Chief of Section (Outcome Lead)
  • Regular communication with other technical consultants who may be working on related assignments
  • Close collaboration with the Technical Working Group under the lead of DCS and the focal points at DCS
  • Monthly Reports on progress, constraints and challenges
  • Final report to be delivered at end of assignment

Desired background and experience

  • Minimum 2-3 years of experience in Child Rights Programming, including child protection
  • Advanced degree in relevant field such as Social Sciences or Information Technology
  • Experience in monitoring, evaluation and research
  • Experience of work on information management systems
  • Strong analytical and coordination skills
  • Extensive research and writing skills
  • Networking skills and ability to work with different actors
  • Previous experience of working in or with UNICEF an asset
  • Fluent in English
  • Kenyan national

1

[1]The 2015 Work plan will be developed in the annual meeting of the TWG to be held 27 January 2015. Trainings planned for 2014 that has been postponed to 2015 include case management and monitoring of behavior change activities. These will likely be in the 2015 work plan.