Terms of Reference –
Development of Child Welfare Committee Operational Guidelines (CWC OG) and a standardized training programme for CWC members
UNICEF Sierra Leone
Background
In Sierra Leone there are high levels of violence, abuse and exploitation against women and children. This includes child labour, child trafficking, female genital cutting, child marriage, and teenage pregnancy.
In 2007 the Child Rights Act (CRA) was enacted domesticating the rights for children as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The CRA named “Child Welfare Committees” (CWCs) as an official and integral structure for the welfare and protection of children.
The Ministry of Social Welfare Gender and Children’s Affairs (MSWGCA) is the mandated government body to monitor, supervise and coordinate the activities of all CWC and to ensure the progressive advancement of children’s rights and welfare throughout the country[1]. Despite the key role of CWCs in the welfare and protection of children these structures struggle to effectively implement their mandated roles and responsibilities due to lack of technical and financial support, and clear operational guidelines. Since 2007, CWC’s have been mainly supported by NGOs with limited support from sustained funding. The CWCs have been critiqued as being set up from a top down approach, and more work is needed to ensure they are consultatively set up with the appropriate membership and responsibilities.
Justification
As a result this TOR aims to address these challenges by facilitating a consultative process to review their current role, and critically look at how they can be more effective to realise children’s rights in communities. In order to sustain effective child protection mechanism across the country the TOR focuses on a systems based approach where systematic guidelines and practices are consistently applied by all stakeholders to support CWCs.
This consultancy is supporting the approved GoSL/ UNICEF workplan activity titled “Support mobilsiatoin of community groups for social change in relation to HTPs”.
Purpose
The proposed consultancy, in close collaboration with the MSWGCA, District Council (DC), CWC representatives, NGOs and other key child protection stakeholders, will support the Ministry to:
1) Develop CWC Operational Guidelines which will facilitate the effective functioning of these formal community-based child protection structures; and
2) Design a training programme for CWCs which will equip its members with the technical and organizational capacity to perform their roles as mandated in the CRA 2007.
The intention is for CWCs to become a nationwide community protection mechanism for children with accompanying tools and resources outlined in the CWCs Operational Guidelines.
Scope of consultancy
It is anticipated the development of the CWC Operational Guidelines and training programme manual will be done by the lead consultant with support from two national consultants.
Process Description / # days required /STEP ONE: Desk review of existing literature and development of work schedule
· Review existing information available on the situation child protection and child welfare in Sierra Leone.
· Visit in country and meet with key stakeholders at national level including MSWGCA, NGOs, members of child protection coordination committee and technical working group.
· Develop and finalise work schedule in consultation with the TWG.
· Finalise logistical preparations for field visits. / 7
STEP TWO: Undertake brief assessment in 4 districts (to be confirmed by TWG) to assess factors that facilitate and hinder effective functioning of CWCs and review CWC structures, resources needed for effective functioning, process of establishing/renewing CWCs, roles and responsibilities of members, coordination with other structures, etc.
· Link up with existing organisation in selected districts to organise and conduct Powerwalk or similar participatory exercise with children to understand who they would turn to if they are at risk of abuse, or unable to access critical services, and verify findings with regional stakeholders.
· Travel to four districts and/or selection of districts(to be confirmed by TWG)
· Meet with functional CWC members – both at chiefdom and village level - to discuss the role the CWC have played in the communities to prevent and respond to child protection related issues. Understand best practices, successes, as well as lessons learned and challenges in the current CWCs fulfilling their roles, and linkages or lack of.
· Meet with regional/district stakeholders including social workers, MOE, MOHS staff and district council stakeholders, civil society organisations and members of district child protection coordination committees. / 15
STEP THREE: Documentation of field trip findings
· Document process and write assessment report on description of process, schedule of interviews, participants, and findings from Powerwalk as well as analysis from meeting with CWC members and regional/district stakeholders. / 5
STEP FOUR: Conduct a workshop at national level
· Share draft report of the assessment report and the draft outline/framework of the CWC OG and standardised training programme manual with stakeholders prior to consultation workshop.
· Assist MSWGCA to facilitate stakeholder consultation meeting to share initial findings/results and validate CWC OG and training programme manual.
· Integrate comments from meeting into CWC OG and training programme manual. / 4
STEP FIVE: Develop CWC OG and standardised training programme manual.
· Develop CWC OG and standardised training programme manual including process to set up chiefdom and village level CWC; update expected roles and responsibilities; provide schedule of minimum meetings; how CWC should link with national planning mechanisms such as district/regional and national child protection coordination committees; an estimate cost for the functioning of CWCs on an annual basis; M & E tools. / 15
STEP SIX: Conduct 3 day stakeholder pilot training and validation of the CWC OG and standardised training programme manual.
· Share draft CWC OG and standardised training programme manual with stakeholders prior to training/workshop.
· Assist MSWGCA to pilot training and validate CWC OG and standardised training programme manual.
· Integrate comments from training/workshop into CWC OG and training manual. / 5
STEP SEVEN: Finalise CWC OG and standardised training programme manual
· Share finalised version of CWC OG and training manual with UNICE, TWG and MSWGCA and incorporate any changes.
· Professional layout and finalise in user friendly Print ready copy for piloting in English (translations to be separate to this TOR).
· Finalise training plan including agenda on whose capacities need to be built to implement the tools. / 9
TOTAL / 60 days
(The above proposed process description is a recommendation, but is not fixed. Submissions may adjust the process as per functional requirements)
Deliverables
1. Assessment report on CWC structures and factors that facilitate and hinder effective functioning of CWCs and draft outline/framework of the CWC OG and training programme manual.
2. Brief summary report with attendance list and validated outline/framework of the CWC OG and training programme manual.
3. Draft CWC Operational Guidelines including an estimate cost for the functioning of CWCs on an annual basis and M & E framework and a standardised training programme manual.
4. Brief summary report on the 3 day pilot training programme with attendance list.
5. Final CWC OG and standardized CWC training programme manual, professionally laid out ready for printing.
Management and reporting
The consultancy will take place under the guidance and leadership of the line ministry (MSWGCA) supported by UNICEF. The consultant will work through a participatory and inter-sectoral process using national, regional and district child protection coordination mechanisms. A technical working group will be formed to overview the process and input into formulation of the guidelines and training programmes. Key NGOs such as Save the Children, Goal and others who are supporting CWCs will be included in the TWG.
The consultant/institution will work under the guidance of and report to the Chief of Child Protection, in close collaboration with the international and national CP specialists, MSWGCA and other government MDAs, members of child protection coordination committee and technical working group, in coordination with Child Survival and Development, Communication for Development and Education programmes.
Responsibilities
Consultant/ institution:
· Secure own laptop.
· Give regular updates on activities through delivery of monthly progress reports or any other way agreed between Chief Child Protection, Child Protection Specialists and consultant.
UNICEF:
· Provide logistical support to enable field trips of consultant where necessary.
· Provide access to documentation and support meetings with partners when and where necessary.
· Facilitate validation and consultation process for finalisation of the guidelines and training documents as a national document.
· Update MSWGCA and child protection coordination committees on a regular basis.
Qualification and Competencies of consultant
· Institution and/ or individual consultant(s) to have a minimum of a Master’s degree in a social science (e.g. Sociology, Anthropology, Gender, Development) or equivalent in experience.
· At least eight years of progressively responsible work experience at national and international level with sound experience and technical skills in the area of child protection.
· Excellent interpersonal, communication and organisational skills.
· Excellent analytical and documentation skills.
· Able to work independently with a variety of stakeholders.
· Adaptability and flexibility, confidentiality, initiative, concern for accuracy and quality.
· Knowledge of and experience in working in West Africa (preferably Sierra Leone) in the area of child protection is an asset.
Time Frame
The duration of the consultancy will be for 60 days over a period of seven months, starting as soon as possible.
Terms of payment
· Payment will be done on deliverables (20% for each deliverable).
· International return travel from the consultant’s home country to Freetown (economy class).
· DSA for travel in country.
· Transport costs to and from the airport.
Selection Criteria
Technical Criteria / Technical Sub-Criteria / Maximum PointsOverall Response / Completeness of Response / 10
Experience and qualifications / Range and depth of experience with similar projects
Qualifications
Experience in West Africa and/or Sierra Leone / 30
20
20
Proposed methodology and Approach / Proposed methodology and approach / 20
Total Maximum / 100
2
[1] CRA 2007. Section 51.2