Terms of Reference

for Cintalam project baseline assessment

1. Introduction

Save the Children is the leading global independent organization for children. Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children’s unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.

2. Background and Context

Since 2004, Thailand’s Deep South has seen a resurgence of ethno-nationalist conflict between Thai Buddhists and Patani-Malays. The drivers of this conflict are rooted in the grievances of Patani-Malays stemming from perceived systematic state discrimination as well as economic inequities such as a lack of youth opportunities. Creating an INclusive and TrAnsformative youth-Led climate Action Movement (CINTALAM), Cinta Alam meaning ‘love for nature’ in the local Kelantan-Pattani Malay language, has been designed by Save the Children (SC) and co-applicant Green South Foundation (GSF) using a participatory approach with stakeholders in Pattani and around the Deep South of Thailand (DST). The action aims to enhance the capacity of civil service organizations (CSOs) in Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, and Songkhla Provinces to support youth in the region to take meaningful climate action.

3. Scope of BASELINE ASSESSMENT

3.1 Purpose, Objectives and Scope

An assessment is being planned at the start of the CINTALAM project. It will help SC and partner to assess the current situation related to issues the project is planning to mitigate and identify baseline values for respective indicators presented in the table below. This will enable the team to generate evidence, knowledge and information needed for project planning and implementation.

3.2 Research Questions

In addition to determining baseline values for the list of project indicators presented above, the baseline assessment will seek to answer the following research questions:

• To what extent are implementing partners capacitated to influence policies at the national level and at the ASEAN level? What would enable them to efficiently and effectively influence policies?

•What is the overall situation of children‘s rights to a safe and healthy environment focusing on climate change in Deep South area? What key child rights issues in environmental development policy should the project prioritize to achieve the most relevance and benefit to the project target groups?

• Will the planned project strategies, activities, and the identified target groups, lead to the achievement of the project goals and outcomes?

• What steps, measures, or activities does the project foresee to ensure equal and inclusive protection and participation of girls, boys, LGBTQ+, children with disabilities, etc.? How can this be improved?

• Which added value does the project have compared to other projects and programmes in the same field of action and/or in the same locality? How can the project adapt from the learning of existing programmes to best address the needs of target group?

• Which opportunities and challenges for coordination and cooperation with other stakeholders (INGOs, NGOs, CBOs, Community leader, Local government, national government, Business, Academic) in addressing climate issue in the Deep South can be identified?

The assessment team will be required to collaborate closely with the Save the Children Thailand: CINTALAM Coordinator, Climate Change Technical Expert and MEAL technical advisor at the commencement of the study in order to further refine the research questions.

4. Assessment Methodology

4.1 Assessment Design

The assessment team will be hired to propose a methodology that responds to the assessment’s objective and scope. The following is the outline of a suggested process; however, it is expected that this will be further refined by the assessor during the inception phase. The baseline assessment shall be undertaken based on the S C Thailand’s requirements and must be in line with Save the Children’s ethical guidelines.

• Literature review of relevant documentation
• Development of baseline assessment’s data collection approach and methodology
• Development of survey/interview tools to be used for collection of baseline data by using ILET tools (Quantitative and Qualitative)
• Development of sampling methodology for administering surveys (as applicable), ensure the gender balance of respondent
• Training of data enumerators (as applicable)
• Field data collection
• Data entry and analysis of completed baseline survey tools with gender disaggregated data
• Discussion on preliminary findings of baseline
• Draft Report and Final Report (25-30 pages in English)
• Preparation of a summary powerpoint presentation which the assessor will use to present  key findings to relevant stakeholders

4.2 Sampling

The assessor is expected to propose a sampling strategy that is appropriate to the assessment’s methodology and scope. It is expected that the sampling will be further refined by the assessor during the inception phase. The sampling method to be used for the study may include:

• 40 staff (22F, 18M) from 20 organisations – CSOs/CBOs/including 3 Local authorities
• 800 youth (450F, 350M) from 8 local youth groups
• 360 school-aged children (180B,180G) from 12 schools

4.3 Data Sources and Data Collection Methods / Tools

All primary data collected during the assessment must be disaggregated by population identify, age, and location. SC will provide guidance on tools and classification schemes for this minimum dataset.  Save the Children will not provide enumerators to assist with primary data collection. Data triangulation is expected for this assessment. It will be a requirement of the assessment team to source additional external data sources to add value to the evaluation, such as consultations with partners and review of project documents.  A range of project documentation will be made available to the study team that provides information about the design, implementation and operation of the Program.

4.4 Ethical and Contextual Considerations

It is expected that this assessment will be:

• Child participatory. Where appropriate and safe, children should be supported to participate in the evaluation process beyond simply being respondents. Opportunities for collaborative participation could include involving children in determining success criteria against which the project could be evaluated, supporting children to collect some of the data required for the evaluation themselves, or involving children in the validation of findings. Any child participation, whether consultative, collaborative or child-led, must abide by the 9 Basic Requirements for meaningful and ethical child participation.
• Inclusive. Ensure that children from different ethnic, social and religious backgrounds have the chance to participate, as well as children with disabilities and children who may be excluded or discriminated against in their community.
• Ethical: The study must be guided by the following ethical considerations:
  • Safeguarding – demonstrating the highest standards of behaviour towards children and adults.
  • Sensitive – to child rights, gender, inclusion and cultural contexts.
  • Openness - of information given, to the highest possible degree to all involved parties.
  • Confidentiality and data protection - measures will be put in place to protect the identity of all participants and any other information that may put them or others at risk.[1]
  • Public access - to the results when there are not special considerations against this
  • Broad participation - the relevant parties should be involved where possible.
  • Reliability and independence - the study should be conducted so that findings and conclusions are correct and trustworthy.

5. Deliverables and Tentative Timeline

Scope: The assessor will lead in design of baseline study methodology, sampling, desk review, data collection, analysis, and reporting. 

6. Study Team and Selection Criteria

Interested assessor will be required to submit an Expression of Interest in line with the provided template, which should demonstrate adherence to the following requirements.

To be considered, the assessment team members together must have demonstrated skills, expertise and experience in:

• Designing and conducting high quality project evaluations based on OEDC-DAC evaluation criteria
• Proven ability and track record conducting ethical and inclusive research with vulnerable populations while ensuring rigorous ethics, integrity, and safeguarding especially in the conflict  setting
• Thai or international assessor who has experience to work in Thailand
• Ability to work independently and meet tight deadlines
• Language proficiencies required include: English, Patani-Malay language , and Thai; kindly include a clear plan for language proficiencies in the team and/or translators included in the team
• Flexibility to travel to remote areas

There is a high expectation that:

• Members (or a proportion) of the assessment team have a track record of working together.
• A team leader will be appointed who has the seniority and experience in leading complex evaluation projects, and who has the ability and standing to lead a team toward a common goal.
• The team has the ability to commit to the terms of the project, and have adequate and available skilled resources to dedicate to this evaluation over the period.
• The team has a strong track record of working flexibly to accommodate changes as the project is implemented.

Applications for the consultancy should include:

• Expression of interest: stating candidate skill and experience suitable for the assessment (max 1 page)
• Technical and financial proposal: Outline of baseline framework and methods, proposed timeframe, work plan and budget (max 4 pages; applications over limit will be automatically excluded).

• CV of proposed individual/s and at one piece of evidence of similar baseline carried out previously

7. HOW TO APPLY

If interested in applying for this study, contact person for full TOR of this study is Siribunlong, Nisfu nisfu.siribunlong@savethechildren.org   Tel: 083 064 7805