Consultant Terms of Reference: ACT Project Baseline Study

Right To Play Thailand Foundation

BACKGROUND:

Right To Play International

Right To Play is a global organization committed to improving the lives of children and youth affected by conflict, disease and poverty. Established in 2000, Right To Play has pioneered a unique play-based approach to learning and development which focuses on quality education, life skills, health, gender equality, child protection and building peaceful communities. With programming in over 20 countries, Right To Play transforms the lives of more than one million children each week using play and sports, both inside and outside of the classroom. In addition to our work with children, Right To Play advocates with parents, local communities, and governments to advance the fundamental rights of all children.

Right To Play is headquartered in Toronto, Canada and has been operational in Thailand since 2002. To learn more, visit us at: http://righttoplay.or.th/en/

Achieving Change Together Project

Right To Play is launching a new project in collaboration with the IKEA Foundation. The Achieving Change Together (ACT) Project will use sport and play to improve the well-being of children and youth (aged 5-18) in Thailand. Specifically, the project will focus on children living in seven refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar border, migrant children living in Myanmar border towns, and youth in detention/rehabilitation centres across the country. The project aims to develop their life skills and strives to give them a greater voice in their community to influence decisions that affect their lives.

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY:

The objective of this consultancy is to establish project starting points and benchmarks/indicators that will form the basis for developing a strong monitoring and evaluation framework. This will lay a critical foundation for measuring change, understanding the project’s contribution to achieving this change, and drawing lessons for future direction and project development.

For this purpose, the project is currently seeking a consultant to design and implement the baseline study of the ACT Project. Specifically, the consultant will:

• Design and plan a baseline study in collaboration with the Right To Play staff and implementing partners of the ACT Project (Master-plan for baseline study should include training and communication plan to field staff and to some community members which are involved in the data gathering processes)
• Develop the overall approach and methodology for the baseline study
• Design and/or revise existing data collection methodology and tools to be used during baseline study and for further use throughout this project
• Provide recommendations and plans for integrating of data collection tools and/or other required data sets necessary for project management into project’s MIS platform
• Produce a comprehensive report based on the baseline data establishing baseline values and accurate current status in line with the project goal and outcome indicators

SCOPE OF WORK:

1. Preparing an evaluation plan outlining the approach/methodology to be employed in executing the assignment and a detailed plan for the baseline with:
• Timeline/schedule of activities
• Sampling requirements and framework (determine sample size for intervention and comparison areas)
• Detailed methodology of how to collect, triangulate and summarize the primary and secondary data of both quantitative and qualitative (if needed, develop data quality protocols to guide data collection/entry for Right To Play field staff, including spot checking protocols)
2. Identify the baseline indicators and assumptions from the project logframe and/or any other relevant M&E planning tool
3. Take a lead role in developing/revising and piloting various data collection tools (both qualitative and quantitative) to be used for the baseline as per the agreed methodology, including pre-testing or piloting of tools for linguistic and cultural appropriateness
4. Actively participate in regular meetings with Right To Play staff, consulting on research plan/methodology/timeframe, discussing results and findings and agreed recommended follow-up actions
5. Depending on the consultant’s evaluation plan, collaborate and coordinate with RTP field staff and travel to project locations to manage data collection process, providing support, supervision and monitoring of data collection and storage. This includes ensuring the credibility of field data collected by interviewers
6. Compile a comprehensive first draft baseline report based on the field research findings according to format agreement upon with Right To Play staff
7. Prepare and submit final baseline report to Right To Play staff in Thailand, including:
• Presenting findings in formal presentation to key stakeholders
• Conduct de-briefing meeting at the Right To Play Thailand office
• Copies of original and cleaned data sets including any field notes, as well as annexes of processed results tables (with all levels of disaggregation, including geographical areas breakdown) are to be submitted to Right To Play Thailand office with the final report

METHODOLOGY

The baseline survey will utilize both qualitative and quantitative methods to collect data ensuring in-depth analysis of status of project objectives indicators. Data collection methods will include document review of project and organizational documents including the ACT Project Proposal and Right To Play’s current data collection tools. All data collection methodology should be in line with child safeguarding principles.

The baseline survey will be conducted in the communities where the partner projects are being implemented. The consultant will be supported by the Right To Play field staff in arranging logistics for meetings with key stakeholders; the Country Director will guide the review of the consultant inception write up and draft baseline draft report.

The consultant will be expected to travel to the ACT Project locations that are chosen based on samples sizes.

DURATION OF THE ROLE

The baseline survey will be conducted between February 8, 2017 to May 19, 2017. Specific level of effort for the consultant will be based on the agreed workplan that will be finalized with the contract.

KEY DELIVERABLES

LINES OF COMMUNICATION

The consultant will report directly to the Country Director.

QUALIFICATIONS OF CONSULTANT

• Demonstrated experience in baseline study design, including selecting methodology appropriate for the project’s-specific factors, sampling, applying a mixed methods approach, developing/revising participatory data collection tools, developing data quality protocols and training enumerators
• Demonstrated 5 years’ experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis
• Knowledge and experience with child and youth development and/or life-skill development programs
• Knowledge and experience developing and/or using participatory research tools that support engagement of children and youth in the research process is highly preferred
• Knowledge and experience working with refugee and/or migrant populations in Thailand (cultural appropriateness) is highly preferred
• Research experience working with children and youth from vulnerable communities will be a strong advantage
• Research experience with knowledge mobilization in collaboration with community
• Fluency in English is mandatory and knowledge of Thai, Burmese and/or Karen would be a very strong asset
• Ability to produce high quality work under tight timeframes

APPLICATION PROCESS

Consultants/firms that meet the requirements should submit expression of interest, which should include the following:

• Cover letter including the consultant’s/firm’s suitability for the assignment and current contact information
• CV including contact details of 2 referees. If the lead consultant is planning to recruit national consultants in Thailand to support the data collection from various sites, data entry and dataset development, please state this in your application and provide details (cost, expertise, expected role of each consultant, etc.)
• Include 1-2 samples of previous evaluation work
• Detailed response to TOR, with specific focus addressing the purpose and objectives of the assignment, methodology to be used and key selection criteria (max. 2 pages)
• Detailed budget breakdown based on expected daily rates and initial work plan
• Initial draft of the proposed work plan in Gantt chart style

Deadline to submit the expression of interest is 12:00 Noon (GMT+7) February 8, 2017. Interviews will take place on February 10 and 13. Consultancy contract will be awarded by February 15, 2017.

Finalized applications will be sent to thailandhr@righttoplay.com titled “ACT Baseline – Consultant/Firm Name”. For more information on the ACT Project, applicants may send an email to thailandhr@righttoplay.com titled “ACT Project - Additional Information Requested” for an additional information package.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.righttoplay.or.th/en/about-us/careers.html