ThaiNGO

Terms of Reference

Documentation of IMPACT project’s intervention to strengthen child protection mechanism

in Mae Sot,Tak Province

1. Background

The Improving Migrant Protection and Assistance for Children in Thailand (IMPACT) project develops local child protection mechanisms that are relevant to government policy framework, and integrate these into existing child protection systems so migrant children can live within an effective protection system and have access to effective care, education and health services.  The specific objectives of the project include 1: Strengthen child protection mechanisms to effectively support and protect children who are on the move, primarily Burmese (80%) and Cambodian (20%) children, 2: Strengthen and promote effective, appropriate and innovative programs for delivering basic services, preventing risky movement and responding to issues faced by migrant children, 3: Raise awareness of local child protection mechanisms with the vision of integrating them into regional (ASEAN and Mekong) and national policy frameworks.

The project strengthens child protection mechanisms including: child protection committees, Multi-Disciplinary Teams for case management, alternative education, centers which support basic maternal and child health, and mobile health units, to identify the most vulnerable children who are at risk of abuse, neglect and exploitation, and respond to these children’s needs. The project improves the quality of protection support for children through capacity building with government and non-government stakeholders, and will enhance cooperation among relevant agencies that are responsible for child protection and welfare. Consultations by trained social workers with relevant duty-bearers will be conducted to determine the best solutions for children who are in difficult circumstances. Standards of care and alternative care practices for separated and unaccompanied migrant children will also be developed and promoted to all practitioners and service providers who work directly with children.  

This project seeks sustainability through working within existing government frameworks and integrating mechanisms within current child protection systems, and through sustained capacity building for local NGO partners, community based organizations, and government officials (Social Development and Welfare). SC aims to engage the sub-district administrative offices and municipalities to continue providing services to migrant children and families after the completion of the project. We will set up this initiative with local government bodies and work with migrant children and their families to develop innovative ways to encourage ongoing and sustainable participation.

2. Purpose and scope of this consultancy:

The overall objective of this document is to develop a written record of how Save the Children and IMPACT project has worked to strengthen the local child protection mechanism and case management in Mae Sot, Tak province, through the capacity building of the multidisciplinary team and increasing case management effectiveness. Specific objectives of the documentation are:

• To gather the trainings manuals and tools SCI has used to deliver trainings for the multidisciplinary team (MDT)
• To follow up and assess the progress of the MDT is utilizing the knowledge they gain from the trainings, specifically how the content and process of the training creates changes in attitude, knowledge and practice in accord to SCI standard and/or quality benchmark
• To get feedback from the stakeholders and beneficiaries on the project’s interventions in 1) alternative care/ standard of care; 2) local child protection system; and 3) nation policy
• To develop recommendations for improvement based on the consultation and evidences of the project’s interventions

The recommendations should signify how the project can improve its implementation to increase involvement the local community, Community Based Organizations (CBOs), Non-government and government organizations’ meaningful commitment to ensure sustainability of the child protection mechanism

The extent the project has contributed to any changes at policy level and/or advocacy with local and national government 

Design and methodology:

An independent consultant will be recruited to lead this documentation. The project intervention on improving local child protection mechanism and case management is mainly implementing in Mae Sot district Tak province. However, the consultant may extend their work to cover Pop Phra district as well, as the area of implementation occasionally overlapping due to the geographical and technical context. This assessment expects to collect information to adequately represent all project implementation and intervention to strengthening local child protection mechanism in all its direct and indirect implementation areas. As the stakeholders include children, the design of this documentation process must follow Save the Children Child Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

It is anticipated the methodology for this assessment will comprise:

• Methodology will be comprised of the following critical stages: Literature/ Desk review; Data analysis; Interview with key stakeholders; Formulating final report, case studies, lessons learned and recommendations. 

Literature/ Desk review

• Desk review of relevant documentation, including the project’s activities, trainings module, tools and etc.
• Child Protection Act., Thai government case management policy and procedure, Save the Children case management quality of service, UN Guidelines on alternative care;
• Prepare the document framework and tools based on desk reviews;
• Design secondary data collection process. 

Primary data collection

• Survey project beneficiaries, partners and key stakeholders;
• Interviews and Focus Group Discussions with relevant key informants, including community representatives in project locations (including children), government officials, Save the Children IMPACT project staff, relevant technical and policy advisors, National Child Protection Committee, Provincial Child Protection Committee, and NGO representatives etc.;

Discussion of findings with selected experts

• Findings will be discussed with selected experts in Save the Children and the IMPACT project team before formulating the lessons learned and recommendations.

The key outputs for this evaluation are:

• At least two case studies (and/or most significant change stories) reflecting the project’s interventions in 1) improving local child protection and case management system; and 2) improving the standards of care in non-government institutions
• A final report that concisely presents how the series of trainings and its tools response to the capacity development of the MDT, will be no more than 25 pages (ex annexes such as training modules and participant lists) and include feedback and evidences from relevant stakeholders, an executive summary, introduction, background, methodology, scope and limitations, and recommendations;
• A presentation to Save the Children staff and an info-graphic (executive) summary that can be used to distribute and useful for stakeholders and Save the Children.

In addition, the consultant will provide Save the Children:

• An inventory of all background materials reviewed during the study (bibliography).
• Any data gathered and analyzed during the study (survey results and notes from interviews and FGDs).

3. Timeframe

The consultant will be required to dedicate an estimated 30 days’ time to this consultancy work during April-May period, subject to the requirements and agreements with Save the Children.

4. Schedule and deliverables

All materials collected in the undertaking of the consultancy process should be lodged with the IMPACT team and/or MEAL focal point prior to the termination of the contract.

5. Management of the consultancy:

The consultant(s) will report to IMPACT Project Coordinator, with technical support from Child Protection Specialist and Program Development and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) Coordinator who will provide inputs throughout the evaluation process including on the proposed methodology and data collection tools, analysis and interpretation and recommendations. While the consultant will be required to be self-management, IMPACT Project Coordinator will support logistics and arrangements for fieldwork as per approved work plan. Support requirements for tasks such as translation will be discussed with the successful applicant.

The consultant/s will be responsible for

• Developing the assessment framework, processes and tools
• Coordinating with key stakeholders
• Compiling and submitting the documentation report including case studies, learning and recommendations to improve the program

6. Name of Partners Involved

• National Child Protection Committee
• Department of Children and Youth
• Sirirat Hospital (Children ward)
• Tak Provincial Social Development and Human Security
• Tak Home for Children and Family
• One Stop Crisis Centre, Tak hospital
• One Stop Crisis Centre, Pop Phra hospital (Pop Phra district, Tak province)
• Help Without Frontiers (Tak province)
• Life Impact Foundation (Tak province)
• Suwannimitr Foundation (Tak province)

7. Consultancy Fee

The consultant(s) is asked to propose the budget. The financial competitiveness of the fee will be considered in the selection process. Costs involved in the research, such as materials, travel, accommodation, translation and applicable taxes, should be included in the proposed budget.

8. Qualifications

• At least master’s degree in education, research, social work, social sciences or other related field
• Expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods
• Expertise in issues related to child protection and/or social work is an asset
• Experience in the migrant context is preferred
• Thai and English language proficiency
• Ability to work within strict deadlines

9. Submissions for the consultancy

The submission must address the terms of reference and include:

• The resume of the candidate
• A cover letter explaining the candidate’s interest and suitability
• Experience in conducting research and assessment on social issues in multicultural, multilingual and sensitive context like migrant communities will be an asset
• Assessment plan including a research methodology and timeline (3 pages maximum)
• A detailed budget in THB (including travel and other costs)

10. Close date for submissions:

Applicant should submit their interest by 6 April 2017. Submissions should be addressed to: hr.thailand@savethechildren.org

Please indicate in the subject as “Apply for a_Consultant for Documentation of IMPACT project’s intervention to strengthen child protection mechanism in Mae Sot, Tak Province_(Name of candidate)”

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

“We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.”