ThaiNGO

Terms of Reference

Consultant for Baseline Assessment for the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Comprehensive School Safety (CSS) Project in Southern Thailand (Re-announcement)

1. Background

Save the Children in Thailand, in collaboration with local partner - Luuk Rieng and Foundation for Children with Disabilities, has been implementing a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) project called “DRR and Comprehensive School Safety (CSS) in the Deep South of Thailand”, funded by USAID/OFDA (Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance), since 2015. The second phase of the project is commencing, and will be implemented in 36 schools across Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat Provinces:  continuing in the 12 schools who were supported in phase one of the project, and adding 24 new schools in this area. The exact districts/tambons/villages where the project will be implemented is being decided together with ESAOs in the inception phase of the project. The project also includes a strong focus on Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DiDRR), and an implementing model was developed with the Yala Inclusive Education Center which will be rolled out to five more Inclusive Education Centers and special schools  in Nakhon Si Thammarat.

This project aims 1) to improve the knowledge and skills of schools staff, students and local communities in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and the Comprehensive School Safety Framework (CSSF), including disability inclusive DRR, in the southern provinces of Thailand and, 2) to actively engage local and national DRR network and community stakeholders in the development of sustainable and child friendly comprehensive school safety plans and measures and 3) to develop, pilot and test the Child friendly DRR education program and learning materials including for children with disabilities for potential national scale-up.

Save the Children works closely with government agencies in both the disaster management and education sectors. At provincial level, Save the Children works with DDPM and ESAOs to build the capacity of educators and school teachers in facilitating child-friendly activities to raise awareness on DRR. At national level, Save the Children works with other NGOs to advocate with the DDPM and OBEC, MoE for better DRR in the education sector. Save the Children is an active member of the Thailand School Safety Network, which shares information and coordinates NGO joint-activities to mainstreaming DRR into policy and planning process.

The purpose of this consultancy

Save the Children will hire consultant (team or individual) to conduct a baseline assessment for the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Comprehensive School Safety in the Deep South of Thailand and Nakhon Si Thammarat project. Specifically the consultant will:

1. Establish baseline indicator values against outputs and outcomes in the M&E matrix which will be used to monitor project progress (see Annex I) through systematic document reviews and complementary consultations with local stakeholders and beneficiaries at school and community levels;
2. Produce a rigorous and accurate set of data and analysis of the selected schools (including Inclusive Education Centers) using the Comprehensive School Safety assessment tool (Annex II) to identify predisposing factors and enabling factors related to school safety issues;
3. Conduct comprehensive stakeholder and decision-maker analysis (local, district and provincial level) in both project locations;
4. Gather and analyse qualitative information that will assist program staff in modifying project interventions and further refine project indicators if necessary.

2. Scope of this consultancy:

Methodology

A consultant will be hired to conduct the baseline assessment. The following is the outline of a suggested process, however it would be expected that this would be further refined by the consultant. The baseline assessment shall be undertaken based on the Save the Children International requirements and must be in line with Save the Children’s ethical guideline (Annex III).

Preparatory work:

• Literature review of secondary data which can be used to set baseline indicator values;
• Development and apply survey tools to be used for collection of baseline data. For Comprehensive School Safety assessment of schools, it is required to use Save the Children’s suggested Comprehensive School Safety framework and assessment tool (see Annex II);
• Development of sampling methodology for administering surveys (as applicable);
• Training of data enumerators (as applicable);

Field Work:

• Leading the administering of baseline survey tools;
• Leading other consultations with project beneficiaries, partners and Government as deemed necessary during baseline methodology design;

Data Processing, Analysis and Reporting:

• Data entry and analysis of completed baseline survey tools;
• Discussion on preliminary findings of baseline;
• Draft Report and Final Reports;
• Presentation on key findings;

3. Timeframe

The consultant will be required to dedicate an estimated 20 days’ time to this consultancy work during July-August 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 shared with the MEAL team focal point prior to the termination of the contract.

Note that all deliverables will be reviewed and must be approved by the Save the Children MEAL Officer, Project Coordinator, and Child Safety Specialist.

5. Timeframe & Scope

The consultancy service period for the whole assignment is 20 working days, between July-August 2017.

6. Consultant qualifications and profile

• Expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods and data analysis skills
• Expertise in issues related to Disaster Risk Reduction and Comprehensive School Safety Framework
• Experience in the Deep South and Thai southern context is preferred
• Thai and English language proficiency
• Ability to work within strict deadlines

7. Management of consultancy

• The consultant will report to Phang Nga Senior Field Coordinator and DRR Project Coordinator
• Technical advice: MEAL Coordinator (and MEAL Officer) and Child Safety & DRR Specialist
• Save the Children should approve all plans and documents developed by the consultant

8. Consultancy Budget

The consultant is requested to submit the proposal and detailed budget with their application letter. The financial competitiveness of the fee will be considered in the selection process. Costs involved in the assessment such as materials and travel, will be covered by Save the Children.

Submissions for the consultancy

The submission must address the terms of reference and include:

• Name and contact details of applicant
• Resume/CV of the lead consultant
• A cover letter outlining the relevant experience and expertise of the consultant and initial ideas on the approach to be taken the achieve the consultancy objectives
• A draft summary proposal of the research scope, design, methods, and field implementation approach (maximum 5 pages)
• A detailed quote in THB

Annex I: Logical Framework: https://goo.gl/D1M2zi 

Annex II: CSS Framework and Tool: https://goo.gl/G72q3B

Annex III: Ethical Guideline:

Before undertaking any monitoring and evaluation activity with children or adults an ethical assessment should be undertaken by the Country Office. Where appropriate, approval for an activity should be obtained from all relevant ethical or institutional review boards in-country prior to the commencement of the activity.

As per the minimum standards, at each of these stages the responsible individual or office must:

1. Make sure the information gathering activity is necessary and justified:

• Make sure that the purpose of the activity is clearly defined
• Use the minimum sample size required to get statistically significant or valid results
• Consider carefully the ethics of using a comparison or control group

2. Adopt informed consent and voluntary participation procedures:

• Participants must give their informed consent (either written or verbal) to participate. When children are involved consent must also be granted from an appropriate adult. Consent forms should be field tested before use. Save the Children’s Practice Standards for child participation can give more guidance.
• Ensure that participants are well informed on the purpose of the activity and how the results will be disseminated
• Make sure that individuals are informed that their participation is voluntary and that they have a choice to opt out
• Confirm that participants understand the limits of the activity, in terms of benefits, and the next steps
• Consider very carefully the use of incentives for participation and try not to use incentives where possible

3. Adopt appropriate confidentiality procedures, sensitive to children’s needs

• Ensure that all persons involved in the activity, including data gatherers, data input staff, translators etc have received training on the confidentiality procedures and signed an appropriate confidentiality agreement
• Confidentiality may need to be breached to provide immediate protection to a child. Children and adults must be made aware of the confidentiality procedures before being asked to provide any information.

4. Ensure that the costs to children of participating in activity do not outweigh the benefits, and ensure their safety at all times:

• Adhere to Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy
• Adhere to Save the Children’s Practice Standards for Child Participation
• Ensure that participation is in the children’s best interests and does them no harm
• Ensure that information gathering with children is appropriate to their age and stage of development
• Anticipate adverse consequences and develop appropriate responses
• Be cautious and protective and undertake ethical checks as you proceed with any activity
• Be sensitive and flexible; if situations change you must be prepared to stop or change an activity if ethical issues cannot be resolved

5. Be consultative

• Determine whether local permission from community stakeholders or authorities is needed to proceed and adhere to any locally established institutional policies or guidelines for conducting research.
• Information about the activity must be provided to all stakeholders
• Prepare local communities and explain the purpose and aims of the activity

6. Be sensible and prepared

• Researchers have a responsibility to be mindful of cultural, religious, gender, and other significant differences within the research population in the planning, conduct, and reporting of the study findings
• Ensure that those gathering information from children and/or vulnerable communities are adequately trained and ready to follow up or refer children who might need special attention as a result of research/investigation in sensitive themes.

7. Respect the dignity and autonomy of those participating in the activity

• Ensure children and/or vulnerable communities are not simply used as a means to achieve research objectives
• Know that study participants have a right to remain anonymous.

8. Be accountable

• Adhere to the International Accountability Charter
• Make sure that a complaints and feedback mechanism is in place for children and adults participating in the activity
• Ensure accuracy of information during analysis, interpretation and reporting. And remain open to the findings of any study and do not allow vested interests to interfere
• Make sure that proper acknowledgement is given at all stages, as appropriate.

Ethical issues

Every data gathering exercise involving children and vulnerable communities is theme or context specific therefore you must review all ethical considerations before undertaking a new activity.

Whenever we conduct research on people, the well-being of research participants must be our top priority. The research question is always of secondary importance. This means that if a choice must be made between doing harm to a participant and doing harm to the research, it is the research that is sacrificed.

In some cases you may decide that you cannot proceed with a monitoring and evaluation activity because of ethical issues.  In this case you may need to re-design the activity or cancel it altogether if an ethical solution cannot be found.

Additional Resources:

• International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) -  Policy governing the use of human subjects in 3ie funded studies web http://www.3ieimpact.org
• FAO Food Ethics: http://www.fao.org/ethics/ser_en.htm

Close date for submissions: August 4^th, 2017

Submissions should be addressed to: hr.thailand@savethechildren.org

Please indicate in the subject as “Apply Consultant for Baseline Assessment for the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Comprehensive School Safety (CSS)_(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.”

Closing Date               :      19 April 2026 (11:59 PM, Bangkok Time)