ThaiNGO

Terms of Reference

Baseline Assessment on for REACT and Expanding IMPACT projects in Mae Sot and Ranong

1. Background

Expanding IMPACT (Improving Migrant Protection and Assistance for Children in Thailand) project aims to increase access to child protection (CP) services and to primary and early childhood education for migrant children living in rural and urban areas by collaborating with Thailand’s government, local stakeholders and community. It leverages experience and learning from the ANCP-funded IMPACT program while refining its scope and promoting innovation and cost-effective support to migrant children’s inclusion, protection and learning outcomes. Migrant children in three provinces in Thailand (Mae Sot, Ranong and potential expansion to Samutprakarn in Y2) have access to improved care, protection and education. Key outcomes include a strengthened case management and referral system, improved early childhood development and increased access to quality basic education. This will be achieved as follows.

• The child protection sector: By improving the quality and inclusiveness of CP case management for migrant children and encouraging deinstitutionalization from non-government institutional care to the benefit of family-based care for migrant children.
• The primary education sector: Through a focus on promoting awareness about the Education for All (EFA) Policy among education staff in Office of Basic Education Commission (OBEC) schools, and supporting language programs and other school transition activities for migrant children. We will strengthen the quality of education provision in Migrant Learning Centers (MLCs) and build stronger linkages with OBEC schools to enable better transition while building capacity for MLCs to become more financially sustainable.
• The early childhood development sector: By ensuring migrant children aged 3 to 6 receive access to play-based early childhood development programs at home to secure a strong start in life.

REACT (Reaching Education for All Children in Thailand) project aims to ensure that Migrant Children in Thailand have access to quality education and communities support children’s learning.

The REACT project will target migrant children from Myanmar and their families. Save the Children will partner with local CSO in target locations who have an intimate knowledge of migrant communities in the area and who are able to identify and reach migrant OOSC, including children on the move and children working in risky sectors or whose parents work in risky sectors (e.g. agriculture, fishing, domestic and manufacturing sectors).

We hope that approximately between 300,000 and 400,000 migrant children throughout Thailand will indirectly benefit from strengthened education systems and through the projects policy and advocacy initiatives.

Migrant children 0-6 and their parents in target locations will directly benefit from ECCD programs that improve parenting skills and support children’s holistic development. School aged migrant children (6 – 18 years) will directly benefit from improved access to accredited Thai education and language programs that support their ability to transition into Thai schools and effectively learn.

Education authorities, School Principals and teachers in target areas will directly benefit from guidance and training on implementation of the EFA policy and both Thai school and MLC teachers will be provided with training to improve their teaching competencies.

The purpose of this consultancy

Save the Children Thailand intends to conduct a joint baseline assessment for two projects on migrant’s children education and child protection i.e. Reaching Education for All Children in Thailand (REACT) and Expanding IMPACT projects to generate evidence-based knowledge and information needed for the program planning and implementation. Specific objectives of this consultancy are as follows:

1. Develop integrated MEAL framework of the two projects and ensure that applicable tools and means of verifications are developed through consultations and working with Save the Children teams;
2. Establish baseline indicator values against outputs, outcomes and impacts in the Project Logical Frameworks (see Annex I) through systematic document reviews and complementary consultations with local stakeholders and beneficiaries. This includes but is not limited to:
   1. Desk-based systematic reviews of project-related publications including project documents, evaluations, assessment reports and research papers as Save the Children deems necessary (full list will be provided after consultation meeting);
   2. Conduct knowledge, attitude and practice survey on physical punishment and humiliation in home and school settings by engaging children, parents and teachers as key informants;
   3. Assess standard practices on child protection case management and care placement at local service provider (i.e. One Stop Crisis Center) against applicable government’s policy and related knowledge and skills among its personnel;
   4. Assess barriers to migrant children’s (boys and girls) access to education services (particularly mainstream Thai schools) and to implementation of Education for All policy among Thai school leaderships in Mae Sot and Ranong;
   5. Conduct gender and social inclusion analysis where applicable;
3. Gather and analyse other information that will assist program staff in modifying project interventions and further refine project indicators if necessary (further assessment questions will be identified at consultation meeting)

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 II).

Preparatory work:

• Literature review of secondary data which can be used to set baseline indicator values;
• Development of survey/interview tools to be used for collection of baseline data;
• 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(s) will be required to dedicate an estimated 25 days’ time to this consultancy work during August-October 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.

5. Consultant qualifications and profile

• Expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods and data analysis skills
• Expertise in issues related to child protection, education and child rights
• Experience in the migrant context is preferred
• Thai and English language proficiency
• Ability to work within strict deadlines

6. Management of consultancy

• The consultant will report to REACT Project Coordinator and IMPACT Project Coordinator
• Technical advice: MEAL Coordinator, Education Specialist and Child Protection Specialist
• Save the Children should approve all plans and documents developed by the consultant

7. 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, travel and taxes, should be included in the detailed budget by Save the Children.

8. 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 and USD

Close date for submissions: 14 August 2017

Qualified candidate please send your application, covering letter and CV to hr.thailand@savethechildren.org

Please indicate in the subject as “ Apply Consultant for Baseline Assessment on for REACT and Expanding IMPACT_(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)