ThaiNGO

Plan International Thailand : Job Advertisement

Terms of Reference

Consultant/ service contract for Youth-led Research on benefits of “child-centered”

                         approach to  Climate Change Adaptation in Thailand

1. Title of the research

Youth-led research on benefits of ‘child-centered’ approach in Climate Change Adaptation in Thailand

2. Background and rationale:

• Summary:

Plan International Thailand seeks to hire a local university consultant/consultant team to lead and facilitate youth-led research and advocacy activities in Thailand during 1 April to 31 August 2018. The perspective local university partner will work together with 4CA project team to strengthen policy advocacy efforts through youth-led research focusing on benefits of child-centered approach in climate change adaptation. ‘Evidence-based Advocacy’ is currently a priority of the project in the final year. Local university partner will play key role in implementing research component of 4CA project, which consist of 3 activities;

1. Conducting peer education and research training with children and youth
2. Facilitating youth-led research on benefits of child-centered approach via existing experience of local CCA measures
3. Formulating policy brief and recommendation on child-centered CCA

• The knowledge gap:

This research is about reflecting and assessing benefits of ‘child-centered’ approach on CCA through children and youth perspective. In relation to Plan’s Global Strategy, this research will particularly inform relevance of youth engagement in the field of local climate actions.

Within the 4CA project context, this research will help support policy influencing effort with key local government stakeholders and policy makers in relevant ministries. As Thailand has adopted Thailand Climate Change Master Plan 2012 – 2050 as a big-picture framework to address climate challenges as well as in the process of drafting the first National Adaptation Plan, Plan International Thailand has kept active roles in participating and providing consultation in this process. With needs for more solid evidence on benefits of child-centered approach, this research activity is crucial as evidence-based advocacy.

Among few key literatures on benefits of mainstreaming children’s needs and engagement in CCA, strong arguments on economic benefits of this approach to community is presented (UNICEF and Plan International, 2010). In other paper published suggests child-centered approach clearly benefits to community (Mitchell, P. & Borchard, C. 2014). However, solid evidence based on children’s experience, direct reflection and perspective of children are still lacking. This youth-led research aims to fill this knowledge gap. This research will keep in mind the applicable and transferable of small experience in a broader context of CCA.

In relation to the other on-going research ‘Understanding Why Girls and Young Women are more vulnerable to Climate Change Impacts in Thailand’ (Nov 2017 – Apr 2018), this youth-led research activity will incorporate gender perspective to strengthen argument for stronger supports in child-led CCA in Thailand.

3. Research Objectives and questions:

• Research Objective

• Youth-led research:

The purpose of the youth-led research is to bring different perspectives of children and youths to the analysis of 4CA benefits. In the process of conducting this research, the consultant will engage children and youth to reflect their knowledge and experience on how climate change have impacted their lives and communities as well as their roles as champion for climate action. Selected children/youth researchers (age 12-25) will also be trained in peer education and eventually play lead roles in communication and advocacy with evidence-based findings. Due to lack of experience and information about available adaption options among community members, it has limited the effectiveness of adaptation measures. Many local initiatives may be concentrated on short-term actions, while not addressing long-term underlying vulnerabilities. For 6 months of implementing CCA seed grants activities (Oct 2017 – Mar 2018) in targeted communities and schools, children have played key roles in implementing and monitoring of local-level climate actions together with teachers and adults. This youth-led research will trained youth researchers will reflect on existing local climate change adaptation options. At the end, trained children and youth are being able to conduct research on CCA measures which are implemented in their schools/communities.

• Policy brief and recommendation:

The project will benefit from a thorough monitoring and evaluation framework with baseline survey and endline survey, participatory mid-term review and final evaluation. This is further complemented by academic research and child-led and youth-led monitoring and documentation conducted under output 2. In collaboration with local university, this evidence based research will be consolidated and analyzed to assess the benefits of 4CA. The results will be published in policy brief with recommendations for CCA practitioners. The publications and youth-led research will support the project advocacy and policy influencing efforts.

• Research Questions:

For the youth-led research, it will address the key following questions; 

• What (and who) drives climate vulnerabilities in schools/communities?
• How do children and youth perceive climate change and what adaptation measures are taken?
• How children and youth have experienced climate change impacts in recent years?
• How do children and youth contribute to lessen climate impacts in the school/communities?
• How could families and schools/communities be encouraging further participation of children and youth in climate change adaptation?

These questions could be considered as guideline and will be reviewed and updated together with children researchers based on the context of communities and schools.

4. Research methods and stakeholders:

• Research methodologies and research location:

All research activities will be conducted in targeted schools/communities in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai Province, Thailand.

1. Conducting peer education and research training with children and youth

• Work with local 4CA staffs to identify 25-30 children/youth researchers within targeted schools/communities in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai Province and empower them in conducting participatory research around climate change issues.
• Provide trainings in Research design and practice [with strong emphasis on ethical approaches in both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods as well as more interactive research practices such as video recording and photo documentation] to actively engage children/youth in local CCA actions in their schools and communities.
• Engage children/youth throughout the training to reflect on climate change drivers, adaptation options, and roles of community youth agencies in taking CCA actions and provide appropriate ‘space’ to share their perspectives and realities in their schools/ communities.

1. Facilitating youth-led research on benefits of child-centered approach via existing experience of local CCA measures

• Facilitate reflection process on the existing local adaptation measures (Oct 2017- Mar 2018) implemented in schools/communities via seed grants with selected young researchers in 6 targeted communities in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai
• Guide young researchers in analyzing data and presenting research findings with key local stakeholders in sub-district, district or provincial forums.
• Coach young researchers on how to best present their Research findings using simple infographics, data visualization, case studies to engage communities’ participation in their research and encourage further discussion and actions for their findings.
• Act as resource person and provide on-going coaching and support to the children/youth researchers during the process of developing and implementing their action researches.
• Prepare and issue a final PAR report which will be disseminated by schools/communities to key local stakeholders and policy-makers.

1. Formulating policy brief and recommendation on child-centered CCA

• Prepare policy brief and recommendation on the benefits of ‘child-centered’ approach to CCA.

• Research participants:

• Children and youth in targeted schools and communities involved as researchers and peer educators
• Adults and teachers in communities and schools as supports
• Plan staffs and research consultants engage in facilitating all research process

5. Research deliverables:

• Users of the research:

• Plan International Thailand in DRM program
• Plan Asia regional office

• Intended audiences of the research:

• Village committees and school executives
• Local government stakeholders; sub-district authorities, municipalities and Education Service Area Offices
• Policy-makers in relevant ministries in particular the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ministry of Education.

• Type of deliverables:

1. Peer education and participatory research trainings

• Training sessions for targeted children/youth researchers
• Regular monitoring of research progress
• Participatory assessment sessions in 6 selected areas conducted
• Feedback session with 6 selected areas organized

1. Youth-led research

• 6 Presentation of key research findings to the schools/communities, and local platforms
• 6 final research reports capturing key elements, findings and lesson-learned

1. Policy brief and recommendation for advocacy

• Policy briefs on benefits of 4CA approach published.
• Report launch event organized by the local university.

6. Timeline:

The duration from this consultancy will be 6 months, between 1 April – 31 August 2018.

7. Budget:

The budget must include the costs of travel and accommodation; local data collectors (if required) and associated training of local data collectors, transcription costs, etc; and any further costs associated with the research.

8. Ethics and child protection:

The consultant must comply with the following Plan’s child protection policy and guidelines throughout the working process

• Ethics and Child Protection guidelines

We adhere to the principles of Plan International’s Child Protection Policy in our dealings with children and young people. The welfare of someone under the age of eighteen is our paramount consideration. This means their interests and safety must take priority over any editorial requirement. All children and young people, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial or ethnic origin, religious belief and sexual identity have a right to protection from harm or abuse. Research ethical approval will be needed to obtain through relevant local bodies or Plan International. As the research involves children and youth as data collectors, they will need to be trained on ethical standards and informed consent process.

·      Child editorial principles

-        We must ensure that the physical and emotional welfare and the dignity of people under the age of eighteen, and in particular children under fifteen, are protected during the making and broadcast of programmes and online content, irrespective of any consent given by them or by a parent, guardian or other person in loco parentis.

-        We must ensure that children and young people are not caused unnecessary anxiety or distress by their involvement in programmes or by their broadcast. Their involvement must be clearly editorially justified and support should be given to them where necessary.

• We must ensure that relevant data and information gathered will be confidential. Children and youths will participate in the research on voluntary basis and can withdraw from the process at any time.

• -        We must balance our responsibility to protect children and young people from unsuitable content with their rights to freedom of expression and freedom to receive information.
• ·       Children & consent

Photographers and videographers must seek the consent of parents or legal guardians, or other person of eighteen or over in loco parentis before photographing or interviewing children or young people. For additional information, read Plan’s Guidelines for Media Visits.

9. Selection criteria:

Minimum qualifications required:

• Applicants must be local university based in Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai Province, Thailand
• Demonstrated expertise in climate change, community based adaptation and international development
• Extensive experience with the Northern Thailand and indigenous groups context
• Significant professional background in conducting social research relating to international development, climate change, and community-based adaptation issues, with experience in conducting participatory action research of this nature and collating and analyzing findings. At least three work samples (e.g. recent research conducted in last 5 years) will be needed
• Previous experience in conducting similar work for INGOs or international donors will be preferred

Knowledge and skills:

• conceptual skills/model development
• Participatory approach in action research
• Technical knowledge in climate change and community-based adaptation
• Excellent analytical, facilitation, interpersonal, communication and reporting skills.
• Understanding of development, child rights and gender equality.
• Excellent written and spoken English.

10. How to apply:

Interested consultant(s) are requested to submit an application package closing date by                 21 March 2018 via email : hiranya.chantapong@plan-international.org and cc.

                                             : thanapol.kheolamai@plan-international.org

Responding consultants shall prepare and submit a financial and technical proposal including

• Description of the proposed research methods
• Proposed work calendar
• Proposed detailed budget plan
• CVs of consultants/researchers

11. Advertising and recruitment:

This ToR will be advertised on widely-recognized job websites and career databases in Thailand.

12. Management of the research:

Mr. Thanapol Kheolamai: Project Manager

Climate Change Adaptation with and for Children in SE Asia Project

Plan International Thailand; Chiang Rai Program Unit Office

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