Independent Consultant

Terms of Reference (ToR)

1.       Background

India is home to the largest number of children in the world, with children under the age of 18 years representing 37% of the population (445 million). 172 million, or 40%, of these children are vulnerable or experience difficult circumstances. With India’s multicultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious social fabric and deep-rooted caste system, the issue of child protection is complicated, especially for children belonging to the most deprived, socially vulnerable and excluded section of society. Children in India face a multiple child protection issues, which include child sexual abuse, child labour, child marriage, child trafficking, discrimination, neglect etc.

The National Crime Record Bureau reveals an increase of 20% crime against children in 2016, in comparison to the cases reported in 2014. In 2016, 46 girls under 18 years of age were raped every day or roughly, two girls were violated every hour. Among all crimes committed against children during 2016, the major crimes that were committed were kidnapping and abduction (52.3%), and sexual offences (34.4%) including child rape. The cases of crime against children witnessed an 889 per cent increase from 10,814 in 2001 to 106,958 [1]in 2016, Of these, 36,022 cases of sexual abuse reported under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act[2]. Many cases even today do not get reported to police. There are more than 0.2 million cases of crime against children pending in courts where trial was yet to be completed. The major violations of child rights are in the form of child sexual abuse, child marriage, child labour and trafficking of children.

India has seen a considerable decline in child marriage, from 47.4% in the percentage of women between the ages of 20-24 married before the age of 18, to 25.4% women who are being married before reaching 18 years of age. However, community consultations reveals that a considerable number of girls are married off at an young age, exposing them to the risk of violence in their childhood and are subject to domestic violence in their in-laws houses. The child labour situation is equally grim. According to UNICEF estimates, India is home to the largest number of child labourers in the world. The India Census 2011 data shows that 4.35 million children aged 5-14 years are estimated to be working as child labourers, with 90% residing in rural areas. A large number of children are trafficked in India each year. The Ministry of Women and Child Development pointed out drastic increase in child/women trafficking and according to the report submitted to the parliament, 19,223 women and children were trafficked in 2016 against 15,448 in 2015. 

About ChildFund India

ChildFund in India has been representing the voices of underserved children in the country for the past 69 years. The organization works in 85 districts across 15 States. Through 40 long-term partnerships with grassroots NGOs and direct implementation, it annually reaches over 3.5 million children, youth, and their families from 3200 urban and rural communities/villages.

ChildFund India is commitment to protect children from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation and discrimination. The organization’s approach to child protection includes strengthening of community-based child protection mechanisms, involving children, their families, and community leaders; working at the national level to strengthen child protection, in partnership with premier government agencies and civil society organizations and empowering children to become advocates of their own protection by creating opportunities for through their representation in village level child protection committees (VCPCs).

Advocacy is an important tool to bring about strengthen policy implementation besides influencing  positive attitude, behaviour, practices of stakeholders so that children can enjoy their human rights, and live in a safe and violence free environment. Child protection work requires advocacy efforts at all levels (local, district, state and national) and therefore, ChildFund India has initiated to develop “Advocacy Plan’ to provide guidance on advocacy for strengthening child protection in India.

About Centre for world Solidarity (CWS)

Centre for World Solidarity (CWS) is working since 1992 for the development of marginalized communities in 6 states (Jharkhand, Bihar, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu) in India. Presently CWS is partnering, nurturing and collaborating with 101 civil society organizations, 12 fellows and 10 networks by providing both financial and non-financial support. The focus of CWS is mainly on three thematic areas, they are Eco Sustainable Livelihood, Rural Governance and Human Dignity. With the partnership of CFI, now we are implementing Child Development Program in three locations i.e. Jamtara, Giridih and West Singbhum districts for the overall child development through sponsorship program.

Objective of the assignment

The overall objective of the consultancy will be to develop an “Advocacy Plan” for ChildFund India on child protection with an overarching approach to build strong community structures and systems that are capable of taking measures to prevent actual or potential child protection risks and effectively respond to child rights violation reported in the community besides strengthening the implementation of ICPS at National levels. The consultant will be expected to work under the guidance of Specialist- Child Protection & Advocacy at ChildFund India (hereafter referred as ‘the Child Protection Specialist’ to develop a three years advocacy plan for the organization as per the suggested framework.

Scope of the work

The external consultant under close guidance and consultation of ‘Child Protection Specialist’ of ChildFund India, will lead the development of ‘Child Protection Advocacy Plan’. The consultant will coordinate and collaborate with ChildFund India staff and implementing partners for meeting/consultations as required. The advocacy plan will be devised basing the ChildFund International’s Advocacy Guidelines for Country Offices for developing its Advocacy Plan for ChildFund India. The framework for developing the CP country advocacy plan includes the following processes.

·         Rationales for the advocacy Plan (detailed analysis of child rights scenario in India, particularly in ChildFund supported geographies)

·         Defining advocacy

·         Identification of specific issues for advocacy

·         Rationale of identified advocacy issues

·         Policy analysis related to child protection & identified themes

·         Stakeholders analysis

·         Risk analysis and mitigation plan

·         SWOT analysis

·         Advocacy Goal, objectives, strategy and expected outcomes

·         Resources and assets

·         Advocacy partners

·         Timeframe with activities and time schedule for three years (2020-2022)

·         Monitoring and evaluation plan (result framework)

2.       Method & tools

Following methods can be used to complete the above-mentioned tasks and fulfil the purpose as defined by this ToR.

1.       Desk review of the relevant documents/secondary data

2.       Literature review/related policies/schemes/laws

3.       Consultative meetings/interview with relevant stakeholders like staff and select implementing partners of ChildFund India (East, South and North zones) to understand child rights violations prevalent and identify key advocacy issues

4.       Documentation

5.       Presentation

3.       Key qualifications, experience and skills of the consultant

The candidate should possess the following skills and competencies:

·         At least post graduate degree in a public health, social science field

·         In-depth knowledge and understanding of child rights and issues of child protection in India

·         Extensive work experience and proven record in advocacy, policy, campaign, strategic management and working experience in child rights area is preferred.

·         Demonstrate experience of having undertaken similar assignments

·         Good analytical and documentation/report writing skills

·         Good communication and facilitation skills

·         Excellent command of oral and written English along with proficiency in any one regional language such as Hindi.

Duration of the task

The total duration of the assignment will be a total of 45 days, from the date of signing the service contract.

Key deliverables

The consultant will work closely with the Child Protection Specialist of ChildFund India. All deliverables will be submitted to the ChildFund India office at Delhi.  All draft documents will be submitted as soft copies while the final products will be submitted as a soft copy and three hard copies.  All the data and information gathered would be the property of Childfund India. The consultant should submit following key deliverables,

·         In the beginning of the assignment, the consultant/agency will outline details of activities with proposed methodology and timeline/ delivery dates (final report submission on 25^th March 2020) in the form of an inception report

·         Draft Advocacy Plan shared with ChildFund India for feedback and comments – on/before 15^th March 2020.

·         Revised advocacy Plan, post addressing comments/feedbacks, shared with ChildFund India within 5 days of receiving feedback from ChildFund

·         A final details advocacy plan (1 soft copy and 2 hard copies) in English as per the suggested framework, including one executive summary report both in soft and hard versions.

·         Share the findings and recommendations in a workshop mode at the end of the assignment.

Management and Reporting Arrangements

All the official communication of the consultant will be with the implementing partner-CWS, Jharkhand. The Child Protection Specialist of ChildFund India, will provide guidance/support to the consultant as and when needed to ensure that the assignment is completed in time and with the quality expected. The consultant will report to the implementing partner- CWS, Jharkhand as per the timelines.

Schedule of Payment

·         40% after signing the contract and upon submission of inception report.

·         30% after completing data collection.

·         20% upon submission of draft report.

·         10% after submission of final report.

Child Safeguarding Policy

The consultant will adhere to and sign ChildFund’s Child Safeguarding Policy while signing the contract for this consultancy.

Confidentiality

All discussions and documents relating to this TOR will be treated as confidential by the parties. Any report, document, tool, template, etc. developed through this assignment is the property of PSS and ChildFund, and will sole ownership on it.

Procedure for submission of expression of interest

·         Interested consultants should submit below mentioned documents by 5^th February 2020.

·         An updated CV (Maximum 3 pages) and some write-ups or previous reports.

·         An application letter including remuneration requirements including field movement /travel cost (daily rate)