TOR for consultant to develop training program related to Child participation for partner organizations who lead Drop in Centres and deliver a training based on developed program

Terms of Reference for consultant to

develop

training program related to Child participation for partner organizations who lead Drop in Centres

and deliver a training based on developed program

1.      Introduction

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children’s unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

Save the Children (SC) is the world’s leading independent organization for children.

Our vision: A world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation.

Our mission: To inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

Our values: Accountability, ambition, collaboration, creativity and integrity.

We are committed to ensuring our resources are used as efficiently as possible, in order to focus them on achieving maximum impact for children. Save the Children in North West Balkans (SCNWB), based in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) conducts its activities in three countries: BiH, Serbia and Montenegro and supports realization of regional initiatives in the area of South East Europe.       

     2.    Background and rationale

Street involved and at-risk children present one of the most jeopardized groups in the state of social need that due to the poverty and need for work stay excluded from all relevant social systems. Based on one the Regional network of Drop in Centres (DiC) reports[1], the number of street involved children has increased rapidly over the past few years. Most street involved children live below the poverty line, often part of a cycle of poverty that is generationally passed on. As a group, street involved children have to a large extent been ‘hidden’ from the public eye as well as the main spheres of political, economic and social life. Opening of DiC for street involved and at-risk children was in several occasions characterized as the only positive example of support provided to this population. Strengthening existing and replicating quality services for street involved children has become a basis of the Save the Children support resulted in established strategic partnerships with governmental institutions and NGOs in Mostar, Banja Luka, Bijeljina and Brčko in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Podgorica and Nikšić in Montenegro.

This service consists of several components: from shelter to legal assistance, from psychological counselling to life-skill and vocational training, from medical care to substance abuse programs, from school inclusion and reintegration to access to welfare benefits. Service is being provided within the premises of the DiC (in-services) and through outreach work. Centre’s work is being further developed, with efforts invested in integrating these services in the social protection system.

In order to strengthen children in their full capacities, is it necessary to encourage and develop child participation[2] in all phases of program implementation and all levels, thus creating an environment for meaningful and ethical participation in DiCs. Participation is not only having benefits for included children, but for families and community in whole – children who are growing-up in stimulating environment, having the right to raise their voice and opinion, and to be active in the questions and topics related to them, are having more chances to develop stronger socio-emotional competencies, self-confidence and independence. Child participation is not a short-term activity, but long-term process, which demands primarily the education of children on their rights, recognizing the real needs and steps to take to achieve their rights. Besides educating children, it is necessary to educate professionals working with children on participation principles, models, levels and outcomes, and give them concrete tools to incorporate child participation in their regular work and programs.

In the context of DiCs and participation promotion throughout this model of work, it is essential to know the background and characteristic of the children included in the service. Participation in DiCs has to be promoted and implemented in line and consolidation with other programs which strengthen children and build their capacities. Concretely, participation should closely relate to the Family strengthening Program and Program for development of socio-emotional competencies, which is already highly promoting participation as a key trigger for child development.

-         Save the Children devotion to the child participation-

Save the Children believes children’s participation is not an activity or a “one off” event, but rather a core principle that informs our organisational behaviour. Children’s participation, then, is a crosscutting theme that permeates all aspects of the organisation and is central in our aim of strengthening the position of children and inspiring breakthroughs in the way the world treats children. It is a set of civil rights to be fulfilled, a principle to be applied, and a means to fulfil other rights. Crucially, to promote and support children’s participation is to meet human rights obligations and to respect children and their rights.

Save the Children supports meaningful, good quality children’s participation that gives children a genuine opportunity to express their views, be involved in decisions or take action.

We are looking for a Children’s Participation Consultant whose subject matter expertise matches their passion for children’s rights to be heard. As Save the Children, our approach is to put children at the centre of what we do; we are committed to supporting children to raise their voices, to take action as agents of change and to hold us to account, ensuring children’s experiences and views shape the solutions for the problems they face. We have adopted a rights-based approach by placing the principles of participation and inclusion, non-discrimination and equality at the centre of our work to ensure that all children’s needs are addressed, and that no child is left behind.

Save the Children is active in child participation both at the global level - developing tools and guidelines and a conceptual framework and policy brief, etc., and at the country/national level by directly engaging children in programme and advocacy activities implementation.

3. Purpose of the consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to 1) develop a training program related to Child participation for partner organizations who lead Drop-in Centres for street-involved children and other children at risk, and 2) deliver a training for partner organizations/DiC professionals, aiming to ensure quality support in creating effective and meaningful models of child participation which will be integrated in DiCs’ regular working methodology. All developed programs and materials have to be in line and consulted with Save the Children’s guidelines and toolkits[3] on child participation.

4. Objectives of the consultancy

·        To prepare Child participation training programme for partner organizations/professionals in DiCs working directly with children

·        To prepare Child participation package of materials for training participants (example: materials which follow the training agenda - tools for workshops and practical exercises, examples, work sheets, etc.)

·        To conduct Child participation training, aiming to ensure the process of quality implementation of different models, as well as different levels of participation in DiCs, families and communities

5. Services the Supplier will provide

·        To develop training programme for professionals in targeted DiCs:

- Training programme has to include the following: 1. Context in which DiCs work and children who are using the services; 2. Development of different models of participation; 3. Steps to implement and achieve 3 levels of participation in all stages of DiC programs and projects: consultative, collaborative and child-led participation; 4. Include children in campaigning; 5. Develop mechanisms to assess the effects of participation (participation outcomes)

- Training has to introduce the conceptual-theoretical framework of child participation with basic principles

- Training has to result with concrete tools on developing the different models of participation

- Training has to include evaluation and reporting on child participation

·        To develop training programme agenda which will follow the above-mentioned stages and segments

·        To develop all training materials, including working sheets, templates and examples

·        To conduct interactive training programme and provide participants concrete tools for implementation, by using practical work on all relevant topics, interactive work and discussions with the training group

·        To evaluate effectiveness of the conducted training

·        To develop a final report on the training programme, with key points and recommendations in the further implementation.

Save the Children staff will provide to selected consultant all materials to follow in order to develop the program and agenda.

Save the Children staff will provide technical support to selected consultant in the process of creating the program and materials in order to ensure the highest quality and applicability in working context.

6. Experience and skill set required

Consultant should possess the following expertise and skills as a minimum:

·        Minimum University degree in the field of social or humanistic sciences (M.A. or PhD in relevant field is an advantage)

·        Minimum five years of experience working in programs related to children and/or experience in direct work with children

·        Experience in developing and conducting similar training programs

·        Experience in developing child participation programs and/or manuals; or developing similar programs

·        General knowledge of child participation topic

·        Specific knowledge and/or experience in working with children and families from vulnerable groups

·        Strong analytical and communication skills.

7. Expected Deliverables

- Training programme and package of training materials

- Training agenda  

- Training programme conducted for DiC professionals

- Developed evaluation tools and evaluation conducted with training participants

- Report on conducted training and consultants’ work (in local language) in agreed timeline.

7. Timeline*

In order to perform all scheduled tasks, an independent Consultant/s shall be hired from October 5th2022 – April 15^th 2023 in the period no longer than 25 days. The consultant/s will prepare and implement the work plan in consultations and with the support of relevant Save the Children staff.

* The timeline can be changed in consultation with the relevant staff of Save the Children

Status updates/reporting

The Consultant shall be present on regular meetings with SCI staff in order to be in line with schedule and possible changes.

Acceptance

Methodology to deliver tasks defined by this ToR and reports will be verified by SCI project staff.

General assumptions and dependencies

SCI staff will provide all information and materials for the Consultant. SCI staff will also provide feedback to the Consultant regarding monitoring process and report.

Payment information 

The consultants must indicate the prices he/she is offering to Save the Children as part of the contract, including the currency in the Bidding Response document as well as SC-PR-10-Request for Quotation if applying on behalf of a company or organization. Provide a narrative clarification of each budget activity demonstrating how they relate to the proposed methodology and work plan. The budget headings and specific budget lines are obligatory within proposed budget.

*Note: Include only consultancy fee and task related travel costs (if any).

50% of the total cost payable within 15 days of delivery tasks defined by ToR (Activity from 1 to 3);

50% of the total cost payable within 15 days of delivery tasks defined by ToR (Activity from 4 to 6).

The Fees are inclusive of all costs, overheads and expenses, including travel.

Accommodation will be provided by SCI, for the activities outside of place of residence.

Payment will be made based on the contractually agreed daily rate and only for the contractually agreed services. Payment will only be made upon receipt of a worksheet and accepted report.  

How to apply for the services

Interested consultants or companies/organisations should develop and submit the bidding proposal (accompanied with relevant annexes) in English language to respond to above mentioned specific tasks. The bidding proposal should include: 1. Package for Consultants companies OR 2. Package for Consultants Individuals:

Package for Consultants individuals (complete if applying as an individual):

1. Bidder Response document - individuals;

2. CVs format - individuals (maximum 3 pages) emphasizing relevant experience for assigment defined by this ToR;

3. Reference list and example of a conducted training programme in English

Selection criteria

SC will make a decision on the most successful bidder, subject to the available budget, based on the following criteria:

• Relevant education;
• Relevant experience;
• How well the proposal meets the requirements set out in the Terms of Reference;
• Value for money.

No person working on any task for or behalf of Save the Children may in no way whatsoever be involved or related to child abuse or exploitation as defined in the Save the Children's Child Safeguarding Policy. The contracting authority also requires that the personal data of all evaluation participants must be protected and stored in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation - (EU) 2016/679 and the national law on personal data protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH Law on Personal Data Protection, Official Gazette of Bosnia and Herzegovina No. 49/06).

Application procedures

IInterested candidates should send their applications to Procurement.NWB@savethechildren.org no later than September 28, 2022 (3pm). Please find documents for application:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1DBknmqtxN0GoWn6T82GLl5fKRqC9oiRH...