Terms of Reference for individual, agency or organization to deliver training for capacity building for teachers, mentoring and support to organization of children school mini campaigns in area of climate change, waste management and DRR

Terms of Reference for individual, agency or organization to deliver training for capacity building for teachers, mentoring and support to organization of children school mini campaigns in area of climate change, waste management and disaster risk reduction.

1.     Introduction

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. In the North-West Balkans and 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. SC vision is a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. SC mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

Save the Children in North West Balkans (SCiNWB), 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.        

The climate and environmental crisis is an intergenerational child rights crisis that threatens children’s survival, learning and protection around the world today and tomorrow, with the most marginalized and deprived children at greatest risk.  Building on previous SC Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) work with educational institutions, as well as the first phase of the project “Schools as Green Zones” which was piloted in two schools in the first half of 2022, the proposed intervention aims to scale up and move forward with enhancing capacities, knowledge and awareness in the area of climate change adaptation, mitigation, and prevention through different project activities at additional 8 schools (6 elementary schools and 2 secondary schools in Sarajevo Canton).  The chosen schools will be supported to become “eco-friendly” but also to promote and raise awareness of the importance of disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and mitigation and measures to reduce air pollution, as well as to improve waste management, air pollution monitoring and to support children to become agents of change in their schools and communities in the area of climate action advocacy.

2.     Background and Rationale

The climate and environmental crisis is an intergenerational child rights crisis that threatens children’s survival, learning and protection around the world today and tomorrow, with the most marginalized and deprived children at greatest risk. COVID-19 recovery efforts provide a crucial opportunity to address the impact of the pandemic on societies and the climate crisis simultaneously.

As a result of historic and current greenhouse gas emissions there are inevitably impacts of climate change already in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The country must prepare itself to respond to climate change – and maximise opportunities where they occur – by understanding vulnerabilities, increasing resilience and building capacity. The rate of increase in temperature has risen over the last decade. Although increases are over a short time period, it is of concern as it may indicate that the rate of climate change is accelerating.

Although Bosnia and Herzegovina has one of the lowest per capita greenhouse gas emissions in Europe (five tons CO2 equivalent per capita per year; approximately half of the EU average), climate change has already been observed. Bosnia and Herzegovina is particularly vulnerable to climate change due to its geographical position, the economic importance of the agriculture and forestry sectors, and the limited adaptive capacity.

Without coordinated and planned approaches to climate change adaptation, Bosnia and Herzegovina will suffer economically and environmentally; and if no strategic action is taken now the costs of future adaptation measures will increase.

Climate change has both physical and mental health consequences for affected populations and therefore is a threat to public health. High temperatures during the summer are particularly dangerous for the elderly and people with cardiovascular diseases, while in the winter, smog can adversely affect children and individuals with heart and respiratory conditions. Reduction in river water levels can increase the potential for water-borne diseases and food poisoning. At present, there is no monitoring system nor has there been an assessment conducted for the monitoring of epidemics and diseases correlated with climate change parameters.

Children, elderly, disabled persons, migrants, war returnees and members of the Roma minority are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, because they are more likely to live in hazard-prone areas and often lack the information and resources needed to cope with these impacts. Gender can also affect vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and natural hazards, because of gender-based differences in time use (concerning housework, employment and caring activities), differentiated access to assets and credit, and limited access to policymaking spaces. Awareness-raising and capacity-building programmes targeting and tailored to disadvantaged groups can help increase their preparedness and adaptive capacity. At the same time, the involvement of disadvantaged groups in climate and disaster risk reduction policymaking is essential to develop policies that address their needs and harness their potential to help tackle climate change related issues. Climate mitigation and adaptation policies can have detrimental impacts on disadvantaged populations. It is therefore important to assess these implications and implement strategies to mitigate the detrimental effects of climate policy on these groups. Children are less equipped physically, mentally and emotionally to cope with life threatening conditions.

The role of individual citizens in contributing to the mitigation and adaptation to climate change is essential. Environmental education must be improved, enabling children and adults to understand more about climate change and its potential consequences. That’s why it is important that the topic of climate change should be incorporated to a greater extent into the primary, secondary and higher education curricula and educational programs and to promote further understanding and awareness of the importance of disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and measures to reduce air pollution.

3.     Objective

Save the Children in the North West Balkans seeks an individual/agency/company/organization, to deliver capacity building training for school teachers on climate change, waste management, air pollution and facilitation and organization of workshops for school children, to provide mentoring and support to teachers in organizing and delivering specific workshops on the abovementioned topics and to provide support for teachers / children / school councils to plan and to organize child led informative awareness raising campaign focused on contributing to raising awareness in communities through local schools on the importance of tackling climate change negative impact, with a specific focus on waste cycle management and air pollution monitoring. Specific objective is to enable two schools in Sarajevo region to adopt virtuous practices in the context of climate change mitigation actions.

Engagement involves the development of

·        Training program for teachers in targeted schools on climate change, waste management, air pollution and adaptation for training and its facilitation (in the minimum length of two days) including agenda, timeframe, specifications for technical and logistical support needs (venue, materials, printing, stationery, equipment etc.);

·        Mentorship plan for support to trained teachers from targeted schools in preparation, planning and realization of workshops with children as well as support to their facilitation;

·        A plan for support to teachers and children / school councils in organization of child led school campaign with timeline and operationalization needs (materials, printing, stationery, equipment etc.) in form of the implementation plan, and implementation of the campaign according to the guidelines that follow:

The main purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness of and advocate for introduction of climate change adaptation planning and actions at the school level, among school management, teachers, and staff with a specific focus on waste cycle management and air pollution monitoring. Children will be empowered to speak out on the issue of climate change and how it is affecting their lives and to undertake their own advocacy and campaign actions as part of school climate adaptation plans. The children will create their own call for climate action and share it widely with their families, classmates, friends, and communities.

4.     Expected outputs 

·        One training for teachers in targeted schools (cca 40 teachers from 8 schools) on climate change, waste management, air pollution and climate change adaptation for training and its facilitation (in the minimum length of two days)

·        Mentorship / support to trained teachers from targeted schools in preparation, planning and realization of workshops with children as well as support to their facilitation. This mentorship includes a minimum one visit to workshop that every teachers will be organizing and implementing (ideally first workshops);

·        8 child led school campaigns (events) prepared and implemented, including implementation plan, timeline, tasks and operationalization needs (materials, printing, stationery, equipment etc.).

·        Writting a report on implemented activities with pictures and quotes from children and teachers;

  5.  Timeframe and methodology

In order to complete the above-specified tasks, the consultant / agency will be engaged from October 2022 until June 2023. The consultant / agency will develop and implement the work plan in consultations and with the support of SCINWB designated staff, in line with the proposed timeframe below.

* All of these activities imply mandatory collection of written aprovals for participation of children from their parents in all activites organized within Save the Children project

** Timeframe can be changed in consultations with SCINWB.

The engaged individual/agency will be tasked to develop detailed plans and implement agreed activities, in collaboration with SCiNWB and partner organisations. The methodology should include an innovative approach to the topic being addressed, using modern communication channels (including social media).

   6. Funding and logistical support and organisation

Funding will be provided by Save the Children in North West Balkans.

The individual/agency will design and implement the task through consultation and support from relevant SCiNWB staff.

Responsibilities and duties of the individual/agency:

•        The individual/agency is responsible for developing an implementation plan for all activities for implementation of the project.

•        The individual/agency will be in contact with Save the Children staff throughout the process, regularly updating on the process/progress (on a monthly basis or more frequent if needed) and seeking information and guidance when needed.

•        The individual/agency will abide by the timing of the agreed consultancy work.

•        Upon completion of the assignment, the individual/agency will be required to present achievements in written raport in terms of reach (numbers of beneficiaries) and other relevant actors.

•        The individual/agency will ensure the ethical participation of children in accordance with the Save the Children policy on safeguarding child safety.

•        The individual/agency will produce a final report about all activities implemented and outputs developed in English language.

•        The individual/agency shall perform its role in accordance with the highest professional and ethical standards.

  7.Qualifications and Specialized Knowledge/Experience Required  

Minimum expertise and skills an Agency must possess:

•        At least five years of domestic experience in implementing similar tasks, with experience in leading trainings and mentorship in area of ecology, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction and air pollution;

•        Knowledge and experience of working in the field of inclusion will be considered an advantage;

•        Expressed a creative and innovative approach and ability to find cost-effective alternative methods of communication and message transmission;

•        Experience in direct work with groups of adults and children will be considered a definitive asset.

8. Budget

The Agency should indicate the amounts of fees and costs of the services it expects in the engagement, with currency, in the document "Bidding Response", and complete the form "SC-PR-10 - Request for Quotation". All budget items should be clearly described, explaining how they fit into the proposed methodology and work plan. It is mandatory to indicate the names of budget items as well as specific budget lines within the proposed budget.

Save the Children will particularly appreciate the potential pro-bono contribution of the applicant to maximise the effects of the task, as well as its visibility, which we will be happy to announce through the project.

Note*

Individuals/Companies/Organisations/Agencies should take into account all additional costs (travel costs, food and accommodations), and all other expenses related to their tasks as they will not be reimbursed subsequently.

9. Formal Expression of Interest for Consultancy

The interestedconsultantshoulddevelopandsubmitthefinancialproposaltorespondto the above mentionedspecifictasks.Theproposalshouldinclude:

1.      Submission of the Bidders response document with a specified methodology and budget breakdown (Annex 1);

2.      Letter of interest with confirmation of the availability for the proposed dates and work dynamics;

3.      Biography of each team member listing relevant experience in SCI template (Annex 2);

4.      Reference list and at least two examples of previously designed and implemented campaigns.

Please find enclosed link for application: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1X3lRQN08H5KQCoVGXRyIVNj0Jv17uPxY?usp=sharing

The interested applicants should submit their proposals on Procurement.NWB@savethechildren.org no later than October 21^st 2022. Only the shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Particular requirement: no person that is performing any task on behalf of Save the Children may, in any way, be involved in or connected with abuse or exploitation of children.