Expression of Interest for Consultancy
1.Impact of Social Cash Transfer Programmes on Life Course of Children
Save the Children has been operational in Kenya since the 1950s,
providing support to children through developmental and humanitarian
relief programmes delivered both directly and through local partners.
Current programming focuses on child protection, child rights
governance, education, health, HIV/AIDS, livelihoods, nutrition and
WASH.
In 2012, as part of a global reorganization process, Save the Children
combined the programmes of SC UK, SC Canada and SC Finland to create a
single operation in Kenya.
In Feb 2014, we completed a second transition, which saw us join forces
with the British INGO, Merlin, and merge their health and nutrition
programmes with our own.
Save the Children now has an operational presence in Bungoma, Dadaab
Refugee Camp, Mandera, Turkana and Wajir and we work through partners in
many other parts of the country.
We employ more than 300 staff and have an operating annual budget in 2014 of approximately US$25 million.
Purpose
Qualitative research on impacts of social cash transfer schemes on the life course
of children in the arid Counties of Mandera, Wajir and Turkana.
Based on the qualitative evidence provide:
1) recommendations on modifications to design, implementations and monitoring and evaluation to improve child sensitivity;
2). recommendations and advocacy messages for use by Save the Children
and partners in influencing government and donors to increase resource
allocation for child sensitive social protection programmes.
Scope of Work
Outputs expected from the study include:
Identification of impact of respective cash transfer
schemes on life course of children, including key outcomes in
survival/health, nutrition, education/learning and safety/protection.
Identification of specific gaps in relation to child
sensitivity of the schemes and impact on child outcomes across the
lifecycle (see principles of child sensitivity, including child
safeguarding, in the Joint Statement on Child Sensitive
Social
Protection, by Save the Children and other agencies).
Identification of impacts and implications for the
empowerment/disempowerment of girls and women, including in terms of
learning, access to information, household decision-making and control
over resources.
Identify and highlight specific strong individual or community
case studies from the schemes as evidence of impact of the schemes on
life course of children.
Recommendations for modifications to design and implementation
of existing programmes to increase levels of child sensitivity and
gender equality impacts in social cash transfer schemes.
Advocacy messages for influencing increase in child
sensitivity and gender equality, including allocation of more resources
for child sensitive social protection programming and improved programme
design, implementation and monitoring in order to promote and ensure
child-sensitive and gender-empowering impacts.
Specific Tasks
Collection and analysis of existing literature on the main
social cash transfers programmes in Northern Kenya and identify
evidence of impacts on life course and outcomes among children, and of
impacts in relation to the empowerment/disempowerment of girls and
women.
For example, analysis of impact of social protection on nutrition across
household food security, caring practices and health environment which
is part of pathways approach by nutrition sensitive initiative.
Primary data collection through individual and focussed
group discussions with adolescents, girls young youths, parents and care
givers and identify their perceived impacts of the social transfer
schemes on life course of children and empowerment of girls and women.
Ensure balanced gender perceptions of above aspects and views from
adolescents/young adults from minority groups are captured.
Undertake interviews of key informants and stakeholders such as
implementers of the existing cash transfer schemes (HSNP, OVC-CT, OPCT,
disability CT, etc), national social protection secretariat, officials
from National Safety Net Programme (NSNP), World Bank, DFID, UNICEF and
child focussed NGOs such WVI, Plan, etc.
Based on secondary and primary data analysis, identify
specific evidence based qualitative impacts of social cash transfers
schemes on life course of and outcomes among children and on gender
equality dimensions, including decision-making and control of resources
in the household.
Based on above analysis, specify gaps in relation to child
sensitivity and gender equality design, implementation and impacts of
above schemes and provide recommendations of how they could be
addressed.
Derive key messages for specific target/audience for use in
influencing increase in child sensitive social protection programming
including modifications of new interventions to improve effectiveness
and increased allocation of resources to improve children coverage and
improved programme design, implementation and monitoring.
Draft report and present key findings to Save the Children and
primary stakeholders and capture feedback to enable refine and finalise
the report.
Finalise and submit report to Save the Children.
Methodology
Upon approval of methodology and tools (within first week of contract),
the consultant will collect and analyse existing secondary data.
The consultant will provide a proposed participatory methodology and
sampling strategy to Save the Children of how they will obtain the
information from qualitative methods, as appropriate.
Estimated number of respondents and/or informants to be interviewed by each tool should be specified.
Specify how you will interview individual and focussed group adolescent,
girls and young adults, parents and care givers ensuring equal gender
participation and perception capture as well as capture of views and
perceptions of children from minority groups.
The consultant will interview partners implementing the social transfer
schemes and earlier mentioned stakeholders such as UNICEF, Children’s
Department and other relevant GoK departments, child focussed NGOs,
donors (World Bank, DFID, etc) and providers of payment services (banks
and mobile phone companies).
Interview organised groups of children such as Children Parliament.
Outputs
Inception report detailing specifying methodology for data
collection, tools for data collection and work plan to be reviewed and
approved by Save the Children.
A presentation summarising the key findings.
A draft report detailing the findings from above tasks with
clear recommendations to Save the Children on relevant and appropriate
interventions to support increase in child sensitive social protection
programmes.
Final report (both hard and soft copy).
Profile of desired consultants
Advanced University degree social studies or related field.
Proven knowledge and experience in undertaking research focussed on children.
Proven practical experience in interviewing children (including adolescents and young adults).
Experience in child focussed programming.
Demonstrated understanding of gender relations and gender equality principles, including in the household context.
Excellent skills organising, facilitating, presentation and communication skills.
Skills in designing and undertaking advocacy with government, UN agencies, donors, NGOs, private sector, etc.
Experience working/ undertaking research in arid and semi areas of Northern Kenya.
2. Curiculum Consultant
Summary of Current Programmes
With funding from diverse donors we are implementing programmes in
Wajir, Mandera, Turkana, Nairobi, Garissa and Bungoma Counties. Our
programming covers the areas of Health and nutrition, HIV and AIDS,
Education, Food Security and Livelihoods, Water hygiene and sanitation,
child protection and child right programming.
Background
The Adolescent Girls Initiative Program (AGI-K), funded by the UK
Department for International Development (DFID), provides a unique and
exciting opportunity to reach at least 6200 adolescent girls ages 11-14
in two marginalized geographies in Kenya – Northern arid lands and urban
slums in Nairobi.
A range of interventions in the health, prevention of violence, wealth
creation, and education sectors will be evaluated through a randomized
controlled trial including the costing of each packages implementation
to provide evidence on the most cost effective combinations which have
the greatest impact.
The rationale is that “Investment in adolescent girls, if made early,
and before they start dropping out of school at age 13-14, will break
the downward spiral into early pregnancy, early marriage and
intergenerational poverty.”
Thus evidence from research will influence national policy and support
scaled up, cost-effective interventions for adolescent girls in the
future.
To reach this goal, an integrated approach to the curriculum development
process is proposed, leveraging the learning from other curriculums
that have been developed by various agencies working with very young
adolescents (VYAs).
The curricula include:
1) Health, life skills and nutrition,
2) Financial education, and
3) Community dialogues.
The Position
An experienced consultant is sought to help design the revisions that
have currently been undertaken from various existing curricula.
Purpose and Results
The purpose of the consultancy:
To review, revise, simplify and adapt the current curriculum to the Somali (Wajir) context.
The simplified versions include pictorials to be used during discussion sessions
To produce an integrated learning curriculum based on the revisions
To translate important key terms into Somali language(in the glossary page)
To incorporate topics that are previously missing specifically early marriage, FGM and WASH
The key outputs of the curriculum Development Consultant
Review all the existing curriculum identified for use, after which revisions be made on the curriculum
Translate key terms into Somali language
Develop new sessions on early marriage, FGM and WASH
The outcomes of the curriculum Development Consultant
To produce a revised and simplified version including
pictorials of curriculum adapted to the Wajir context to be utilized by
mentors
Production of a word document of the final curriculum incorporating all topics mentioned above
Translated version of the glossary (key terms)
Description and Deliverables
Working closely with the Project Manager of the Adolescent Girls
Initiative project and Save the Children’s Country Office Technical
Advisors, the Curriculum Development Consultant will perform the
following tasks:
Review the curriculums identified by the Project Manager and AGI partners
Determine which sections to simplify and revise comparing different curriculums which will be provided by the manager
Incorporate additional topics on FGM, Early marriage and WASH
Ensure cultural relevance of all curriculum sessions
Make additional changes after pre-test/pilot-testing of curricula
Provide a reasonable timeline for the completion of the task
Present a word document and facilitate a discussion meeting with Save Technical Advisors on the revised version
Work Location
The Consultant should be based in Nairobi, but will work remotely in the Save offices should the need arise.
Competencies
Proven ability to demonstrate innovate thinking
Ability to work independently to strict timelines
Ability to contribute to and comfortably work in a multi-disciplinary setting
Excellent planning and facilitation skills
Cultural awareness and sensitivity
Strong interpersonal team work and communication skills
Excellent written and spoken English skills and sound reporting skills; Somali language skills are an advantage
Qualifications
Advanced educational background in one of the areas of:
Social Sciences, Education, Curriculum Development or any other related
field
Proven track record of training curricula (and manual) development
At least 7 years of experience in development, assessment and
evaluation of curriculum, teaching and learning resources required
Experience with action learning and work integrated curricula
Thorough understanding of issues in Northern Eastern Province.
Additional information
Start date: ASAP
Interested applicants should forward relevant particulars including CV’s
outlining contacts of three referees to
Kenya.jobapplications@savethechildren.org. by 30 October 2014.
You will also need a weekly budget to cover your expenses like bottled
water, personal costs, public transport, beverages and entertainment.
