Dec 27, 2010

Vacancy for Consultant(s) for School Assessment of Learn Without Fear Campaign

1. Background
Learn Without Fear is a global campaign initiated by Plan International since 2008 based on the fact that every day, millions of children in the world experience phsycological, gender-based punishment in form of bullying. Bullying is one form of violence often occurs in schools where boys are more likely than girls to be both victims and perpetrators, though there are chances of girls experience the similar condition. Moreover, boys are also more likely to use physical intimidation and violence, while girls tend towards verbal and social bullying in form of peer exclusion. Bullying is often associated with violence at home where children learn that violence is the main way to negotiate a relationship. Children who suffer family violence are more likely to be bullies and be bullied. Bullying is also more common in schools which are overcrowded, with inadequate adult supervision and poor school policies. Children attending schools in violent or poor neighborhoods or where discrimination against ethnic or other groups is accepted are also more likely to experience violence. Most victims do not report what they are suffering because they blame themselves and feel ashamed. Moreover, few victims believe their schools will take real action to improve the situation.
Learn Without Fear campaign is based on the UN Children’s Rights Convention and Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) and is persuaded by the United Nations Secretary-General’s Study on Violence against Children on 2006. The Learn Without Campaign is executed in line with its global campaign yet adapted with local context in Plan’s working area in Indonesia. The campaign will be organized in different level: global level and national level in partnership with other international institution and governments at community and individual level. Using the CCCD approach in grassroot effort is very important as violence against children is another form of abuse to their rights and suffer long term consequences which can ruin their future. The violence is actually predictable and preventable; unfortunately, only the past 3 years that the media awareness about the violence at school issue is raised. This violence can be categorized as bullying, youth gangs, sexual harrasment, weapons, even violence with disciplinary sake like corporal and emotional punishment.
Plan Indonesia has a mission to create a safe environment for children where they are appreciated and their rights are met. The environment is not only at home or other dwelling place, but also at school. With child-friendly school environment, children will grow to the fullest. Violence at schools, not only will distract learning process, but it will also ruin child’s growth process. In line with the mission, Plan Indonesia initiated an awareness raising amongst the society and stakeholders by developing Sekolah yang Ramah Anak (SRA) or Child Friendly School. The process will begin with a campaign about the importance of SRA. To develop a campaign strategy that meets the core issue, accurate information regarding violence conducts, including bullying, sexual abuse, and corporal punishments in schools are necessary.
To obtain the above information, Plan Indonesia has planned to assess violence in schools, particularly at the primary school level in 8 Program Units which are Grobogan, Kebumen, Rembang, Dompu, Kefamenanu, Soe, Sikka and Lembata. Therefore, Plan Indonesia is seeking consultant(s) who are proficient in child protection and participation issues and in capacity building, training and knowledge sharing for development purposes to conduct the assessment.

2. Purpose of Assessment
In general, this assessment is aimed to identify and assess behavior, type and perpetrators of violence in schools, especially in primary schools, and also referral system applied in the schools and students’ perception of violence in their school environment. In particular, this assessment is aimed to:

To collect quantitative and qualitative data about the intensity of violence exploitation suffered by students (whether physically, phycologically, or sexually) in schools, also the frequency, and students and teacher perspective on violence in school.
To collect data about students expectation on Child-Friendly School development and Learn Without Fear Campaign in schools.
To make recommendation together with students and to work out a campaign strategy for Child-Friendly School development.

3. Target Group
The focus will be on young pupils enrolled in primary schools grade 4 to 6, teachers, principals and relevant stakeholders in Plan’s targeted areas which are Grobogan, Kebumen, Rembang, Dompu, Kefamenanu, Soe, Sikka and Lembata.

4. Methods of Assessment
Data on above aspects will be collected using universally accepted procedures and tools, including interviews using questionnaires and focused group discussions etc. Data collection tools and instruments will be developed by consultant(s), and those tools and instruments will be introduced to the PU Staff who will jointly facilitate the assessment process. Possible use of data entry using a computer system can be considered to facilitate the process of data entry and data analysis. Consultant(s) are expected to reflect preliminary outlines of the methodology to be used. However, detailed assessment design including methodology and instruments of data collection will be finalized through mutual consultation and with inputs from Plan Indonesia team.
A combination of primary data collection and secondary data review is expected during the assessment. Primary data will be collected through variety of methods, including interviews and focus group discussions with targeted groups.

5. Nature and Size of Sample
It will be stratified-random sample, representing 8 Plan’s working areas, selected schools, urban and rural areas, and both girls and boys, female and male. The size of the sample is linked with the methodology to be adopted for data collection, elements to be covered in the process of data collection, and the instruments to be used for collection of data. The selection of sample of respondents and schools should be consulted with Plan Indonesia team.

6. Scope of Work
To conduct assessment, consultant(s) will examine project documents, project work plan, project reports and conduct interviews to relevant stakeholders.
From designing the questionnaires and interviews in assessment; and analyzing the data, consultant(s) should be able to respond to the following key questions, and are tasked to provide conclusive statements as well as their reasons and supporting evidence. Consultant(s) will train PU staff to help them in data collection and data entry.
Details will be worked out and reflected in the assessment design which will be prepared by the consultant selected for this assessment

7. Key Questions to be covered
This assessment is hopely can explore some data regarding:
1. Children of which age-range and gender who often become victims of such violence.
2. Major type of violence children suffer the most.
3. Perpetrators of violence
4. Will perpetrators be reported or punished?
5. Locations where violence are rampant
6. Availibility of refferal institution for complaints or reported violence
7. What sort of support the school violence survivors shall obtain
8. Children prespective about schools and its devices.
9. Violence effect for students in schools.
10. Community and parents prespective about violence in schools
11. The capacity building frequency for educators in school concerning children’s rights, participation, and protection.
12. What are some actions done by schools to prevent, decline, and tackle the problem of violence in schools.
13. Children participation to prevent and decline violence in schools.

8. Deliverables
Consultant(s) are expected to deliver as follows to Plan Indonesia:
1) Assessment protocols, detailing the assessment activity timeline and proposed instruments (if any), for discussion and approval (before starting the field work)
2) Developing a computer based system that user-friendly for data entry and data analysis
3) Delivering training to PU team and relevant Plan’s staff regarding assessment tools and instruments; assessment activity timeline; assessment strategy and methods in the field
4) Submission of the draft report in English language in the format attached as Annex 1 within two weeks upon completion of the field work
5) Submission of the FINAL Report in English language in the format attached as Annex 1 within one week after receiving the feedback from the Plan Indonesia team on the draft report
6) Presentation of the report to the Plan’s key project stakeholders and representatives of project beneficiaries
7) Properly filed/archived hard copies of filled-in questionnaire (if were used), transcripts of any discussions and interviews etc, and also data set

9. Timeframe
Assessment process is expected to be conducted starting in January 2011 (develops tools and methods, if possible do field work). The total duration of the evaluation will be up to 30 effective working days within period of January – February 2010. Consultant(s) will be paid for actual days worked.

The schedule for major activities is anticipated as follows:

3-5 days preparation (documents review, initial meeting with Plan program staff)
3-5 days training (to train PU staff in assessment instruments and tools, data collection and data entry)
6-8 days in the field
7-8 days data analysis and writing the report
1 day debriefing
· 3 days for report revision
· 1 day for final report presentation
10. Ethical Guidelines

It is expected that consultant(s) should adhere to the ethical issues of Child Protection, which are:
1. Consent: It is important to always get the consent of children when doing a research interview with them or when using their story as part of the research. However, there are some parts of the research like using monitoring forms or general information from statistics that may not need consent as they are about the general situation. Consent can be verbal or written – whichever the evaluation team think is better for the person who is part of the evaluation.
2. Confidentiality: It is important to respect confidentiality within evaluation. For example, it can be useful to change the names of individuals when using their case study in a report – or to use no name. A good practice is that a child is asked first whether an evaluator can share information, before they tell their information to anyone else. But an evaluator should not promise to keep secrets from other team members as this could create problems in the future. It is good to let children know from the outset that the information that they share with the evaluator may be shared with other members of the team. There are some occasions when it may be necessary to break confidentiality – this is when the child is threatened or in danger.
3. Privacy: It is important to respect the privacy of a child and not ask invasive questions. While an adult may be able to say “no, I don’t want to answer that” a child may not be able to say that they feel uncomfortable. It is always good to allow the child the right not to answer any questions and to let them know that is OK.
4. Expectations: It is important that the child does not have their expectations raised unrealistically in evaluation. Therefore, an evaluator should not make promises that they cannot keep.
11. Qualifications and Professional Experience Requirements
The assessment team will consist of the two independent consultants (one consultant will responsible to develop the strategy, methodology, instruments and tools of the assessment while the other consultant will responsible to develop database system using user-friendly program based on the instruments), who have demonstrated capacities and achievements in the professional fields that are directly relevant to this assessment work.
The qualifications required for this consultancy are:
· Post graduate qualification in social science and/or a related computer system field
· Professional expertise in development and implementation of result-based project/program framework and child protection and participation issues
· Around 10 years of cumulative consultancy experience in international development setting and in conducting program/project assessment, to provide strategic recommendations for continued support/development of programming/strategies
· Extensive experience of working with local authorities and donors
· Experience in conducting project assessment or survey, research
· Has good analytical skills and evaluation report writing skills and fluency in written and spoken English
· Excellent interpersonal communication and presentation skills


II. Expression of Interest

Applications are invited from suitably qualified consultant(s). Interested team or firms should submit a proposal and a covering letter justifying your team/firm suitability for the assignment; current CV(s) for key members of the team applying for consideration; daily rate quote(s) and a brief description of your team/firm (for applicants other than individual contractors) to Devi Miarni (Plan’s Research & Evaluation Specialist) at Devi.Miarni@plan-international.org and copy to Supriyono (Plan’s PME Manager) at Supriyono.Supriyono@plan-international.org before 17.00 on Friday, 7th January 2011. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and get the complete TOR.

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Regards,

Devi Miarni
Plan International Indonesia

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