Individual National consultancy to support an assessment of the child protection Parenting Education Programme( In 12 Districts))

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged in order children to save their lives,to defend their right and to help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone and we never give up.

For every child, [Protection]

The aim is to assess whether the Parenting Education Programme has been implemented effectively and whether it has brought about positive change in the knowledge and behaviour of parents and caregivers in how to protect their children from violence.

How can you make a difference?

Background and Rationale

Positive and supportive parenting is essential for the physical and mental development and wellbeing of children from the early years, throughout childhood and adolescence, and into adulthood. Children who grow in a secure, loving and nurturing home environment are better able to cope with life’s challenges and achieve their full potential. Consistent positive parenting helps to develop strong self-control, reduces risks, builds the resilience of a child to cope with setbacks and has long-term benefits for children, communities and society at large.

As part of its strategy to prevent violence against children, the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDGEC) established the Parenting Education Programme in 2015, targeting parents and caregivers of school-age children. The programme aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of parents and caregivers on ways to protect children from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and how to develop and practice non-violent discipline techniques in child rearing.

Purpose and Objectives

After four years of implementation, the MoHCDGEC, with support from UNICEF, will conduct a rapid assessment of the Parenting Education Programme. The aim is to assess whether the intervention has been implemented effectively and whether it has brought about positive change in the knowledge and behaviour of parents and caregivers in how to protect their children from violence.

The specific objectives of the assessment are:

1. To assess the efficiency in delivery of the Parenting Education Programme and its effectiveness in reaching its overall objectives.

2. To assess the impact of the programme on its participants, including self-reported changes in knowledge and attitudes towards children and child discipline methods.

3. To assess the sustainability of the programme and its potential for replication and scaling up to other districts/regions.

4. To develop recommendations for the way forward for the Parenting Education Programme

The assessment will generate evidence on the efficacy of the programme as a core intervention in preventing violence against children and will inform the finalization of a comprehensive guideline for Community Development Officers (CDOs) for establishing, monitoring and reporting on parenting groups in the Mainland as part of the Parenting Education Programme. A zero draft of the guideline has been developed by the MoHCDGEC.

Methodology and technical approach

The rapid assessment will use both quantitative and qualitative methods. A more detailed work plan will be developed with the support of the national consultant:

• Gather and review implementation and progress reports and available data related to the Parenting Education Programme in Mbeya, Iringa, Njombe, Songwe, Mwanza, Kilimanjaro, Dar es Salaam and Kigoma, including number of parenting groups established, number of participants (male/female), and number of sessions attended.
• Conduct key informant interviews: two or three at national level (MoHCDGEC); three at regional level (PO-RALG); 10 Community Development Officers and other officers in charge of parenting groups at regional and district levels
• Conduct a short survey with 300 parents and caregivers (100 per region/50 per district) who have completed the parenting sessions. This will involve training four people per district (one male and three female) to implement the survey plus one supervisor for each region.
• Conduct two focus group discussions per region (one per selected district) with members of parenting groups.

Scope of work:

• This study is expected to start from October 2020 and a final report should be submitted within three months.
• This study requires data collection from 12 Districts across Mbeya, Iringa, Mwanza, Njombe, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam.

Tasks, deliverables and time frame

The consultant will undertake the following tasks:

1. Organize an inception meeting with UNICEF, MoHCDGEC and the parenting taskforce (to be established for this assessment, consisting of relevant stakeholders) to discuss the methodology and expectations of the assessment.
2. Support the development of the research methodology, including research tools that will be used, the risks and how these will be addressed, and the sampling strategy in consultation with UNICEF and key Government stakeholders.
3. Prepare an inception report outlining detailed components and work plan
4. Organize a meeting with UNICEF and Government stakeholders to review the assessment tools.
5. Prepare, translate into Kiswahili and pre-test the research instruments in collaboration with the parenting taskforce.
6. Conduct training of data collectors.
7. Conduct field research as per proposed and agreed methodology.
8. Analyze the collected data.
9. Prepare draft assessment report with findings and recommendations, based on an agreed report outline, and share it with UNICEF. UNICEF will then circulate to MoHCDGEC and the parenting taskforce for review/input.
10. Organize a stakeholders meeting to discuss the key findings, and the draft report.
11. Finalize full assessment report based on comments and suggestions and submit to UNICEF. UNICEF will then circulate the report to MOHCDGEC and the parenting taskforce. The report shall be based on the UNICEF standard format.
12. Organize a final stakeholders meeting to validate the final report.

Deliverables and reporting requirements

Tasks

Deliverables

Timeframe (days)

Deliverable 1: Inception meeting held with UNICEF and Government stakeholders. Draft work plan (with timeline) presented to UNICEF and partners and finalized. Inception report with background, approach, methodology and sampling shared with UNICEF.

Inception Report

5 days

Deliverable 2: Development of the assessment tools for quantitative and qualitative research, validation and approval by UNICEF and government stakeholders. Training of data collectors conducted, and field work completed.

Research tools in English and Kiswahili for data collection Finalized training materials Raw qualitative and quantitative data

21 days

Deliverable 3: Data analysis, quality check and report writing

Final data

Draft assessment report

8 days

Deliverable 4: Stakeholder meeting organized with UNICEF and key government partners to present the findings

PowerPoint presentation of objectives, methodology and key assessment findings; meeting report; outline of the guidelines

3 days

Deliverable 5:

Review and incorporate comments from stakeholders. Final stakeholder meeting organized to validate final report.

Revised assessment report with feedback incorporated;

Final assessment report submitted

3 days

Total 40 days****To qualify as an advocate for every child you will need to have......

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Social sciences or related field
• A minimum of [Ten years] of relevant professional experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative research in the development sector, preferably on child protection, child development, violence against children, parenting or related topics.
• Previous experience in conducting similar rapid assessments for established development organizations, particularly the UN and other multinational agencies.
• Demonstrated experience in survey design and implementation, use of Software packages for quantitative and qualitative data analysis, report writing and publication.
• Experience developing reports and presentations for publication.
• Fluency in English and Swahili is required (oral and written).
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills
• Previous experience working with the UN and Government an advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are...

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.