Plan International
Baseline Survey Terms of reference
Youth for Change: Transforming Child Protection and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Communities in Humanitarian Contexts
&
LEAP (Learn, Earn and Prosper) Project – “Taking the Leap Forward (LEAP) – South Sudanese Youth Learn, Earn and Prosper” (Lakes State, South Sudan)”
Plan International South Sudan & Ethiopia
January 2023
Baseline summary
Donors
- German Federal Foreign Office – GFFO
German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development -BMZ
Project names
– “Youth for Change: Transforming Child Protection and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Communities in Humanitarian Contexts” funded by GFFO
– “Taking the Leap Forward (LEAP) – South Sudanese Youth Learn, Earn and Prosper” (Lakes State, South Sudan)” funded by BMZ
Project target areas
Ethiopia: Region of Tigray, Benishangul-Gumuz and Region of Afar.
- South Sudan:
- Greater Pibor Administrative Area: Counties of Pibor and Gumuruk
- Lakes States: Counties of Rumbek Center and Wulu.
Nexus approach (GFFO and BMZ) in South Sudan, Lakes State, counties of Rumbek Center and Wulu.
Duration
GFFO: from 01.07.2022 to 30.06.2024 (24 months)
BMZ: from 15.10.2022 to 14.09.2025 (36 months)
Project goals
GFFO:
– Children, adolescents and young people (CAY), especially girls and young women, affected by crisis in Ethiopia and South Sudan, are empowered and supported through gender sensitive protection and SRHR programs to realize their rights safely with dignity.
BMZ:
– Adolescents and youth in Lakes State of South Sudan live together peacefully and are empowered to make informed and self-determined decisions about their bodies, their productive activities, and their futures.
Project outcomes
GFFO:
1. Children, adolescents and young people (CAY) have acquired skills and knowledge about their wellbeing, health, and protection from violence, neglect, exploitation and abuse.
2. Children, adolescents and young people (CAY) live in safe families and communities that support them in overcoming SRHR and protection risks.
3. Adolescents and at-risk children have access to adolescent-friendly and gender-responsive CP and SRHR services and an age- and gender-responsive coordinated humanitarian response.
BMZ:
1. Adolescents and youth develop positive attitudes and confidence to make healthy choices regarding their SRGR and are actively supported by their families and communities.
2. Adolescents and youth are supported to access comprehensive SRH services that are age and gender sensitive.
3. Participants: inside the LIC in Rumbek achieve stabilization or increase in their food production and income through subsistence production and income-generating activities.
4. The youth participants of the Rumbek LIC develop and market new products or service offerings through improved business networks and financing models.
Beneficiaries of the projects
GFFO:
101,172 people will directly benefit – 41,462 of them in South Sudan and 59,710 in Ethiopia. Of these, 20% are refugees, 40% IDPs, 38% people from host communities and 2% other participants.
South Sudan
Age group
Male
Female
#
%
#
%
0-13 (children)
1.790
4%
3.540
9%
14 – 18 (Adolescents)
6.351
15%
14.443
35%
18 and > (adults)
6.458
16%
8.880
21%
14.599
35 %
26.863
65 %
Total
41.462
Ethiopia
Age group
Male
Female
#
%
#
%
0-13 (children)
8.840
15%
9.982
17%
14 – 18
(Adolescents)
14.722
25%
12.124
20%
18 and > (adults)
7.335
12%
6.707
11%
30.897
52%
28.813
48%
Total
59.710
BMZ:
South Sudan
14.515 people will directly benefit. Direct beneficiaries of the project come from host communities. About 20% of the direct beneficiaries are estimated to be IDPs who have moved in recent years.
Age group
Male
Female
#
%
#
%
0-13 (children)
203
1%
353
3%
14 – 18
(Adolescents)
1.501
10%
2.051
14%
18 -24 (adults)
3.991
28%
6.416
44%
5.695
39%
8820
61%
Total
14.515
Purpose of the baseline
– To determine baseline values for the indicators against which progress will be assessed.
– To validate the suitability of the indicators in terms of the measurability of the project objectives and, if necessary, to refine and adjust indicators and target values.
– To identify any gender bias and discrimination barriers and propose measures to mitigate/solve them.
Primary research methods
-Quantitative: Survey
-Qualitative: Focus Groups Discussions and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Document review
Proposed dates for the baseline assessment
February 13 – March 25 (the latest)
- About Plan International
Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that strives to advance children’s rights and equality for girls all over the world. We strive to advance children’s rights and equality for girls all over the world. As an independent development and humanitarian organisation, we work alongside children, young people, our supporters and partners to tackle the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge. For over 80 years Plan International has been building powerful partnerships for children, and it is active in over 75 countries.
Plan International works South Sudan in since 2006 with its main office in Juba and operates in Central & Eastern Equatoria, Lakes and Jonglei states. The country office has implemented a variety of programmes focusing on supporting children adolescent, young adults and their families in crisis situations, especially girls and young women, in their protection, SRHR and access to education, training and livelihoods (child protection, education, food security and livelihoods, nutrition, WASH, shelter and non-food items) to support IDPs and host communities.
Plan International works in Ethiopia since 1974and is an established player in the country, with an extensive presence in the capital Addis Ababa, as well as the regional states including Benishangul-Gumuz, Tigay, Amhara, Oromia, Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’ and Gambella. Plan International’s work focuses on child protection, especially in crisis situations. In this sector, the country office has already implemented a variety of projects, both with refugees and IDPs as well as with the local population in many regions of the country.
1.1 The Nexus approach in the context of the implementation of two combined projects with parallel funding by the Federal Foreign Office and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
Plan International is looking for a consulting firm to conduct a baseline study for two projects which are complementary in a nexus approach with each other, with parallel funding by the Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) and German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The GFFO-funded project to be implemented in Ethiopia and South Sudan will start in parallel with the BMZ project and will cover the sectors of child protection (CP), Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and livelihoods (Cash and Voucher Assistance – CVA) in emergencies. In South Sudan, it will be implemented in the Nexus approach with the BMZ in Lakes State, in the counties of Rumbek Center and Wulu (for the GFFO project site Pibor in South Sudan and for the sites in Ethiopia no direct Nexus reference is planned).
In South Sudan, Rumbek Center and Wulu the two proposed projects present themselves as complementary interventions, with the GFFO proposed implementation targeting acute basic needs at village and community level in the areas of child protection and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), while the BMZ intervention takes a long-term development approach to permanently transform systems and consolidate existing structures, albeit in fragile environments. The overlapping areas of the two projects:
– Sexual and Reproductive Health. While the GFFO project identifies at-risk individuals and survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and refers them for further treatment, the BMZ project strengthens and equips the very health facilities to which survivors are referred, so that there are clear seams between the projects. While GFFO-funded activities will ensure basic awareness of SRHR among people at risk of GBV, adolescent and young people (AY), BMZ will help create long-term systems where SRHR is no longer a taboo, bringing together different components to achieve the overall goal.
– Livelihood and Shelter Trigger. The GFFO-supported cash and voucher assistance to vulnerable people will enable the food and non-food needs of vulnerable children and youth to be met in a timely manner, while the processing and sale of food in BMZ-supported Livelihood Incubation Centers (LICs – where CVA could potentially be used for production) will enable income generation for AY and their families, This sets in motion a virtuous cycle where humanitarian cash assistance is reinvested in the local economy, helping to reduce logistical burdens and support the functioning of local markets and the creation of employment opportunities. At the same time, BMZ’s livelihoods component, in conjunction with GFFO’s emergency assistance, helps reduce child protection incidents, such as transactional sex for food, and it is therefore directly related to the first and overlapping area described above: SRHR.
In designing the two projects, the two funding instruments were delineated: humanitarian assistance with GFFO and structural and sustainable transition assistance and development with BMZ. At the same time synergies from complementary approaches under the humanitarian-development peace nexus and the BMZ-GFFO Nexus approach were maximized.
- Background and description of the projects
2.1 Context – Ethiopia and South Sudan
For decades, the Horn of Africa region has been plagued by armed conflicts and natural disasters. Rivalries over land, water and valuable resources are fought along ethnic and political fault lines and often cross-national borders. Millions of people are on the run and/or have lost their livelihoods. The Covid 19 pandemic and the effects of the climate crisis, such as severe floods and the worst drought in over 40 years, have further worsened the plight of people in the already structurally weak countries of the region. Ethiopia and South Sudan have been particularly hard hit and are counted by WFP as global “hunger hotspots”. The Human Development Index (HDI) classifies 91.9% of South Sudanese as multidimensionally poor; in Ethiopia the figure is 68.7%. 76% of the population in South Sudan and 30.8% of the population in Ethiopia live below the poverty line of USD 1.90 per person/day (UNDP, 2021). In South Sudan, more than two-thirds of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance and protection in 2022, according to UN OCHA. In Ethiopia, 29 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection – a rapid year-on-year increase in both countries. But the humanitarian response is insufficient and slow as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. In South Sudan, only about a third of the requested funds have been allocated to the Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) so far; in Ethiopia, the figure is just under 40%.
Human rights organisations are concerned about the protection of civilians in conflict regions. Children, adolescents and young adults (CYCE), especially girls and young women, are severely affected by physical and psychological violence and restrictions on their rights. In SSD, 2 million people are displaced within the country; in Ethiopia there are over 5 million, in addition to the 821,000 refugees from neighbouring countries – the majority of whom are women and children. The risks of neglect, violence, exploitation and abuse of CYH are compounded by the dire humanitarian situation. In Ethiopia and South Sudan, 3.2 million children are in need of protection interventions each, according to UNICEF. Negative coping mechanisms such as child marriage are increasing significantly. Survivors of GBV lack adequate health and psychological support and virtually no legal recourse. Health facilities and specialised services are inadequately equipped and not attuned to the needs of CYH. There is also a general lack of social and information services and support networks for CYCE at critical stages of their development. In families and communities, the SRHR of young people, especially girls and young women, are suppressed. Sexuality is a taboo subject.
2.2 Description of the projects
2.2.1 Youth for Change – GFFO
The project “Youth for Change: Transforming Child Protection (CP) and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Communities in Humanitarian Contexts” is a two years multi-country intervention that is being implemented in parallel in South Sudan and Ethiopia. The project aims to empower children, adolescents and young adults (CYCE), mainly females between the ages of 10 and 24, in their protection and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in both countries. This is achieved through a multi-sectoral, multi-dimensional approach that actively involves the project’s target group, as well as their families and communities, and interlinks interventions in the areas of SRHR, child protection (CP) and livelihoods (through CVA).
Main components of the project include provision and access to trainings, awareness-raising activities, CP case management, psycho-social support services, community sensitizations, counselling on positive parenting, child- and youth-friendly spaces, distributions of non-food items, cash and voucher assistance. In addition, the health centers and other key actors will be supported so to make SRHR services more youth-friendly and gender-sensitive.
The project goal is “Children, adolescents and young adults (CYCE), especially girls, affected by crises in Ethiopia and South Sudan are empowered and supported to exercise their rights safely and with dignity through gender-sensitive protection and SRHR programs” and its strategic outcomes are:
- Children, adolescents and young people (CAY) have acquired skills and knowledge about their wellbeing, health, and protection from violence, neglect, exploitation and abuse.
- Children, adolescents and young people (CAY) live in safe families and communities that support them in overcoming SRHR and protection risks.
- Adolescents and at-risk children have access to adolescent-friendly and gender-responsive CP and SRHR services and an age- and gender-responsive coordinated humanitarian response.
A total of 101,172 people will directly benefit from the intervention- 41,462 of them in South Sudan and 59,710 in Ethiopia. Of these, 20% are refugees, 40% IDPs, 38% people from host communities and 2% other participants. With an average number of 6 members per household, a total of 586,151 indirect beneficiaries are assumed.
The project is primarily aimed at – mainly female – between 10 and 24 years of age but targets also their friends, partners, families and communities. The project follows a participatory approach where members of the target communities actively shape the project and play a leading role in the implementation of the activities.
South Sudan – target group disaggregated data
Age group
Male
Female
#
%
#
%
0-13 (children)
1.790
4%
3.540
9%
14 – 18 (Adolescents)
6.351
15%
14.443
35%
18 and > (adults)
6.458
16%
8.880
21%
14.599
35 %
26.863
65 %
Total
41.462
Ethiopia – target group disaggregated data
Age group
Male
Female
#
%
#
%
0-13 (children)
8.840
15%
9.982
17%
14 – 18 (Adolescents)
14.722
25%
12.124
20%
18 and > (adults)
7.335
12%
6.707
11%
30.897
52%
28.813
48%
Total
59.710
2.2.2 LEAP – BMZ
The project “Taking the Leap Forward (LEAP) – South Sudanese Youth Learn, Earn and Prosper” is a three-year intervention implemented in South Sudan. The project aims to contribute to strengthening the social and economic situation of the adolescents and young people (AY) and their capacity to shape it in a self-determined way.
Through the implementation of different activities AY and their families and communities will improve the knowledge and behavior in the area of SRHR, in order to be able to make informed and self-determined decisions about partner choice, possible pregnancies, sexual preferences free of stigmas and disadvantages or even persecution. At the same time AY will acquire technical skills that will enable them to better meet their own needs (and those of their families), especially with regard to food, through its production and processing.
The project goal is “Adolescents and youth in Lakes State of South Sudan live together peacefully and are empowered to make informed and self-determined decisions about their bodies, their productive activities, and their futures” and its strategic outcomes are:
- AY are empowered to make confident and autonomous decisions about their SRHR and are actively supported by their families and communities to do so.
- Children, adolescents and youth are supported in accessing comprehensive SRH services that are age and gender sensitive.
- The AY participants of the Livelihood Incubation Center (LIC) in Rumbek achieve a stabilization or increase in their food production and income through subsistence production and income-generating activities.
- The AY participants: inside the Rumbek LIC develop and market new products or service offerings through improved business networks and financing models.
14.515 people will directly benefit from the intervention. Direct beneficiaries of the project come from host communities where they, together with the (former) IDPs, now live largely integrated as part of the communities. IDP status can therefore only conditionally be assigned to all individuals. About 2,900 of the direct beneficiaries (20%) are estimated to be internally displaced persons who have moved in recent years. With an average number of 6 members per household, a total of 319,188 indirect beneficiaries are assumed.
The project will support the most vulnerable girls and boys (14-18 years) and young adults (18-24 years) from these groups, especially young parents, single young mothers and/or fathers, people with disabilities.
Target group disaggregated data
Age group
Male
Female
#
%
#
%
0-13 (children)
203
1%
353
3%
14 – 18
(Adolescents)
1.501
10%
2.051
14%
18 -24 (adults)
3.991
28%
6.416
44%
5.695
39%
8820
61%
Total
14.515
2.3 Geographic location of the projects
Youth for Change-GFFO project will be implemented in Ethiopia in the regions of Benishangul-Gumuz, Tigray and Afar and in South Sudan in Jonglei State in Pibor Central District and in Lakes State in the counties of Rumbek Center and Wulu.
LEAP-BMZ project will be implemented in Lakes State in the counties of Rumbek Center and Wulu
Nexus approach GFFO-BMZ: Lakes State, counties of Rumbek Center and Wulu – 7 payams
Ethiopia: Regions of Benishangul-Gumuz, Tigray and Afar
Benishangul-Gumuz: in Asosa Zone area & Metekel area in 4 districts, Dibate covering 5 villages (Berber, Dibate Town, Zigih, Anglok, Parzait), Dangur covering 4 villages (in the villages of Mambuk Town, Azarti, Jimitya Gublak, Qutir), Bambasi covering 2 villages (Bambasi 01 and Bambasi 02) and Buldigu covering 3 villages (Buldigu, Daleti, and Godere).
Afar: in the district of Chifera covering 3 villages (Chifra 1, Andarkalo, and Masjid).
Tigray: Raya Chercher District (4 communities)
South Sudan: States of Jongeli and Lakes.
State of Jongeli: in Pibor Central District in the locality of Gogolthin covering 4 villages (Kondako, Hai Jalaba East, Hai Jalaba West and Hai Kanisha East) and in the locality of Langachot covering 7 villages (Thambe, Hau Jakaour, Hai Langachot, Hai Matar A, Hai Matar B, Hai Muduria and Hai Sanduk).
State of Lakes: in Rumbek Center covering 3 payams ( Magatagai, Jijr, Nyangkot and Amongpny) and in Wulu region covering 4 payams (Domoloto, Bargel and Rumbek Wulu).
- Purpose of the Baseline
Primary objectives of the baseline:
– To determine and provide quantitative baseline values for the indicators against which progress will be assessed or comparisons made;
– To validate the suitability of the indicators in terms of the measurability of the project objectives and, if necessary, make suggestions to refine and adjust indicators and target values;
– To identify any child rights situation and gender bias and discrimination barriers and propose measures to mitigate/solve them.
Secondary objective of the baseline study:
– Provide recommendations on how to improve projects programmatically
List of outcomes and their respective indicators to be measured are outlined in the table below for each project:
Youth for Change – GFFO
Humanitarian aid area
South Sudan: States of Jongeli and Lakes
Ethiopia: Regions of Benishangul-Gumuz, Tigray and Afar
LEAP – BMZ
Structural Transition Assistance Area
South Sudan: Lakes State
Project Goal: Children, adolescents and young adults (CYCE), especially girls, affected by crises in Ethiopia and South Sudan are empowered and supported to exercise their rights safely and with dignity through gender-sensitive protection and SRHR programs.
Project Goal: Adolescents and youth in Lakes State of South Sudan live together peacefully and are empowered to make informed and self-determined decisions about their bodies, their productive activities, and their futures.
Outcome 1: Children, adolescents and young people (CAY) gain skills and knowledge about their health, well-being, and protection from violence, neglect, exploitation, and abuse.
Indicators:
- 1.1: % of targeted CAY who report feeling confident about their life skills
- 1.2: % of targeted adolescents and young people (AY) who feel able to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health
- 1.3: % of CAY who report to apply positive practices that promote their wellbeing, health and safety
Outcome 2: Children, adolescents and young people (CAY) live in safe families and communities that support them in overcoming SRHR and protection risks.
Indicators:
- 2.1: % of targeted CAY who approached a trusted adult with a question on SRHR, harmful practices or protection concerns
- 2.2: % of targeted CAY who report positive parent-child interaction at family level
- 2.3 % of targeted parents and caregivers who report positive parenting practices with children
- 2.4: % of CAY that report positive changes to their wellbeing, resilience and coping mechanisms as a result of MHPSS support
Outcome 3: Adolescents and vulnerable children have access to youth-friendly and gender-sensitive child protection and SRGR services, as well as coordinated, age- and gender-responsive humanitarian intervention.
Indicators
- 3.1: % of adolescents and youth who consider SRHR and CP services to be adolescent- and gender-responsive, at the time asked
- 3.3: % of community members who are aware of CAY participation in advocacy and media coverage on SRHR and CP
- 3.4: % of consulted humanitarian actors who report satisfaction with Plan International’s engagement in coordination groups for the SRHR and protection needs of CAY affected by crises, in particular girls and young women.
Outcome 1: Adolescents and youth develop positive attitudes and confidence to make healthy choices regarding their SRGR and are actively supported by their families and communities.
Indicators:
- 1.1: By the end of the project (EoP) 75 % of participating adolescents and youth (AY) (13-24 years) in all their diversity feel confident to make informed decisions about their SRHR.
- 1.2: By EoP, X % of parents and caregivers (categorized according to age, sex and disability) report that they feel able to support their adolescents and youth on SRHR.
- 1.3: By EoP, X % of AY (categorized according to age, sex and disability) report to be supported by their families in pursuing their SRHR.
Outcome 2: Adolescents and youth are supported to access comprehensive SRH services that are age and gender sensitive.
Indicators:
- 2.1: As of EoP, X % of AY in all their diversity access SRH services at the selected health facilities.
- 2.2: At EoP, 60% of AY in all their diversity consider SRH services in the targeted health facilities to be age and gender transformative.
Outcome 3: Participants: inside the LIC in Rumbek achieve stabilization or increase in their food production and income through subsistence production and income-generating activities. (Outcome 3 will not be assessed during the baseline)
Indicators:
- 3.1: By EoP, 70% of participants (50% female) report to have increased food production since participating the LIC trainings.
- 3.2: For the EoP, 50% of the participants (50% female) report that they have increased or stabilised their income since participating the LIC trainings.
Outcome 4: The youth participants of the Rumbek LIC develop and market new products or service offerings through improved business networks and financing models.
Indicators:
- 4.1: By EoP, 36 pilot businesses (50% women-led) have been founded and have commenced new productive activities. (This indicator will not be assessed during the baseline)
- 4.2: By EoP, 70% of the participating youth report know a sufficient number of trustful people and trading partners in their community.
- 4.3: By EoP, 70% of the targeted rural producers (incl. savings groups) report to engage in trade with LIC youth-led businesses in Rumbek. (This indicator will not be assessed during the baseline)
- Methods for Data Collection and Analysis
The selected consultant(s) will design a research methodology and a workplan for the baseline study. A mix of qualitative and quantitative methods will be used: the indicator values will be determined through quantitative methods such as surveys. For reasons of triangulation, validation and quality assurance, additional qualitative data collection methods such as focus group discussions and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) will be conducted.
It is expected that the consultant(s) will develop a detailed methodology for data collection, sampling methodologies for both the quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, a data management and analysis plan.
Sources of data should be properly documented, and data disaggregated by sex, age group (>18 and <18) and disability and any other context specific relevant criteria during collection and analysis.
All suggested tools will be discussed with project team before finalization and should be shared with the project teams as part of deliverables.
The project team will share with the consultant all the project documents. Additional secondary data sources might be used in the document review.
4.1 Sampling
The consultant (s) is expected to develop and suggest sampling strategies for all proposed methods of data collection, quantitative and qualitative. Sample sizes for quantitative data collection need to be representative of the respective beneficiary population. A 95% confidence interval and 5% margin of error to determine the sample is required.
Sample size for the qualitative data collection method should be clearly defined, including the selection criteria of participants.
-
- Participant Selection
Key stakeholders and target groups to be involved:
- Children, adolescents and young adults;
- Project team members;
- Parents and caregivers:
- Community leaders:
- Youth leaders;
- Health workers and teachers;
- Local authority representatives;
- National and international stakeholders.
- Users of the Baseline
The main users of the baseline will be the project team members, beneficiaries, community members and donors.
- Ethics and Child Protection
Plan International is committed to ensuring that the rights of those participating in data collection or analysis are respected and protected, in accordance with Ethical MERL Framework and our Child and Youth Safeguarding Policy. All applicants should include details in their proposal on how they will ensure ethics and child protection in the data collection process. Specifically, the consultant(s) shall explain how appropriate, safe, non-discriminatory participation of all stakeholders will be ensured and how special attention will be paid to the needs of children and other vulnerable groups. The consultant(s) shall also explain how confidentiality and anonymity of participants will be guaranteed.
- Key Baseline Deliverables and format
Deliverables expected from the consultant:
- Draft of the Inception Report including: an updated timeline, detailed methodology, including draft sampling methodology and size; draft data collection tools, ethical considerations, consent forms for any primary data collection, (draft) methods for data analysis, brief justification of the methods and techniques used (including relevant underlying values and assumptions/ theories) with a justification of the selections