JOMAY24006 Gender-responsive and inclusive needs assessment and baseline study of Combatting the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Jordan (2023-2026)

Background: Now entering its twelfth year, the conflict in Syria continues to have a drastic impact on Syrian refugee children as well as Jordanian children living in host communities. Children continue to experience different forms of violence, abuse, and exploitation in their communities. Increasing levels of poverty and lack of access to quality education among families have put an alarming number of girls and boys at risk of child labour and child marriage. Adolescents and youth have limited educational and economic opportunities and experience a sense of hopelessness and lack a future perspective. To address these risks and prevent the long-term harmful consequences on an entire generation of children, Plan International implements an integrated child protection, education, and economic empowerment program aimed to empower children and young people, in particular girls.

1. About Plan International

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. We believe in the power and potential of every child, but know this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. Working together with children, young people, supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood, and enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We place a specific focus on girls and young women, who are most often left behind. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for more than 80 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Plan International Jordan was established in 2016 and has programmes throughout the country (Amman, Jordan Valley, Karak, Jarash, Azraq camp, and Zarqa). Working in partnerships with local, national and international organisations (Tamkeen for Legal Aid and Human Rights and Jordan Valley Development and Reconstruction Association-JVRDA), Plan aims to support the recovery and resilience of Jordanian host populations and Syrian refugees.

Plan France National Office (FNO) is also commissioning office, as it provides funds to implement this project especially in the framework of support from the AFD (Agence Française de Développement). FNO oversees the CWFCL in Jordan project and leads communications with our donor AFD (Agence Française de Développement) as it guides Plan Jordan for the CWFCL overall project management especially in terms of Quality and Conformity.

2. Project Background

Funded by the French Development Agency (AFD), Plan International, in partnership with JVDRA and Tamkeen, will implement a 3-years project starting in October 2023. The overall objective of the project is to contribute to the elimination of Worst Forms of Child Labour in hazardous sectors through comprehensive and inclusive child protection prevention and response services.

The project is aiming to achieve the following results:

1. Children at risk from the targeted communities (6 to 17 years old, at least 50% of girls) after participating in the project, have improved knowledge, attitudes and practices to protect themselves from the WFCL hazardous sectors. The target is 700 girls and boys.
2. Targeted adolescents, parents and caregivers refrain from engaging in or sending their children to the WFCL in the hazardous sectors after participating in Plan’s Parenting for Protection Programme and/or benefit equitably from enhanced access to sustainable, dignifying livelihood skills-building opportunities. The target is 280 parents/ caregivers.
3. Targeted communities and civil society representatives, key national actors (National CLTF), local authorities, and employers in the targeted communities are better enabled to prevent and respond to the WFCL in the hazardous sectors. The target is 4200 community members reached through initiatives and awareness sessions.

3. Purpose of the study

The purpose of the gender responsive and inclusive needs assessment and baseline study in the selected areas of Zarqa and Balqa Governorates is to serve as a foundation for the adaptive programming approach to tailor effective and sustainable interventions and adequately address the causes and consequences of child labour based on the needs assessed. The study will include the following objectives: i) To determine the type, magnitude, dynamics, and causes of child labour among Jordanian and Syrian refugees in the study areas; ii) Establish the socio-economic characteristics of the working children and their families; iii) Investigate specific hazards encountered by children participating in various forms of child labour; iv) Map the available services for children and their families in the selected areas of Zarqa and Balqa governorates.

In addition, to understand existing gender roles, power dynamics, needs and desires of the different groups in the communities targeted by the project (girls, boys, women and men), it is essential to carry out a gender analysis in the inception phase. The analysis will explore existing role and relationships within the communities, see how gender relationships will impact upon the project, will assess the different needs, capacities and contributions from women, girls, men boys, taking into consideration the intersectionality of gender, age, disability and other exclusion factors.

Finally, the baseline report should identify baseline values against the project indicators. Considering a baseline was conducted for the Balqa governorate last year, this assessment will encompass Zarqa, while the previous baseline for Balqa will solely undergo review and updating.

4. Users of the study:

The primary users and audience of the gender responsive and inclusive needs assessment and baseline study will be Plan International, JVDRA, and Tamkeen. The secondary audience of the study will be the donor, the French Development Agency (AFD), who will use the findings and recommendations to strengthen their programme; and potentially the local and international community at large.

5. Proposed Methodology & Scope of work

The methodology of the study will depend upon the logical framework of the project. A mixed-method approach and participatory research approach will be applied, relying on both quantitative and qualitative data collection methodologies, to allow triangulation and thus ensuring the rigor of the findings, as well as to provide depth to the survey data by covering why and how questions.

Further to that, below are the four main principles that the study will be built on:

1. Inclusiveness—the methodology will include a wide range of viewpoints, specifically age, nationality, and disability-sensitivity when applicable.
2. Gender lens
3. Mixed-method approaches—both qualitative and quantitative methods will be presented in the methodology.
4. Rigor of evidence—gathered information will be reliable and transparent.

The sample size should be adequate and representative of the target groups in both governorates. The study will draw on the following sources:

• Desk review: review project documents, logical framework and other relevant plan sources of data to complete the assessment.
• Key informant interviews: Interviews will be conducted to gather in depth information on key questions with community leaders, service providers, and other stakeholders.
• Focus group discussions: To gather in depth information regarding the key purposes mentioned above.
• Community Surveys: Surveys should be distributed to members of the community including men, women, youth, children groups and others as appropriate, to collect numerical information related to the study’s main purposes beside collect data on demographics, socio-economic status, knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to positive parenting and child protection from WFCL.

The data collection is the responsibility of the consultant; however, the project partners will help in facilitating the communication between them and project stakeholders.

6. Ethical and Safeguarding Statements

Plan International is committed to ensuring that the rights of those participating in data collection or analysis are respected and protected, in accordance with the Ethical MERL Framework and our Global Safeguarding Policy. All applicants should include details in their proposal on how they will ensure ethics and safeguarding in the data collection process. Specifically, the consultant 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 shall also explain how confidentiality and anonymity of participants will be guaranteed.

Additionally, all parties involved in the data collection will be requested to provide their consent to participate in this study.

7. Key Deliverables

1. the consultant should submit an Inception Report, which clearly, the study’s methodology, such as clear outlines for the focus group discussions, KII questions, survey questionnaires and research timeline with specific deadlines for each deliverable. The inception report should also clearly explain the sampling methodology and sample size for the quantitative survey and a clear and logical number for the FGDs and KIIs. This should be submitted within Ten days from signing the contract.
2. A draft report to be submitted within 10 days of the completion of the data collection phase for review and comments from Plan International team. The review and feedback of the report could be more than one round depending on the quality of the report and the extent to which the comments and suggestions from first round have been incorporated.
3. A final report to be submitted after incorporating the comments of Plan International. The report should be written in English, consisting of:

• Cover page.
• Table of contents, list of acronyms, abbreviations and list of tables and charts.
• Executive summary of key findings and recommendations.
• Background information and context analysis presented per key criteria with a brief description.
• The methodology with clear explanation of sampling and limitations, KIIs, participants’ selection and data analysis approach.
• Findings of the gender responsive and inclusive needs assessment in Zarqa and Balqa governorates, analysis with associated data presented, where appropriate in clear graphs or charts. The findings can include subsections for each research criteria as suggested:
• Socio-economic profile of the target population: gather demographic data such as age, gender, education level, and income, analyse household composition and identify any vulnerable groups moreover assess the overall socio-economic status of the target population.
• Identifying the characteristics of child labour, key risk and protective factors for child labour, negative impacts of child labour on children, protection risks connected with child labour risks and factors that influence the risks on girls.
• Power relations between men and women, roles and responsibilities within the household, social and gender norms that influence how parents value education and

condone child labour, views and expectations of parents/caregivers with regards to adolescent girls, particularly girls’ education, child marriage, pregnancy and employment.

• The impact of child labour on education (participation and levels of education), factors that influence participation and education levels, especially for girls, community attitudes to education, views and priorities of already working children and other out-of-school children as well as children at risk of school dropout,

including adolescent girls.

• Existing economic opportunities and challenges faced by the target population: identify the types of businesses currently operating in the target area and analyse the income-generating potential of different livelihood options, coping mechanisms of families to meet basic needs, moreover assess the level of access to resources and services needed for business development.
• Assessment of Institutional Capacities: Assess the capabilities of private and governmental institutions, including their adherence to legal provisions concerning minimum age for work, light work, decent work, and Worst Forms of Child Labor (WFCL), including hazardous work lists.
• A baseline dataset containing disaggregated data by sex, age, and other relevant factors
• Conclusion and Recommendations.
• The recommendations should be framed according to each section of project.
• Appendices should include raw and clean collected data, detailed description of the methodology with research instruments, list of interviewees and consent forms, tools, list of key documents.

The report should be submitted electronically in a MS – Word document. The consultant is responsible for English editing and proofreading of the final report which should be well formatted. The report will be credited to the evaluator and potentially placed in the public domain at the decision of Plan International.

All handwritten and electronic transcripts of interviews and KIIs, hard copies of survey questionnaires, photographs taken during the assessment and any equipment received from Plan for the purpose of the study should be submitted to Plan. Furthermore, all information generated during the baseline study will be the sole property of Plan and is subject to submission to Plan, along with the final report, prior to the end of the contract.

8. Timeline

• Recruitment process deadline: 16/5/2024
• Deadline for the inception report and tools development: 28/5/2024
• Ethical Approval: 25/6/2024
• Deadline for finalizing data collection: 4/7/2024
• Data analysis: 10/7/2024
• Deadline for the draft report: 14/7/2024
• Validation workshop: 14-15/7
• Deadline for the final report: 21/7/2024

9. Evaluation Criteria

The proposal will be scored on technical (technical approach/methodology, previous experience, and team capacity), financial (budget), and gender responsiveness aspects weighted at 65%,30%, and 5% respectively.

• The distribution of technical grades will be as outlined below:
• Technical proposal quality, encompassing the workplan (30%)
• Past performance and similar assignments (20%)
• Proposed working methodology (30%)
• CVs of key staff (20%)

Final Technical score will be calculated out of 65%

Plan International defines a gender-responsive business as one that meets criteria for integrating gender equality and women’s empowerment principles in its policies and practices, and which is aligned to international norms and standards.

consultant must fulfil at least one of the following criteria to get 5 points:

• A woman-owned business i.e., “a business [which is] owned in whole, or at least more than half, by one or more women”
• Women occupy more than 35% of management positions in the organisation
• At least 55% of the workforce are women
• There are robust gender equality initiatives in place, e.g., a gender equality procurement policy, women empowerment principles are implemented in the organisational policies, etc.

10. Budget

The consultant should submit the total budget in the proposal with detailed breakdown including applicable government taxes.

11. Expected Qualifications

The Consultant should have the following competencies and qualifications:

• Minimum Master’s Degree in social studies, International Development or any other related field.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in undertaking gender responsive needs assessments and baseline studies in contexts similar to Jordan.
• Experience working in Jordan, preferably in the project’s target areas.
• Demonstrated expertise in carrying out baseline studies.
• Demonstrated expertise in child labour topics.
• Demonstrated experience in incorporating a gender & inclusion lens into research and deliverables.
• Demonstrated experience of facilitating research with participatory methods and tools, particularly with children and young people.
• Competency in managing, organizing and interpreting quantitative and qualitative data and information.
• Relevant experiences in the response to humanitarian crisis, preferably in the areas of education, protection, and livelihoods.
• Solid experience in the development of tools for baseline studies involving vulnerable populations such as refugees and children.
• Excellent report writing skills in Arabic and English.
• Ability to communicate effectively to a range of different stakeholders.
• Availability to work in the project areas for the duration of the data collection.

Note that the consultant is required to identify, recruit, contract and train enumerators and data collectors. No support can be provided on this matter by Plan International.