Project Consultant promoting and supporting the implementation of a SEAH Harmonised Reporting Scheme within the Aid Sector

The person shall be registered as a Consultant in their country or work for a consulting firm.

• Contract type: Consultancy
• Start date: September 2022
• Location: Remote, home-based

Consultancy Purpose: Promote and technically support a harmonised framework on SEAH data collection and reporting within the aid sector to encourage new actors to adopt and implement the new framework.

Consultancy general objectives

• Lead the follow up of the project and manage day-to-day activities pertaining to it, including the management of the relationship with potential consultants and other technical experts contracted for specific tasks or activities.
• Promote the harmonised framework in external forum and engage various NGOs to encourage its adoption.
• Assist and technically support interested organisations to implement the framework.
• Assist the governance processes and lead the Steering Committee which will provide technical and strategic support and will make decisions about the harmonized scheme.

Timeframe – As soon as possible until the end of May 2023. Part time (2.5 days/week) for up to 108 days in total.

Reports to the CHS Alliance PSEAH Manager, with close collaboration and support of the Programmes team (especially those working on the issue of PSEAH), the Steering Committee for Humanitarian Response (SCHR) and GCPS Consulting.

Background and work to date

The lack of a harmonised approach to SEAH data collection, reporting and management is still a major challenge in the aid sector, particularly when it relates to reporting of allegations and cases of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH) by organizations. This is partly due to the lack of a harmonised approach to reporting across the aid sector and the different requirements of various stakeholders.

The CHS Alliance, together with SCHR and FCDO, agreed in 2020 to develop a harmonised framework, which NGOs and the private sector would use to better collect and report Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH) data. In 2021, the project fully started.

This is a long-term project which is proceeding in incremental phases, to enable the development of a robust framework and system that has sector-wide support and commitment.

The phases of the project are as follows:

• Phase 1: Consultation, Mapping, Assessment, Scoping and Design of a harmonised SEAH framework (2021-22)
• Phase 2: Testing the framework on the ground through various participating/implementing organisations, adjusting, and improving (2022- 2023)
• Phase 3: Validation of the harmonised framework and reviewing options for an online system (whether centralised or not) with launch as appropriate (upon future funds allocations 2023- 2024)

Moving forward

Such a project will require time to build trust to have a maximum of NGOs being willing to adopt the framework. To create full ownership, it must strive to convince organisations of the reasons why it is important and beneficial to collect and report SEAH data in a harmonised way.

Based on the identified and foreseen needs to be covered during phase 2 (June 2022-May 2023), the CHS Alliance envisages to engage a Consultant in charge of following this project, on a part time basis (12 days/month) until May 2023.

Specific Activities and Deliverables

The Consultant’s specific activities and objectives will be as follow:

Coordination and Management of the Scheme

• Manage day-to-day activities pertaining to the scheme, including the management of the relationship with potential consultants and other technical experts contracted for specific tasks or activities.
• Initiate, enable, and facilitate cross-organisational exchange, and peer-to-peer learning in support of the harmonised framework endorsement and implementation.
• Provide administrative support and update the informative webpage on the scheme on a regular basis;
• Periodically review and update the SEAH Harmonised Reporting Scheme based on feedback received from implementing organisations and decisions/advise made by the Steering Committee.
• Assist the governance processes and lead the Steering Committee.

Assistance and Support – Enhancing the capacity of implementing organisations – Guidance, accompaniment, and support

• Assist and guide interested organisations in the implementation of the harmonised framework and scheme by responding to queries about the harmonised framework and its implementation.
• Support and guide new Implementing Organisations with preparatory work and through the different steps of the testing phase.
• Provide support for the annual reporting process.
• Secure advice to ensure improved framework’s implementation.
• Seek a wider range of Implementing Organisations (including donors) to implement and provide moral and political support to the harmonised framework and its objectives.
• Seek and collect feedback and identify challenges and opportunities to improve the framework.
• Work with CHS Alliance, SCHR’s Executive Secretary, and the Steering Committee to discuss and validate needed

Engagement, Communication and Promotion

• Actively promote the harmonised framework and seek new Implementing Organisations by reaching out to targeted organisations, providing 1:1 calls, webinars and presentation.
• Actively seek and identify new opportunities to enrol new organisations.
• Act as a resource to assist existing Implementing Organisations by championing the harmonised framework, supporting development of communications materials, briefs, and notes for internal stakeholders, collating and sharing experiences and best practice.
• Compile, analyse and share learnings, including by developing, updating and disseminating FAQs, guidance and other relevant web-based materials.
• Provide technical explanations and outreach to relevant organisations and networks to encourage them to implement the SEAH framework with a strong understanding of the commitments they are taking on by doing so.
• Engage in influencing and contributing to various external forum (DAC, CSSG, IASC PSEAH TAG, etc.).
• Engage with other initiatives – Keeping Children Safe, RSH, Funder Safeguarding Collaborative, etc.

Perform other tasks as agreed with line manager that contribute to the mission and aims of the CHS Alliance.

Key Contacts

Internal: Colleagues from the Programmes team (especially those working on the issue of PSEAH), Verification team, Communication and Membership team, Support Services, as well as members of the Senior Management Team.

External: SCHR secretariat, GCPS consulting, PSEAH focal points in CHS organisations and beyond, as well as relevant colleagues from other NGOs, private sector, UN entities and donors.

Administrative / logistics

The person shall be registered as a consultant in their country or work for a consulting firm. Consultancy will be remote and home based, with possible travel to Geneva as required.

Skills and Experience

Essential –

• Demonstrated experience and awareness of the range of different actors (including INGOs, National and Local NGOS, Donors, Private Sector actors and UN agencies) working in the aid sector, at an institutional and field level;
• Demonstrated ability to mobilise, influence and convince diverse stakeholders from the aid sector;
• Demonstrated understanding of internal politics, power and decision making within the aid sector, and how they impact on effective implementation of PSEAH policies and procedures;
• Demonstrated understanding and experience in SEAH issues at an organisational and operational level;
• Good understanding of past and developing trends and issues related to the prevention of and response to SEAH;
• Good understanding of the aid sector’s architecture and the stakeholders therein, including of partnership and funding agreements and how they relate to the reporting of SEAH;
• Good understanding of the management of SEAH within the humanitarian/development sector and at least some level of knowledge of multiple donors, NGOs and UN’s collecting/reporting system (processes involved in reporting and investigating SEAH by aid workers, the realities of field work in conflict and disaster situations, etc.).

Preferred –

• Good understanding of potential obstacles that may hamper the realization of a harmonized reporting framework;
• Good understanding of internal politics, power and decision making within the aid sector, and how they impact on effective implementation of PSEAH policies and procedures.