Re-advertisment: Consultancy Services for challenging Harmful Attitudes and Norms for Gender Equality in Somalia (CHANGES 2.0)

INVITATION TO BID FOR CONSULTANCY

Save the Children International (SCI) Somalia program hereby invites interested consultants to bid for the consultancy assignment detailed below

*1. Title of Consultancy: Terms of Reference for Consultancy Services for c*hallenging Harmful Attitudes and Norms for Gender Equality in Somalia (CHANGES 2.0)**

2. SCI Contracting Office: Save the Children Somalia/Somaliland

3. Location: Hargeisa, Burao, Erigavo, Buuhoodle, Badan, Galdogob, Galkacyo North, Adado, Beletweyn, Kismaayo, Baidoa, Dhusamareeb, Galkacyo South, Hobyo, Kaaraan, Hawlwadaag.

4. Period of Consultancy: 50 days

5. Consultant type required Firm/Individual

6. Responsibility for Logistics arrangements and Costsrequired from the consultant firm

7. Taxation Provisions: Consultant shall be responsible for all Taxes arising the from the consultancy in line with the local Tax regulations and and other logistical service required to complete.

*8. Travel requirements:*** Across Somalia Office

9. Security requirements: Consultant will comply with standard Save the Children Security procedures.

10. Qualification and Experience: To be considered, the study team members together must have demonstrated skills, expertise and experience in:

• Proven experience of more than 10 years in child protection systems development and process planning;
• Demonstrated experience in policy processes, including research, reviews and formulation with evidence of similar assignments in other countries;
• Experience with strengthening of child protection or social services delivery in humanitarian and developing contexts;
• Background/experience with child protection case management systems development, implementation and review;
• A mix of international and local consultant -preference will be given to firms with diverse skillset.
• Excellent research, collaboration, facilitation and report writing skills;
• Proven knowledge and understanding of social welfare workforce planning and development.
• Excellent writing skills, presentation skills, strong strategic and analytical skills, computer skills, negotiations skills, interactive and interpersonal communication skills;
• Managing and coordinating a range of government, non-government, community groups and academic stakeholders
• Experience conducting studies in humanitarian contexts
• Strong written and verbal skills in communicating technical and/ or complex findings to non-specialist audiences (especially report writing and presentation skills)
• A track record of open, collaborative working with clients

11. Evaluation Criteria

a. Compliance with Consultancy requirement

• Provision of sound technical purposal with required information & documents; responsiveness to ToR’s:
• Qualifications and technical qualities of purposed team e.g. level of qualifications and number of years worked to similar assignment.

b. Relavant Consultant Experience: Prove of past experience of the consultancy firm. Please submit copies of similar contracts

c. Adequacy of Work Plan

• Submission of detailed work plan with clear description of tasks and the Scope of Work
• flexibility

d.Consultant of the interview,

• Demonstration of better understanding of TOR and scope of work during the interview
• Demonstration of technical capability and expertize in project evaluations
• Presentation of well structured Methodology and techniques to be applied for the execution the required consultancy services

12. Application Procedure

Interested consultants are required to submit their applications through [email protected] and requesting to be invited to the online sourcing activity.

The applications should be submitted in PDF format as one document comprising Technical and Financial sections as detailed below.

1. Technical proposal – including but not limited to :Consultants understanding of the assignment and context. Approach to the assignment, Methodology, Tools, Deliverables, Workplan, Key staff biodata
2. Financial proposal.

Applicants should also indicate the date they are available to start working on the consultancy. All applications MUST be submitted on or before the closing date below to be considered for the assignment.

12. Closing date for Applications

Interested consultants shall submit their applications through the email address provided above on or before (30th May 2022). Shortlisted candidates will be requested for an interview.

13. Terms of Reference (ToR)

Complete ToR with details appended below attached herewith as Annex 1.

• Purpose of the consultancy,
• Introduction of the project,
• Background of the consultancy,
• Objectives of the consultancy,
• Proposed methodology and approach,
• Scope of work,
• Key deliverables / outputs
• Activity timelines

Terms of Reference

Formative research on discriminatory social norms PERPETUATING GENDER INEQUALITY and Gbv AMONG OLDER adolescent girls and boys (aged 15-19 years) in somalia/Somaliland.

Project Summary

Type of study

Formative Research

Name of the project

Challenging Harmful Attitudes and Norms for Gender Equality in Somalia (CHANGES 2.0)

Project Start and End dates

GAC: 11th March 2021 – 31st November 2024

RNE 1st November 2020- 31st October 2024

Project duration: 4 years

Project locations: Hargeisa, Burao, Erigavo, Buuhoodle, Badan, Galdogob, Galkacyo North, Adado, Beletweyn, Kismaayo, Baidoa, Dhusamareeb, Galkacyo South, Hobyo, Kaaraan, Hawlwadaag.

Thematic areas: Child Protection

Sub themes: Protection of Children from violence

Donor: Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and Royal Norwegian Embassy (RNE)

Estimated beneficiaries: Over 30,399 direct beneficiaries (11,166 girls, 5,757 boys, 7,345 women, 6,131 men)

Overall objective of the project: To advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, with a focus on addressing the discriminatory social norms and practices that perpetuate and validate gender-based violence (CEFM and FGM/C in particular)

Background and Context

Somalia is ranked the fourth most gender unequal country with a gender inequality index of 0.776 (where a maximum of 1 denotes complete inequality). Several researches show interlinkages between social norms and gender inequality; where discriminatory social norms, help sustain a variety of gender-related harmful practices and behaviour. These gender-related harmful practices include but not limited to; GBV and SGBV (rape, FGM, CEFM), gender roles and responsibilities among others.

In response to this, Save the Children (SC) in partnership with CARE Canada and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is implementing a three-year program (11 March 2021– 31st October 2024) to strengthen gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in Somalia/Somaliland. This program has been designed with and will be delivered in collaboration with the Government of Somalia, building upon the significant successes of the existing CHANGES consortium, which leverages the unique value adds of all three implementing agencies along with a network of local partners, including women’s rights organizations (WROs)[1].

CHANGES 2.0 is a consortium led, girls’ empowerment program that employs life skills, social and behaviour change education and advocacy to work towards gender equality. The project’s theory of change assumes an ultimate outcome of strengthened gender equality and empowerment of women and girls in Somalia will be achieved through a four-pronged approach:

• 1100*: Decreased discriminatory social norms and practices that perpetuate and validate sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls (VYA and OA), including female genital mutilation/cutting (FGMC) and child, early and forced marriage (CEFM)*

• Output 1.3 : Adolescent girls and boys aged 15-19 socialized on gender equality and positive social norms (including CEFM and FGMC)- leveraging on existing approaches

  • Conduct formative research on discriminatory social norms affecting adolescent girls and boys aged 15-19 years (link to 1211.1)

• 1200*: Increased voice and agency of VYA and OA girls and boys (10-19) in Somalia to make and act on life decisions for themselves, including with regards to ASRHR and SGBV*

• Outcome 4: Improved knowledge of VYA and OA girls on SRH and SGBV

• Output 4.1 : VYA and OA (10-19) trained to identify types of GBV and seek support services through the Girl Shine model

  • Conduct formative research on the social norms that influence the sexual and reproductive health and rights of adolescent girls and boys

• 1300*: Enhanced enabling environment (media, policy and civic engagement) that supports gender equality and women’s and girls’ rights*

• 1400*: Enhanced social and economic empowerment of women to improve their participation and involvement in household and community decision-making*

CHANGES 2.0 employs specific actions that target the root cause of gender inequality and through mainstreaming gender equity and equality actions through all outputs and actions. The project aims at building knowledge and skills on gender equality, SRHR, life skills including advocacy, livelihoods, bodily autonomy and equitable decision making. Specific to outcome areas 1100 and 1200; the program plans to introduce 2 curricula targeting girls and boys aged 15-19 years (OA). The CHOICES+ curricula will be age-appropriate and will include Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights component which seeks to empower boys and girls to increase their decision-making power and health seeking behaviour concerning their Sexual and Reproductive Health.

As such and building on the gaps identified in the baseline study, the program proposes conducting a formative research to further unpack the underlying factors, including gender related ones, perpetuating the discriminatory social norms influencing adolescent boys and girls aged 15-19 years. The findings from the formative research will inform the curricula adaptation for older adolescents.

Scope of Study

We design this formative research to understand the discriminatory social norms perpetuating gender inequality am influence older adolescent boys and girls (ages 15-19) to facilitate the adaptation of curricula which focusses on building knowledge and skills on gender equality, Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRHR), life skills including advocacy, livelihoods, bodily autonomy and equitable decision making and roles and responsibilities in the household.

Research questions: The formative research seeks to answer the question: “What are the underlying factors and reference groups perpetuating the discriminatory social norms and attitudes influencing adolescent boys and girls aged 15-19 years in Somalia?”

Specifically,

1. What are the gender-specific older adolescents’ perceptions and behaviours of gender equality with reference to access to education, bodily autonomy, age of marriage, decision-making power and roles and responsibilities within households, particularly on unpaid care work?
   1. What cultural, religious, social, economic, political and legislative (i.e. relevant GE laws & policies) factors perpetuate older adolescents’ attitudes and behaviour towards gender equality?
   2. What reference groups perpetuate older adolescents’ attitudes and behaviour towards gender equality?
   3. To what extent do older adolescent girls and boys have a say in decisions affecting them, particularly related to roles & responsibilities in the household, pursuing education or income generating activities, marriage, FGM/C, sexual relations, and using ASRHR and other protection services?
2. What are the underlying gender-specific factors that perpetuate GBV, including SGBV, among adolescent boys and girls?
   1. What is the knowledge, attitudes and perception on GBV & SGBV, particularly related to FGM/C, CEFM and sexual abuse, among older adolescent boys and girls?
   2. What are the cultural, religious, social, economic, political and legislative (i.e. relevant laws & policies) factors that promote or discourage SGBV among older adolescent boys and girls?
3. What are the underlying gender-specific factors that influence ASRHR seeking behaviour among adolescent boys and girls?
   1. What is the knowledge, attitudes and perception of ASRHR, particularly related to sexual relations, using ASRHR services, using contraceptives, among older adolescent boys and girls?
   2. What are the cultural, religious, social, economic, political and legislative factors that promote or discourage ASRHR perceptions and behaviour among older adolescent boys and girls?
   3. What are the cultural, religious, social, economic, political and legislative factors that promote or discourage availability of ASRHR services for older adolescent boys and girls?
   4. Who influences the knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and decision making on ASRHR for adolescent girls and boys? – i.e. who are adolescent girls and boys reference groups?
   5. What are the identified adolescent girls’ and boys’ reference groups’ knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and influencers on ASRHR, particularly female and male caregivers?
4. What are the context and gender specific recommendations for adaptation of the curricula designed to empower older adolescent boys and girls to challenge discriminatory social norms influencing them?

Geographical Scope: The study will be conducted in a sample of 10 districts covered by the program namely: Buuhoodle, Baidoa, Dhusamareeb, Adado, Erigabo, Galdogob, Galkacyo North, Hobyo, Howl Wadag, Kismayo

Study Methodology: The proposed study methodology will be qualitative in nature and employ participatory action methodologies to the extent possible to ensure full participation.

• First, the consultant will conduct a literature review on discriminatory norms and reference groups influencing older adolescents in Somalia/Somaliland and/or similar contexts. These sources include studies and reports, legislation, policies, key internal reports and relevant literature. The desk review will inform the design and content of the qualitative guides, including child-friendly tools to enhance participation, non-survey methods such as vignettes, implicit association tests, polling booths, list randomization among other techniques to ask sensitive questions.
• Primary qualitative data collection methods via gender-separated focus group discussions (FGDs) and KIIs as follows;
• Gender-separated FGDs with boys and girls using child-friendly consultation methodologies: to understand the knowledge, perceptions, behaviors around identified social norms girls and boys and their reference groups (who influences their perceptions/behaviors and who they turn to for information/knowledge).
• Gender-separated FGDs with identified reference group members (including female and male caregivers) from girls’ and boys’ FGDs: to understand the knowledge, perceptions and behaviors around social norms of adolescent girls and boys and their reference groups.
• Further KIIs with other reference groups highlighted from the literature review can also be conducted here as well to complement further data.
• Engage with a selected group of children, who will act a child research advisory group to review the tools, the analysis and contribute to the final report

The study methodology will leverage on available participatory toolkits such as Social Norms Exploratory Toolkit.

Study participants: The primary data collection will target male and female caregivers, older adolescent boys and girls, married older adolescent girls and boys, other female and male family members (siblings, uncles/aunts, parents-in-law, grandparents, etc.), community and religious leaders, members of CBCPMs (Community-Based Child Protection Mechanisms) health service providers for ASRHR, teachers & Sexual Gender Based Violence referral channels and other relevant actors including local SCI, CARE and IRC partners.

Ethical Considerations

The following ethical considerations must guide the study:

• Child safeguarding – demonstrating the highest standards of behavior towards children and adults.
• Protection from sexual exploitation and abuse; anti-harassment, intimidation and bullying.
• Sensitive to child rights, gender, inclusion and cultural contexts.
• Openness of information given, to the highest possible degree to all involved parties.
• Confidentiality and data protection measures will be put in place to protect the identity of all participants and any other information that may put them or others at risk.
• Public access to the results when there are not special considerations against this
• Broad participation – all relevant parties should be involved where possible.
• Reliability and independence – the study should be conducted so that findings and conclusions are correct and trustworthy.

It is expected that:

• Data collection methods will be age and gender appropriate. The team of facilitators should comprise of male and female members; Female facilitators will lead the female/girls’ focus group discussions while male facilitators will lead female focus group discussions.
• Study activities will provide a safe, creative space where children feel that their thoughts and ideas are important.
• A risk assessment will be conducted that includes any risks related to children, young people’s, or adult’s participation.
• A referral mechanism will be in place in case any child safeguarding or protection issues arise.
• Informed consent will be used where possible.

Expected Deliverables

The study deliverables and tentative timeline (subject to the commencement date of the study) are outlined below. The study team lead and SC study Project Manager will agree on final milestones and deadlines at the inception phase. The study is expected to be completed within 35 days as follows;

Deliverables and Tentative Timeline

Deliverable / Milestones

Timeline

The study Team is contracted and commences work. The study Team will facilitate a workshop with the relevant stakeholders (including children) at the commencement of the project to develop the inception report.

Within the 1st week : The study Team will submit an inception report including:

• Study objectives, scope and key study questions
• description of the methodology, including design, data collection methods, sampling strategy, data sources, and study matrix against the key study questions
• data analysis and reporting plan
• caveats and limitations of study
• risks and mitigation plan
• ethical considerations including details on consent
• stakeholder and children communication and engagement plan
• key deliverables, responsibilities, and timelines
• resource requirements
• data collection tools (in line with the study matrix), including details on the child-friendly tools
• detailed methodology on how to facilitate a group of children to review the tools, the analysis and final report

Once the report is finalised and accepted, the researcher study team must submit a request for any change in strategy or approach to the study manager or the steering committee.

Ethics submission (if applicable):

Should approval from a Human Research Ethics Committee be required, an ethics submission should include:

• study protocols (participant recruitment, data security and storage, consent and confidentiality etc.)
• considerations for consulting with children and other vulnerable groups (if applicable)
• participant information statement and consent forms

Final data collection tools (in the report language):

• FGD guides
• Data collection mechanism

An Interim Report / Power Point Presentation including a summary of formative findings from the study. The focus will be on:

• Summary of interim findings
• Any emerging program trends, issues or risks
• Any changes that have had to be made to the study design (if applicable)
• Key tasks for the next stage of the study and any proposed refinements or changes to methodology (if applicable)

A Study Report (45 pages) including the following elements:

• Executive summary
• Background description of the Program and context relevant to the Study
• Scope and focus of the study
• Overview of the study methodology and data collection methods, including a study matrix
• Findings aligned to each of the key Study questions
• Specific caveats or methodological limitations of the evaluation
• Conclusions outlining implications of the findings or learnings
• Recommendations
• Annexes (Study matrix study ToR, Inception Report, Study schedule, List of people involved, child participation approach used for the research)

A consolidated set of feedback from key stakeholders will be provided by Save The Children within 1 week of the submission of the draft report.

Final Study Report incorporating feedback from consultation on the Draft Study Report including Data and analyses – all encrypted raw data, databases and analysis outputs

Knowledge translation materials:

• PowerPoint presentation of Study findings
• Evidence to Action Brief

Study Management

Study Tentative Timeline, with key deliverables in bold. The final timeline and deliverables will be agreed upon the inception phase.

What

Study tender submissions due

Tender review and selection of study team

Documentation review, desk research

Consultation

Inception report

Review of inception report

Development of Data collection tools

Review of the Data collection tools

Ethics submission

Logistical arrangements

Data collection

Data management and analysis (coding, transcriptions, data cleaning, integration and analysis)

First draft of the Final study report

Review of first draft report

Meeting with evaluators and evaluation team to finalize the report

Validation of study findings and recommendations

Final study report and submission of data and analyses

Knowledge translation materials

Project team meeting to develop formative research Response Plan

Formative Research final report (together with response plan) posted on OneNet and reviewed (see page 1 above for platform links).

Who is responsible

Study Proponents

Tender review panel

Study team

Study Working Group Lead

Children research advisory group

Study team

Study Working Group Lead Children research advisory group

Study team

Study Team or Study Working Group Lead

Study team Study team

Study team

Study Working Group Lead

Children Research Advisory Group

Study Working Group Lead

Study Working Group Lead

Children Research Advisory Group

Study team

Study team

Study Working Group Lead

Study Working Group Lead

Who else is involved

Key Stakeholders

Study Working Group, Gender Equality TWG, Project Manager, Technical advisors, MEAL Managers, Head of Research and Evaluation

Study Working Group

Study Working Group, Gender Equality TWG, Project Manager, Technical advisors, MEAL Managers, Head of Research and Evaluation

SC study Project Manager

SC Logistical support

Study Working Group, Gender Equality TWG, Project Team, Technical advisors, MEAL, Head of Research and Evaluation

Copyright and intellectual property rights

The title rights, copyrights and all other rights of whatever nature in any materials used or generated under the provisions of this consultancy will exclusively be vested with Save the Children Somalia Country office. All products developed under this consultancy belong to the Save the Children exclusively, guided by the rules of the grant contract. Under no circumstances will the consultant use the information of this study for publication or dissemination to any individual or organization without official prior written permission from Save the Children Somalia Country office.

Study Team and Selection Criteria

Interested consultants will be required to submit an Expression of Interest in line with the provided template, which should demonstrate adherence to the following requirements.

Understanding of Requirements and Experience

To be considered, the study team members together must have demonstrated skills, expertise and experience in:

• Leading socio-economic research, evaluations or consultancy work in Somalia/Somaliland that is sensitive to the local context and culture, particularly child rights, gender equality, ethnicity, religion and minority groups.
• Experience designing and conducting qualitative studies.
• Conducting studies in the field of child protection particularly in relation to girls’ and women empowerment
• Conducting ethical and inclusive studies involving children and child participatory techniques
• Conducting ethical and inclusive studies involving marginalised, deprived and/or vulnerable groups in culturally appropriate and sensitive ways
• Managing and coordinating a range of government, non-government, community groups and academic stakeholders
• Experience conducting study in humanitarian contexts
• Strong written and verbal skills in communicating technical and/ or complex findings to non-specialist audiences (especially report writing and presentation skills)
• A track record of open, collaborative working with clients

Financial Proposal

Save the Children seeks value for money in its work. This does not necessarily mean “lowest cost”, but quality of the service and reasonableness of the proposed costs. Proposals shall include personnel allocation (role / number of days / daily rates / taxes), as well as any other applicable costs.

Schedule of Payment

The following payments will be made to the consultant using and agreed mode of payment

• Upon approval of inception report and tools: 20%
• Upon submission of First Draft study Report: 30%
• Upon approval of final study report: 50%

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates should submit an expression of interest which includes:

A technical proposal: The technical proposal should briefly and clearly describe the following aspects; understanding of the task, technical aspect of the proposal, methodology (evaluation strategy, Sampling design, data collection tools, data processing & analysis, data quality control measures and timelines or operational plan.

Financial proposal: A signed financial proposal/ budget.

A detailed curriculum vitae (CV): detailed CV of the lead consultant with contact details (the CV should include at least two traceable references)

Applications should be sent to [email protected] with the subject title “CHANGES2 – Formative Research”

Annexes

Annex 1: Project Logframe

Annex 2: List of project documents to be consulted

• Project proposal
• CHANGES 2.0 Baseline
• Curricula to be adapted

How to apply

Interested consultants are required to submit their applications through [email protected]

The applications should be submitted in PDF format as one document comprising Technical and Financial sections as detailed below.

1. Technical proposal – including but not limited to :

• Consultants understanding of the assignment and context
• Approach to the assignment
• Methodology
• Tools
• Deliverables
• Workplan
• Key staff biodata

1. Financial proposal.

Applicants should also indicate the date they are available to start working on the consultancy

All applications MUST be submitted on or before the closing date below to be considered for the assignment.