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Plan International Zambia

Terms of Reference

Baseline of “Strengthening civil society to End Child and Early Forced Marriages (CEFMs) in East and Southern Africa”

1. About Plan International

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 we have been building powerful partnerships for children, and we are active in over 75 countries.

2. Project Background

The project “Strengthening civil society to end child marriage in East and Southern Africa” is to be implemented in collaboration with the following partner organisations: Girls Empowerment Network (GENET) in Malawi, Women In Social Entrepreneurship (WISE) in Tanzania, Simukai Child Protection Programme (Simukai) in Zimbabwe, and Mansa District Women Development Association (DWDA) in Zambia. The projects overall goal is to make a contribution to gender equality and the self-determination of women and girls by ending child marriage and early pregnancies in Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The project is going to engage traditional figures of authority and the young people from the four provinces in the fight against child marriage and bring about a change in the attitudes toward child marriage in the project regions. The project lifetime is from 01.12.2018 until 31.12.2021.

3. Purpose of the Baseline

3.1 Assessment of Baseline Values for Project Indicators

Plan International Zambia and its implementing partner Mansa District Women Development Association (DWDA) are commissioning this baseline in accordance with the provisions for its funding proposal. The main objective of this baseline study is to measure the status of project outcome and selected output indicators in the project region Luapula province particularly Mansa and Chipili districts as outlined in the project log frame (Annex 1) at the beginning of the project. The baseline will set the benchmark for the objective and indicators. The baseline study shall also provide strategic recommendation for the project to be implemented in effective and sustainable ways.

No. Indicator Remark

1 % of parents and guardians accept child marriage in the project region. Outcome indicator 1
2 # of contributions from young people from the project region are part of CSO reports at national level on the subject of ending child marriage in each country; received by any international committees. Outcome indicator 2
3 # of the traditional figures of authority in the project region and # of the traditional figures of authority at national level, who speak out in public against child marriage and thus influence harmonisation of the laws in all of the countries. Outcome indicator 3
4 # of members of the community who get involved in exerting political influence on decision-makers in their project region with respect to abolishing child marriage and preventing early pregnancies. Output indicator 1.1
5 % of women, who married before the age of 18 and did not have a birth certificate at the time of the marriage in the project region Output indicator 1.2
6 # by-laws to stop child marriage and degree of implementation in the project region. Output indicator 2.1
7 # of standard operating procedures which are being followed in the project region for an improved response to child marriage and early pregnancies at ward level Output indicator 2.2
8 # traditional figures of authority from the project region active in the regional networks to end child marriage and prevent early pregnancies. Output indicator 3.1
12 Youth organisations in all four countries have limited capacities and do not implement any campaigns with the involvement of young people from all four project regions at regional level (Africa) to end child marriage and prevent early pregnancies. Output indicator 5.1

3.2 Optional: Additional Baseline Research Questions

The baseline will, in addition to collecting data to measure the indicators, seek to answer the following questions:

  • What opportunities are there for engagement of youth and traditional authorities against child marriage and early pregnancies in the project region?
  • Are there any active youth structures in the community? If yes, in which areas (participation in decision making, advocacy, and child rights, etc.)
  • Are there any community based child protection systems in the community?
  • Which child protection systems exist at ward and district level?

3.3 Child rights, gender and inclusion

The baseline will also assess the differences/ power imbalances between girls and boys / women and men in the project region by asking following questions:

To women / girls:

  • What are women’s / girl’s roles in the household?
  • What are women’s / girl’s roles in the community?
  • What are men’s / boy’s roles in the household?
  • What are men’s / boy’s roles in the community?
  • What makes a “good woman”?
  • What makes a “good man”?
  • How are decisions being made in the family? Example: number of children, marriage
  • Who makes decisions related to the children (i.e. cultural decisions?)
  • Why do girls drop out of school? Why do boys drop out of school?

To men / boys:

  • What are men’s / boy’s roles in the household?
  • What are men’s / boy’s roles in the community?
  • What are women’s / girl’s roles in the household?
  • What are women’s / girl’s roles in the community?
  • Do men and women have the same rights in the community?
  • What makes a “good man”?
  • What makes a “good woman”?
  • Who makes decisions related to the children (i.e. cultural decisions? marriage?)
  • Why do girls drop out of school? Why do boys drop out of school?

To traditional authorities / leaders:

  • What is the role of women in the community?
  • What is the role of men in the community?
  • What could be done in order for women and children to benefit more from the project?
  • Who makes the decisions in the household?

4. Users of the Baseline

The baseline findings will be used by Plan International staff and partners in the project country. Its results will also be communicated to the project funders. The baseline study will set the benchmark for the indicators at the beginning of the project and will be used as reference for the monitoring and evaluation of the project progress throughout the project lifetime.
If necessary, the baseline study recommendations will be used by the project team to adjust the project strategy as well as activity planning.

5. Methods for Data Collection and Analysis

The proposed project baseline study requires both qualitative and quantitative data/information analysis. The study will be conducted by a consultant to be hired by Plan International Zambia in consultation with Mansa DWDA.

To meet the objectives of the project baseline study, the baseline study will be undertaken through various methods including KAP survey, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Key Informant Interview (KII), and other methods (as it finds necessary by consultant) to gather required information and data.
Remark: For this baseline study Plan International Zambia / Mansa DWDA will have existing tools to collect data for outcome / output level. However, the consultant needs to contextualize and/or develop additional tools to collect data for all indicators. The tools shall be developed in child friendly manner and represent gender equality, i.e. the tools do not perpetuate gender stereotype etc.

The consultant is required to develop tools to collect data for all indicators. The tools will be shared with Plan International Zambia/ Mansa DWDA for approval.

5.1 Sample

Given the name and number of target groups of beneficiaries, stakeholders and project locations together with the list of all indicators, the consultant is also expected to propose the sample size and sampling methods in identifying and selecting the target respondents and locations to Plan International Zambia/ Mansa DWDA MER (monitoring, evaluation, research) team.

The project will cover districts / provinces targeted by the project. The direct / indirect beneficiaries are stated in the table below:
Zambia Luapula (province)

Chipili and Mansa (districts)

Chibalashi, Nalupembe, Nsenga, Chansusu, Chibeleka, Lukangaba, Lwingishi, Mansa, Misakalala, Muchinka, Mutuna and Myulu (wards)

(12 wards and 260 villages) 237,563 Youth: 22,210
(10,661 / 11,549)

Traditional Leaders:

  • Ward: 8 (6 / 2)
  • Province: 8 (6 / 2)
  • National: 50 (30 / 20)

5.2 Participant selection and recruitment

The consultant shall seek the information and views on current situation regarding child marriage from youth, community members and traditional authorities in the project region. Furthermore the consultant shall involve relevant public authorities during the study.

The consultant shall also identify and suggest additional or excluded stakeholders that he/she feels are important to involve to ensure he/she get the information he/she needs to assess the baseline values thoroughly and, if outlined as an additional purpose of the baseline under 3.2. “Additional research questions (optional)”, to answer potential baseline research questions on the current context of the project.

6. Ethics and Child Protection

The consultant shall comply with Plan International Zambia Safeguarding Children, Young People Policy and other required policies. The consultant and all related staff must sign the Safeguarding Policy as part of the contract and commit to adhere to it during the course of the contract period
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 Safeguarding Children and Young People 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.

7. Key Deliverables

Deliverable Format Length Due Detail

Inception Report Word Document max.15 pages Inception report shall include

  • 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 made (e.g. of persons interviewed).
  • Draft Baseline Report Word Document max. 30 pages including an Indicator Tracking Table with baseline data inserted
  • Final Baseline Report (including Executive Summary) PDF Document max. 30 pages
  • Cleaned Data (including transcripts) (including data files (e.g. Excel, SPSS), transcripts of qualitative data, syntax/ code books etc.)
    Final Data Collection Tools
  • Completed Consent Forms
  • Other Communication Products for Dissemination

8. Budget

The consultant shall lead the field data gathering and is expected to propose a budget that covers all related costs for baseline study (including taxes, travel cost, insurance, visa cost, per diems as well as translation cost) together with the proposed methodology in the research proposal for this consultancy work. Plan International Zambia will assist the consultant in coordination and making appointment with relevant ministries and NGOs for data collection.

9. Expected Qualifications

Plan is looking for a qualified, highly self-motivated, enthusiastic and innovative consultant/consulting firm with the following skills and qualifications:

  • Post graduate degree or PhD preferred in Social Sciences, Development Studies, must have extensive experience in research, baseline surveys and evaluations, particularly on the areas of gender, SRHR, child rights and child participation,
  • Minimum of 5 years’ experience in conducting similar studies,
  • Experience in managing and supervising surveys in large scale and ability to ensure accurate information and data and meeting the deadline.
  • Proficiency in statistics
  • Experience in the design of methodology, tools and questionnaires related to gender, child rights, child participation, and other social development issue,
  • Experience in data collection and analysis using participatory methodologies Experience in training data collectors,
  • Good interview and analytical skills,
  • Fluency in English, Ability to work with communities in relevant local languages.

10. Contact

Interested Consultants should send queries and submit their proposals to:
Plan International Zambia

Email: [email protected]

11. Applications

Interested applicants should provide a proposal covering the following aspects:

  • Detailed response to the TOR
  • Proposed methodology
  • Ethics and child safeguarding approaches, including any identified risks and associated mitigation strategies
  • Proposed timelines
  • CVs
  • Example of previous work
  • Detailed budget, including daily fee rates, expenses, etc.
  • Police Certificates of Good Conduct – especially where there is primary data collection

Please send your applications by 05/04/2019   17:00hrs


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