CPiE Consultancy - Supporting localisation for child protection coordination groups in humanitarian settings

1. Background

Skilled and resourced local NGO co-leads offer an opportunity to more effectively meet our coordination objectives of adequate coverage and a quality response. Several recent reviews have concluded that skilled and resourced local co-leadership can be significant assets:

• Engaging local NGOs as co-leads for the coordination group at national and sub-national level can be a factor that can promote the longer-term sustainability of the response and systemic support to children;
• Where national NGOs have been appointed as deputy leads or co-chairs it has often helped to improve partnerships, advocacy and knowledge management, leading to stronger engagement and visibility of all NGOs;
• Local and national co-leadership of coordination offer opportunities to enhance the legitimacy and appropriateness of response strategy and contextualisation;
• National NGOs generally have a lower staff turnover and a longer history in country, and represent an opportunity for continuity and sustainable forms of coordination;
• National NGOs are often established in remote field locations where UN and iNGOs have limited presence.

Leadership arrangements should be based on the localisation principle – as local as possible, as international as necessary. This principle implies that coordination groups should make deliberate, conscious and transparent decisions about which organisation or organisations are best placed to lead coordination groups. The balance between international support and local leadership will need to be determined in each response considering local conditions, capacities, neutrality, security concerns and other contextual factors. In many cases, this could – and should – be a local or national member of the coordination group. To date and globally, only few national NGOs are co-leading child protection coordination groups, and none at national level. More needs to be done to ensure national and local NGOs have access to leadership opportunities in coordination groups.

In 2018, Save the Children collaborated with the Child Protection Area of Responsibility in its efforts to advance localisation, particularly by supporting and facilitating national and local NGOs to take on child protection leadership roles in Humanitarian Coordinator and Early Warning Settings. A Competency Framework for Child Protection Coordination in Humanitarian Action was developed to facilitate transparent selection processes for identifying leading organisations for child protection coordination groups and to support the assessment and monitoring of capacity gaps and learning development needs.

2. Consultancy Description

To support further localisation of child protection coordination groups in a variety of humanitarian settings, the Competency Framework for Child Protection Coordination in Humanitarian Action needs to be tested, revised, and finalised. The consultant will lead the development of a testing methodology, pilot the competency framework in 3 countries, and finalise the competency framework based upon the results of the piloting.

Methodology

1. In close collaboration with Save the Children and the CP AoR, develop an assessment and monitoring tool in line with the Competency Framework for Child Protection Coordination in Humanitarian Action.

2. In close collaboration with Save the Children and the CP AoR, develop a participatory testing methodology to pilot the Competency Framework in three countries, to include:
   a. Plan for a country-level participatory workshop with members of the child protection coordination group, prioritising the participation and engagement of national and local members. Consider issues of language, gender and diversity to ensure the workshop is accessible to all. The workshop should aim to elicit feedback on and contextualise the Competency Framework.
   b. Monitoring/ assessment of 3-4 (potential) co-leads of national and sub-national child protection coordination groups. At least three of these must be national or local NGOs or civil society organisations.
   c. Support to national child protection coordination groups in developing capacity building and transition plans to increase leadership roles for national and local actors.

   NB: the methodology should be fully documented, including facilitator’s guide, presentation materials, etc. and approachable for other country operations to reproduce the testing process, if deemed appropriate.

3. Test the Competency Framework in three countries:
   a. Countries will be selected in collaboration with the CP AoR, Save the Children and the SAG. Pilot testing should take approximately two weeks per country.

4. Webinar to share the results of the pilot testing and the finalised Competency Framework.

5. Working closely with the Save the Children & the CP AoR, provide in country and remote support to coordination groups for the implementation of suggested capacity building plans and organisation of participatory workshops to develop plans to transition to local co-leadership arrangements.

Timeframe and deliverables

The consultancy is for 125 working days to take place between October 2019 – July 2020. It is envisioned that the consultant will work full time during certain periods, with an exact work plan to be agreed upon in the first weeks of the consultancy. Significant international travel will be required, including to challenging and/ or insecure contexts.

3. Consultant Profile:

• At least 7 years' experience in Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, including significant time managing CPHA programs at the country level and work in a variety of humanitarian settings
• Experience as a coordinator or co-coordinator for a country-level child protection coordination group in a humanitarian setting
• Understanding of the localisation agenda and a proven track record of supporting national partners with a commitment to equality, transparency, and accountability
• Significant capacity building experience including face-to-face training, coaching, and mentoring
• In depth knowledge of humanitarian standards including the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action and the Core Humanitarian Standard
• Masters degree in social work, child protection, humanitarian aid, international development or related field

To apply, please email your CV, cover letter (including suggested methodology / approach to the consultancy), and daily rate to Susanna Davies, Senior Coordinator for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action at Save the Children: susanna.davies@rb.se.