Individual Consultants to Conduct a Gender and Power Analysis for Sponsorship

1.     Background on Save the Children

Save the Children is the leading global independent organisation for children.Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. Around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children’s unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.

We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share.

2.     Background on the Sponsorship Program

Save the Children (SC) has been implementing a Child – Centered Community Development Program in Lao Cai (Sponsorship-funded program) since 2013. Lao Cai is a mountainous and multi-ethnic province in the north of Vietnam. The goal of the program is to ensure that all children in the impact area are healthy and educated and become nurturing caregivers and positive contributors to society.

The integrated program consists of 5 components, namely Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD), Basic Education (BE), School Health and Nutrient (SHN), Adolescent Development (AD) and Child Protection (CP). The program period is 15 years and has been implemented in 48 communes in 5 districts of Lao Cai province (Bat Xat, Bao Thang, Bao Yen, Muong Khuong and Van Ban).

The program is now in its quality implementation phase. Advancing gender equality is essential to promote children’s rights and wellbeing. As a starting point for the implementation of gender mainstreaming in Sponsorship program, we are going to conduct a comprehensive gender anh power analysis (GAP analysis) in our impact area (Lao Cai province). Results of this GAP analysis will inform our program design and implementation to advance gender quality across key activities in the program. We are now seeking for a qualified consultant(s) to support us to conduct this GAP analysis.

3.     Study objectives and research questions

The GAP analysis is expected to address the following research questions.

3.1.General research questions

General research questions must be addressed across key activities selected for this analysis:

• What are the personal, interpersonal, community and societal barriers that perpetuate gender inequalities?
• How does this interact with other factors of intersectionality such as disability, ethnicity, sexual minorities (SOGIE) ect?
• What the sponsorship program already been doing in gender equality?
• What should be done to promote gender equality within Sponsorship program and to make sure that these key project interventions and activities do not cause harm by reinforcing existing inequalities?

3.2.Specific research questions

Specific research questions by key activities selected in each component are listed in the table below. However, the consultant is expected to work closely with program team to have a better understanding of the program context to further refine these key questions.

Table 1. Key research questions that should be addressed in the GAP analysis

4.     Methodology

Under this consultancy, a GAP analysis is defined as “a type of action research which examines unequal power relations and how systems of oppression intersect and impact people’s ability to exercise their rights”. The current GAP analysis should be guided by three key frameworks, namely gender and power framework, child-centered approach and socio-ecological model and should use intersectional approach.

The following six domains should be used in this GAP analysis. However, the domains of analysis should be tailored for each component where appropriate.

• Laws, policies, regulations and institutional practicesSocial norms, beliefs, and practices
• Roles, responsibilities and time use
• Patterns of decision making
• Access to and control over resources
• Safety, dignity and wellbeing.

The consultant is expected to review current literature (gender analyses, gender assessments and other research) on gender in Lao Cai (or other provinces of similar contexts) and program documents / annual reports. Sex-disaggregated program data should be collected and analyzed to reveal differences between girls, women, boys and men.

The consultant might use a variety of qualitative data collection methods such as in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, observation with various stakeholders to shed light on the above research questions. Primary data collection is expected to conduct in 3 communes in 3 districts of Lao Cai, including Bao Yen, Van Ban and Muong Khuong which represent the most popular ethnic minority groups in Lao Cai (Dao, Mong, and Tay).

5.     Location and official travel involved

For primary data collection in the field, the consultant is expected to travel to Bao Yen, Van Ban and Muong Khuong districts of Lao Cai.

6.    Services the Supplier will provide

The consultant is expected to be responsible for the following tasks:

• Reviewing available literature on gender in Lao Cai or similar context
• Review project documents and annual reports (including project description, project reports, midterm performance evaluation, program database, annual plan, MEAL Plan, etc.)
• Developing a detailed research protocol and data collection tools (refer to GAP analysis tool and social inclusion analysis tool provided by SC)
• Supporting program staff in obtaining ethical approval for the study from SC US’s ERC
• Recruiting and training enumerators (if required)
• Conducting field data collection, data entry, data cleaning and data analysis
• Writing a final report including an executive summary (in both English and Vietnamese) and a short PPT presentation, covering all research questions as well as providing recommendations for promoting gender equality within Sponsorship program from now on until 2024.
• Presenting the key findings to team members and relevant stakeholders.

In the whole process of this consulting service, the consultant will receive technical and logistical support from Save the Children.

Proposed timeline of this consultancy is as follows:

7.     Experience and skill set required

• Master degree in relevant disciplines (such as social sciences, women studies, public health, community development, etc.). PhD degree is preferred;
• Demonstrated experience of providing similar services in Vietnam, especially in the context of northern provinces and with ethnic minority groups;
• At least 5 years of work experience in gender work or gender-related studies;
• At least 5 years of experience in conducting qualitative research with children in the last 10 years;
• A good understanding of local cultures and context is an asset;
• Candidates who have rich experience in thematic analysis and using qualitative data analysis software such as NVIVO, MAXQDA, Atlas.ti) are preferred;
• Good command of both written and spoken English and Vietnamese;
• Excellent collaboration skills and ability to produce quality work within deadline and under pressure.

8.     Expected Deliverables

The selected consultant will be required to deliver the following deliverables to SC:

• Deliverable 1: A detailed technical proposal of the GAP analysis and data collection tools
• Deliverable 2: Products of primary data collection, including all audio files, transcripts, observation notes
• Deliverable 3: Analysis final reports (in both English and Vietnamese) and a PPT presentation on the key findings. The narrative report should not be over 30 pages (excluding annexes)

Status updates/reporting

The Supplier shall provide the below status updates for the duration of the services:

• Weekly progress update with project team through email during the period of developing technical proposal and data collection tools.
• Daily debriefing sessions with project team members during field work to share key findings and challenges
• Weekly progress update via email with project team after the completion of field data collection until the finalization of the report.

Acceptance

• Deliverables 1 (Proposal and data collection tools) – to be accepted by Sponsorship Program Manager and TA within 15 working days of delivery date.
• Deliverables 2-3 (products of primary data collection, research report and presentation) – to be accepted by Sponsorship Program Manager and TA within 15 working days of delivery date.

General assumptions and dependencies

• SC will identify the key stakeholders to be engaged as part of the project

9.     How to apply for the service

Interested candidates are invited to send an application letter, CV and a study concept note with estimated budget (consultancy fee and other associated costs to conduct the research) to SC via email to vietnam.consultancy@savethechildren.org. The proposed consultancy fee should be all-included (man day and travel costs). Selection will be made based on the quality of concept note, competitive consultancy fee and the candidate’s relevant work experiences.

Note: At time of payment, SC will withdraw personal income tax as per current Vietnamese Tax Law.

The deadline for responses is: 6^th September 2021. 

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