Terms of Reference

Baseline study of “For a Dynamic and Gender Transformative Civil Society to promote SRHR and the Participation of Girls and Women in Timor-Leste.”**

1. About Plan International

Plan International is one of the worlds largest INGOs, work with children and poor communities in 75 developing countries for advancing Children’s Rigths and Equality for Girls. We have worked with children, young people and communities for 80 years and are committed to making a lasting impact on the lives of the most vulnarable and excluded children while supporting childre’s rigth and gender equality. Plan International has been working in Timor-Leste since 2001 to promoting the rigths of all children and young people and to give them practical support to achieve their rigths to early education, water, sanitation and hygiene, employement and child rigth protection , participation disastre riks management and promote gender equality. Plan in ternational Timor-Leste work in two district Ailleu and Ainaro municipality.

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.

1. Project background

The rights of children and youth, and especially related to girls’ equal rights with rights related to sexual and reproductive health and participation, are violated due to reasons such as negative social norms and beliefs. Additionally, limited knowledge, resources and commitment on the side of duty bearers exist to promote gender transformative change needed to maximize social change and with it, economic development of the country. At the same time, the role of the civil society for holding the state accountable is limited due to gaps in the technical and institutional capacity, as well as lack of enabling environment to advance this important role.

The access for adolescent and youth to information on sexuality through youth-friendly health care and family planning services is limited. In Timorese culture, it is taboo to talk about SRH in the family, which is especially true for girls and young women. The limited knowledge of SRH persists into adulthood and has life-long implication on development of girls and young women. The adolescent and youth to access and/ or knowledge for use of condoms is also minimal or non-existent. According to UNICEF, in 2016, one of five girls (19%) in Timor-Leste marries before their eighteenth birthday. Very few use contraception and most give birth five or more time at home. Based on the research available, it has also been shown that the less education a girls has, the more pronounced this effect will be. There is also a high risk of sexual transmitted infection and HIV linked to early pregnancy. Complication from those pregnancy and childbirth are leading Couse of death for those young mothers.

The project expected goal is to achieve more dynamic, gender transformative and inclusive civil society that promotes the advancement of children’s rights to SRHR and participation and equality for girls.

The project goal is planned to be reached through four outcomes with specific outcome indicators:

Outcome 1. Children & youth (CAY), particularly girls and young women, have improved knowledge on SRHR and are confident in making healthy decisions on their bodies and SRH

OCI 1.1: Percentage of children, adolescents and youth with knowledge on their right to SRH and who have the attitude/confident to make health/informed decisions around their SRH (bodies, sexuality and relationships)

OC1 1.2: Examples of case stories of girls and young women of how the project has promoted CAY to make positive decisions on their SRH

Outcome 2. Children and youth, in particular girls and young women, have strengthened knowledge on their right to participation and are able to influence community decision-making processes

OCI 2.1: Number of children, adolescents and youth with knowledge on their right to participation in decision making processes in the community and who report having the skills and agency enabling participation

OCI 2.2 Description of occasions when child/youth led organisations, networks and platforms met with duty bearers to discuss issues relevant to children’s rights and equality for girls

OCI 2.3: Examples of case stories of how the participation of girls and young women has positively influenced decision making at the community level

Outcome 3. CSOs, including child and youth led networks, have improved organisational and networking capacity and influence decision-making processes

OC1: 3.1 Number and description of supported CSOs/networks demonstrating improved technical and organizational capacity to engage with and influence power holders

OCI: 3.2 Number and description of coalitions/network demonstrating improved technical and organizational capacity and practice in coordinating and undertaking collective advocacy

OC1 3.3: Evidence of youth-led networks involved in local, district or national SRHR policy development, planning or budgeting

Outcome 4. Duty bearers, including local government institutions and parents, have strengthened understanding on their responsibility for children’s rights and take action to support children, adolescents, and youth’s right to SRHR

OCI: 4.1 Number and percentage of parents and care givers and community members who demonstrate an attitude to support CAY to make healthy decisions around their bodies, sexuality and relationships, disaggregated by category, and by gender and age.

OCI: 4.2 Description of examples of duty bearers implementing commitments on children’s rights and equality for girls in response to the actions of CAY, child rights organisations, networks and platforms

OC1 4.3 Evidence of community initiatives in support of youth friendly SRH services in targeted areas

Scope of baseline

The baseline study aims to ensure that the project level M&E is systematic and high quality against its expected outcomes and indicators. The project data will be sex-age disaggregated at program level where also gender marker is used as per requirements of Plan International. The baseline study ensures the good quality baseline for measuring the project progress against specific indicators annually and cumulatively throughout the 5years of implementation period. The baseline cover whole project including all indicator and necessary background information. The data collected will be both qualitative and quantitative in nature as per indicators set in the logframe of the program (Annex 1), and will include information based on the set of indicators expected to be monitored. . The baseline surveys and information collection will be carried out in 33 suku in Aileu municipality and 20 suku in Ainaro as a project area using appropriated sampling method defined

Project target group:

• The main rights holders (including marginalised and excluded groups);

• Children (age group: 0-14), Adolescent (aged group: 15-18 ), Youth (age group: 19-24), female (age group: 25-50), and male (age group: 25-50)

• Girls and young women (age group: 15-24)

• Boys and young men (age group: 15-24)

• Youth Parliament, Girls Alliance, National Youth Council and District Youth Council and Gender networking group

• CBOs (Community based Organizations)

• Non-formal Youth Groups existing at community level

• Primary duty bearers (i.e. government institutions and representatives, law enforcement officials, social workers) age group: 24-50:

• Village and sub village Chiefs and Councils (Chefe suku and chefe aldeia)

• Municipal Administrators and Administrative Post (sub-Municipality) Administrators

• Ministry of Education (MOE)

• Ministry of Health (MOH)

• Secretary of State for Youth and Sport (SSYS)

• Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion (SSEI)

• Child Rights Commissioner

• Ministry of Social and Solidarity and Inclusion (MSSI)

• Ministry of State Administration

• Secondary duty bearers (i.e. caregivers, teachers, gatekeepers, civil society) age group: 24-50:

• Teachers

• Parents

• Gender working group

• Sub-granted CSOs under the program (FADA, NAFOFILA, TALATA

• Child Rights Coalition Timor-Leste members

• 100% Hau Pronto (I’m Ready) Committee and other CSO members

• Church leaders

The geographic area of the project

Apart from the national level activities in Dili, the project will be implemented in 33 villages (suku) in Aileu Municipality (formerly District) and 20 suku in Ainaro Municipality. Plan Timor-Leste works in in both Aileu and Ainaro and has a field office in each Municipality.

1. Propose of baseline

The overall objective of the assignment is to conduct the baseline study for the For a Dynamic and Gender Transformative Civil Society to promote SRHR and the Participation of Girls and Women in Timor-Leste based on the results framework on areas (see above), outputs and related indicators, both quantitative and qualitative (Annex 1). Primary and secondary data will be key to the study.

The baseline study is to provide programme staff with detailed baseline data on key project indicators to enable changes in girls and boys, women and men and duty bearers to measure over the course of the project. The data collected will be both qualitative and quantitative in nature, and will include information gathered on the outcome indicator and on knowledge, attitude and practices on boys, girls, young women, young men, women and men.

3.1 Assessment of Baseline Value for project Indicator

Outcome 1. Children & youth (CAY), particularly girls and young women, have improved knowledge on SRHR and are confident in making healthy decisions on their bodies and SRH

• Assess number of CAY confident to making decision

• Assess number of School that have adopted the comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) curriculum

• Assess level of maturity of the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors conducive to positive adolescent SRHR (issues relevant in the project context), by adolescents and duty bearers (parents, caregivers, teachers, religious leaders, cultural leaders, parents support groups, child protection committees, local council committees, government authorities, service providers etc.).

• Analyze the existing barriers by mothers, fathers, leaders and other community members to practice positive behaviors for realizing girls’ SRH rights.

• Assess how the adolescent girls and boys are involved in the actions to influence and advocate for SRHR issues and gender equality.

• Assess the opportunities for using digital and innovative solutions for project implementation

• # of woman and girl have the confidence to participate in the decision making process

• : # of diversified household income generation activity led by women and young women

• # of CSOs and Youth-led CBOs participate in capacity building on prevention and response to SRHR issues, and participation of girls and women

• # of CSOs are able to access to government state budget

• % of CAY who report having the confidence and skills to influence peers on SRHR and harmful practices

Outcome 2. Children and youth, in particular girls and young women, have strengthened knowledge on their right to participation and are able to influence community decision-making processes

• Assess number of women and girls who have knowledge of international/ national or legal framework related to the right to participate

• Assess number of women and girls who have confidence to participate in the decision making process

• Assess commitment of council member and men who have commitment to support girls and women participating in suku council

• % of communities and community leaders with basic correct knowledge of SRHR core topics

• % of women and men in communities or among community leaders with a positive attitude towards the rights of women and girls in marital/intimate relationships.

• % of community members who support young people to make their own decisions about marriage, including who, who and if they marry.

• Assess Number of adolescents using SRHR information and services (if any).

• Assess the community-initiated actions for reinforcing positive social norms and tackling harmful practices.

• Asses Numbers and description of spaces and mechanism for children and youth especially girls/young women participate in local , district and national policy development, policy and budgeting

Outcome 3: CSOs, including child and youth led networks, have improved organisational and networking capacity and influence decision-making processes

• Assess number of CSO & youth lead CBO’s who participated on prevention and response to SRHR issues and participation of girls and women

• Assess the level of implementing partner CSOs capacities; type of critical capacity gaps.

• Assess Evidence of youth led networks involved in local, district or national SRHR policy development, planning or budgeting

• Asses the description of duty bearers implementing commitments on children’s rights to SRH in response to the actions of child rights organizations, networks and platforms

• Assess Number and description of supported CSOs/networks demonstrating improved technical and organizational capacity to engage with and influence power holders

Outcome 4: Duty bearers, including local government institutions and parents, have strengthened understanding on their responsibility for children’s rights and take action to support children, adolescents, and youth’s right to SRHR

• Assess number of advocacy campaign social trainings organized for children (girls and boys) conducted by government

• Assess number of community leaders, girls & young women participating in influencing activity, seminar, training, workshop and meeting on SRHR

• Assess the implementation of tarabandu ( customary low) to prevent early married in community

• Assess % of men and women who share in the decision making of reproductive health issues with their spouse or sexual partner

• Map out the strengths and weakness of the existing structures, coordination mechanisms, policies and instruments of government duty bearers for realizing girls’ SRH rights; define the meaningful steps towards realizing the SRH rights and the required relevant government actors

• Optional: Additional Baseline Research Question

• What is the current state of the girls as to make decision about their body and participation in the community level?

• Which are the enabling/hindering factors to access appropriated SRHR information?

• What opportunities for engagement/advocacy on concern and need of girls’ participation on SRHR?

• What are the differences/ power imbalances between girls/young women and boys and young men in making decision?

• # of early pregnancy in Ainaro and Aileu municipality?

• # of early married in Aileu and Ainaro municipality?

• Level of confidence of girls to make decision about their body?

• How young people, particularly girls, access the information related to SRHR?

• Child Right, gender and inclusion

The gender analysis is critical to understand the social and gender dynamic in the society, especially to know gender gaps and unequal power relations. The situation analysis shows that young women often have less opportunity than young men. They are often housebound, either through early child bearing or household duties or through their parents’ decision that they must remain at home. Gender transformative programming in the proposed project is designed to promote human rights and gender equality by changing gender roles, promoting relationships that are fair and just in the distribution of benefits and responsibilities and fostering institutional and governance structures that support gender equality. It will work with both girls and boys, men and women, community members (male and female), community leaders, including church, to raise awareness on gender equality and to promote for removing the harmful social norms and cultural beliefs leading to the gender inequality in the society with a focus on SRHR and the participation of girls and women.

Gender inequality and exclusion vary in their expression from place to place included in Timor-Leste. We encounter different forms of gender-based discrimination, gender stereotyping and an unequal distribution of power between women, men, girls and boys, and other genders, as well as exclusion based on multiple factors. Achieving gender equality, promoting gender justice, realising girls’ rights and fostering an inclusive society are therefore core objectives of our work as an organisation dedicated to child rights and equality for girls.

4. User of Baseline

The baseline study findings will be use by Plan International staffs and offices, beneficiaries, donor, CSO’s and stakeholder; community leaders, Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Education (MoE).

1. Methods for Data Collection and Analysis

   The consultants will use a combine of qualitative and quantitative data collection technique from primary and secondary data sources including but not limited to document review, household survey and key informal interview (KII) and Focus group discussion (FGD) . The study will involve parents, children, community leaders, religious leaders, teachers, government stakeholders, services providers etc. according to project plan. When deciding on the composition of participants, special attention will paid on principle of inclusion and non-discrimination. Gender balance and the involvement of excluded and marginalized groups from community in which Plan work must be ensured.

The consultant will design and propose appropriated methodology, tools to be agree on with the CO, and should be in line with programme level M&E system. Qualitative and quantitate data will be generate and analysed in respect to the project results framework. The consultant will also propose an appropriate sampling metrology and size that is statically valid and cost effective. The sample size and proposes tools will be discusses and approve by Plan before the study.

5.1 Sample

The consultant is expected to develop and suggest a sampling strategy including a description of:

• Sample size (or expectations of the consultant (s) in calculating it)

• The sample sizes is calculating through raosoft application intended to determine number sample representatives for 95% of level confidence with 5% margin errors as figured out that the targets beneficiaries for this project is 10600 it means the sample representatives would be 371 from 53 Suku and it also determined and the respondent will form selected suku in two municipalities Aileu and Ainaro

• Necessary respondent disaggregation (refer to Plan International’s Minimum Beneficiary Disaggregation)

• Boys, Girls, Youth , Male and Female

• Ages

• PWD

• LBTQI (if possible with anonymous data gathering/non-stigmatisation aspect)

• Number and type of locations

• Sampling approach and sample distributions will calculated based on the number of total population in each suku

Total number of intended project beneficiary age 10 – 24 years old for CAY, and parents, community and teachers in 53 villages (33 villages in Aileu and 20 villages in Ainaro municipality) are 10,600 from total population of 38,305 in 53 villages with assumption of reaching in each villages 200 people.

5.2 Participant Selection and Recruitment

The selection participants included representative from key stakeholder, which included project team, project partners, and community leaders, parents, and teachers, MOH and MOE. The target group included children’s 10- 14; Adolescent 15-19 and youth 19 – 24 years old.

The consultants could also identify and suggest additional or excluded stakeholder that are important to involve in order to get information needed to assess the baseline value thoroughly and outlined as an additional purpose of the baseline. “Additional research questions (optional)”, to answer potential baseline research questions on the current context of the project.

1. Ethics and Child Protection

Plan International is committed to ensuring that the rights of those participating in data collection or analysis are respected and protected, in accordance with Framework for Ethical MERL and our Global Policy on Safeguarding Children and Young People. 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.

The successful applicants will be required to comply with Plan International child and youth safeguarding policy and procedures and to sign the codes of conduct. If the consultant will be, having direct, contact with children or having access to children’s personal information a valid police clearance must be submitted.

7. Key Deliverables

The baseline deliverables and services should include:

1. Inception Report including:

2. an updated timeline;

3. detailed methodology, including draft sampling methodology and size;

4. draft data collection tools;

5. ethical considerations;

6. consent forms for any primary data collection;

7. (draft) methods for data analysis;

8. 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).

9. Draft Baseline Report including an Indicator Tracking Table with baseline data inserted

10. Final Baseline Report (including Executive Summary)

11. Final Sampling methodology (including unit of sampling and sampling frame) and size

12. Final Data Collection Tools ( this tools will be used for all future monitoring activities during the project duration to ensure consistency in measurement)

13. Cleaned Data (including data files (e.g. Excel, SPSS), transcripts of qualitative data, syntax/ codebooks etc.)

14. Completed Consent Forms (including for children and their caregivers and adults)

15. Other Communication Products for Dissemination.

Table of Deliverables

Deliverable

Format

Length

due

Detail

Baseline proposal and field work plan with methodology of the data collection t tools

Consultant or applicant tender or proposal document

2 weeks

December 2^th 2019

Team review

English

Discussion with project team for further

First meeting and discussion (Q&A)

1 day

January 7^nd 2020

Project coordinator, project managers, officers and advisor , Tetum and English

Presenting work plan with methodology of the data collection t tools to CMT

2 hour workshops (Q&A)

2 hours

January 8^th 2020

Members CMT

English and Tetum

Field test

Field practices

1 day

January 10^th 2020

Consultant, project team and enumerators , tetum and English

Field visits to Aileu and Ainaro municipality to collect data with suco and aldeia leaders , youth groups, CBOs, girls and boys

Data collection process in field

5 days

January 13^th -17^th 2020

Consultant, project team and enumerators , tetum and English

A draft report for the study inclusive of a summary table with baseline with baseline indicator value for each indicator of the results framework

1^st draft Report template and send to Project team

1 day

January 20^th 2020

Project team monitoring team, BDM and DCDP, and review by SNO

Preliminary report

Workshops

Power point presentation

½ day

January 24^th 2020

Project team monitoring team, BDM and DCDP, English

Present draft and final report at a consultation meeting involving key stakeholders to discuss key findings and analysis, major achievement, lessons learnt, expected and unexpected changes recommendations

Workshop

1 day

February 3^rd2020

Relevant stake holder and Plan partners , Tetum and English

All materials produced by the study including data excel , hard and soft copy of the report and other related materials in soft form

Folder or hard disk

1 day

February 4^th 2020

Project manager and Advisor

8. Timeline

The project will be implemented from 1^st of July 2019 until 30th May 2024. However, the duration of the baseline study is approximately 3 weeks as per schedule above so that all materials are reviewed, accepted and submitted in their final format by 12^th December 2019.

The timeline include information on:

• Tendering;

• Background Checks and Contracting;

• Inception Call/ Inception Workshop;

• Submission of Inception Report;

• Preparations for Data Collection (testing of tools, translation of tools, mobilisation of respondents, training of enumerators where applicable, ethical or government approval for data collection (where applicable));

• Data Collection;

• Data Entry and Cleaning;

• Data Analysis;

• Validation of findings with key stakeholders and respondents;

• Submission of Draft;

• Submission of Final Report;

• Submission of Other Deliverables;

• Action Plan (analysis of the indicators, adjustments that need to be made based on the findings).

Table of Timeline

Activity

Time

Days of work

Responsible

Individuals Involved

What is the specific activity?

When will this activity begin?

How many days of work are required?

Who is responsible for the delivery of this activity?

Who needs to be involved?

Conduct meeting with consultant

First day after recruitment

Half

Project Manager and advisor

Consultant, Project team and MERL team

Dry run a work Plan

Day after recruitment

1 day

Project manager and advisor

Consultant, project team and MERL team

Review a questioner and translates if necessary

Day five after recruitment

1 days

Project manager and advisor

project team and MERL team

Field level and national level coordination

Day ten after recruitment

1 day

Project Manager and Advisor

project team

Field test

January 10^th, 2020

1 day

Project team and consultant

Project team, consultant and MERL team

Base line study

January 13^th – 17^th 2020

5 days

Project team and consultant

Project team, consultant and MERL team

1. Budget and payment

Table of Payment schedule

Milestone

Detail

Amount to be paid (%)

Expected timeframe

Tranche 1

Consultant fee on Plan´s approval of inception Report

40%

January 6^th 2020

Tranche 2

Consultant fee on delivery and acceptance by Plan of draft report

30%

On or before 20^th January 2020

Tranche 3

Consultant’s fee on Plan´s approval of final Report

30%

On or before 10^th February 2020

Note: If Plan International does the baseline internally, this section should outline the budget required and the relevant internal account lines to be charged etc.

10. Expected Qualifications

Academic Qualification:

The consultant must have a postgraduate degree in a field relevant to the assignment, for example in development studies social and or political sciences, ideally with an additional qualification in M&E

Technical competencies and experience requirement:

• She /he should have a minimum of ten years experiences of working in the development contents

• Proven experiences in the participatory monitoring and evaluation of development program and project, ideally also with international NGO’s

• Ability and commitment to deadlines

• Minimum of 5 years of experiences in developing M&E framework for programming

• Proven experience in carrying out development research, including baseline studies

• Proficiency in qualitative methods of data collection

• Proficiency in quantitative methods of data collection

• Proven experience with data analysis

• Proficiency in statistics

• Knowledge of women and rights situation in Timor-Leste an advantage

• Gender and women, child rights analysis skills

• Proven experience with theory of Change and other strategic planning formats

• Experiences in qualitative and quantitative participatory M&E methods

• Experiences in developing tools for participatory data collection and analysis

• Experiences in developing practical guidance documents for implementing staffs

• Experiences with participatory data analysis and data presentation

• Excellent and demonstrated understanding of child Protection and ethical issues in research

• At least 3 years experiences in gender sensitive programming preferably in SRHR

• At least 3 years experiences in human right issues

• Ability to respond to comments and questions in a timely, appropriate manner

• Ability to write high quality, clear concise report in English

• Excellent English writing and oral skills

• Good IT skills

• Ability to speak Bahasa and Tetun are important assets

• Experiences on Plan’s cross-cutting issues such as gender, inclusion as well as awareness on child protection and child rights issues

The working language is English and Tetun

1. Supervision

The baseline study is will supervise by Plan and partners project team. This baseline study is collaborative project between Plan and FADA Asosiasaun.