Terms of Reference for conducting Assessment on Institutional Childcare Situation in Ethiopia and Develop Policy Briefing – SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia
Consultancy and Training
SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia
SOS Children's Villages is the largest non-governmental, non-political, non-denominational charitable child welfare organisation in the world. Its mission is to build families for children in need, help them shape their own futures and share in the development of their communities. The first SOS Children's Village was founded by Hermann Gmeiner in 1949 in Imst, Austria. He was committed to helping children in need,children who had lost their homes, their security and their families as a result of the Second World War. With the support of many donors and co-workers, the organisation has grown to help children all over the world.
Currently, SOS Children's Villages offers an effective alternative foster care through its services in the Alternative Child Care and Family & Community Development Programme Units in 134 countries and territories around the world. It also supports educational programmes and medical centres and it is active in the field of child protection and child rights.
SOS Children's Villages started to work in Ethiopia in 1974 with the opening of the first SOS Children's Village in Mekelle. Currently, we are operating in Ethiopia in six regions namely Harari, Tigray, Amhara, Sidama, Somali and Oromia. In addition, we operate in two city administrations: Addis Ababa & Dire Dawa. SOS Children’s Villages Programme work towards its vision of a world where, “every child belongs to a family and grows with love, respect and security”. For the past 44 years, we have been working to build families for children in need, help them shape their own future and share in the development of their communities. Everything we do is based on the best interest of the child. We help vulnerable families care for their children, and we work to prevent the breakdown of parental care. When children lose their own parental care, we provide quality alternative care. We support young people in their efforts to become independent adults and succeed in life.
Background
SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia is an International Non-governmental organization and a member of SOS Children’s Villages International Federation. The organization started its humanitarian work with the opening of its first Village in Mekelle, Northern part of Ethiopia in 1974. The organization has been providing life-saving provisions such as food, water and health services for a very significant number of children devastated by severe drought and the subsequent famine.
Today, we have grown significantly to meet the persistent challenges that confront Ethiopian children who have lost parental care and are at risk of losing their parental care. Working in close collaboration with international donors, local government and community based organizations across seven program locations; SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia aspires that every child grows up with love, respect and security.
SOS Children’s Villages Ethiopia with the aim of addressing the child welfare crisis, has initiating childcare reform processes to better respond to children at risk of separation from parents and children without parental care. Such efforts include strengthening the gate-keeping mechanisms and facilitating reintegration of children back to their families of origin, embedded in the care reforms agenda.
The overall purpose of the assignment is to assess children’s living experiences in child care institutions in Ethiopia and to develop policy brief based on the assessment result.
The specific objectives of the assessment are the following:
- To assess the current existing institutional childcare situation in Ethiopia.
- To identify gaps on institutional care practices and suggest recommendation to policy makers.
- To develop policy brief based on the finding
- To advocate government and relevant stakeholders to give due emphasis on children reintegration.
Scope of the Consultancy Service:
The scope of the assignment shall be:
- The consultant will prepare a detailed comprehensive plan of action and road map with clear timelines to deliver the assessment.
- The consultant will design appropriate tools to guide data collection; conduct field visits to childcare institutions to collect the required data.
- Present the finding during validation workshop and finalize the assessment report as per comments given by the audiences.
Academic Qualifications
- At least a master’s degree in a relevant field in the area of: Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Law, Development Studies, Economics, Business Management, Monitoring & Evaluation, Project Management, and other related fields.
Experience
- At least five years’ professional work experience in research areas and writing policy brief etc.;
- Prior working experience on assessment/research focusing institutional child care is an added advantage;
- Demonstrated experience in working with non- governmental organizations particularly child focused institution;
- Strong understanding of child development (institutional childcare)
Skills and Competencies:
- Diligent and able to meet deadline;
- High level written and oral communications skills in English;
- Must be result-oriented, a team player, exhibiting high levels of enthusiasm, diplomacy and integrity;
- Evidence of having undertaken similar assignments
- Experience in research, policy development, child development and programming-related
