An in-depth mapping and analysis of the existing child prote...
Terms of Reference
Consultancy Assignment for the Project:
‘‘Strengthening Holistic Child Protection Services in Westbank and Gaza Strip”
Background Information
Established in 1973, Terre des Hommes (Tdh) has emerged as a pioneering international organization in the field of child protection, addressing critical needs through an integrated approach. With a focus on thematic areas such as access to justice, migration, health, and WASH, Tdh has consistently demonstrated its commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable children and families. Since the outbreak of the war in October 2023, Tdh has intensified its humanitarian, delivering lifesaving aid and essential services across Gaza and the West Bank. Operating from its coordination office in Jerusalem, as well as its offices in Ramallah and Gaza, Tdh continues to address the complex needs of communities through child protection, education, psychosocial support, and emergency humanitarian assistance.
A cornerstone of Tdh’s mission lies in strengthening child protection systems at the national level. The organization takes a dual approach by bolstering governmental frameworks and enhancing community-based mechanisms to ensure a comprehensive and sustainable response. This includes capacity-building initiatives, professional training, and advocacy for child rights, in close partnership with key stakeholders such as the Palestinian Ministry of Social Development (MoSD). By prioritizing holistic child protection services, Tdh addresses both preventive and reactive measures, extending support not only to children but also to women and entire households affected by violence, conflict, poverty, and displacement.
The unique challenges faced by children in the oPt – heightened by the ongoing conflict, displacement, and limited access to basic services – have necessitated a multifaceted response. Children are often exposed to risks of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence, exacerbated by the insufficient capacity, coordination, and resources of governmental systems. Community-level mechanisms, through culturally relevant and accessible, frequently lack consistency and formal structure. Recognizing this, Tdh has adopted an integrative approach, leveraging the strengths of formal systems alongside community-based responses to create an environment where children’s rights are safeguarded, and their needs are met promptly and effectively.
In collaboration with UNICEF, Tdh has been instrumental in advancing child protection efforts in Palestine. This partnership has facilitated multiple consultations with the MoSD, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen community-based protection mechanisms as a critical component of the broader child protection framework. By addressing systemic gaps and enhancing coordination at all levels, Tdh remains steadfast in its mission to protect and empower children in the most challenging circumstances, ensuring their rights and well-being are prioritized amidst ongoing adversity.
Project Overview
The conflict in Gaza, which commenced in October 2023, has had significant humanitarian and psychological impacts, not only in Gaza but also throughout the West Bank. UNICEF reports that numerous children have been separated from their families, increasing their susceptibility to exploitation and elevating the need for protection services. The demand for Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) has risen urgently, with almost all children now requiring such assistance. In the West Bank, the effects of the conflict have been compounded by escalating violence, demolitions of homes, and severe restrictions on movement, further destabilizing communities and disrupting the lives of children and their families. These circumstances have heightened children's exposure to harm, displacement, and insecurity, placing additional pressure on an already fragile child protection system.
Critical deficiencies persist, including the lack of safeguarding policies for care facilities, limited child-friendly justice procedures, inadequate enforcement of mandatory reporting, and insufficient integration of child protection into the national case management system. These gaps further hinder the effective response to the growing protection needs of children. Given the deteriorating situation, there is an immediate requirement to enhance community-based child protection mechanisms. Accessing affected areas remains a challenge, and child protection counselors are facing growing workloads that hinder prompt interventions. A community-based approach is crucial in bridging these gaps by strengthening community ownership of child protection mechanisms. Thereby, facilitating more efficient and sustainable interventions, particularly during emergencies, ensuring that children and families receive the necessary support.
In collaboration with UNICEF and the MoSD, Tdh seeks to engage an independent consultant to develop a rapid mapping report. This consultancy will assess the capacities of the MoSD and other formal and non-formal community-based structures in two selected governorates in the West Bank. The findings will inform the development of a community-based approach, focusing on best practices, operational structures, and sustainable solutions that benefit children, households, and communities. The consultant will implement a series of activities and data collection methodologies, designed and agreed upon collaboratively with Tdh and UNICEF, to ensure the delivery of actionable insights and recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness, accountability, and accessibility of child protection systems in Palestine.
Objective of the Consultancy
In Palestine, UNICEF and Tdh have been working collaboratively to enhance the child protection system by strengthening by reinforcing both governmental and community-based protection mechanisms. Through extensive consultations with the MoSD and UNICEF, Tdh has identified the critical need to strengthen the community-based protection approach as an integral component of the broader child protection framework.
The primary objective of this consultancy is to conduct an in-depth mapping and analysis of the existing child protection structures at two interconnected levels:
1. National (governmental) level: Assessing formal systems, including policies, procedures, staffing, resource allocation, and service delivery mechanisms under the leadership of the MoSD.
2. Community-Based Protection Level: Assessing informal and community-driven mechanisms, including their capacities, roles, and coordination with formal systems to safeguard children effectively.
The consultancy aims to identify strengths, gaps, and overlaps within the systems to evaluate their effectiveness in addressing child protection challenges. It will specifically examine critical areas such as:
To this end, the consultancy will assess the capacity of the MoSD in two selected governorates and evaluate the functionality and impact of community-based protection structures. Building upon these findings, the consultancy will inform the development of a comprehensive, actionable approach to strengthening community-based child protection mechanisms in the West Bank. This process will involve close collaboration between Tdh and UNICEF specialists, an external expert, and the consultant of this assignment, ensuring the recommendations are practical, culturally relevant, and tailored to the local context. The assignment will prioritize:
The consultancy will employ a mix of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods, ensuring an inclusive and participatory approach. Relevant stakeholders, including governmental representatives, community leaders, and child protection practitioners, will be actively engaged throughout the process.
The final deliverable will be a comprehensive report that includes a detailed mapping of current child protection systems operating the two targeted governorates, analysis of their effectiveness, and actionable recommendations. These insights will guide the development of a cohesive community-based protection framework, ultimately enhancing the capacity, accountability, and responsiveness of child protection mechanisms in the West Bank.
Scope of Work and Responsibilities
The consultancy will be conducted under the oversight and guidance by Tdh and UNICEF. The consultant will focus on assessing and strengthening community-based child protection mechanisms and the capacities of the MoSD through the following steps:
1. Community structures analysis of the two targeted governorates:
The consultant will focus on assessing and enhancing community-based child protection mechanisms through the following steps:
Identify and Document Existing Mechanisms:
Assess Effectiveness:
Highlight Positive Practices:
The findings from this comprehensive assessment will guide MoSD, Tdh, and the international expert in designing a community-based child protection approach tailored to the specific needs and strengths of the community.
2. Mapping MoSD structures and resources in the two targeted governorates:
The consultant will assess the structures and resources of the MoSD at the organizational, policy, and operational levels through the following components:
Organizational Structure and Resources Mapping:
Information Management System Analysis:
Linkages with the Child Protection Case Management and Referral System:
Quality Assurance and Oversight Mechanism:
Map the quality assurance and internal oversight mechanisms, including monitoring, quality control, and auditing processes.
Methodology
The consultant will design and implement a comprehensive and participatory methodology to achieve the objectives of the consultancy. This methodology will be detailed in the inception report and finalized in consultation with Tdh and UNICEF. It will prioritize inclusivity, child protection, and the active engagement of key stakeholders, ensuring that the perspectives and needs of marginalized children and their communities are central to the process.
Core principles of the methodology:
1. Participatory approach: actively engage pre-identified stakeholders, including government representatives, child protection networks, organizations, and communities.
2. Child-friendly processes: ensure the meaningful and safe participation of children, employing methods tailored to their needs and capacities.
3. Conflict- and gender- sensitivity: embed sensitivity to the conflict context and gender dynamics across all aspects of data collection and analysis.
4. Evidence-based analysis: integrate findings from recent child protection research to inform recommendations.
Mixed-methods approach:
The methodology will employ a quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques to gather comprehensive and actionable insights. The proposed techniques include:
Literature Review:
Consultative workshops:
Organize workshops to engage key stakeholders, such as:
MoSD staff, including representatives from directorates and the Public Administration for Children Affairs.
UNICEF staff.
Representatives from key child protection organizations.
Use workshops to collect insights, validate findings, and foster collaborative discussions around gaps, strengths, and proposed solutions.
1. Focus group discussions (FGDs):
2. Key Informant Interviews (KIIs):
3. Community consultation:
Key Deliverables
1. Inception report:
2. Consultative workshops:
3. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs):
Conduct four FGDs with CPN members and other community structures, as identified by Tdh’s designated specialists.
4. Key Informant Interviews (KIIs):
Conduct KIIs with key MoSD staff, community leaders, MoE, MoH, NGOs, CBOs, and other relevant actors to gain in-depth insights into challenges and opportunities within the system.
5. Final Report:
This deliverable will serve as the basis for establishing community-based protection mechanisms and guide Tdh, UNICEF, and MoSD in adopting a suitable child protection approach. The drafting process will follow a two-stage review cycle, during which Tdh specialists, UNICEF, and MoSD will review the first draft and provide feedback for the consultant to incorporate into the finalized report.
Timeline
The consultancy will be completed within a maximum of 30 working days, over a three-month period, during which the consultant will operate primarily from the West Bank, with frequent visits and some work conducted remotely. The detailed timeline and methodology will be finalized in consultation with the selected candidate.
Organizational Responsibilities
- Coordination: the Senior Project Officer will manage all logistical arrangements for workshops, FGDs, and KIIs.
- Technical support: Tdh specialists in consultation and guidance from UNICEF will provide technical feedback on the tools and outcomes of the assignment, guiding the consultant in the design and implementation of tools, facilitation of workshops and FGDs, and development of the final report.
- Cost coverage: Tdh will cover all costs associated with workshops and FGDs, including venue reservations, hospitality, and transportation for participants.
Requirements and Qualifications
The consultant is expected to meet the following criteria:
* Advanced degree in, Child development, Child Psychology, Child welfare/protection, industrial organizational psychology, social work, social development, or a related field in the humanitarian sector.
* Demonstrated expertise in child protection, community-based approaches, and capacity-building initiatives.
* Proven experience in conducting similar assignments, including research, data collection, report writing, and facilitation of workshops.
Strong understanding of child protection systems and context in Palestine, with particular emphasis on governmental and community-based networks. Skills and competencies:* Advanced facilitation and engagement techniques.
* Proficient in mixed-methods data collection.
* Exceptional reporting and analytical skills.
Application Procedure
Consultants are invited to submit their financial and technical proposals. The proposals will be evaluated with 70% weight on the technical offer and 30% weight on the financial offer.
Since the consultant is expected to cover their own transportation and communication costs, the proposed payment structure is as follows: 30% upon receipt and approval of the inception report, 30% upon receipt of the first draft of the report, and 40% upon approval of the final deliverables.
Note: The proposal budget is in ILS, including income tax or deduction at source (10% of the total cost).
Application Requirement
Applicants are requested to submit the following application materials:
Full application as stated above should be submitted through applicant official email address to [email protected] by latest 20/03/2025.
Note: More than one applicant can be considered according to the accessibility to the geographical areas.
Conflict of Interest
The consultant must not be an employee of any organization that is current partner of Tdh in any ongoing project.
Ethical Considerations
The consultant/consulting agency must sign the Tdh Child Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct and be willing to adhere to its principles and expected practices. If a breach of the policy or code of conduct takes place the consultancy will be terminated immediately without any financial burden on Tdh.
Disclaimer on Copyright and Data Protection
All documents, project designs, drawings, data and information shall be treated as confidential and shall not without the written approval of Tdh be made available to any third party. In addition, the consultant(s) formally undertakes not to disclose any parts of the confidential information and shall not, without the written approval of Tdh be made available to any third party. The utilization of the report is solely at the decision and discretion of Tdh. All the documents containing both raw data/materials provided by Tdh and final report, both soft and hard copies are to be returned to Tdh upon completion of the assignment. All documentation and reports written as, and as a result of the research or otherwise related to it, shall remain the property of Tdh. No part of the report shall be reproduced except with the prior, expressed and specific written permission of Tdh.
