Report Writing and Copy-Editing Consultant for Time to Act! Accelerating efforts to end child, early and forced marriage in Asia-Pacific Report

Introduction

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. 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, and we are active in over 75 countries.

Background

Globally, child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) is recognised as violation of children’s rights and yet, 120 million girls are estimated to be married before the age of 18 by 2030 and, the global pandemic has put an additional 13 million more girls at risk of becoming child brides. CEFM continues to rob girls of their freedom by forcing them out of education, limiting their ability to become active members in society, increasing their risk of violence and abuse and threatening their sexual and reproductive health.

The Asia-Pacific region has some of the highest child marriage rates in the world. With deep-rooted customs and traditions, vast economic disparities and emergency settings, child marriage rates vary across the region ranging from 59 per cent in Bangladesh and 11 per cent in Vietnam. Over the last decade, substantial progress has been made towards reducing the prevalence of CEFM in the region as a girl’s risk of marrying before the age of 18 has dropped by a third in south Asia. Increasing rates of girls’ education, investments in adolescent girls and stronger public awareness of the harms the practice brings have contributed to the shift we are seeing. However, UNICEF has estimated that in order to eliminate CEFM and meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, progress would still need to be 12 times faster than what we have seen in the last 10 years.

Plan International is committed to preventing and eliminating CEFM and in the Asia-Pacific region, it has been identified as one of its strategic priority areas for influencing and programming. In the last decade, Plan International Asia-Pacific Regional Hub has commissioned a number of important pieces of research on CEFM including the multi-phased research series Their Time is Now: Eliminating Child, Early and Forced Marriage in Asia, Time to Act! and Their Time is Now- Time to Act!.

Plan International Asia-Pacific Regional Hub now seeks a consultant to produce the Time to Act! Accelerating efforts to end child, early and forced marriage in Asia-Pacific Report by utilising available content and resources that will be provided. The report does not require any type of research, but is rather focusing on compilation and synthesis of the available information and documents.

This report will compliment a thematic regional research report on the use of digital platforms, tools and technologies to eliminate CEFM and reduce adolescent pregnancies which is being produced separately. The two reports will be produced and printed as one flagship report.

Key Deliverables

The consultant will report to the Regional Evidence and Research Lead and collaborate with relevant members of the Asia-Pacific Regional Hub team.

Expected deliverables from this consultancy include:

Deliverable / Length / Due

1. First draft of report / Maximum 20 pages / By 12^th March
2. Second draft of report / Maximum 20 pages / By 17^th March
3. Final report ready for design and publish / Maximum 20 pages / By 19^th March

Timeframe

The overall project will start and complete in March 2021 and the consultant is estimated to work for a total of 10 days.

Task / Due / Estimated no. of working days

Hold and initial meeting to discuss the overall report and deliverables / By 8^th March / 1 day

Review materials and submit first draft of report / By 12^th March / 5 days

Submit second draft of report incorporate second round of Plan International’s feedback / By 17^th March / 2 days

Submit final report ready for design and publish / By 19^th March / 2 days

Qualifications

• An advanced university degree in Communications, Journalism, Social Sciences or related field; or similar experience

• Fluency in English and proven native-level writing skills;

• At least five years of experience in report writing or related professional experience;

• Previous experience in copy-editing is an advantage;

• Strong understanding of gendered challenges faced by girls and women in Asia-Pacific is required;

• Strong interpersonal skills, able to communicate and receive feedback from different individuals;

• Ability to work under tight deadlines.

Evaluation Criteria

Criteria / Weight

Academic qualification / 20%

Technical knowledge, skills and experience / 50%

Financial Proposal / 30%

Total 100%

Application Process

Consultants that meet the requirements should submit expression of interest, which should include the following:

1. Cover Letter

2. Curriculum Vitae

3. Three references

4. Detailed budget, including daily fee rates inclusive of taxes, etc.