Consultancy to conduct a context analysis to inform the 2021-2024 Tdh MENA strategy

Terre des hommes Foundation is seeking to contract a consultant to conduct a context analysis to inform the 2021-2024 Tdh MENA strategy

Introduction

Terre des hommes has been present in the region since 1973 with its first operations in Palestine focused on child malnutrition in the West Bank. As of 2020, Tdh operates in 8 countries in MENA covering middle east, norther Africa and central Asia, with a portfolio of 26 million CHF. In 2019, Tdh reached 800,579 beneficiaries, consisting of vulnerable children, their families, communities, and authorities through its programming. Priority programs have been 1) children affected by migration, 2) access to justice for children in conflict with the law, 3) humanitarian action, and 3) Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition (MCHN), and all of which have been adopted to emergency, rehabilitation, and development context. The overall context in MENA is dynamic due to its volatile security situation, uncertainties in governance & policies, fragile international relations, unstable humanitarian space and now the unpredictability of the COVID 19 pandemic.

Tdh as an organization is currently embarking on developing a new strategic plan for 2021-2024, to which the MENA programs and delegations will need to align. The new MENA management would like to explore the context to assess risk and opportunities that needs to be factored into the new strategic plan for the region for 2021-2024. This document outlines the terms of reference for a MENA regional context analysis consultancy.

Purpose of the assignment

Is to inform the MENA regional strategic plan 2021 – 2024. The context analysis exercise is a critical step of the strategy development process as it enables the zone to refresh it’s understanding of the context and explore the current/ resent developments that are to be factored into the new strategic plan. The results of the exercise are also to inform future management decision making, program prioritization, and contingency planning.

The scope of the exercise is on current Tdh MENA operational areas and potential areas for growth during the 2021-2024 period.

Current Operations

Middle East: Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine

Norther Africa: Egypt

Central Asia: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan

Area of interest for growth

Middle East: Syria, Libya,

Norther Africa: Yemen

Objective 1: Analysis of the geopolitical and socioeconomic context of broader MENA region, especially observing current and potential changes on these themes, in alignment to Tdh priorities. Outlined below are some information Tdh would like to see included in this part of the context analysis.

o government policies and laws, legislation and upcoming changes focused on children and youth.

o implementation of the CRC commitments and SDGs (child focused);

o economic situation, GDP, debt, Human index development, youth unemployment, opportunities for youth (entrepreneurial, start up, capital investments, etc), youth migration,

o status of child and youth development sectors such as education, health, Justice system, social protection welfare, youth development, livelihood’s, and technology.

o social norms towards the wellbeing and development of children and young people, especially around beliefs, attitudes, practices, social cohesion and copying methods.

o highlighting specific geographic hotspots within Tdh operational scope with potential for emergencies/ humanitarian action.

o effects of COVID 19

Objective 2: Situation analysis focused on children and youth (age up to 24) issues in MENA.

Identify the most vulnerable groups of children and young people in MENA region and their needs within the scope of Tdh programming priorities. To Focus on issues of

o Migration (Unaccompanied minors, refugees & IDP’s),

o Children in contact and conflict with the law,

o Violence against Children,

o Child marriage and sexual based violence,

o Child labour and exploitation, and

o Violent extremism amongst youth.

Under each of these categories identify children who are most affected and who are most at risk. Analysis to factor in the below outlined ecological model, clearly describing the case-effect relationship.

o Child’s level: Drivers, and individual vulnerabilities, access to basic/ essential services

o Family: Household vulnerabilities & coping strategies, access to basic/ essential services & aid

o Community: Social norms, cultural/ social believes, values & practices, values, social assets and safety nets, essential services available and community structures. Civil society role engagement & gaps

o Systems level: laws, government policies, regulations and procedures adopted, and gaps; identify those institutions and public authorities who have a leading role in addressing these issues, responsibilities and mandate, analyzing how those mandates are being fulfilled, gaps; the existing level of capacity of professionals, knowledge on topic, competences, attitude, gaps; services available and accessibility.

Methodology

Desk review research, Key informant Interviews with Tdh staff**

Key deliverables

o Context Analysis report

o Conduct a workshop to present the key findings and assist Tdh MENA management team in interpreting the information and using it for the strategy development purposes.

Timeline

The situational analysis will need to be conducted within 4 weeks starting 1^st November 2020.

Requirements for the facilitator

Academic Background: Social sciences, political science, Middle eastern policies & studies, research, Child protection

Knowledge: MENA context, culture, governance, & the actors; Child protection systems & programming;

Skills: Excellent writing skills; Good desk research and analytical skills; Excellent interpersonal skills and good connections and networks in the MENA region.

Experience: working experience in the MENA (Required); Child protection programming experience (Required); Previous experience in doing regional level context analysis (required)