Job Description

INVITATION TO BID FOR CONSULTANCY

Save the Children International (SCI) Somaliland program hereby invites interested consultants to bid for the consultancy assignment detailed below.

Title of Consultancy

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE CONSULTANCY TO DEVELOP SOCIAL PROTECTION AND CHILD PROTECTION FRAMEWORK.

SCI Contracting Office

Save the Children, Somaliland.

Period of Consultancy

30 working days starting from contracting date.

Consultant type required

Individual or Firm

Responsibility for Logistics arrangements and Costs

The consultant will be responsible for organizing logistical issues with no facilitation from SCI as per the consultancy agreement.

Taxation Provisions

Consultant shall be responsible for all Taxes arising from the consultancy in line with the Somaliland Tax regulations applicable at the SCI Hargeisa Office

Travel requirements

Consultant will manage all travel & any logistics costs may be required.

Security requirements

Consultant will comply with standard Save the Children Security procedures, including the completion of SCI online security training prior to travel to Somaliland

Terms of Reference

Development of Social Protection and Child Protection Framework

1. Background

For over 90 years, Save the Children International (SCI) has been working to make a difference in children's lives in more than 120 countries. We are the world's largest independent child rights organisation, underpinned by the vision of a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. Our mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

SCI Somaliland has in the past 40 years focused on improving access to basic health care and education for the poorest and most vulnerable children and families and securing their livelihoods with an overall aim of protecting and promoting their right to survival, development, protection and participation.

1.1.1. Context and Rational of the capacity assessment and budget analysis

Somaliland has made significant strides in strengthening its legal and policy frameworks for child protection and social protection in recent years. The Somaliland National Child Protection Policy (2019) [1] and the National Social Protection Policy (2023) [2] provide a comprehensive roadmap for ensuring the rights and wellbeing of children and vulnerable populations. Additionally, the Somaliland Children's Act (2022) [3] outlines the responsibilities of national and local authorities in protecting and promoting the welfare of children.

However, the implementation of these policies at the local government level remains a significant challenge. The ongoing decentralization process in Somaliland [4] has shifted greater responsibilities for service delivery, including child protection and social protection, to the local municipalities. The cities of Hargeisa, Berbera, and Borama are central to this decentralization process. This shift in responsibility presents both opportunities and obstacles for municipalities with limited resources and institutional capacity.

To address these challenges, it is essential to assess the capacity of local municipalities to deliver high-quality child and social protection services. This assessment will focus on evaluating current programs, understanding existing budget allocations, and identifying gaps in service delivery. Strengthening these systems will be vital for aligning local efforts with national policies, ensuring that vulnerable populations—especially children—are adequately protected.

Therefore, SCI is seeking a qualified consultant to assess the current social and child protection systems in the municipalities of Hargeisa, Borama, and Berbera. The aim is to develop a robust framework that strengthens institutional capacity and improves budget allocations, ensuring comprehensive protection services for vulnerable children and families in Somaliland.

1.1.1.        Background of the Projects Contributing to this Exercise

MFA Finland supports two main projects in Somaliland from 2022 to 2025: Child Sensitive Social Protection (CSSP) and Working Together for Better Protection of Children.

Child Sensitive Social Protection (CSSP)

The CSSP project builds on investments from 2017 to 2021. It targets IDPs in Hargeisa and urban households in Berbera, providing a monthly "child grant" of USD 20 to 625 households. The project strengthens the government's capacity to finance and lead these efforts. It uses a “cash plus” approach, rolling out parenting and life skills packages to enhance gender inclusivity and child sensitivity. Engagement with the Ministry of Employment, Social Affairs and Family (MESAF) and Ministry of Finance has led to social protection being included as a stand-alone sector in Somaliland's National Development Plan III. Additionally, MESAF has formulated and received cabinet approval for its first social protection policy.

Working Together for Better Protection of Children

This project, led by Save the Children (SC), aims to strengthen child protection systems in Somaliland. It focuses on providing high-quality response and prevention services, especially for child survivors of child protection and sexual and gender-based violence. The project will improve case management, strengthen the social service workforce, and work with CSOs and the government to enhance child protection efforts. SC will also advocate for policies and frameworks to advance children's rights and support MESAF in finalizing and implementing relevant legislation. Collaboration with CSOs and Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPD) will focus on child-focused budgeting and investment in disability-inclusive child protection systems.

Both projects support the target local governments in developing child protection and social protection capacities and frameworks.

2. Purpose and Objective of the Assessment

The overall objective of this consultancy is to conduct an in-depth assessment of the social and child protection systems in Hargeisa, Borama, and Berbera. The assessment will provide the foundation for developing a comprehensive framework to enhance the delivery of social and child protection services, focusing on increasing institutional capacity and ensuring adequate resource allocation to support vulnerable populations.

The specific objectives are:

• Assess the institutional capacity of local governments in Hargeisa, Borama, and Berbera to deliver social and child protection services. Review the human resources, technical expertise, and infrastructure available to implement protection services at the municipal level. Also assess the structures, systems, and functional relationships of the target municipalities about promoting and protecting children's rights and delivering social protection services.
• Review current budget spending patterns, and revenue sources particularly the child protection and social protection programs in the target municipalities. This analysis will identify funding gaps and opportunities for reallocating resources to enhance service delivery as well as opportunities for expanding the fiscal space for child protection and social protection through revenue enhancement and budget reallocation.
• Based on the assessment, develop a comprehensive framework that integrates the various elements of social and child protection systems. This framework should clearly define the goals and objectives for both child protection system and social protection within the targeted local governments. Additionally, it should identify key components and activities, establish timelines, and assign responsibilities for execution and monitoring. Furthermore, the framework should provide clear and actionable recommendations to ensure effective implementation at the municipal level.

3. Study framework and methodology

While the comprehensive methodology will be refined by the consultant during the inception phase, it is expected to include the following component

1. Desk Review:

• A review of relevant policies, laws, and regulations governing social and child protection in Somaliland, as well as municipal-level policies in Hargeisa, Borama, and Berbera.
• A review of existing reports, evaluations, and studies related to child protection and social protection programs in these districts/regions.

2. Stakeholder Engagement- To gather diverse perspectives from various stakeholders in the targeted municipalities. Conduct interviews and focus groups with local government officials, service providers, NGOs, and community members, particularly those from vulnerable populations.
3. Institutional Capacity and Budget Analysis:

• Assess the human resources, technical expertise, infrastructure, and financial resources available within the municipalities to deliver child and social protection services.
• Conduct a budget analysis of current allocations for social and child protection, with recommendations for optimizing resources.

4. Data Analysis- Analyze quantitative and qualitative data gathered through KIIs, FGDs, and document reviews; and ensure that data is disaggregated by gender, age, disability, and other relevant factors to provide an inclusive assessment.
5. Validation workshop: Convening a workshop to present and validate the preliminary findings with key stakeholders.

1.3.1.        Scope of Work

The consultant will conduct an extensive assessment focusing on the municipalities of Hargeisa, Borama, and Berbera in Somaliland. The scope of work includes:

• Conducting a comprehensive situation assessment through desk review and consultations of the existing social and child protection systems, mapping key actors, and assessing service delivery mechanisms.
• Reviewing the legal, policy, and institutional frameworks that govern social protection and child protection in Somaliland linking to decentralization approach.
• Evaluating current programs and services to identify gaps and areas for improvement.
• Assessing institutional capacities and coordination mechanisms among municipal authorities, NGOs, and community organizations.
• Conducting a budget analysis to evaluate current funding for protection services and recommend areas for increased investment.
• Facilitating stakeholder consultations to gather diverse perspectives and ensure local ownership of the proposed framework.
• Providing strategic recommendations for the development of a robust Social Protection and Child Protection Framework for Hargeisa, Borama, and Berbera.

1.3.2.        Deliverables

• A detailed inception report outlining the consultant’s understanding of the assignment, proposed methodology, work plan, stakeholder engagement strategy and timelines for the assessment.
• A detailed assessment of the current state of social and child protection services in Hargeisa, Borama, and Berbera, highlighting gaps, strengths, identifying key actors and challenges.
• An analysis of the institutional capacity of local governments in Hargeisa, Borama, and Berbera to deliver social and child protection services, identifying strengths and areas for enhancement.
• A review of current budget allocations for social and child protection services within the municipalities, identifying funding gaps and opportunities for optimization.
• A Comprehensive Framework: A cohesive document that integrates findings from all assessments and provides a roadmap for implementation, including timelines and responsible parties specific to each municipality.
• A final presentation to stakeholders summarizing key findings, recommendations, and the proposed framework. This presentation will facilitate discussion and feedback from stakeholders.

1.3.3.        Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement Plan:

  Conduct a comprehensive stakeholder mapping exercise to identify all the relevant stakeholders, both within the target municipalities and externally. Key stakeholders are the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the Ministry of Employment, Social Affairs and Family (MESAF), and the Local Government Institute.

To effectively engage the two-line ministries responsible for the local municipalities and the ministry responsible for child and social protection, as well as the local government institute, the following strategies can be implemented.

Experiences and Qualifications

Individual consultants and companies are eligible to apply this consultancy service. However, the applicant must have the following profiles.

• Post graduate qualifications in the development studies, Social Sciences, Public Policy/Financial Management, Governance or another related discipline relevant to the assignment.
• At least five years of relevant professional experience including at least three years’ experience in development work.
• Substantial experience in qualitative and quantitative methodologies including child-friendly research tools.
• Demonstrated expertise in institutional capacity assessment, public financial management, and social service delivery
• Extensive experience in conducting assessments in the local government and social protection sectors
• Strong understanding of the context and challenges in Somaliland
• Excellent research, analytical, and report writing skills

Sound knowledge of local and international legal instruments governing the protection and promotion of children’s rights

Evaluation Criteria

The following award criteria will be used during the evaluation of the technical proposals

Skills Required

Attachment

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