Call for Applications – Consultancy
Child Protection Expert
Embode is looking for a short-term consultant in Thailand to provide child protection training and guidance for research enumerators
Embode is an independent, international consulting agency focusing on human rights and social protection, with a particular specialisation in the area of child rights and protection. Based in Asia, Embode prides itself for being on the ground in locations where many of our projects are focused. See www.embode.co for more details.
Background
Embode is providing technical support to Ipsos (a large, international public policy and social research agency) in undertaking a quantitative household survey on children’s experiences of online dangers in six Asian countries.
The research has been commissioned by UNICEF and will focus on children’s experiences of violence, sexual exploitation and abuse online, via a nationally representative household surveys of parents and children. The survey will be conducted in a total of 13 countries in Southeast Asia and Eastern and Southern Africa. Embode’s role will be to provide child safeguarding advice, training and referral guidance to the IPSOS research teams in Asia during the data gathering phase, as well as to provide expert child protection input in the research method, tools and outcomes.
Scope of Work
Embode is looking for a national consultant in Thailand to support the field research being carried out by Ipsos by ensuring adequate child safeguarding protocols are put in place. This will include the development and adaptation of children safeguarding protocols for the national context, delineating a safeguarding referral process in case any child protection concerns are raised, delivering training to enumerators on child safeguarding, as well as advice over the course of the research. The consultancy is estimated to take up approximately 17 days and it is anticipated that most of this work will be conducted between February 2020 – May 2020. The national consultant will report to Embode’s Project Lead with overarching supervision under the Managing Director. The consultant’s specific responsibilities will include:
Document review – Review the translated survey questionnaires (1 for children and 1 for parents) and consent forms to make sure that the terminology and way the questions are phrased is understandable and culturally acceptable.
Attend and deliver training – All national consultants will attend a 3 day Training-of-Trainers (ToT) in Bangkok together with relevant Ipsos research team country leads. The training will provide information on child abuse and exploitation, including online; conducting research with children on sensitive topics; responding to disclosures; guidance on reporting and referral services for victims; as well as self-care for researchers. After receiving the ToT, the national consultant, in conjunction with the Ipsos country lead, will co-deliver a country-specific training session to the Ipsos research enumerators. The national consultant would be required for 3 days of the training and deliver the child protection components, which they would have adapted for the specific country and cultural context.
Safeguarding protocols – Given the nature of the research, there is a likelihood that Ipsos enumerators may encounter disclosures of child abuse or neglect during fieldwork. Embode’s national consultants will need to ensure that all Ipsos enumerators are clear about the protocol to follow to ensure child safeguarding is maintained as well as how to make a child protection referral. The Project Lead for Embode will develop the safeguarding referral protocol in English, and the national consultant will be responsible for translating and adapting for the respective national context. This will include adding the legal requirements in each country for reporting child abuse together with a list of national and local authorities and support services for reporting and referral. These may be categorised according to geographical region, type of case i.e. sexual abuse, cyberbullying etc, as well as whether the incidence or risk of harm emanates from the family or community, or from an online source. It is expected that there will be a need to liaise with the relevant agency or agencies in any given country in advance so that they may expect referrals as part of the research effort.
Oversight of child safeguarding during data collection – During the 5 weeks of data gathering, the national consultant is expected to be available for any advice and oversight monitoring. This may include speaking with enumerators over the phone to answer any child protection questions they have and provide advice if they have a concern or disclosure of child abuse, as well as observing some of the fieldwork. The national consultant will be expected to debrief and provide feedback to the Embode Project Lead on the experiences of monitoring child safeguarding and protection during the data gathering.
Competencies
Required:
Desirable:
Child Protection Requirements
As this position may involve direct interaction with vulnerable children (aged 15-17 years), the consultant will need to fulfil preliminary background and record checks before finalisation of contract, in accordance with Embode’s child protection policy.
Application Process
Interested applicants are requested to apply to applications@embode.co
The application should consist of:
The deadline for applications is Sunday 26 January 2020. However, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and Embode retains the choice of selecting a candidate before the deadline. We therefore encourage applicants to apply as soon as possible.
Contact : applications@embode.co
