ThaiNGO

Job Title: MRE Training and Materials Developer 

Team / Partership: Save the Children and Handicap International

Location: Mae Sot, Tak province, Thailand

Type of contract: Consultancy

Timeframe: Early March – end June 2017

Child Safeguarding: level 3: The responsibilities of the role may require the incumbent to have regualar contact with or access to children or young people.

Background

Save the Childen (SC), in partnership with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), Right To Play (RTP) and Handicap International (HI), are supporting the provision of quality basic education and the achievement of durable education solutions for the Burmese refugees living in 9 refugee camps along Thai-Myanmar border. The refugee situation in Thailand is among the most protracted in the world. The recent positve political progress in Myanmar aims at acieveing sustainable peace within the country paving the way for petential large-scale voluntary repatriation of refugees. Considering the context, Save the Childern with its partners are working to improve preparedness in the education sector for sustainable voluntary return while ensuring that refugee childen in the camps have access to quality basic educaiton services, adequate teaching and learning materails and safe and cinducive learning environment.

One of the key areas of education for convergence (repatriation) to Myanmar, relates mine risk education for teachers, children and parents. In the context of this situation, Save the Children has partnered with Handicap International in order to strengthen and promote understanding in a number of the seven camps.

HI outline

Handicap International (HI) is working in refugees’ camps along Thailand Myanmar border since 1984 providing mainly rehabilitation and social inclusion services to adults and children with disability to secure access to services through direct service provision and/or promoting inclusion. Since 2012^[1], HI re-launched mine/Explosive Remnant of War (ERW) Risk Education (RE) to contribute to a change in value and behaviour, with the aim to participate to a reduction of accidents caused by mines and ERW. Since then and in addition to travellers, influential people, representatives of NGOS and CBOs, HI has been organizing RE briefings to students in primary (5-8-year-old), middle (9-13-year-old) and upper (14-18-year-old) schools among 9 refugee camps. In accordance with the recommendation from Karen Refugee Committee Education Entity (KRCEE), Karenni Education Department (KnED) and Office of Camp Education Entity (OCEE) that are responsible for education sector in camp with support of NGOs, the students aged 9-13 were in the focus as being the most mobile and playful age group. The children from 5-8, due to their age are with direct supervision of their parents while playing and/or travelling. The oldest one, are the more aware of the risk and can adapt their attitude, which was confirmed with pre and post testing results. Designed RE tools such as posters and leaflets served all target groups and have been used in all schools. Due to limited capacities to cover all schools in camps and especially middle schools, Training of Teachers workshops was set-up as well to support teachers to integrate RE in classrooms.

Situation

According to the Landmine Monitor 2015, mines are a particular threat in eastern parts of Myanmar where the majority of refugees’ plan to return^[2]. A survey covering 222 villages in Shan, Mon, Kayin and Kayah states carried out in 2014 found 53% of villages were affected by mines and other explosive remnants of war (ERW). While Pre and Post-Impact Assessments conducted by HI in 2012, 2013 and 2015 showed that RE activities implemented in those years resulted in a significant increase of knowledge and safe practices in all target groups, they highlighted that refugees had lower knowledge of the risks of mine/ERW in their regions of origin, and suggested that future RE strategies better focus on this issue^[3].

In light of the increased emphasis on voluntary repatriation, preparedness in the education sector for sustainable voluntary return, and of the presence of mines/ ERW along the border, there is a need for continued and targeted RE activities in all 9 camps and integration of RE in the schools.

In other hand, while teachers in camps, KRCEE, KnED and OCEE remain supportive and interested in RE in middle schools primary, reduction in the overall number of schools and of teachers, as a result of resettlements and repatriation, has placed a strain on their capacity to prepare and teach RE.

Purpose and focus of consultancy

The focus of the Mine Risk Education (MRE) project is to educate teachers and students about mine /ERW risks (in selected camp based schools) in order to reduce the risk of accidents,  injury and death  during the returning process to Myanmar by spreading tailored safety messages and using appropriate teaching methods among children to increase knowledge and make sure they will adopt a safe / appropriate behaviours when encountering hazards (mines, Explosive Remnants of War, Improvised Explosive Devices or Suspected Hazardous Area).

Specific Objectives are outlined as following:

1. Identify targets to be trained to spread sustainable awareness using appropriate teaching methods and understand roles & responsibilities to train accordingly the right people;

In order to achieve this outcome, the consultant will have three key areas of focus:

Camp based primary children

• Improve current Mine Risk Education (MRE) materials available to camp based children

and educators

HI trainers

• Upgrade 3 day ToT training for HI staff and upgrade training materials to include a pedagogical focus
• implement training pilot for HI staff

Camp teachers (in selected camps only)

• Develop a manual for teachers on MRE.

Deliverables and timeframes

Management

For the purposes of contractual arrangements, the consultant will be managed by Save the Children’s Snr Field Coordinator, Mae Sot.

In relation to project work day to day activities, the consultant will work closely with Handicap International staff, and report to Operations Coordinator and MRE Project Manager.

Qualifications and experience

Extensive experience in teacher development

Experience working in KED camps along the Thai / Myanmar border

Experience of HI work in the camps in relation to Mine Risk Education

English essential and local language skills preferred

Submission for consultancy

The submission must address the terms of reference and include:

A resume addressing skills and experience relevant to the role

A proposal addressing the deliverables / timeframe, log frame, and methodologies / approaches to be employed (max 5 pages).

Closing date for submissions:

Applicants should submit their interest by 07 March 2017. Submissions must be addressed to Save the Children Thailand HR: hrthailand@savethe children.org

Please indicate in the subject as “Apply for a Consultant_MRE Training and Materials Developer_(Name of candidate)”

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

“We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.”

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[1] Mine Risk education project initially was launched in 2000 and closed in 2008.

[2] Displaced Persons in the Temporary Shelters along the Thai-Myanmar Border: Future Hopes and Aspirations, UNHCR, 2014.

[3] HI RE activities report. Post-impact assessment, 2012-2015. Recommendations for future strategies, Sept. 2015.