Consultancy to develop Continental Monitoring, Reporting and Accountability Mechanism on the Status of Children in Situations of Conflict in Africa
1. Background
Globally, armed conflicts are estimated to have claimed the lives of millions of children as forced participants and/or victims, and many of these children are in Africa.
Additionally, millions more are physically maimed, sexually abused and psychologically traumatized, while others are held hostage, abducted or trafficked. Conflict deprives children of parents, care-givers, basic social services, health care and education.
Once the conflicts end, children have special short- and long-term post-conflict needs, such as for tracing of family members, redress and social reintegration, psycho-social rehabilitation programs, participation in disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programs, as well as participation within transitional justice frameworks.
Unfortunately, in many cases, the pervasive harm and shame children experience in war means the opportunity for redress – to receive the necessary assistance and support for reparation and justice – remains slim or non-existent for many children in Africa.
This is so because, for too long, many of those who abuse children’s rights, and the superiors who condone their actions, have gone unpunished. If the cycle of abuse in the context of armed conflict is to be broken, more needs to be done to shatter the culture of impunity for those who commit these crimes. Ensuring that there is no safe haven for perpetrators is not only a critical element of post-conflict reconstruction, but also acts as a deterrent in conflict prevention efforts.
The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, the various Resolutions of the United Nations Security Council related to children and armed conflict, the Accra Declaration on War Affected Children in West Africa, and other policies, decisions and declarations of the AU on this subject matter provide a comprehensive mandate and accountability framework to protect children affected by armed conflict in Africa. However, despite these solid legal and policy frameworks, the plight of children in situations of armed conflict remains grave and completely unacceptable.
Accurate, comparable quantitative and qualitative data is in short supply, as is adequate implementing capacity, which poses significant challenges to the efforts of the AU to better protect children in situations of armed conflicts.
To ensure effective monitoring, reporting and accountability, appropriate indicators need to be developed, coupled with the design of accurate and reliable data collection tools, as well as the necessary skills developed to use the tools to monitor the indicators for the AU and its member states so that states can frame their actions and strategies in full knowledge of the facts.
To address this gap, in its decision Assembly/AU/Dec.718 (XXXII), the Assembly requested the African Union Commission (AUC) to establish “a continental reporting and monitoring framework to provide the AU with accurate, reliable and up-to-date data on the plights of children in situations of violent conflict and crisis.”
The Peace and Security Council (PSC) in its 269th Meeting held from 28 to 29 March 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, also emphasized “the importance of developing strategies at the continental and regional levels, to enable the monitoring of the situation of women and children in conflict.”
There exists at the global level a monitoring and reporting mechanism for children affected by armed conflict within the framework of Resolution 1612 of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The UNSC’s Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism covers the six grave violations. A number of the situations on the UNSC agenda on issues related to children affected by armed conflict are already covered in Africa; however, the AU does not have timely and complete access to the data generated under the UN system.
As a key step to strengthen the protection of children in situations of armed conflict, the Peace and Security Council is setting out a coherent approach and system-wide response within the African Union Commission in all AU policies, programs, and AU-led operations, missions, and other mandated activities to integrate child protection.
The Peace and Security Council in its 706th Meeting on 26 July, 2017 requested for an “enhanced coordination of efforts” by AUC Departments and other actors to address child protection concerns. This decision informed the creation of the African Union Children in Conflict Situations Project (CiSC Project) to give effect to this decision and to formalize existing relationships of mutual support and synergy while forging new partnership to build on and promote African Union’s child protection agenda in situations of armed conflict.
Save the Children, as a member of the CiSC Project, is committed to working with the AUC in realising its ambition for children in conflict situations by supporting efforts to strengthen the monitoring, reporting, and accountability initiatives and mechanisms of AU Member States with respect to their obligations to protect children in situations of conflict.
2. Objectives of the Assignment
The Assembly has mandated the AUC establish a Continental Monitoring, Reporting and Accountability Mechanism on children in situations of conflict. It is in this regard that Save the Children is running this consultancy on behalf of the CiSC Project by inviting applications from consulting firms to conceptualise and develop a monitoring and reporting framework on children in situations of conflict in Africa.
The contract will be managed by Save the Children with dual reporting to Save the Children and the Child Protection Adviser, Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department of the African Union.
The consultancy firm is to assist the AUC to develop such a mechanism, propose supporting structures, and provide estimated operational costs. The consultancy firm will play a leadership role in conceptualizing, coordinating, drafting and consolidating a comprehensive Continental Monitoring, Reporting and Accountability Mechanism.
3. Scope of the Assignment
The consultancy firm shall perform the following duties:
Conceptualize a Continental Monitoring, Reporting and Accountability Mechanism that is Africa-specific, and that utilizes or supplements the AU data collection mechanisms including the Continental Early Warning data collection platform, the MRM framework of the UNSC, and delivers on the need for accountability for the plight of children in situations of conflict in Africa.
Research, identify and propose violations that the AU should monitor that are in addition to the six grave violations; suggesting and formulating a set of indicators for each violation for monitoring and reporting purposes.
Propose and design offline and online monitoring and reporting templates.
Propose the mechanism and structure to support the implementation of the Continental Monitoring, Reporting and Accountability Mechanism, both at mission and at strategic/HQ levels.
Design and implement a coherent, comprehensive, and participatory process for consultations within and outside the AU and input these contributions.
4. Methodology:
A description of the technical approach, methodology and work plan for performing the assignment will be required.
The proposed methodology should be qualitative and innovative. Mixed methods will be considered. It is critical that the method used is guided by a sound theoretical and methodological framework, clearly showing its suitability.
5. Duration of the assignment:
A work plan for this assignment should be developed in relation to the methodology suggested by the consultant and the number of days set for this assignment which should be between 01 June, 2021 and 31 October, 2021.
This should include a two – day briefing on the findings to get input from CiSC Project and the African Union CAAC Working Group as well as build consensus around the recommendations.
6. Required Outputs:
Inception Report (including proposed methodology, intended instruments, data collection plan; overall work plan on GANTT chart)
A draft Continental Monitoring, Reporting and Accountability Mechanism that includes the following annexes:
Offline and online monitoring and reporting templates;
Proposed violations that the AU should monitor that are in addition to the six grave violations with accompanying set of indicators for each violation for monitoring and reporting purposes;
The mechanism and structure to support the implementation of the Continental Monitoring, Reporting and Accountability Mechanism, both at mission and at strategic/HQ levels.
A comprehensive schedule for consultations with stakeholders within and outside the African Union on the proposed Continental Monitoring, Reporting and Accountability Mechanism;
Google Drive or similar containing all instruments, collected data and analysis for internal documentation;
Presentation and dissemination of results, internally within Save the Children and with external partners (to be determined by the project team);
Validation report.
7. Preferred Profile of consultancy firm and key experts
The preferred firm should:
Possesses in-depth knowledge, excellent skills and relevant experience in African Human Rights Systems and on child rights developments on the continent (required);
Demonstrate knowledge of how an MRM framework operates, a sound knowledge of the UNSC MRM Framework, and is able to approach MRM issues in a holistic manner;
Displays sound knowledge of the African Union and RECs/RMs Early Warning Systems and data collections tools;
Possesses an excellent background and in-depth experience in M&E;
Put together a team of experts with excellent background in child rights, child protection, child welfare in situations of conflict, M&E, MRM related expertise, IT and excellent knowledge of continental and regional early warning systems;
Ensures high standards of performance and compliance with institutional guidelines;
Integrates results-based and accountability-oriented approaches into the design, implementation and management of the Continental Monitoring, Reporting and Accountability Mechanism;
Demonstrates integrity, a collaborative spirit, a sense of achievement, and an understanding of risk management in past experiences;
Demonstrates strong knowledge of the AU policy making processes, prospects, and challenges;
Identifies and resolves complex problems; approaches issues with new perspectives; analyses situations from multiple angles;
Demonstrates strong writing skills and should provide samples of previous assignments;
Languages: Fluency in English (required); French and Portuguese (desired);
Professional and independent delivery of all above listed outputs in line with the Terms of Reference within agreed upon timeframe;
Commitment to Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy.
How to Apply:
Applicants should CLICK HERE to download and submit a duly filled Expression of Interest for this assignment.
Only applicants that have used the EOI will be considered.
Interested applicants are requested to send their applications to esaro.procurement@savethechildren.org.
