A Report Writer Consultant: Regional Survey on Perceptions Of Girls, Young Women, Child and Forced Marriage in Asia At Plan International

Plan International Asia Regional Hub Terms of Reference (ToR)

A Report Writer Consultant: Regional Survey on Perceptions of Girls, Young Women and Key Stakeholders on Child, Early, Forced Marriage in Asia

I. Introduction

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organization that advances children’s rights and equality for girls. As an independent development and humanitarian organization, we work alongside children, young people, our supporters and partners to tackle the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children. We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood and enable children to prepare for and respond to crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge. For over 80 years we have been building powerful partnerships for children, and we are active in over 75 countries.

II. Background

Asia is home to more than half of the world’s 1.1 billion girls under the age of 18.1 Unfortunately, in many parts of the region, girls and women are systematically disadvantaged and often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination. They are held back by child, early, forced marriage (CEFM) and high teen pregnancy rates.

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, the number of women and girls unable to access family planning, facing unintended pregnancies, gender-based violence and other harmful practices could skyrocket by millions of cases in the months ahead, according to data released by UNFPA2. Young workers are expected to be among the hardest hit by economic downturns and with millions of girls and boys out of school, return to learning remains a top concern for child advocates in the region. Increased rates of out-of-school girls, unemployed young women, gender-based violence and lack of access to family planning have the real potential to lead to a follow-on increase in child marriage across the region.

Plan International developed the TIME TO ACT! COVID-19 and Girls in the Asia-Pacific Strategic Framework in 2020 outlining key aspects of the predicted COVID-19 crisis

impact on CEFM and offers a vision supported by combined interventions to minimize its detrimental and regressive effects. Following the development of the Framework, a regional survey was carried out to capture a snapshot of perceptions of girls, young women and key stakeholders around CEFM and related factors in selected communities, where Plan International is implementing projects/programs under the following four thematic pillars: education, economic empowerment, protection from violence and sexual and reproductive health and rights. The survey is currently ongoing in 11 countries3 in South and Southeast Asia where Plan International operates and expected to be completed in February 2022

The primary data collection method for this exercise was a knowledge, attitude, practices (KAP) survey on issues relating to CEFM. Girls, young women and key stakeholders involved in Plan’s projects and programs contributing to the elimination of CEFM were invited to take part in this survey. Specifically, the survey targeted the following population:

1. girls and young women aged 15-24 years old who have participated or currently participating in at least one of the four thematic programs/projects namely, education, economic empowerment, protection from violence and sexual and reproductive health
2. key stakeholders (aged 18 years old and over) including parents, teachers, traditional and religious leaders, local and national government officials, policy/decision makers, etc. who participated in or worked with Plan International on at least one of the four thematic programs/projects namely education, economic empowerment, protection from violence and sexual and reproductive health.

III. Scope of Work

Plan International Asia Regional Hub is seeking to identify a report writer consultant to undertake reviewing and synthesizing key survey findings and writing a clear and concise survey report that will serve the purpose of influencing, advocacy and awareness raising on the elimination of child, early, forced marriage (CEFM) in Asia.

Key responsibilities include:

· Conduct desk review of literature including research reports, studies journal articles, etc. relating to child, early, forced marriage (CEFM) in Asia particularly on social and gender norms underlying CEFM and how COVID 19 has put girls and young women in the region at risks girls of education disruption, unintended pregnancies, gender-based violence and other harmful practices leading to an increase in CEFM

· Develop a narrative summary of desk review findings to complement the key survey findings in the final survey report

· Work closely with the technical consultant and Plan International APAC Evidence and Research Lead to review and synthesize survey findings (which will be provided by Plan International)

3 Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor- Leste and Vietnam

· Develop a clear and concise external text report including a narrative summary of desk review findings, charts and graphs, as needed

· Incorporate feedback and revisions related to content and/or language from the relevant staff

· Edit, rewrite, and restructure text for greater readability and better logical sequence as needed

· Support the creative design and develop ideas for graphics and charts that creatively convey key messages/data in the report as needed

· Fact check, proof read texts and complete the final content of the publication (not more than 30 pages)

Note: research findings and relevant materials will be provided by Plan International Asia Regional Hub.

IV. Keys Deliverables

The report writer consultant will directly report to the Regional Evidence and Research Lead and work in close collaboration with the technical consultant leading the survey initiative.

The following deliverables are expected from the report writer consultant:

· An external report that, at the minimum, should include:

Title / Table of Contents / Acronyms / Foreword / Acknowledgements / Executive Summary (synopsis of the publication) / Introduction including the survey methodology and limitations / Substantive Chapters (highlighting general context, regional trends and emerging issues, analysis of survey findings per thematic pillars: education, economic empowerment, protection from violence and sexual and reproductive health and rights, country specific examples and key messages, etc.) / Conclusion (key takeaways of the publications) / Recommendations (a set of recommended steps to complete with the information provided in this report) / Appendices / References

The content of the final report and timeframe will be finalized in a preparatory meeting between Plan International Asia Regional Hub and the successful candidate.

The main target audiences of the report are the public, policy makers and development practitioners (including regional institutions, diplomatic missions, and donors with an interest in girls’ issues and girls’ right), United Nations agencies, and academics.

V. Duty Station

· Home based. No travel required.

VI. Tentative timeframe and Estimated Working Days

This consultancy is expected to take up to 20 work days beginning from March to May 2022. The final report is expected to be completed by the end of mid-May 2022. The timeframe and estimated no. of work days are indicative and can be reevaluated in consultation between Plan International and the successful candidate

The tentative timeframe is as follows:

Task / Due / Estimated no. of working days

• Hold and initial meeting to discuss the overall report and deliverables / 1st week of March / 0.5
• Review key survey findings and supporting materials / 1st week of March / 2
• Meet with the technical consultant to discuss the structure and content of the report / 1st week of March / 0.5
• Conduct desk review of literature including research reports, studies journal articles, etc. relating to child, early, forced marriage (CEFM) in Asia particularly on
• social and gender norms underlying CEFM and how COVID 19 has put girls and young women in the region at risks girls of education disruption, unintended pregnancies, gender-based violence and other harmful practices leading to an increase in CEFM

2nd week of March / 5

• Develop a clear and concise narrative summary of desk review findings and share with Plan International

3rd week of March / 4

• Develop a survey report including survey findings and narrative summary of desk review findings /

4th week of March / 4

• Submit the first draft of the report / 1st week of April / N/A
• Plan International reviews the draft report and provides feedback / 2nd week of April / N/A
• Integrate feedback from Plan International / 3rd week of April / 2
• Plan International reviews the second draft of the report and provides feedback / 4th week of April / N/A
• Integrate feedback from Plan International into 2nd draft of the report / 1st week of May / 2
• Submit the final report / 2nd week of May / N/A
• Plan International approves the report / 3rd week of May / N/A

VII. Ethics & Child Protection

Plan International is committed to ensuring that the rights of those participating in data collection or analysis are respected and protected, in accordance with Ethical MERL Framework and our Child and Youth Safeguarding Policy. All applicants should include details in their proposal on how they will ensure ethics and child protection in the data collection process.

VIII. Qualifications

Academic qualification:

· Advanced university degree in communications, journalism or other related fields.

Technical Knowledge, skills and experience:

· Minimum 7 years of professional experience as a journalist or writer/editor required

· Analytic capacity and ability to integrate, process, analyze and synthesize complex, quantitative and qualitative data and technical information required

· Excellent writing and communications skills required

· Ability to quickly incorporate feedback from different individuals under tight deadlines

· Ability to manage and deliver quality deliverables on time

· Excellence in both written and spoken English

· Familiarity with issues related to child, early, forced marriage (CEFM), gender equality, girls’ and women’s rights in Asia highly desirable

· Strong understanding of the gendered challenges faced by girls and women in Asia desirable

· Previous engagement with and/or knowledge of Plan International’s work desirable

IX. Evaluation criteria

Candidates will be evaluated in following

Criteria / Weight

Academic qualification / 10%

Technical knowledge, skills and experience / 40%

Sample of similar work undertaken / 40%

Financial proposal / 10 %

Total 100 %