Consultancy to Conduct Research on the Impacts of Climate Change on Children and Women Full Time

1. Background

Research suggests that girls and young women are the hardest hit by climate change[1]. Despite this, their voices are not adequately represented in climate discussions, resulting in policies that do not address their specific needs. In early 2022, WAGGGS and UNICEF launched a U-Report poll to amplify girls’ voices on climate change. In total, 33,523 girls and young women from 90 countries were consulted on this topic and its gender dimension. 4 out of 5 people displaced by climate change are girls and women[2]. Around the world, girls are the first to leave school to support their families and take on extra domestic chores created by new climate conditions. Girls are also less likely to re-enroll in school than boys after an environmental crisis[3].When water is scarce, women and girls are forced to travel long distances, often in unsafe conditions, to reach water and bring it home. This also exposes them to increased risks of gender-based violence. Climate emergencies, like droughts and floods, can make girls miss school during their periods due to the lack of water and adequate sanitation for menstrual hygiene management[4]. During severe weather conditions, girls in vulnerable households are more likely to drop out of education and be forced into marriage[5]. By 2025, climate change could keep more than 12 million girls from completing their education every year.

Children are more vulnerable to climate and environmental shocks than adults for a number of reasons: They are physically more vulnerable, and less able to withstand and survive shocks such as floods, droughts, severe weather and heatwaves. They are physiologically more vulnerable. Toxic substances, such as lead and other forms of pollution, affect children more than adults, even at lower doses of exposure. They are more at risk of death compared with adults from diseases that are likely to be exacerbated by climate change, such as malaria and dengue. They have their whole life ahead of them – any deprivation because of climate and environmental degradation at a young age can result in a lifetime of lost opportunity.

About ChildFund

ChildFund is a child-focused international development organization that works in 24 countries to connect children with the people, resources, and institutions they need to grow up healthy, educated, skilled and safe, no matter where they are. ChildFund Kenya works through 11 implementing partners (IP’s) to implements various development interventions across 20 counties and direct implementing units in 7 counties. The thematic areas that we focus on are Child Protection, Household Economic Strengthening, Early Childhood Development (ECD), Education, WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), Emergency Response, Health and Nutrition.

The Kenya Country Strategic Plan goal is to contribute to improved health, education, skills and safety of 7,500,000 children and youth and their families through the implementation of quality, cost-effective, and impactful programs and sponsorship by 2026. The following are the strategic objectives;

• Strategic Objective 1: More than 1,500,000 infants and young children aged 0 to 5 years in marginalized and resource-poor households and communities are healthy and secure.
• Strategic Objective 2: Improved learning outcomes and protection of 1,500,000 children aged 6 to 14 years.
• Strategic Objective 3: Improved and sustained socio-economic development of 1,200,000 adolescents and young adults.
• Strategic Objective 4: Strengthened formal and informal child protection systems and advocacy.
• Strategic Objective 5: Increased resilience of 2,700,000 vulnerable households, children and youth to the negative effects of disasters and climate change.

Based on the above, ChildFund is looking for consultants who will conduct research on the impact of climate change on children and women. The study aims to contribute to strengthening the country-driven process to present more evidence at the national and county level on the linkages between climate change and women empowerment, child protection, education, early childhood development, peace and conflict resolution and youth participation, sexual reproductive health and rights. It will analyze gendered impacts of climate change at the individual, community and systems level as well as during emergency responses.

Purpose of the Research

To deepen our work across the ASAL areas[6], ChildFund Kenya is looking for a competent team of consultants to carry out a research on the intergenerational impact of climate change on women and children in North Horr sub-county in Marsabit County.

Specific Objectives

1. To determine the impact of climate change on children and youth right to access to health (including SRH) and nutrition in North Horr Sub County
2. To assess the impact of climate change on women’s economic empowerment in North Horr sub county
3. To determine the impact of climate change on childrens right to education in ECD and primary schools in North Horr Sub County
4. To determine the impact of climate change on mental wellbeing of children and women in North Horr Sub County
5. To explore the impacts of climate change on youth civic participation and inclusion in development in North Horr Sub County
6. To examine the impact of climate change on cross cutting issues of child protection and peace and conflict resolution in North Horr Sub County.
7. To understand community-level coping mechanisms, adaptive strategies, and resilience-building initiatives to mitigate the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations, including children and women in North Horr Sub County.
8. To analyse the effectiveness of existing policies, strategies, and institutional frameworks in addressing the needs of children and women in the context of climate change, including gaps in implementation, coordination, and resource allocation in North Horr Sub County
9. To assess the food security status among children and women due to climate change-induced factors such as droughts, floods, and changes in agricultural productivity in North Horr Sub County
10. To explore how climate change affects access to markets (livestock markets and food markets) in North Horr Sub County

Research Questions

1. How does climate change impact the accessibility and quality of health services, including sexual and reproductive health, for children and women in North Horr Sub County?
2. What are the socioeconomic implications of climate change on women’s economic empowerment, particularly in terms of income generation and livelihood opportunities, in North Horr Sub County?
3. In what ways does climate change affect access to quality education for children, particularly in early childhood development (ECD) and primary schools, in North Horr Sub County?
4. In what ways does climate change affect the mental wellbeing of children in North Horr Sub County?
5. How does climate change influence the level of civic participation and inclusion of youth and women in development initiatives within North Horr Sub County?
6. What are the specific impacts of climate change on child protection mechanisms and peacebuilding efforts, particularly in mitigating conflict and violence against children and women, in North Horr Sub County?
7. What are the community-level coping mechanisms, adaptive strategies, and resilience-building initiatives to mitigate the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations, including children and women in North Horr Sub County?
8. To what extent are the existing county policies, strategies and institutional frameworks effective in addressing the needs of children and women in the context of climate change, including gaps in implementation, coordination, and resource allocation in North Horr Sub County?
9. What is the current food security status among children and women due to climate change-induced factors such as droughts, floods, and changes in agricultural productivity in North Horr County?
10. How does climate change affects access to markets (livestock markets and food markets) in North Horr Sub County?

Methodology

The Consultant will be responsible for collecting, compiling, and reviewing key resources and coordinating the information gathering processes. The consultant will gather relevant up to date information and data from credible sources at all levels (Global, regional, National, County and community). The assignment will adopt qualitative will be used. It will involve In-depth interviews, Key informant interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). The consultant will engage ChildFund technical staff, Government departments, other INGOs, children, youth and women and community members. The consultant will review relevant documents, such as the ChildFund Climate Change Strategy, Kenya Country Strategic Plan, National and County Development Plans and policies among others.

Management and Coordination

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of Senior Specialist, Food Security Livelihoods & Climate Change Adaptation supported by the Climate Change Advisor and Programs and Sponsorship Director. The consultant or consulting firm will work closely with the Monitoring Evaluation and Learning Manager, Programme Coordinator (Nawiri), Programs and Sponsorship Officer (Nawiri ).

Timeline

The research is expected to take a maximum of 30 days and conducted in Marsabit County. The specific duration of the assignment and deliverables is as below.

Deliverable

Duration

Inception report with detailed methodology, Desk review and draft data collection tools (IDIs, KII and FGD)

3 days

Data Collection

7 days

Data analysis and report writing

7 days

Develop the draft research report

5 days

Final report and stakeholders’ workshop to present findings and recommendations

3 days

Deliverables

Key tasks for the assignment may include but not limited to:

• Prepare an inception report to outline the methodological approach for the research and evidence generation.
• Produce the draft research report based on the analysis of the new evidence generated and review of existing evidence.
• Facilitate stakeholders’ consultations to validate findings to inform the final report.
• Prepare the final report including a detailed summary of findings, identify possible programmatic interventions.

Qualifications of the Consultant

The consultant must have the following competencies:

• Master’s Degree in Climate Change and Adaptation, Disaster Risk Managerment & Sustainable Development, Monitoring and Evaluation or related fields. A PhD is an added advantage.
• At least 7 years of experience in conducting research, assessments, feasibility studies with a bias in climate change, preferably with an international child focused organisation in the country.
• Experience working with interdisciplinary teams across multiple countries and institutions.
• Excellent skills and ability to articulate ideas clearly and accurately, including the ability to prepare reports and communicate effectively in English.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and networks.

Data Protection

The service provider shall not disclose any confidential information of ChildFund Kenya to any person or other third-party or make use of such confidential information for the Service Provider’s own purposes at any time without ChildFund Kenya’s prior written consent.

Child Safeguarding

ChildFund International is committed to safeguarding the interests, rights, and well-being of children with whom it is in contact and to conducting its programs and operations in a manner that is safe for children.

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access

ChildFund creates a culture where diversity of people, thought and experience is celebrated, and everyone is seen and welcomed equally. ChildFund is cultivating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment where: everyone connected with us is free and safe to be who they are, so that we all succeed and thrive. Our donors and external partners aspire to experience a deep sense of pride and belonging in our shared commitment to excellence and social responsibility.

How to apply

Technical Proposal: The consultant’s understanding and interpretation of the Terms of Reference (TOR), a detailed methodology and proposed approaches the consultant may deem fit for this assignment as well as the workplan. The proposal shall include;

• All statutory documents are mandatory such as Valid Certificate of Incorporation in case of a company/firm/institute, ID/Passport, Valid PIN & Tax Compliance Certificate, CR12, PIN certificate, Business permit, Professional registration documents where applicable.
• Capability statement: How the consultant or firm is structured for the assignment, including the CVs of the key personnel who will take part in the consultancy.
• References: Names, addresses, telephone numbers of three organizations where you have conducted similar research studies.

Financial proposal: the proposal that should include the consultancy fees and field cost fees and applicable taxes.

Payment process

Submission and acceptance of an inception report by ChildFund Kenya: 20%

Submission and acceptance of the draft research report by ChildFund Kenya: 40%

Submission and acceptance of the final research report by ChildFund Kenya and facilitation of stakeholder validation forum: 40%

The Contractor’s compensation shall be paid NET, within 30 days from receipt of a proper invoice unless otherwise specified. Payment will be made through direct bank transfer.

Note: CHILDFUND will evaluate the proposals and award the assignment based on technical and financial feasibility. CHILDFUND reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal received without giving reasons and is not bound to accept the lowest, the highest or any bidder. Only the successful applicant will be contacted. CHILDFUND does not charge any fees from applicants for any recruitment.

Tagged as: ChildFund International, Kenya