Terms of Reference for Individual Contract
Position Title:
Child Protection Information & Case Management Consultant (ProGREs)
Equivalent Level:
P3
Location:
Nairobi
Duration:
5 Months
Start Date:
15 January 2014
End Date: 14 June 2014
Background and Justification
The East and Horn of Africa have experienced multiple humanitarian crises in the recent years ranging from
drought, food shortages, to armed conflicts. Children have borne the greatest brunt of these crises. Latest
reports from humanitarian agencies working in Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia indicate that as a
result large numbers of children are vulnerable and require protection. Recent reports1 of movements of
children from Somalia and South Sudan suggest that children are leaving these countries in search of
services in Ethiopia, Kenya and Yemen in addition to protection from the effects of armed conflicts.
Many protection issues have been documented in these reports by case workers working with children who
are part of these movements of people in the region. These concerns range from family separation
(unaccompanied and separated children), children affected by armed conflict, worst forms of child labour,
teenage pregnancies/teenage mothers to child headed household, sexual exploitation and abuse, etc. In
keeping with a systems approach and a move away from individual issues, a focus on case management and
vulnerability provides the vehicle to provide integrated and coordinated response to the protection needs of
these children, recognising the interconnected nature of multiple vulnerabilities. The management of data
though information management systems is integral to this process. In 2012 Interagency Workshop on
Unaccompanied and Separated Children in the Horn of Africa2, UNICEF ESARO in collaboration with
International Office of Migration and Save the Children and UNHCR Regional Support Hub in East and Horn
of Africa developed a multi country plan for the scale up of child protection support for these affected
children building on the above achievements. In Ethiopia, Kenya and South Sudan, UNHCR is collaborating
with UNICEF in scaling up response for refugee children and to improve the identification and
documentation for refugee children. The evidence from this work will be used to design appropriate case
management and information strategies as required in the multi-country plans.
Building on the knowledge and lessons learned since 2012 on data systems and case management, coupled
with an opportunity and the appetite of agencies to innovate, collaborate and improve refugee child
protection, RSH and ESARO now have a unique chance to accelerate advancement on the use of good case
management practice and associated IA CPIMS and ProGres in the region. This has been recognised by
UNICEF and UNHCR Country Offices including Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Sudan who have
requested continued technical assistance from ESARO and RSH in this area3.
1
Kakuma trip report by Brown Kanyangi, a former consultant at UNICEF ESARO suggests that services provided in Kakuma are pull factors for refugee
children. Quest for education is sighted, in the report, as the most sought after service.
2 The workshop was sponsored by UNICEF, UNHCR and Save the Children with recommendations including inter agency
capacity building and a greater focus on vulnerability in assessments
3 Ethiopia, South Sudan, Kenya and Somalia have all requested assistance with financial support committed from South
Sudan and Ethiopia (see email attachments)
UNHCR the global lead agency for protection of refugees has requested that UNICEF should continue to
provide the required technical support in this area of work as part of the UNICEF and UNHCR global and
regional partnership. This collaboration has included provision of joint training sessions to case workers
(including incentive case workers from the refugee community), working together to define modalities of
identification and documentation of vulnerable children, joint strategies to strengthen case management
practices and promotion of information sharing between the IA CPIMS4 and ProGreS5.
In order to improve cooperative understanding and practice across the agencies and implementing partners
UNHCR and UNICEEF have developed TOR (attached) for a regional joint initiative.
This initiative would focus on the Information Management Systems currently in use in selected refugee
sites in South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda and would cover a 5 month period with a brief
desk review of the processes in target countries, and agreed upon field visits to location(s). A sub set
country specific TOR will be developed for each country.
The proposed joint exercise will focus on contexts where both CPIMS and ProGres systems are being used
(or planning to be used) and may include other systems linked with data collection on refugee children. The
joint exercise will have three main components which are; review and documentation of field practice;
trouble shooting and capacity building and guidance drafting. It is expected that as well as improving local
efficiencies documentation of practice and recommendations can feed into the global development of the
CPIMS, currently underway.
In order to implement the initiative UNICEF ESARO is proposing to engage two consultants one having the
minimum requirements on UNHCR IMS processes, (including the ProGres database) and the other one
having expertise in the Inter Agency CPIMS.
Scope of Work
This proposed consultancy work would include the following:1. Support finalization of Identification and documentation of UASC in Kakuma with implications for
cross border movement from South Sudan into Kenya (“push and pull factors”). A detailed analysis
of current information and case management system practice in use and lessons learned that can be
shared with the global level to inform development of next generation IA CPIMS and ProGres
2.
A capacity building component that focuses on trouble shooting and problem solving field specific
needs based on location and a rapid review of current operations. This would involve identifying
areas for increased cooperation between ProGres and the IA CPIMS and associated procedures
(registration etc.) ideally leading to efficiency gains.
3. The development of a guidance set and a series of recommendations for implementing child specific
IMS in refugee settings including implications for protocols, especially in consideration that the new
version of ProGres is currently under development. This guidance should enable staff to assess the
implications of adapting an IA CPIMS alongside ProGres.
4 IA CPIMS is an Inter-Agency Child Protection Information & Case Management System established and managed by
UNICEF, Save the Children & IRC and currently in use in over 20 countries: www. childprotectionims.org
5 ProGres is UNHCR Refugee Information Management System currently in use in most of the refugee operations to
register and manage refugee case information.
Task
Desk Study and Development of
Country Visit Template and Tools
Country Case Study reports and
recommendations
Final Report including
development of guidance with
recommendations to global
working group
Location
Nairobi Based
Date
January 2014
Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan,
Rwanda, Uganda
Nairobi Based
February – April 2014
May 2014
Desired competencies, technical background and experience
Competencies and skills
1. Professional and technical expertise on the care and protection of children, with a good
understanding of systems for the identification and documentation of vulnerable children and case
management practices.
2. Good understanding of Child Protection Information Management Systems/Refugee Information
Management Systems and Refugee Operating Procedures.
3. Experience in working with government agencies responsible for child welfare in the region.
4. Experience in working with UNHCR, IOM, Save the Children, Lutheran World Federation (LWF), and
other child protection organisations as well as government agencies in the development of interagency emergency child protection interventions.
5. Teamwork experience in child protection programming for refugee population in situation of natural
disaster and armed conflict.
6. Good understanding of regional migration patterns and cross-border dynamics of children from
these countries.
7. Flexibility to work in difficult and insecure field environments for extended periods.
Education/Experience
1. Degree or equivalent in Social Sciences or IT.
2. Experience and familiarity with UNICEF, UNHCR and inter-agency coordination forum including
country level CPWGs. At least seven years’ experience in setting up or administering a system for the
identification and documentation of vulnerable children.
3. At least three years’ experience of hands-on training in the area of case management.
4. Strong IT and management skills