Terms of Reference
Review of the Implementation of the Minimum Standards for Child
Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPMS) 2012-2015
Consultancy for the global CPMS Task Force of the global Child Protection
Working Group (CPWG)
November 2015– May 2016
1. Background
The Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPMS) were launched
in late 2012. The main purpose of the Minimum Standards is to:
 Establish common principles amongst those working in child protection, and to
strengthen coordination between them;
 Improve the quality of child protection programming and its impact for children;
 Improve accountability within child protection work;
 Further define the professional field of child protection;
 Provide a synthesis of good practice and learning to date; and
 Enable better advocacy and communication on child protection risks, needs and
responses.
A CPMS Implementation Plan was developed for the period December 2012 through
December 2015, with an overall goal of Improved quality, predictability and accountability of
child protection response in humanitarian situations.
Within this Implementation Plan, the rollout of the Standards has three objectives:
1. Humanitarian actors are aware of and refer to the Minimum Standards;
2. The Minimum Standards are an integral part of humanitarian programming and the
quality of child protection programming has improved to meet the Minimum
Standards; and
3. The Minimum Standards are used and referred to in human resources, funding and
other program support.
A work plan outlines activities and sub activities for each of the objectives and includes a
monitoring and evaluation (M&E). The CPMS Task Force of the global Child Protection
Working Group (CPWG) is responsible for execution of the plan. The Task Force is composed
of 24 agencies who agreed the Implementation Plan and regularly review progress. The Task
Force is co-led by Save the Children and Terre des hommes.
The M&E plan within the Implementation Plan is the basis for CPMS Task Force monitoring
efforts. It outlines a three-pronged approach to monitor progress in achieving the three
objectives:
1. Monitoring the progress of the activities in the implementation plan;
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2. Monitoring the outcomes of implementing the activities in the implementation
plan; and
3. Evaluating the impact the Minimum Standards have had on the quality,
predictability and accountability of child protection responses in humanitarian
situations.
The CPMS Task Force has been actively implementing the activities and collecting some data
related to monitoring since December 2012, while there are challenges related to
implementing aspects of the M&E plan, specifically on impact.
In its third year of existence, the first and current CPMS Implementation Strategy is coming
to an end. The CPMS Task Force sees the need to undertake a review implementation and
rollout efforts to date to inform efforts to improve implementation and monitoring of the
CPMS going forward. The review will also draw on the data collected by the CPMS Task
Force as prescribed under the Implementation Plan.
2. Purpose
The consultancy aims to conduct a review of the implementation efforts, outcomes and
impacts of the CPMS and provide lessons learned from December 2012 to end 2015.
The review will look primarily at the first two objectives of the Implementation Plan:
1. Awareness and acceptance of the CPMS in the child protection sector and
humanitarian community and
2. Use and integration of the CPMS in humanitarian programming (including
preparedness)
Key questions include:
 How are the CPMS being used by different child protection humanitarian actors (UN,
INGO, NGOs, CBOs, Government, etc.)
 What is the impact of the CPMS on coordination at national and subnational level?
 How have the CPMS been used to improve the quality of the child protection
response in different contexts?
 Has there been an impact on better outcomes for children?
 What specific measures have agencies taken to mainstream the CPMS in other
sectors at field level?
 What else is needed to support practical implementation of the CPMS in
humanitarian action?
This will include looking at overall usefulness of the Standards in relation to overall aim of
the CPMS to improve quality, predictability and accountability in humanitarian child
protection responses. The review will focus on providing a global overview of 8 contexts
with 2 of these being in-depth case studies.
The review will not specifically examine the institutionalization of the Standards within
individual agencies, which is the third objective of the Implementation Plan. This is
measured through a regular survey of agencies and would make the scope of the review too
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broad. However, the information already collected on institutionalization can be used in the
review and elements of institutionalization may be brought forward as relevant.
The review will contribute to revision of the next implementation strategy period for 20162017 based on the lessons learned. While not its main purpose, the review will also input
into an eventual revision of the CPMS based on perceived relevancy and gaps of the current
standards.
3. Scope of the Review
Within the key questions listed above, the scope of the review will include the following:

Level of awareness of the Standards and how they became aware of the CPMS at
national and local levels, by intended audience:
those working directly with children, families and communities including child
protection specific agencies as well as other sectors
planners and policy makers
coordinators
donors

Use of the CPMS by these actors within agencies as well as within the coordination
structures - including when they are being used, the impact on programming as well
as an understanding of what is preventing use of the CPMS.

Use of the Standards as a whole – including principles and the four categories of
standards - versus use of particular Standards in isolation.

Impact of the contextualization process and training on the CPMS.

Appreciation by target audiences of the CPMS in terms of its usefulness to improve
quality, accountability and predictability and ways implementation support can be
improved.
4. Tasks and methodology
The methodology below is a suggestion; however, the consultant is invited to propose a
modified methodology to meet the objectives of the consultantcy. Key task of the
consultancy as currently envisaged include:
1. Conduct distance survey for agency program managers and frontline workers, interagency
coordinators, other sector humanitarians, humanitarian leaders/coordinators, government
personnel and donors on awareness and use of the CPMS in the 8 target contexts.
2. Conduct phone/skype interviews with key informants on how use of CPMS has been used
to improve the quality, predictability and accountability of the child protection response
based on a developed set of questions in the 8 contexts.
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3. Review major, relevant program documents and interagency work plans or strategies
from the humanitarian coordination and child protection groups for the 8 contexts.
3. Of the above 8 contexts, develop 2 in-depth case studies1
 Conduct field visits in 2 countries to gather and review documentation and to
conduct interviews and focus groups to compile information about changes in
programme design and processes that could indicate if the programmes have
changed over time to become more aligned with the CPMS.
 Conduct in country interviews with different actors (UN, international NGOs, Local
NGOs, community based organizations, frontline workers government actors,
beneficiaries, at different levels to document if they are aware of the CPMS, how do
they know about it, how have they used it and to gather documentation in the form
of RFPs, proposals, monitoring frameworks, other project or program documentation
and inter-agency strategies.
 Monitor if and how child protection actors have been able to measure their programs
against CPMS or OCHA Indicator Registry indicators at an agency level and the interagency level.
 Document country level qualitative and quantitative data on use of CPMS and how
that has changed programming. This should include agency and inter-agency reports,
case studies, qualitative information based on observation and key informant
interviews and etc.
The 8 contexts selected should include a variety of contexts including different types/phases
of emergency response and preparedness contexts. Process for identify the contexts will be
determined by the consultant in agreement with the CPMS Task Force. The selection of the
three case studies will be based on the context’s high or particular use of the Standards as
well as logistical considerations for agency hosting arrangements, etc.
5. Deliverables
The following are the key deliverables:
1. Complete set of tools for undertaking a case study including survey and key informant
question sets and notes for the facilitator.
2. Report documenting the efforts, outcomes and impacts of the implementation of the
CPMS, integrating snapshots of country/response examples and case studies (maximum of
15 pages, not including annexes).
3. Two individual case study reports (maximum 5 pages each, not including annexes)
Estimated timeline of deliverables:
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Case study tool set the various target groups and ToR of
planned field visits
15 December 2015
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It is planned that additional case studies in country be conducted by representatives of Task Force member
agencies to be considered in drafting of the report.
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Draft case studies
Draft review report
Final review report and case studies
15 February 2015
15 March 2016
30 April 2016
6. Supervision
The review is being undertaken by the CPMS Task Force of the global CPWG. The review
process will be supported by the all members of the Task Force who will advise and
comment on drafts for revisions. The co-chairs from Save the Children and Terre des
hommes will monitor and supervise the progress of the consultancy. Terre des hommes as
co-chair of the Task Force and grant holder, will contract the consultant.
7. Location and duration
The consultant(s) will be home-based anywhere in the world. The consultant(s) must be
available for travel to the three selected context during the consultancy period.
The consultancy will be over a six month period with a total of 50 consultancy days, starting
on 1 October 2015.
8. Competencies
-
At least 10 years of progressively responsible, professional work experience on Child
Protection in Emergencies at national and/or international level
Expert knowledge of the Child Protection Minimum Standards and their role within
the child protection sector and humanitarian sector
Experience in compiling lessons learned documents in the humanitarian or protection
sector
Knowledge of humanitarian standards and guidelines such as Sphere Standards, INEE
Standards, MHPSS, ICRC Protection Standards, etc.
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to promote collaboration
Excellent written communication skills in English and preferably in French
Ability to travel to selected case study countries
How to apply
Please send your application to Susan Wisniewski (sws@tdh.ch) and Minja Peuschel
(minja.peuschel@rb.se) by Friday, 29 October 2015. Please include your rate along with
details of your motivation and experience. Single consultants or team of consultants
welcome.
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