UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND
Terms of Reference for Consultants and Contractors
1. Programme Information
Programme (No. & Name) : YS-104 Child Protection
Activity (No. & Name)
: Multilevel gap analysis study in registration of births in two districts
- Abbottabad and Upper Dir - of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
2. Purpose of assignment: (Attach background documents, if necessary)
The Convention on the Rights of the Children (Article 7) categorically states and makes it binding
upon the States Parties, to which Pakistan is a signatory, to undertake all appropriate legislative,
administrative and other measures for a child to be registered immediately after birth and have the
right from birth to a name, the right to acquire a nationality and, as far as possible, the right to know
and be cared for by his or her parents.
In its most recent concluding observations, the Committee on the Rights of the Child notes that while
many efforts have been implemented by the Government of Pakistan to promote timely birth
registration, still more than 70 per cent of children are not registered at birth, especially girls,
children belonging to a religious or minority group, refugee children and children living in rural areas.
It further recommends that full implementation of measures are needed to be “taken to remove
structural obstacles to birth registration, launch a mass cost-free birth registration campaign and
simplify the procedures for birth registration in order to cover all persons in the country, regardless of
sex, religion, status or nationality, in accordance with article 7 of the Convention. Accordingly
UNICEF’s Child Protection Section, in consultation and coordination with stakeholders, has
identified birth registration as one of the priority action areas for supporting national and provincial
child protection systems in Pakistan.
Importantly, as reflected in various legislative and administrative steps taken in recent past on the
universalization of birth registration in Pakistan, both federal and provincial governments recognise
birth registration as a human right, which can strengthen children’s access to legal protection and
basic social services. Birth registration supports the implementation of national legislations on
minimum ages, including for child labour, child recruitment and child marriage, and is valuable for
tracing efforts when children are separated from their parents. Birth registration helps in preventing
statelessness by facilitating the acquisition of nationality by birth or descent through documenting
the relationship between the child, his or her parents and place of birth. UNICEF has been working
with NADRA and local governments, including civil society and non-governmental organisations
(NGOs), to increase knowledge on the importance of birth registration and strengthen support for
birth registration through technical backstopping of concerned government functionaries, placing
special emphasis on vulnerable and excluded groups.
The status of birth registration in Pakistan is far less than satisfactory. National statistics show that
just over a quarter of births (27.0%) are registered, with 32.0% and 24.0% birth registration in urban
and rural areas respectively [UNICEF Pakistan Factsheet]. Within these figures there is huge
disparity, with less than 1.0% of births being registered in Baluchistan (MICS Baluchistan 2003-04)
but more than 77.0% of births being registered in Punjab (MICS Punjab 2007-08). As for Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, latest MICS shows that only 20% of births get registered. Since the creation of
Pakistan, a universal birth registration system has never been fully implemented; forcing
government functionaries to frequently overlook their own rules requiring proof of birth to access
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different services i.e. school enrolment.
With the promulgation of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), 2000 (VIII of
2000) Ordinance and Local Government Ordinance 2001, the system governing birth registration
has undergone a significant transformation in the last few years. The newly promulgated Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act, 2012 also recognises the registration of Birth as one of the
basic functions of Union Councils and Municipal Committees. In parallel with these systemic
challenges, there is a renewed need at the community and household levels to improve knowledge
on the benefits and process of registering children’s births.
Addressing this situation requires, on the one hand, advocacy and technical support for
strengthening and harmonizing birth registration systems and, on the other hand, a concerted social
mobilisation and communication campaign for promoting and changing behaviours related to birth
registration. Unfortunately, at the present time there is little or no information available at the
household, community and facility levels to support the design of a holistic and sustainable
approach for achieving universal birth registration in Pakistan, especially in rural areas.
The purpose of this assignment, therefore, is to conduct a multilevel gap analysis study at facility,
community and household levels with regards to the registration of births in two districts of Pakistan,
namely Abbottabad and Upper Dir in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The study is to be conducted in
lines with a similar analysis already conducted in two districts of Balochistan province earlier this
year. The salient features of this study are as follows:
Study Components:
The study will have three broad components.
1. Analysis of major impediments in achieving universal registration of children soon after birth
at the household level, both conceived through supply-side or originating from demand-side
issues, i.e. knowledge attitudes and practices or perceptions and experiences; with
emphases on gender and equity aspects of such impediments;
2. Assessment of knowledge, attitudes and practices as well as existing coordination and/or
supporting mechanisms for the promotion of birth registration among key community
individuals and institutions in relation to the promotion of birth registration, including of
concerned government officials and departments at the district and provincial levels, i.e.
NADRA; and
3. Capacity audit of Union Council offices, municipality offices and cantonment offices, if any, in
terms of their accessibility, visibility and overall capacity in relation to the goal of
universalization of birth registration as well as their linkages with other organs of the state in
regards to the promotion of birth registration.
Note: This assignment/study is to be conducted by a team of two consultants/investigators [male
and female], dividing responsibilities on carrying out the three components according to their
backgrounds.
Study Tools and Instruments:
Component 1:
At least 32 (or more if information remains inconsistent in any homogenous groups) Focus Group
Discussions will be conducted per District to elucidate the issues experienced at the household
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level. Sessions will be conducted with homogenous groups of parents in rural and urban areas, with
groups segmented by a range of criteria including:
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Fathers/mothers with at least two living children under the age of 18
Literacy/illiteracy
Those who have had at least one of their children registered (subject to participant
identification and availability) / those who have had no children registered.
Focus Groups
Fathers
Mothers
Registered Group
Urban
Rural
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4
4
4
Unregistered Group
Urban
Rural
4
4
4
4
Total 32
Component 2:
25-30 in-depth interviews per District with key individuals from distinct local groups including:
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Concerned district government officials and NADRA staff (also at provincial level)
Community health workers / Traditional birth attendants
School teachers
Religious leaders
Social workers
Other community notables.
Where possible, selected informants should represent an even mix of males and females.
Component 3:
A capacity audit conducted in all Union Council offices, Municipality Offices, Cantonment Offices or
any other Government functionaries operating as a public service outlet for birth registration of each
District including:
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Visual documentation of the exterior of the office
Audit checklist and interviews with the Registrar and/or the Secretary of the Union Council. In
case of unavailability of either the Registrar or the Secretary of the Union Council, at least
one follow-up visit will be made to conduct the interview.
Methodological notes:
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Ensure feedback of Local Government, NADRA and UNICEF counterparts on the broad
study outline, selection of respondents, and work plan.
Semi-structured questionnaires and broad interview guidelines will be used to conduct all
interviews with government officials and communities.
Focus group discussion will comprise 8 to 10 individuals and should not last more than 40
minutes.
In-depth interview should not be of more than 30 minutes’ duration.
Audit checklist is to be prepared / adapted in consultation with a competent official.
All new study tools, if any, will be pretested before being applied in the field.
All data collection must comply with the principle of informed consent, as well as the ethical
guidelines documented in UNICEF’s Principles and Guidelines for Ethical reporting on
Children and Young People under the age of 18 years (see
http://www.unicef.org/eapro/Reporting_on_children_and_young_pp.pdf).
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Selection of Respondents:
As a primarily qualitative study of a specific issue, respondent selection should be based on
appropriate purposive sampling methods.
Component 1: For focus groups, three villages from primarily rural and a ward from urban union
councils will be selected. Community health workers/social workers and Union Council Secretaries
may provide support in participant identification and recruitment. In each randomly selected village
and ward two focus group discussions (one male, one female) on each of the criterion will be held.
Component 2: A total of 25-30 in-depth interviews will be conducted across each district with at
least five different groups of key individuals, one to comprise concerned district government officials
and NADRA staff, also at provincial level. It will be ensured that key individuals of different distinct
groups are not from the same Union Council. At least two interviews will also be conducted at the
NADRA provincial office with concerned staff.
Component 3: The capacity audit of Union Council offices, Municipality Offices, Cantonment
Offices or any other government functionary operating as a public service outlet for birth registration
(and follow-up visits as needed) will be conducted during office hours. The audit checklist may be
filled out with the assistance of any competent official at the Union Council office but it is essential
that either the Registrar or the Union Council Secretary is interviewed, preferably both.
Objectives of the consultancy:
This study will contribute to the goal of universalization of birth registration in Pakistan:
1. Develop understanding on the range of issues of low birth registration in the rural and urban
contexts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province;
2. Identifying major capacity (inclusive of all aspects i.e. training, supplies, human resources, etc.)
gaps in all relevant departments and provide realistic and workable guidelines and
recommendations assisting the government to develop comprehensive capacity development
strategy / programmes;
3. Identify and provide comprehensive understanding on the key barriers / constrains pertinent to
the knowledge, attitude and practices at the community and household levels in the registration
of births; and
4. Providing an evidence base on demand and supply-side gaps existing and originating at the
community level to inform the development of an advocacy and program approach on achieving
universalization of birth registration in Pakistan, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
3. Duty Station:
The lead consultants may be based anywhere in Pakistan but needs to have a demonstrated
capacity for undertaking quality fieldwork in adherence with UNICEF’s security regulations in
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. He/she may also be required to visit Islamabad/Peshawar
offices of UNICEF for any consultation meetings.
4. Supervisors:
Sohail Ahmad
Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF Field-Office Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
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Atif Ikram Butt
Communication for Development Officer, Child Protection Section, UNICEF Islamabad
For technical oversight: Mr. Javed Khan
Planning Officer, LG&RDD Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
5. Major tasks to be accomplished:
The interrelated parts of the assignment are as follows:
Phases
Activities
Estimated
work Days
Planning
1. Project Plan: Revision, documentation and approval of the 2
methodology and project plan for the collection, analysis and
presentation of data and findings, including area selection in
selected districts and preparation of a detailed field plan in
consultation with identified government and UNICEF’s
counterparts; as well as in light of field experience from other
similar studies;
2. Study Tools: Revision of interview guidelines, informed consent 1
forms, audit checklist and other study tools, including monitoring
tools;
Fieldwork
3. Undertake fieldwork and transcribe interviews;
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Analysis
4. Collate and analyse gathered information and prepare report 5
outline;
5. Prepare the first draft report. Note that findings must conform to 10
the qualitative research standards of ‘trustworthiness’,
possessing the attributes of:
Credibility; Dependability; Conformability and Transferability
Writing
6. Finalize study report in light of feedback received through the 5
peer review process and review by the Working Group;
Presentation
7. Present report and a summary PowerPoint presentation outlining 2
key findings, analysis of central themes and recommendations
about next steps.
8. Make presentation to the Working Group and final one to the
Steering Committee for endorsement of the findings and results
of the study.
Total 50
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6. Deliverables/End Products: (e.g. final report, article, document, etc.)
[Component 1 and 2]
[Component 3]
1. Detailed project plan for
implementation of gap analysis
study at household and
community levels;
1. Detailed project plan for
implementation of gap analysis at
facility level;
2. Revised interview guidelines and
monitoring tools;
2. Revised interview guidelines and audit
checklists and monitoring tools;
3. Digital interview recordings,
participant profiles and transcripts
of interviews;
3. Digital interview recordings, facilities
profiles as per the audit checklist, union
council imagery and transcripts of
interviews;
4. Final study report; and
4. Final study report; and
5. Summary PowerPoint
presentation.
5. Summary PowerPoint presentation.
7. Time-Frame:
The study is to be conducted over the duration of two months in 50 workdays time by a team of two
consultants:
Starting Date: June 15, 2012
Completion Date: August 31, 2012
8. Qualifications or specialized knowledge/experience required:
The lead consultant/investigator must have:
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Extensive experience, at least ten years, of conducting rigorous qualitative field research
with rural communities in Pakistan, preferably in KP province;
Relevant tertiary qualifications/experience of lead investigators; at least Master level
education in fields of anthropology, sociology or other related disciplines;
Familiarity with issues of population and children in Pakistan, preferably in the domain of
child protection and registration of civil/vital statistics and pubic administration;
Familiarity with cultural norms, preferences, traditions and dialects of KP ;
Mobility and willingness to accept assignments at short notice;
Previous work experience with United Nations or UNICEF and government is desirable.
Fluency in English, Pashto and Urdu languages.
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9. Application Procedure:
Interested candidates may apply individually through UN Job Portal http://jobs.un.org.pk
or
In a team of two through electronically sending [in one email] their formal Expression of Interest,
along with their detailed resumes and technical and financial proposals no later than June 11, 2012
to pakjobs@unicef.org. Institutions can also apply through the same manner by nominating two
researchers, male and female, for carrying out the Study. However, please note, individual shortterm contracts will be awarded to successful applicants.
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