TERMS OF REFERENCE
UNICEF KIRA
Programme/Project Title:
Monitoring and Evaluation
Consultancy/Services Title:
Consultancy for conducting the Situation Analysis of Children’s
and Women’s Rights in the Kyrgyz Republic
Consultancy Mode:
National
International
Type of Contract :
Consultant
Individual Contractor
Mode of Selection :
Competitive
Duration of Contract :
From: 15 February, 2014
Institutional
Single Source
To: 15 June, 2014
Background
Later in 2011, the Government of Kyrgyz Republic and UNICEF signed the Country
Programme of Cooperation 2012-2016. The Situation Assessment conducted in 2010-2011
served as a basis for the development of this five-year programme.
The situation is constantly evolving in the country and a variety of studies, surveys and
evaluations have been conducted by UNICEF, its partners and other stakeholders to assess
developments. Research findings have provided a great deal of information in health,
education, social protection and new areas such as macro-economic policy and public
financing, thus contributing to enlarging views and perspectives around the situation of
children and women. Building on this knowledge, a comprehensive analysis of the most
updated available information with a holistic approach encompassing inter-sectoral
correlations with a child-rights perspective will broaden and strengthen the available
evidence.
In addition, UNICEF’s organizational strategies have been evolving toward a much stronger
focus on addressing inequities, which is very relevant in the context of Kyrgyzstan. Despite
the country’s sustained economic growth rates, there has not been a commensurate
enhancement in people’s wellbeing. Most of the MDGs should be achieved by 2015;
however, when looking at the sub-national level and at specific groups, it is evident how
some segments of the population are lagging behind. These aspects require a more in-depth
analysis in connection with the situation of children, especially the most disadvantaged and
vulnerable.
The country context has been largely determined by the legacy of violent change of political
regime and the following major interethnic violence in 2010. While much progress has been
made to stabilize the situation in the country there are still peacebuilding needs and
challenges that touch upon root causes of conflict and must be addressed to prevent the
recurrence of violence. Still there is distrust in the society, among different groups of people
including youth, often along ethnic lines.
Given the above, the SitAn 2014 will analyze the situation of women and children,
adolescents and youth with a holistic and gender-sensitive and equity-focused approach. The
SitAn will provide a solid basis for mid-term Country Programme adjustments and inform the
planning of the UNICEF-assisted Country Programme and the UNDAF. It is intended to
support national capacity development and policy-making processes, and is inclusive of a
broad range of stakeholders. The UNICEF Strategic Plan 2014-2017 approved recently by the
Executive Board will guide SitAn to ensure relevance and contribution to UNICEF global
agenda.
Objective/purpose of the consultancy/services
The purpose of the SitAn is to provide an updated, comprehensive, child-right based and
equity-sensitive analysis of the situation of children and women in Kyrgyzstan. The exercise
will help understand the causes of and linkages between problems affecting children,
especially the most disadvantaged as a consequence of inequities. It will also highlight the
capacities, gaps and bottlenecks in the country’s human, economic and organizational
resources and structures (including policies and institutions) to solve such problems in an
inclusive manner.
The objectives are as follows:
- to increase the knowledge of UNICEF and partners on the situation of girls, boys and
women in Kyrgyzstan, especially of vulnerable and marginalised groups;
- to develop recommendations that will contribute to the achievement of results
established in the CPAP 2012-2016 and guide required mid-term adjustments in
programme strategies and results.
- to contribute to the generation of evidence-based knowledge and identification of
critical information gaps.
- to be a reference point for continuing situation analyses of girls, boys and women in
Kyrgyzstan.
Specifically, the process of developing a SitAn should:
a) use available data and other information to accurately identify trends, patterns,
incidence and causes of key deprivations (e.g. child mortality, stunting, low levels of
birth registration, low school enrolment, poor access to social services, risk of family
separation violence against children), disaggregated by relevant segments of the
population.
b) identify and analyze the barriers and bottlenecks that prevent disadvantaged
children and families from benefiting from required interventions and services,
including the social, political and economic conditions that result in shortfalls in the
creation of an enabling environment for the realization of children’s rights.
c) analyze the extent to which gender inequalities and the fulfillment/non-fulfillment
of the rights of women affect overall inequalities and deprivations, including those
affecting children.
d) assess the current or potential presence of risks, including conflict, disaster risks,
climate change, and other potential shocks; the likelihood of their occurrence, the
underlying vulnerabilities and resilience capacities, the nature of the hazard and the
particularly vulnerable groups that will be affected. The capacities and coping
mechanisms of families, communities, local and national institutions to mitigate these
risks and deal with shocks should also be assessed.
e) analyze the extent to which the evidence-based interventions and services needed to
address deprivations are prioritized in national policies, laws, strategies, plans and
budgets, and supported by UNICEF and partners. This would include an analysis of
the extent to which there is an enabling environment for the realization of the rights of
all children and youth including the promotion of positive social norms and
behaviours, organization of services, and institutional capacities at national, subnational and community levels.
A rights-based, equity-focused SitAn should serve the following purposes:
a) improve the understanding of decision-makers, partners and all other stakeholders
of the current status of children’s and women’s rights in the country and the causes of
shortfalls and inequities, as the basis for recommending actions;
b) support national and decentralized planning and development processes including
influencing policies, strategies, budgets and national laws to contribute towards an
enabling environment for children that adheres to human rights principles, particularly
in regard to universality, non-discrimination, participation and accountability;
c) strengthen national and sub-national capacities to monitor the situation of children
and women, principally regarding vulnerable and disadvantaged groups and how their
specific rights are being met;
d) contribute to national research on disadvantaged children and leverage UNICEF’s
convening power to foster and support knowledge generation with development, civil
society and private sector stakeholders.
e) Strengthen the knowledge base to enable assessment of the contribution of
development partners, including UNICEF and the UN, in support of national
development goals.
Conceptual framework and scope of the analysis
The conceptual framework proposed for this SitAn is based on the human rights based
approach (HRBA) and it will focus on disparities in the realization of rights and/ or the equity
gaps in the realization of rights analysis. The exercise will adopt a framework of analysis that
will be based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) to assess a more-in-depth
rights-based perspective analysis of the child. Specifically, the exercise will utilize the
following 4 pillars of the CRC to guide the HRBA analysis:

Right to Survival and Development: Infant, child and maternal mortality; Maternal, newborn and child health; Nutritional status of children; Children and HIV/AIDS; Children
with disabilities; Environmental impact on maternal and child health, Water and
sanitation issues affecting children.

Right to Development: Coverage of pre-school; Access and quality of pre-school and
basic education, Enrolment, attendance and drop outs in basic education; Performance
and assessment in basic education; Inclusive education;

Right to a Protective Environment against Abuse, Violence and Exploitation: Children at
risk of, or subject to, all forms of abuse, violence, neglect, suicide and exploitation;
Children without parental care and in institutions; Children in contact with the law; Child
labour; children of migrants.

Right to Participation: Child and youth participation mechanisms in community and
institutional settings (inclusiveness - equities - and authenticity); Child and youth
participation in family decision-making; At Risk Adolescents and positive citizenship
(disabilities; HIV), special conditions (children in institutions, in contact with the law);
others.
Main questions to be answered in the analysis are shown in Annex 1.
Methodology
The SitAn will be developed by an international consultant with the support of a national
consultant. The appointed consultants will refer to the UNICEF Guidance on Conducting a
Situation Analysis of Children’s and Women’s Rights – Taking a rights-based, equity-focused
approach to Situation Analysis, March 2012.
A proposed methodology of the exercise should consist of the following:
1. Assessment of the manifestations of child rights shortfalls and inequities in child
outcomes
a. Comprehensive review of existing data, evidence and research on children and women.
b. Compilation of data will seek to be carried out to the extent possible at disaggregated
level.
c. Understand in-depth the key social, cultural and economic issues affected children and
women
d. Prioritization of small number (5-7) of key issues/areas where child rights shortfalls
and inequities took place
2. Analysis of the major causes of child rights shortfalls and inequities
a. includes a causality analysis,
b. role-pattern analysis, and
c. capacity-gap analysis.
The exercise for the development of the SitAn will be grouped in the following phases:







Phase 1: Desk review of all accessible and available materials
Phase 2: Finalization of methodology and conceptual framework of the SitAn
Phase 3: Consultations with key stakeholders, including but not limited to Ministry
of
Education and Science, Ministry of Health Ministry of Social
Development, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Labour, Migration
and Youth, Ombudsman’s Office, UN agencies, local authorities, civil
society organizations and media
Phase 4: Outlining the SitAn and identifying data and information sources to be
utilized
for the SitAn.
Phase 5: Drafting of the report and recommendations
Phase 6: Presentation of the draft report to UNICEF and partners.
Phase 7: Finalization of the report based on feedback received.
The following are approaches and principles that will need to be considered prior to the
finalized methodology of the SitAn.
The Situation Analysis will be rights-based. For the 5-7 prioritised areas, specific exercises
will be undertaken by the consultants and Country Office staff to develop:
1. Causality analysis including the analysis of immediate, underlying and root causes;
2. Role pattern analysis, examining duty-bearers and right-holders;
3. Capacity gap analysis, analyzing the capacity of all concerned duty bearers.
Gender Equality Analysis shall be mainstreamed in the SitAn with special focus on
presenting the gender disparities as affecting full realization of children’s rights in line with
the Operational Guidance on Promoting Gender Equality through UNICEF-supported
Programmmes. UNICEF’s 2010 Gender Policy mandates that all UNICEF-assisted
programming, including in emergencies, contribute to gender equality in clearly defined,
measurable ways.
Bottleneck/barrier analysis in relation to improved outcomes for children in line with the
UNICEF Monitoring Results for Equity System (MoRES) approach will be considered. This
approach intends to help in setting up a monitoring system, though pre-defined determinant
analyses for the key barriers and bottlenecks to the realization of child rights for all children.
The MoRES conceptual framework provides a platform for effective planning, strategic
programming, decentralized monitoring, and managing results to achieve desired outcomes
for the most disadvantaged children. During the SitAn exercise the UNICEF 10 determinants
analyses conducted by programme sections and the outcomes of analyses should be
incorporated into the SitAn.
National ownership is necessary to build consensus on the analytical results, including the use
of internationally recognized data and standards. Involvement of the government, civil
society and other national stakeholders throughout the SitAn process is a pre-requisite for its
acceptance in policy and strategy formulation, budget allocation, programme implementation,
monitoring and evaluation. Stakeholder involvement should be strategically planned and
managed throughout the process. Key stakeholders to the SitAn will include: key ministries
and government agencies at the national and sub national levels; parliaments; relevant civil
society organizations, including NGOs, professional associations, women’s groups, youth
organisations and other social partners; international cooperation partners; policy analysis,
research and development institutions; the private sector; the media and most importantly
children and young persons.
Major tasks to be accomplished
The SitAn process should follows a basic sequence of steps including, but are not limited to:
Step 1: Development of narrative section on overall situation in the country (on economy,
politics, demography, etc.)
Step 2: Assessment of the manifestations of child rights shortfalls and inequities in child
outcomes
Step 3: Analysis of the major causes of child rights shortfalls and inequities
Step 4: Validation of the analysis for the realisation of child rights with equity
The international consultant will be responsible for and expected to :
 Develop a detailed workplan in consultation with programmatic sectors
 Develop and validate the content, focus and methodology for SitAn
 Finalized and agree with UNICEF on the methodology of the SitAn.
 Conduct necessary consultations with UNICEF CO, relevant Government partners,
NGOs, UN agencies, other development agencies if needed;
 Conduct gender perspective review of implemented or ongoing interventions of the
CO, carried out within current country Programme;
 Review studies specifically conducted in bottleneck analysis ;
 Prepare an outline for the SitAn prior to developing the content of the draft report.
 Prepare a draft report according to the content and based on the desk review and
discussions with relevant partners;
 Present preliminary results to UNICEF and partners;
 Finalize the report based on UNICEF and partners feedback;
 Prepare a summary document with key findings and a PowerPoint presentation
The international consultant will be supported by a national consultant, who will be
responsible for:




Conduct desk review of existing evidence, data, research, national state programme
documents and policies affecting children rights as well as the latest available official
and administrative statistics;
Support the compilation and gather the above evidence to demonstrate inequities and
shortfall of the outcomes on children.
Support the development of research methodology;
Facilitate and support the data collection process, quantitative and qualitative analysis
of secondary information, especially when in Kazakh or Russian languages, by
bringing in specific expertise and knowledge of the local context.



Organize and coordinate the information database, facilitate the exchange of
information, discussions with the government and other concerned stakeholders,
Organize interviews for the international consultant, FGDs and workshops with
relevant stakeholders as per research /methodology of the analysis;
Participate in the development of draft and final reports.
Deliverables
1. After the first in-country visit: a draft outline of the report, framework on the final
methodology, identifying information gaps, refining research questions and adjusting
methods, a Research Design Matrix for each finally agreed research question (specifying
data collection methods, tools, additional sources, etc.). (Expected date: 1 March 2014)
2. First draft of the Report, which includes in depth desk review of available sources, results
of preliminary discussions with the governmental counterparts and other key stakeholders
(Expected date: 31 March 2014).
3. After the second in-country visit: a second draft SitAn report which includes in alia,
additional desk-review of any other relevant source identified during the inception phase,
presentations, results of participatory workshops/focus group discussions to undertake the
causal, role pattern, bottleneck/barrier and capacity gap analysis, gender perspective
review of implemented interventions, conducted with right holders and duty bearers,
including central government partners, regional governments and institutions, NGOs,
parents, community leaders, young people and children, as well as UNICEF and other
development agencies, conclusions and recommendations. (Expected date: 30 April 2014)
4. After the third in-country visit: a final SitAn presented for validation to the Government,
UN, civil society and other key partners. (Expected date: 31 May 2014)
5. Submission of the final SitAn report to UNICEF Kyrgyz Republic, based on the feedback
suggested as a result of the validation with the UNICEF CO and main stakeholders. (15
June 2014)
Required qualifications

Advanced university degree and/or academic background in law, public administration
and/or social sector;

Extensive experience in conducting SitAn, strong working knowledge of UNICEF, the
civil society sector and working with state public authorities.

Knowledge of result-based management evaluation, policies, procedures, as well as
participatory monitoring and evaluation methodologies and approaches;

Proven experience on gender mainstreaming in situation analyses,

Experience in bottleneck/barriers analyses on the situation of the most vulnerable groups
of population,

Proven very good knowledge on child rights, current political and social trends and social
reform processes in EEC and/or CIS countries;

Very good communication and presentation skills with government and community
members;

High analytical and conceptual skills and ability;

Fluency in English (written and spoken), knowledge of Kyrgyz or Russian is an asset;

Ability to work within the international and multicultural environment.

Good knowledge of computer applications
Duration of contract and fees:
The estimated overall duration of work is about 4 months. The consultant is supposed to
work approximately 80 days (50 days out of the country and 30 days in-country). The exact
schedule of the activities will be agreed with the consultant based on the submitted proposals.
Contract will be charged from non-grant GC funds.
Consultancy fees to be paid in following equal installments:
a) Advance payment: 20% - upon signing contract;
b) 2-d installment: 20% - after the first in-country visit and submission of a draft
outline of the report and the final methodology identifying information gaps, research
questions and adjusting methods;
c) 3-d installment: 20% - upon the submission of a first draft of the Report, which
includes in depth desk review of available sources, results of preliminary discussions
with the governmental counterparts and other key stakeholders.
c) 4-th installment: 20%– upon submission of a second draft SitAn report which
includes in alia, additional desk-review of any other relevant source identified during
the inception phase, presentations, results of participatory workshops/focus group
discussions to undertake the causal, role pattern, bottleneck/barrier and capacity gap
analysis, gender perspective review of implemented interventions, conducted with
right holders and duty bearers, including central government partners, regional
governments and institutions, NGOs, parents, community leaders, young people and
children, as well as UNICEF and other development agencies, conclusions and
recommendations.
d) Last installment: 20%– upon submission of the final SitAn report.
UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is not
satisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.
Drafted:
Muktar Minbaev,
Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
Alvard Pogosyan,
Education/ECD Specialist
Reviewed:
Gulsana Turusbekova,
Social Policy Specialist
Approved:
Raoul de Torcy
Deputy Representative
Annex 1. Preliminary suggested research questions to be answered in the analysis
A rights-based, equity-focused SitAn supported by UNICEF should seek to respond to the
following questions, either through direct consideration, or through reference to other
documents in which these are adequately addressed:
1) How do child and maternal outcomes and trends differ across population groups and
regions?
2) Which are the most deprived groups of children and women? Where are they located?
3) What forms of deprivation and exclusion do these groups face? What are the determining
factors that give rise to and perpetuate their exclusion?
4) What are the underlying causes of gender and other inequalities across population groups
and regions?
5) What are the immediate, underlying and structural barriers and bottlenecks to child and
maternal well-being and to accessing and utilizing basic social services and other critical
resources?
6) What risks (conflict, natural hazards, etc.) exist that are likely to affect the patterns of
deprivation and exclusion, exacerbate or create barriers and bottlenecks?
7) What existing social, institutional and political factors (e.g. social norms, institutional
capacities at all levels of government, accountability and coordination mechanisms, policy
and legal frameworks) impede or could potentially support the creation of an enabling
environment for the realization of children’s rights?
8) Have the ‘drivers’ of inequity changed over time? If so, how has that been accomplished?
If not, why not? Does the policy environment proactively address disparities and deprivations
through legislation, policies and budgets? What gaps are there in policy response and in
implementation?
9) What capacities exist at national, sub-national and community levels to participate in
analytical processes that examine the causes and consequences of shortfalls and inequities
and to what extent are disadvantaged groups involved in such efforts and with what results?
10) What programme interventions and resource mobilization and allocation options should
be considered in the future, in order to address specific dimensions of inequity and pervasive
vulnerabilities?