East Africa Migration Route Policy Mapping

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Study: National and Regional Child Migrant Protection Policy Assessment in East and the Horn of Africa (focusing on Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan)

Introduction

Save the Children is implementing a three-year project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) focused on protection and self-reliance of children and youth in vulnerable displacement situations in three countries: Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan. Save the Children is implementing a three-year project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) focused on protection and self-reliance of children and youth in vulnerable displacement situations in three countries: Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan.

The 25 months Inception Phase (2019-2021) was concluded in March 2021 and was focused mainly on piloting test activities, developing detailed project proposal for the new phase, establishing baselines, and conducting four key research/study outputs:

- Conflict sensitivity audit of planned intervention strategy

- Mapping of existing child protection initiatives and partners

- Study on gender in displacement situations

- Political economy analysis of migrant flows

Save the Children is seeking a consultant to conduct a National and Regional Child Migrant Protection Policy Assessment in the East and the Horn of Africa in order to inform Save the Children's efforts to strengthen the cross-border coordination between countries, including case management of children on the move. The planned activities include engagement with regional stakeholders, especially regional economic communities such as the EAC and IGAD, on strengthening child protection in regional migration policy frameworks, with an emphasis on coordination between countries. The planned study will provide Save the Children project leads with a systematic, synthesised analysis of current policies and procedures, their national adoption, implementation, planned amendments, and relevant regional frameworks, across the East Africa region, with a specific country focus on Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan. It is critical that the mapping and assessment of those policies is focused on migrant child rights and protection.

Background Information

The last decade has seen a dramatic increase in the global mobility of people. The number of people globally who live outside of their country of birth has reached 280 million by 2020. Irregular migrants from the Global South, often not captured in official data, are of particular concern from a development and humanitarian perspective: they are often amongst the most vulnerable populations. Internationally, children constitute approximately 15% of migrants. This proportion is dramatically larger in East and Southern Africa, where 28% of recorded migrants are children.

Within the target countries of this project, Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, data from 2018 highlights increased levels of population movements to and within Ethiopia, with internal displacement and increasing movement of Eritreans into the country driving this increase. From the end of 2017 to June 2018, the number of IDPs in Ethiopia increased from nearly 1.1M to 1.4M persons with around 35,000 more refugees and asylum seekers registered, for a total of 928,663. Sudan is host to nearly 2M IDPs and nearly 1M refugees and asylum seekers, largely from South Sudan, but also comprising of over 100,000 Eritreans . With 230,000 refugees, Egypt has by far the smallest population of concern. There are only small numbers of Egyptians migrating to Europe and no departures emanating from the country. Egypt's ability to effectively curb migration to Europe has resulted in the European Union's desire to promote the 'Egypt Model' in spite some concerns about the conditions of refugees in the country.

The impact of COVID-19 on borders and irregular migration in the region has been significant. A COVID-19 impact assessment conducted as part of the East African Migration Routes project has identified vulnerable migrants as among the most affected by COVID-19 response and prevention measures, such as border closures, lockdowns and school closures, whilst economic impacts are likely to increase pressures to migrate for many. The immediate impact of border closures and securitisation of borders has been both a decrease in overall movement, and an increase in the risks, especially by changes in the use of smugglers, with larger smuggling networks with closer ties to trafficking having gained in prominence. All of these changes have resulted in immediate needs, including hunger, access to services and exposure to exploitation and sexual and gender-based violence. In the longer term, the likely increase in unsafe migration in the region will require stronger collaboration and coordination between stakeholders to prevent exposure to risks of children and youth on the move.

At the same time, eruption of conflict in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia and the economic collapse in Sudan have dramatically changed the lives of children and the operational environment of the project. It is likely that the mixed migration route from Ethiopia to Egypt will continue, with migrants being under increased pressure to migrate, risking exploitation and abuse.

Child and youth migration is historically linked to stages of societal and economic development in Africa. Save the Children continues to recognise that safe migration can be an important avenue for realising individual aspirations and enabling access to education or decent work. However, children who migrate alone are vulnerable to a variety of risks, including physical and sexual violence, harmful work, and foregoing the very services they have migrated to access in the first place. In many countries in East and Southern Africa clear child protection legislation is in place, but often it is only implicitly and by extension protecting migrant children, failing to recognize their specific risks.

Objectives of the study

The Objective of the assessment is to provide a benchmarking assessment to build a stronger understanding of the main policy gaps, both in formulation or implementation, preventing the governments of Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt from effectively meeting the objectives of key international and regional policy frameworks around the protection of children on the move, including in case management processes.

There are three key levels of assessment that are expected to be covered:

a) Current policies that either support or directly govern cross-border coordination on migrant child protection in the region. This includes regional policy frameworks of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) such as IGAD and EAC and their national implementation, but might also include bilateral policy initiatives between government outside of RECs.

b) Status and level of institutional frameworks/instruments supporting the implementation of policies, such as Standard Operating Procedures, protocols, practitioners' and officials' capacities, etc. This places greater emphasis on how policies at regional level are implemented on the ground, by national governments, in their respective contexts.

c) Challenges and barriers in implementation across the above two levels (policy and practice), specifically based around possible gaps that are mapped and identified.

In order to deliver against this objective and across the three, the following questions will need to be answered:

1) Do (and to which extend) current regional and national policies and procedures protect the rights of children and youth involved in or affected by migration and displacement?

2) What is the role and influence of regional bodies, including regional frameworks, on national migration policies, their implementation and their harmonisation?

3) Do national policies and procedures recognize international instruments and have relevant and effective national policies and instruments to support cross border work and case management?

4) Are there specific groups of migrant children and youth (for example, girls or children with disabilities) that are particularly affected by policy gaps, including a lack of provisions for specific needs of these groups?

5) What is the current status of policy harmonisation and cross-border coordination on the protection of migrant children and youth?

6) What key policy initiatives to strengthen migrant protection exist, including initiatives to strengthen cross-border coordination, and what is their current status?

7) What are key recommendations and actions to establish or strengthen bilateral and multilateral coordination and harmonisation of policies of the protection of migrant children and youth and their implementation?

The study should be 'COVID-sensitive', that is, it should be aware of the ways in which COVID-19 might have impacted key processes, for example, case management, however, the aim of the study is not the mapping of COVID-19 impacts and this should not be a focus.

Geographical Scope:

The policy assessment will cover the East and the Horn of Africa region and key North African countries. This includes countries covered by regional policy frameworks by mechanisms such as IGAD, with a country focus being on the implementing countries - Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan - and those neighbouring countries with which they might have policy agreements and harmonisations.The geographic focus for key informant interviews and direct data collection includes the region, through engaging regional mechanisms, and Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan at national level. Other countries should be covered through secondary sources and already available data.

Methodology

Methodology is envisioned as largely qualitative and document and key informant focused, but innovative use of mixed methods approaches are encouraged.

Outuput/Deliverables

Outputs will include a report and consultative process including the following deliverables:

1. Inception Report (including proposed methodology per component, intended instruments and research topics to be covered, data collection plan; development of preliminary list of stakeholders, suggested list of key research question as well as overall work plan on GANTT chart);


2. Research report, including:
   
   1. Definition of the problem and research questions,
   
   
   2. Overview of the current status: existing policies and institutional framework at national/regional levels,
   
   
   3. Key gaps in ensuring efficient implementation - policy and institutional level,
   
   
   4. International trends and proven practices,
   
   
   5. Recommendations and concrete proposed steps to strengthen cross border work and support to migrant and refugee children and youth;
   
   


3. A flow chart, outlining the case management process of a migrant child, mapping challenges and gaps at the key 'gates' of the flow chart, starting with a migrant child being identified. This outcome ought to visualize the gaps and challenges in an accessible way;


4. Presentation of results at validation/dissemination workshops (at country and regional levels);


5. Attendance of Reference Groups meetings/calls;


6. Google drive or similar containing all instruments, collected data and analysis for internal documentation.

Roles & Responsibilities

The Consultant:

1. Professional and independent delivery of all above listed outputs in line with specifications given within the Terms of Reference within agreed upon timeframe.

2. Quality written outputs that are of publishable quality.

3. Regular and transparent reporting on progress to Save the Children, including any delays or challenges as they develop.

4. Commitment to presenting results in a professional and accessible manner.

5. Commitment to Save the Children's Child Safeguarding Policy

Save the Children:

1. Supporting the Consultant in accessing programme related documents and research;

2. Support with logistics for field work, including access to participants;

3. Actively engaging the Consultant throughout the research and review process;

4. Being available for feedback and review of drafts.

Competencies

This consultancy is open to both individuals and consultancy firms who meet the following criteria:

1. Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies, or related area;


2. Demonstrate experience in similar projects focused on policy analysis. Research conducted in the field of migration and child protection would be a distinct advantage;


3. Experience and strong grasp of case management processes;


4. At least 5 years of relevant professional experience working on similar assignments;


5. Demonstrate experience of gender-sensitive research. Research conducted in the field of gender and migration would be an advantage


6. Prior experience of researching child migration in the East African regional context, ideally including specific experience in Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan.


7. Demonstrate experience in applied research, especially literature reviews;


8. Familiarity with child rights programming;


9. Demonstrate experience working with INGOs;


10. Demonstrate analytical and conceptual ability, good communication and facilitation skills;


11. Demonstrate strong report writing skills, a track record of delivering high-quality written outputs, and be able to share examples of previous work;


12. Demonstrate ability to work independently and deliver on time.

How to Apply

Applications should consist of:

1. Cover letter

2. Short proposal, detailing proposed methodology, timeframe, and illustrative budget (max. 4 pages)

3. Examples of similar work already conducted

-Expression of interest and proposals with workplans and budget must be submitted to

Deadline: The deadline of submission is 14th August 2021

How to apply

Please follow this link to apply: https://www.aplitrak.com/?adid=YS50YW1iYS43NDY0OC4xMjE4NUBzYXZldGhlY2hpbGRyZW5hby5hcGxpdHJhay5jb20