Child Marriage Research & Policy

Terms of Reference

Child Marriage Research & Policy Consultant (4 months) to support the project “Grounded in their lives: Comprehensive stakeholder engagement to enhance child marriage policy and programming for girls in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region”

Background

In February 2020, Terre des hommes -Lausanne Foundation (Tdh) and King’s Colleague London (KCL) finalized a large, multi-method piece of research under the lead researcher Dr. Aisha Hutchinson (based at KCL). The research “Understanding child marriage amongst Syrian Refugee Communities in Jordan and Lebanon” was conducted during 2016-2020. It draws together a total of seven deliverables based on different research methodologies, addressing a variety of angles to analyze the process of child marriage itself, illuminating how it is understood, explained, considered and justified by girls and their families, as well as tackling policy and program responses and the views and processes followed by different governments, organizations and community stakeholders such as faith-based actors. It also details the challenges faced by married girls and their reflections on marriage and life in the future.

The different research deliverables can be found online here: www.tdh.ch/child-marriage-research-jordan-lebanon. A summary of the main findings of the research is available online here: https://www.tdh.ch/en/media-library/documents/research-findings-understa…

The research project’s goals are as follows:

o Goal 1: Understanding of the social processes underpinning the increase in child marriage amongst displaced Syrian communities in Jordan and Lebanon, and impact of displacement.

o Goal 2: Current policy and practice responses to child marriage across Jordan and Lebanon mapped to provide greater understanding for partnership working and coordinated responses across sectors and multiple levels.

o Goal 3: Evidenced-based practice tools (policy and program) developed based on the research findings.

In order to tackle Goal 3 above, Tdh and KCL conceptualized the project “Grounded in their lives: Comprehensive stakeholder engagement to enhance child marriage policy and programming for girls in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region”, that it is funded by the ESRC Impact Acceleration Social Science Impact Fund (SSIF) at KCL. Within this project targeted engagement with key stakeholders (governmental, academic, civil society and UN) on the child marriage field in Jordan, Lebanon and regionally have been established. Together with them, and Tdh’s and KCL’s teams, have developed a roadmap for the continuation of effective ongoing engagement, for example, the development of a set of tools and the organization of a series of online events is planned.

We are looking for an experienced, dynamic and committed CHILD MARRIAGE RESEARCH AND POLICY CONSULTANT who is passionate about children’s rights and gender themes, to support the continued engagement with a range of stakeholders and to contribute to the development of a range of tools outlined here, and preparation of any online events as planned in the project funded by the SSIF.

Objectives of the consultancy

The Research and Policy Consultant selected will:

1. Actively support ongoing communication and discussion with the stakeholders engaged in the project “Grounded in their lives…”.
2. Develop the following set of policy and program tools from the evidence generated by the research (and wider literature/research). These tools will be reviewed and developed in partnership with the stakeholders engaged, under the supervision of Marta Gil and Dr Aisha Hutchinson:

a. Child-friendly and gender-responsive version of the key findings of the research. A child participation process will be organized by Tdh for getting inputs from children pertaining the messaging but adapted to C-19 limitations.

b. Policy briefs per sector (justice, health, education, protection, etc.) developed in consultation with sector leads in Jordan and Lebanon. They would come in a package wrapping on the multi-sectoral approach.

c. Production of a series of case studies as captured during the data collection phase of the research. Those will tell the story/aspirations of girls and young women, rounded up in a snapshot. These are already partly developed. Design support would be given.

d. Produce a brief operational guidance for child marriage case management in consultation with Tdh case management leads in Jordan and Lebanon.

1. Support with the preparation of the online events planned within the project.
2. Support with the programmatic tasks related to Child Marriage as required.
3. Actively participate and contribute to team meetings and working workshops with Tdh and KCL teams during the consultancy period.

Profile required

· Advanced degree in international development, social sciences, human rights or similar and relevant with the consultancy’s scope. Gender Studies and/or Child Rights studies would be an advantage.

· Demonstrated experience in research, both quantitative and qualitative, and in policy development;

· Experience in the field of child marriage;

· Prior experience in the Middle East;

· Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic is required;

· Ability to federate and create trusting relationships with governmental and non-governmental organizations. Skilled at networking, representation and partnership development.

· Excellent communication (quality writing and presentation).

· Respect for institutional values, processes and rules.

· Excellent management of time and priorities.

· Good knowledge of networks active in child marriage at national, regional and international levels.

· Mastery of the basic computer tools (Word, Xcel, PPT, etc.).

Consultancy’s conditions

· The position is to be based preferably in Amman (Jordan). Beirut (Lebanon) and London (UK) can be also considered.

· The selected consultant will be required to use their own equipment to perform the consultancy goals.

· Depending on where the consultant will be based, strict compliance with Covid-19 related measures from Tdh and KCL are to be observed and will be mandatory in relation to the tasks involved within the consultancy.

· The consultancy contract would be signed for a period of 4 months. Payment will be done monthly in currency of country where based at the rate of £2500 per month (fixed). Prices are inclusive of value added tax. Consultants are liable for paying their taxes as well as able to provide admin documentation regarding accreditation as independent consultants, where mandatory.