Needed Research Consultant for Parenting without violence

Project Background:
The extreme violence that has characterized the Syrian conflict has created one of the most serious humanitarian and displacement crises in recent history) The estimated number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has now reached 13.5 million, including 6 million children, with 5.3 million people in need of shelter, 8.7 million people unable to meet their basic food needs and 70% of people lacking access to safe drinking water) After more than four years of conflict, three out of four Syrians live in poverty, and Life expectancy has fallen by 20 years since the start of the conflict.

Syria is the largest displacement crisis in the world today) Since 2011, an average of 50 Syrian families have been displaced every hour of every day) Inside Syria, 6.5 million people have been forced from their homes and are now living in bombed out buildings, collective shelters, and tented camps and even in caves) In 2015, one million people were newly displaced within their own country.

Children are exceptionally vulnerable in this conflict and are at risk from several child protection concerns such as the worst forms of child labor including recruitment into armed groups, early marriage, detention, torture and the denial of access to basic services) Almost three million Syrian children are now out of school, with one-quarter of schools inside Syria damaged or destroyed) Health facilities and health personnel continue to be attacked, while health needs are growing due to the high rates of violence, poor sanitation facilities, food insecurity and low rates of immunization amongst children.

Syria is one of the most complex and dangerous operating environments in the world for humanitarian agencies, with active conflict routinely denying aid workers access to those in need) Right now, 4.49 million people struggle to access humanitarian assistance as living in hard to reach areas, 360,000 in besieged areas with no access to humanitarian support.

SC implements the Protecting Children in Conflict (PCiC) Centenary Commitment, during the period 2019-2021, to support the achievement of the 2030 Be Protected Breakthrough ‘Violence against children is no longer tolerated’ by ensuring that violence against children in conflict is no longer tolerated) It is linked to the Stop the War on Children (SWOC) Strategy, which guides advocacy and campaigns initiatives, predominantly at the global level) Campaigns initiatives that are undertaken at the country level should be integrated with programming as one cohesive approach to protecting children in conflict.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

Overall aim
The formative research is designed to gather information from different sources, at different levels to ensure that planning and implementation of the Parenting Programming is grounded in real world realities and local understandings of parenting and caregiving of girls and boys of different ages.

The general aims will:
* Improving future strategy, programming and projects; and Providing a basis for accountability.
* The formative research supports:
* Better understanding of: gender roles, caregiver and parenting practices including discipline practices with girls and boys of different ages; people who influence parenting practices; children’s views on parenting practices; and the status of violence prevention and local response mechanisms.
* Identification of assets and strengths of parents, caregivers, children, communities, partners, and governments that can be built upon and strengthened through the programme;
* Identification of discriminatory norms and harmful parenting practices that need to be transformed through the programme.
* Efforts to build upon local experience and knowledge from fathers, mothers, caregivers, children, community members, government officials and local partners about perceived opportunities, challenges, and other factors that could hinder or facilitate effective implementation of the Parenting Programming common approach.
* Efforts to develop strategies or interventions to address the challenges and build on the enabling or facilitating factors.
* Use of the Gender Equality Program Guidance and Toolkit to enhance gender analysis

Specific aim

The formative research will help in answering the following questions
1) Who are the people that matter in raising a child and what are their different roles and responsibilities? (exploring gender roles and other social dynamics)
2) What are parents and caregiver’s main hopes and worries for their sons and daughters?
3) What are adults and children’s views and experiences on different methods for disciplining and educating children in the home?
4) What community based resources (human, material, financial) and local services are available to provide support to vulnerable families or to children who experience violence?
5) What advice do participants have for the effective organization of activities with girls, boys, women and men in their community?
6) How will the boys, girls, and their caregivers would like to receive information related to the informative research of the Parenting Programming CA?

Deliverables

The formative research design includes:
Stage 1: Literature review of relevant qualitative and quantitative data concerning parenting and caregiving practices, and relevant national laws, policies, and practices) The literature review and key informant interviews with government officials help to explore opportunities to collaborate with the government at national, sub-national or local levels to pilot the Parenting Programming.

Stage 2: Analyze and supervise the primary data collection (focus group discussions, participatory tools, and interviews) with national or sub-national government officials in at least one project community with male and female caregivers, girls and boys, community and religious elders, members of CBCPMs, and other relevant actors with local partner staff.

The literature review and the analysis of the data collected at the community level aim to uncover parents and caregiver practices with their children and the system of beliefs and norms that motivate and sustain these practices.

After the completion of the activities related to stage, one SCI will review the work that has been completed) Once this review is complete, a decision will be made if the consultant selected for stage 1 will be commissioned to complete stage 2

Outcomes once implemented should:
* Increase the credibility of Parenting Programming work in Syria Programming and identify the main gaps that need support.
* Effective and measurable results for children: better targeting and response?
* Improved efficiency and effectiveness: where should the cost be allocated?
* Develop a strategy for capacitating the formal and informal structures to combat Physical and Humiliating Punishment

CO Consultation strategy
Listening to the voice of our partner teams is critical to the success of our efforts) Champions will be identified and tasked with gathering inputs.

Essential
* Minimum of 6 years relevant experience in the field of Social Work or similar with a background in Law.
* Master’s degree in Social Work or equivalent) Recognized expertise in Child Protection in Humanitarian contexts in the region
* Proven Consultancy experience in sensitive contexts, including ability to work collaboratively and deliver quality results according to a set timeframe.
* Proven experience in writing research studies according to International Standards.
* Experience in analyzing qualitative data, and data management.
* Strong written and spoken Arabic and English (must be able to write reports in English).

Save the Children is the world’s leading independent organisation for children) We work in 120 countries) We save children’s lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfil their potential.

We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

We are interested in hearing from you if you have experience of working in a similar role in an emergency or you can demonstrate experience of working in similarly complex countries or environments (please outline this in your cover letter).

We offer candidates a competitive salary package which includes both medical insurance, accommodation and other benefits for the duration of their contract.

To apply, please send a covering letter along with up-to-date CV, in English to the link provided)

Please note: due to the critical nature of this recruitment, application s will be reviewed as they are received and successful candidates contacted on an on-going basis.

We need to keep children safe so our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.