Terms of Reference****Consultant for Gender and Language Education for Ethnic Students’ Empowerment (GLEESE) Menstrual Health and Hygiene Training- Content Revision

ChildFund in Laos (CFL) is the representative office of ChildFund Australia – an independent international development organisation that works to reduce poverty for children in developing communities.

ChildFund Australia is a member of the ChildFund Alliance – a global network of 12 organisations which assists almost 23 million children and their families in 70 countries. ChildFund Australia is a registered charity, a member of the Australian Council for International Development, and fully accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which manages the Australian Government’s overseas aid program.

ChildFund began working in Laos in 2010 and works in partnership to create community and systems change which enables vulnerable children and young people, in all their diversity, to assert and realise their rights. Projects are implemented in the capital of Vientiane, as well as Huaphanh and Xiengkhouang Province, some of the country’s poorest regions with significantly high unexploded ordnance contamination.

With a focus on upholding child rights and improving access to quality education, ChildFund in Laos also prioritises projects which focus on child nutrition, sexual reproductive health and rights, media literacy and job readiness.

Background

CFL, in partnership with Ministry of Education and Sport Services (MoES) have been working hard for a decade to improve the education accessibility and quality for Lao students and its community, especially in Huaphanh Province. Currently, ChildFund Laos receives the financial supports from Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) through ChildFund Korea to further support the Government of Laos (GoL) to achieve its vision as stated in the 2030 vison statement that “all Lao population equally and equitably have access to quality education”.

The 3-year KOICA funded project called “Gender and Language Education for Ethnic Students’ Empowerment (GLEESE)” started in April 2021 and will end by December 2023. The project goal aims for all girls and boys in Sopbao and Xamneua District, Huaphanh Province to complete equitable lower secondary education. The project is targeting 10 schools and implemented partially in 20 villages of Xam Neua and Sopbao districts, Huaphanh Province at the Lower Secondary Education, in the field of gender, infrastructure improvement/renovation, and teaching-learning outcome improvement. The project has been working closely with MoES at the central level, Provincial Education Support Services and District Education and Sports Bureau at the ground level, with the technical supports from local Non-Profit Association.

The goals, the three outcomes and the performance indicators of the project are as follow:

Project Goal:

All girls and boys in Sopbao and Xamneua District, Huaphanh Province complete equitable lower secondary education.

Outcome 1:

Girls and boys have improved school facilities that are child-friendly and gender sensitive.

Output 1.1: School facilities are constructed and renovated in a child-friendly and gender-sensitive manner.
Output 1.2: School leaders and Village Education Development Committee (VEDC) members are trained on school facilities management.

Outcome 2:

Girls and boys are empowered in making choices about their education through awareness of gender equality.

Output 2.1: Government partners are engaged in project learnings on gender and other topics
Output 2.2: Teachers and community volunteers are trained on life skills curriculum
Output 2.3: Girls and boys receive training on life skills and gender topics through gender sensitisation clubs
Output 2.4: Communities and families participate in awareness-raising session on gender and girls’ education

Outcome 3:

Girls and boys have improved learning outcomes in Lao language reading and writing.

Output 3.1: Teachers receive training for supporting ethnic students who are Lao language learners
Output 3.2: Weekly Lao literacy classes, including creative writing activities, are hosted
Output 3.3: Libraries are constructed and equipped with reading materials

2. Purpose

CFL is looking to formally engage with consultant to provide Training of Trainer (TOT) on Menstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) to CFL staffs and teachers from 10 target schools of the project so they can provide further training and support to MHH student champions who will after carry education activity with their peers in their respective school. The consultant is also expected to supply MHH IEC materials developed adequately to local context similarly to Houaphanh province that can be used during education session carrying in schools by MHH student champions. This consultancy will look in providing technical support in order to achieve Output 1.1 in the program logic above.

4. Scope of Work

The project requires an external consultant to provide technical support to project staffs and its partners as below:

Provide TOT training on Menstrual Health and Hygiene to 2 CFL staffs, 1o teachers and 2 partners.
Supply MHH IEC materials that is developed adequately to lower secondary school female students in Houaphanh province.

Methodology

In completing the task, the consultant is expected to:

Develop and submit a proposal and outline timeframe. This report should be written in English. After the technical review from ChildFund in Laos Education Manager and ChildFund Australia Education Advisor, the consultant should take account on the feedback when developing the rest of the training content, tools and relevant materials in Laos language.
Based on the agreed inception report, develop appropriate tools, training content and materials to be utilized by ChildFund in Laos project staff. These materials should be delivered in the Lao language and wherever relevant, be culturally representatives of the ethnic minority in Laos (e.g. graphics used presents ethnic minority, sentence examples reflects ethnic minority daily lives) and presents gender equality principles (e.g. not all teachers in example sentences are female, not all leaders in the story are male).
Prepare and train the ChildFund in Laos project staffs and teachers to deliver the training content, including guidance on student selection criteria (e.g. prioritizing non-Lao-Thai students, students with low literacy outcome, students with language difficulties).
Submit a final training report (in English), including training manual and tools developed (in Lao language). The report and relevant working documents must be provided in an electronic format (Microsoft Word for future edits).
Observe Child Safeguarding policy and procedure and core values of ChildFund in Laos.
Ensure confidentiality in every step of the procedure.
Deliverable and Indicative Timetable

Note: this is subject for negotiation with the Consultant

Indicative dates

Outputs and Activities

2-13 October 2023

§ Training and tools preparation

§ Admin and logistic preparation with close coordination with CFL field team

16-20 October 2023

§ Prepare and deliver training to CFL staffs and teachers in target school

23-27 October 2023

§ Prepare and deliver training report

Total number of days

7. Management and Reporting Arrangements

The Consultant will report directly to Education Program Manager, while keeping the Sydney Education Advisor and the Head of Program copied to the communication chain. Additionally, Education Advisor based in Sydney will be involved to support reviewing of the tools and reports. All tools created and data collected for this project is expected to be provided in an electronic format that allows future editing.

8. Confidentiality

All discussions and documents relating to this Terms of Reference will be treated as confidential by the parties.

9. Child Safeguarding

The Consultant will undertake the Services to a high standard; use its best endeavors to promote the best interests of ChildFund; protect the reputation of ChildFund and work in a manner consistent with the mission, vision and policies of ChildFund (see Child Safeguarding Policy/Child Safeguarding Code of Conduct PSEAH policy and Employee Code of Conduct). ChildFund Australia has a zero-tolerance policy to abuse, exploitation and harassment in all its forms.

10. Counter-Terrorism and Anti-Money Laundering

ChildFund Australia acknowledges its obligation under the Australian laws relating to counter-terrorism and anti-money laundering. In order to meet its obligation, the consultant is obligated to provide information required for ChildFund to undertake counter terrorism screening before engagement. The consultant’s name, date & place of birth and ID number will be checked against Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) consolidated list, National Security Australia list, World Banks listing and the Asian Development bank listing to ensure not engage with entities or individuals appearing on the lists.

11. Conflict of Interest

The Consultant must declare any financial, personal, family (or close intimate relationship) interest in matters of official business which may impact on the work of ChildFund

12. Fraud and Corruption prevention and awareness

ChildFund Australia has a zero approach to fraud and corruption act. The successful consultant will be required to comply with ChildFund Australia’s fraud and corruption prevention and awareness Policy and act against any form of fraud or corruption and not offer, promise, give or accept any bribes.

13. Insurance

The successful applicant will be required to have in place insurance arrangements appropriate to provision of the requirement in this TOR including (without limitation) travel insurance.

14. Acknowledgment and Disclaimer

ChildFund, its Board and staff make no express or implied representation or warranty as to the currency, reliability or completeness of the information contained in this ToR. Nothing in this ToR should be construed to give rise to any contractual obligations or rights, expressed or implied, by the issue of this ToR or the submission of Expression of Interest in response to it. No contract would be created until a formal written contract is executed between ChildFund and a selected consultant.

Selection Criteria for Consultant

Core Competencies:

Commitment to ChildFund Australia’s values, vision and mission;
Teamwork;
Communication;
Accountability and integrity; and
Adaptability and flexibility.

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

University degree in Health or related disciplines. Master’s degree is preferred.
Demonstrated experience in writing training content and language development in the health sector.
Minimum 5 years’ experience working on health sector, preferably related to Lao language. Desired skills include experience working with ethnic minority communities in Lao.
Demonstrated experience working in a multi-cultural environment with high-level cross-cultural skills and understanding especially with ethnic minorities.
Excellent written communication skills in English.
Fluent in both Lao and English to be able to read and speak in both languages.

Submission Procedure:

Applications can be made by email to Bamboo HR (linked will be identified when the announcement is launched); all other applications will be rejected. In addition, ChildFund will ONLY accept applications that include a CV, a cover letter describing their suitability based on the above required qualifications and experiences and a brief concept note of this project baseline survey that address the criteria above including a financial report. Please upload as one document. Applicants should consider and explain the necessary adjustments to the mode and cost of delivery due to possible restrictions from Covid 19 in their application.

NOTE: The financial proposal should specify a total lump sum amount and a breakdown of a daily professional fee and communication costs etc. Applications without a financial proposal will be regarded as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

;es should submit two professional referees including their current or most recent employer.

For enquiries, please contact

Please submit your application via https://teamchildfund.bamboohr.com/careers/421; before 4:30 pm on 29 October 2023