United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Youth Governance Programming in Fragile Contexts Research

This research is part of a three-phased programme on Youth and Fragile Contexts. Plan UK has established a niche on youth participation in governance work over the last ten years. This piece of research is seeking to explore what it means to do youth governance programming in fragile contexts. The research will draw on evidence and learning from good practice on building active citizenship and youth participation in governance processes within fragile and conflict affected contexts. Practically, the research will serve to** inform programming design options for emerging opportunities to work in fragile contexts. Through this Consultancy, we are also interested in better understanding the extent to which our CCCD principles and youth governance approaches are fit-for-purpose in fragile and conflict affected contexts. We are also keen to better understand the most effective programmatic entry points for doing governance work whether through thematic areas such as economic security or WASH or through other stabilization processes such as peacebuilding or state building. The research will focus on the potential of children and young people’s engagement in governance processes and how these could add value to development outcomes.

Plan UK appreciates the increasing complexities and nuances of defining fragility and notes the recent OECD’s call to focus on “fragile contexts” rather than highlighting a single set of vulnerable countries. We know from our experiences that in times of emergencies, conflict and political instability, the most vulnerable groups tends to be most excluded. These include children (boys and girls), youth and women who are often further marginalized by other factors of exclusion such as ethnicity or disability. They tend to be excluded from social and economic services and this provides a perverse incentive for boys to be drafted in as child soldiers and girls to be subject to trafficking and other types of gender–based violence. Yet there is ample evidence to show that children, young people and women can be a voice of reason and conscience to the often paternalistic and narrow self-interests that drive the agendas of the political elites.

The Department for International Development (DFID) notes that “Interventions should include clearly articulated strategies to support the voice and participation [of marginalized and excluded groups] throughout the various stages of state-building and peace-building identifying appropriate mechanisms for inclusion, representation and participation in political settlements is critical and will require engagement with a variety of actors at the national level as well as at the local level”[1]

Plan UK feels that there is significant potential to do much more programming within these contexts to further amplify the voice of children and youth, particularly girls. We currently do work in a number of fragile and conflict affected contexts through our Disaster Risk Management and general emergency work but increasingly we see opportunities for youth governance programming to help build stronger, more accountable and effective institutions that represent the interests of children and youth.

1. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study are to:

· Outline the case for building the voice and agency of children and young people in fragile and conflict affected states

Review a portfolio of programme evaluation reports from across the sector on young people’s participation in governance and key lessons and learning from them

· Identify the key engagement mechanisms or thematic entry points used to promote youth voice and agency with fragile and conflict affected states

· Review the strengths and weaknesses of Plan’s CCCD Principles and Youth Governance approach to fragile and conflict affected states

· Highlight industry good practice and the various ways in which agencies adhere to’ do no harm’ and conflict sensitivity principles within fragile and conflict affected contexts to see how the model is being adapted and or applied if at all and key lessons we can learn were we to scale up

· Review the work of at least two practice agencies (e.g War Child and UNICEF) that work with children and young people in fragile and conflict contexts to understand the key processes and safeguards they have in place to work with children and young people

· Reflect on the engagement of girls and adolescent girls in particular where possible and appropriate

· Identify the key engagement mechanisms used by other agencies including Plan to promote child/youth voice and their participation in peace-building, state-building or other such stabilization or developmental activities in the context,.

· Make recommendations on the institutional and programmatic adaptations, if any, that Plan might require tailor its CCCD and youth governance work to be effective within the contexts

1. SCOPE OF WORK

In consultation with the research sponsor, the consultant will identify appropriate fragile contexts within which to carry out this assignment. Specifically the scope of work will involve**

Conducting a rapid desk review of Plan’s CCCD and youth governance work to identify the key learnings of our programme approach to this work what does youth participation mean within these contexts

· Conducting a literature review outlining case for, as well as the nuances and distinctions between conflict-affected versus fragile contexts and the issues, opportunities and challenges of working on youth voice and participation within these contexts

· Interviewing Plan country office staff, government representatives (as appropriate) as well as the staff of at least two other agencies in the sector (e.g War Child or UNICEF) about how they are engaging with children and young people in fragile and conflict affected contexts in governance processes with due regard to do no harm and conflict sensitivity principles

· Identifying a portfolio of three of four major projects that promote youth voice and participation and review their evaluation reports to identify evidence of good practice, lessons and key learning

· Outlining and appraising the key engagement mechanisms that have been meaningfully used in these contexts to engage children and young people, particularly adolescent girls by Plan and other agencies

· Reviewing policy, guidance or strategies that Plan and or any other agency working within these contexts have to guide their work

· Making recommendations for how Plan UK could adapt its institutional and programmatic arrangements to support youth governance approaches in fragile and conflict affected states

· Making recommendations from the learning and evidence for how donors can support and invest in child/ youth/girls voices within these contexts

1. KEY OUTPUTS**

The consultant(s) will be expected to produce a report detailing findings to include:

• Executive summary

• Introduction – Purpose of the review, methods used and limitations

• Analysis – Findings of the review in relation to the objectives in section 2, and any other areas emerging

• Conclusions and recommendations – Summary of findings, key learnings and recommendations for future projects using this way of working.

• Appendix – List of documentation reviewed, people and organisations interviewed.

• TIMEFRAME

The review should ideally take place April –June 2016 with a draft report submitted by Mid May and the final report and guidance by mid-June at the latest

NB Only shortlisted candidates may be contacted for an interview.

To apply

Plan UK welcomes a response to these Terms of Reference, with a CV and short written statement including:

• the consultant(s)’ suggested approach

• an outline of costs & timescales

• examples of relevant previous work Responses should be sent to: Steadman Noble (Steadman.Noble@plan-uk.org) no later than April 4, 2015.