Terms of Reference for Conducting mapping of available CP & GBV service providers in Baidoa and Bardhere, Somalia

Introduction:

Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls.  We believe in the power and potential of every child. But this is often suppressed by poverty, violence, exclusion and discrimination.  And its girls who are most affected. Working together with children, young people, our supporters and partners, we strive for a just world, tackling the root causes of the challenges facing girls and all vulnerable children.  We support children’s rights from birth until they reach adulthood.  And we enable children to prepare for – and respond to – crises and adversity. We drive changes in practice and policy at local, national and global levels using our reach, experience and knowledge. We have been building powerful partnerships for children for over 75 years, and are now active in more than 70 countries.

Plan international has started programmes in Somalia that focuses on child protection, education, youth economic empowerment programming, food security working with/through partners and providing technical support to INGOs, Somalia NGOs and the Government of Somalia in Plan’s areas of expertise

Summary

Plan international Somalia is seeking the services of a consultant to mapping of available CP & GBV service providers. Plan International is currently implementing an integrated CPIE/EIE project in Baidoa and Bardhere. The project provides safe access to integrated child protection and education services through a multi-program response for children and adolescents, with a special focus on newly displaced children living in 20 IDP settings in Bardhere and Baidoa Districts in Bay and Gedo regions ensuring their well-being through safety and quality learning opportunities. The action ensures an immediate mainstreamed child protection response to enable a protective environment and encourage children and adolescents to attend non-formal educational services while ensuring strengthened capacity on durable solutions.

Plan International Somalia (PIS) together with READO and GREDO as local implementing partners will revolve around Child Protection in Emergencies and Education in Emergencies components, through an integrated, age/gender-sensitive, inclusive and conflict-sensitive approach, to ensure cost-efficiency, community participation and to enhance social cohesion, mitigating any potential communal tension.

Background

Somalia/Somalia, one of the world’s poorest countries, is also one of the least protective environments for children. Much of the country has been entrenched in severe form of poverty and internal displacement.  Despite, its effort the government institutions are unable to provide children with an adequate protective environment that safeguards their rights.  Children are often exposed to violence including FGM/C which violates a numerous right. In Somalia FGM is legal practice that affects 98% of girls and women aged 15 – 19 years, 85% of which have experienced the most severe form. In some areas the issue is very sensitive and taboo, it is not discussed in public, and is deeply entrenched in social norms around the position of girls and women in society, their sexuality, and dominant patriarchal and religious beliefs that are upheld by all sections of society.

Somalia inevitably shares much of the social, political, and economic challenges faced in Somalia.7 Somalia and Somalia present the worst statistics regarding SGBV and harmful traditional practices (HTP), with Child, Early Forced Marriage (CEFM) and FGM/C being the most prevalent ones. For example, 45% of girls are married before 18, and 8% before 15, due to cultural norms and traditions, extreme poverty, personal choice, early pregnancies, and being out of school[1]. FGM/C is nearly universal as 98% of women aged 15-49 have undergone the practice[2]. The main underlying reason for the continuation of FGM/C is based on cultural habits, traditions, and social norms, especially the belief FGM/C is a religious obligation and a way to keep honour and prestige of clans.

Target Locations:

The target locations are 20 IDP camps and host communities in Bay and Gedo Regions, Baidao and Bardhere districts. These locations were selected for several reasons. these camps and host communities are in urban, peri-urban settings which are currently receiving newly arrived IDPs due to the current drought. Increasing IDP populations has increased the number of children at risk and in need of long-term child protection services. These locations are also relatively secure with no access issues which will support timely implementation of the project.  Districts is also long-term priority locations for Plan as part of its Country Strategic Plan (CSP).