Terms of Reference for Conducting a Baseline Study on in the Coffee sector in Kasese and Bunyangabu Districts ()

1. Introduction Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH-NL) is a child rights organisation dedicated to stopping child exploitation in East Africa, and works with 6 categories of actors including children, families and communities, the private sector, government, law enforcement agencies and civil society organisations to prevent and respond to child exploitation.

Child exploitation constitutes serious violations of the rights and welfare of the child. TdH-NL’s work in East Africa (, Uganda, Tanzania and ) covers four thematic areas prevention of Sexual Exploitation of Children (SEC), Worst Forms of Child Labour (WFCL), Child Trafficking and unsafe-Migration (CTM), and Child Abuse (CA). In addition, TdH-NL emphasises four cross-cutting issues: child participation, gender mainstreaming, inclusion of children with disabilities and alternative care.

TdH-NL has designed a theory of change that guides interactions with the six actors that we target and engage with in our work. We are also guided by our 5 Ps strategy which includes: ● Partnership - seeking collaboration and coordination with like-minded organisations and institutions. ● Promotion - advocating for laws, policies and practices that support/promote realisation of child rights. ● Prevention - engagements with families and communities, government, private sector actors to raise awareness on child exploitation and its impact on children, change practices towards children that predispose them to exploitation and support families to better provide for their children (creating a safe environment for children to thrive). ● Provision - for children that are already in exploitative situations, we take them out, provide rehabilitation services and reintegrate them back into society to develop and achieve their full potential. ● Prosecution - legal support to families and children that want to pursue justice when their rights have been violated.

To inform the design of interventions to address child labour (CL) in Uganda, TdH-NL plans to undertake a baseline study of CL in the coffee value-chain in the Ugandan districts of Kasese and Bunyangabu. In keeping with TdH-NL’s position on CL, consultant(s) familiar with the context and committed to undertaking safe and ethical research are sought to undertake the baseline study in 2021 .

1 2. Context In Africa, agriculture accounts for 85% of all child labour and 61.4 million children in absolute terms1. In Uganda, it is estimated that 31% of children (over 2.4 million children) aged 6-13 years are in employment. The share of those 14 - 17 years old is estimated to be much higher, at 57%2. This highlights that Uganda has the youngest population employed, 48.1% below the age of 15 years, and reflects traditional beliefs that consider children as a source of income for the family wellbeing and survival.

The ILO has classified the agricultural sector as one of the most hazardous working environments, especially for children. It is one of the three most dangerous sectors for children to work in at any age3 4. It is estimated that a total of 1.7 million households grow coffee in Uganda5. Coffee farming in Uganda is mostly in the highland areas of the country, Kasese and Bunyangabu Districts being some of the largest.

3. Rationale In Uganda, since 2011, working with and through partners, TdH-NL has implemented projects under the themes of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC); Child Abuse (CA); Child Traficking and unsafe migration (CTM) and Child Labour (CL), mainly in Eastern and Karamoja regions of Uganda. This baseline study in Western Uganda should build evidence to be used by state and non-state actors in designing interventions to address CL, including WFCL.

4. Purpose and Objectives The overall purpose of the study is to assess the extent and effects of CL, including WFCL, along the coffee value chain in Kasese and Bunyangabu Districts of Uganda to inform interventions to address CL, including WFCL.

Specifically, the objectives of the baseline study in Kasese and Bunyangabu Districts are: ● To describe the health, education and socio-economic status of children whose families grow coffee, with emphasis on health, education, living and working conditions and household income ● To describe the situation of CL among value chain actors in the coffee sector ● To assess the root causes and drivers of CL in the coffee value chain ● To describe current practice, policy or interventions implemented by state, commercial and non-governmental actors with reference to Uganda’s National Action Plan on Child Labour ● To recommend priority issues to be tackled by future interventions

1 2020 https://www.ilo.org/ipec/Regionsandcountries/Africa/WCMS_618949/lang--en/index.htm 2 2020 Uganda: A report on Child Labour and Youth Employment http://www.ucw-project.org/attachment/Uganda_report_child_labor_youth_employment20141016_154929.pdf 3 FAO, 2015: Handbook for monitoring and evaluation of child labour in agriculture. Measuring the impacts and food security programmes on child labour in family-based agriculture 4 Ibid 5 2020 Uganda Coffee Development Authority: Fact sheet https://ugandacoffee.go.ug/fact-sheet

2 The study should utilize a range of methods to aid the understanding of CL in these two districts.

5. Target Audience Audiences for this baseline are key stakeholders in the agricultural (coffee) sector, including:

● Beneficiary community members of Kasese and Bunyabgabu Districts, ● Government Ministries like Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD) and Ministry of Agriculture, ● Government parastatals like the Uganda Coffee Development Authority, ● Private sector actors6, ● Local government stakeholders/ actors, ● Other coffee value chain actors (producers, input suppliers, processors, wholesalers, retail markets), ● TdH and other civil society organisations, especially those with child protection interventions.

6. Methodology A suitable and detailed methodology that exhaustively addresses the objectives of the study will be provided by the consultant at the baseline´s inception, however consultants will be selected on the basis of proposed methodologies submitted in response to this ToR. Robust mixed methods with a participatory approach are preferred.

The key responsibility for determining baseline study tools will be led by the consultant with support and review provided by TdH staff. Approval of methods will hinge on their compliance with TdH-NL’s Child Safeguarding standards and ethical approval by an external research body. Training on the Child Safeguarding Policy will be provided by TdH-NL. In addition, the study is expected to abide by the Ugandan MOH Covid 19 - SOPs.

Data management should respect Ugandan data privacy policy and comply with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Data processing and analysis will be planned and executed by the consultant. All datasets, analysis scripts and all transcripts from the qualitative data collection will be submitted to TdH on completion of the assignment.

The TdH-NL team will ensure dissemination of findings and recommendations to participating communities.

7. Scope of Work

Roles and Responsibilities of the Baseline Study Lead (Consultant) The Study Lead will coordinate with TdH-NL to carry out the baseline study to the required standard. Accordingly, they will coordinate field-level data gathering, processing and writing up of the draft and final report. They are also responsible for the day-to-day management of baseline activities.

6 https://kilimonews.co.ke/general-news/list-of-qualified-coffee-buyers-and-exporters-in-uganda/

3 Key responsibilities of the Study Lead include the following: ● Review of documents and preparation of an inception report with draft data collections tools for approval. ○ Prepare data collection tools for review and approval by TdH-NL ○ Prepare a risk assessment and mitigation plan for research activities, including a referral protocol for children and young people in difficult circumstances who are identified during data collection. This should be based on a local service mapping ○ Develop the baseline timeline/schedule ○ Develop a data collection protocol for the procedures and interactions with different stakeholders ○ Seek ethical approval for the study from a relevant Ugandan authority

● Conduct baseline study. ○ Lead training of field workers ○ Ensure enumerators adhere to ethical research and safeguarding principles ○ Collect, triangulate and summarise the primary and secondary data ○ Analyse data ○ Validate preliminary findings

● Prepare and submit a draft baseline report for review and feedback. ● Submit final baseline report in hard and electronic copies, and an electronic copy of a findings and recommendation presentation. ● Submit all datasets, transcripts and data analysis scripts.

8. Management and supervision TdH-NL will oversee the process and be responsible for accountability and guidance throughout all phases of execution, and approval of all deliverables.

The evaluator(s) will work in close consultation with theTdH-NL Uganda Country Office and Regional PM&E Coordinator for the coordination of the baseline study with specific support in the following: ● Provide necessary documents for review ● Identify and make available the necessary logistics and staff required for the study activities ● Review baseline study report draft and provide feedback ● Maintain a line of communication with the consultant(s) ● Disseminate study findings in Uganda and region

The TdH-NL Uganda Country Office and Regional PM&E Coordinator will receive support from TdH-NL Head Office Project Back Office, Lobby & Expertise and Institutional Partnerships departments in order to:

4 ● Select the consultant(s) ● Review and approve the proposed methodology ● Provide training on the TdH-NL Child Safeguarding Policy ● Review baseline study report draft and provide feedback ● Approve final version of the study report ● Maintain a line of communication with the partners and funders ● Disseminate study findings to partners and funders

9. Time frame Project team proposes that the baseline assessment to be implemented between May 2021 to August 2021.

10. Baseline Budget breakdown Financial proposals should be submitted which outline all-inclusive costs for conducting the baseline.

11. Baseline Deliverables This baseline study will have a number of products that are summarized below. ● An inception report: responding to the scope of work with a methodology, detailed work plan, data analysis plan and clearly explained data collection methods. ● A fieldwork implementation plan and protocols (to be submitted before fieldwork begins). This fieldwork plan should be presented to the TdH-NL and revised as necessary prior to commencing fieldwork. This must include a clear service and referral network mapping and a plan for connecting children and young people in harmful situations identified during the data collection with support and services. ● Cleaned quantitative and qualitative datasets and any data analysis scripts. ● A comprehensive draft baseline report. ● Final Report: Subject to final approval by TdH-NL (should meet the conditions of the ToR and expected standards of editing and format). ● Study findings and recommendations presentation.

TdH-NL will oversee the process and be responsible for accountability and guidance throughout all phases of execution, and approval of all deliverables.

12. Evaluator Competencies, Experience and Skill requirements The evaluator (s) engaged to undertake the assignment must fulfil the following requirements: The team for this assignment will consist of the consultant(s) who will have overall responsibility for designing, implementing and coordinating the entire baseline survey process guided by the ToR. The knowledge, skills and expertise required are as outlined below: ● The lead consultant or coordinator is required to have a Master Degree in Social Sciences, Community Development or other related fields. ● Sound understanding of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Code of Conduct and UN Global Compact.

5 ● A minimum of five-year experience working in the field on children's issues and child protection programmes. ● Excellent understanding of issues related to agricultural value chains, child exploitation and specifically in-depth understanding of worst forms of child labour and other forms of chid abuse in East Africa. ● Strong commitment to and proven experience of utilising child participatory methodologies. ● Knowledgeable in and committed to a rights-based approach to development. ● Proven experience in conducting evaluations and research using various methodologies such as in-depth interviews, Focus Group Discussions etc. ● Experience in working with NGOs, CBOs and beneficiary communities. ● Excellent communication skills in written and spoken English, Swahili and Uganda local dialect. ● Excellent interpersonal and teamwork skills. ● Excellent analytical and report writing skills. ● Is dedicated to completing the assignment within the timeframe agreed. ● Is familiar with geographical areas in Uganda and is willing to travel and is flexible to managing changing circumstances. ● Is familiar with Ugandan social and cultural norms, and attitudes especially in relation to Child Exploitation and Child Labour.

13. Child Safeguarding Measures In line with the UNCRC, TdH-NL strives to keep children safe in all its undertakings. A screening and reference check of the successful candidate will be conducted during the selection process to confirm suitability of working with children. The successful applicant will be required to read, understand, and commit to abide by TdH-NL’s Child Safeguarding Policies and Guidelines. The institution/firm or individual consultant will sign the policies to indicate an understanding of, and commitment to follow the policy requirements. This includes their responsibility for ensuring that their team also understands their responsibility to do no harm and respond appropriately to safeguarding issues that emerge during the baseline study (reporting of safeguarding concerns in line with TdH NL Child Safeguarding Policy and Nespresso Protecting Children in Coffee Farming guidance). The methodologies used in this study must abide by the universally acceptable standards for involving children in research. Special considerations will have to be taken in involving children who are survivors of sexual exploitation, ensuring the risk of retraumatization is sufficiently mitigated.

14. Ethical Considerations The study methodology must have ethical approval.

All participants involved in the assessment are expected to be treated with dignity and respect, and participation in the study will be voluntary. Confidentiality and the right to privacy should be ensured. Consent will be obtained from all participants prior to their participation.

Where a child or young person has been a victim of exploitation and abuse and shows signs of distress, a clear referral for support and services should be done, using the protocol developed for the fieldwork.

6 There will be nothing in the study which may be harmful for the respondents in terms of legal or ethical grounds. The research objectives will be clearly explained to all the respondents of the study before collecting data from them. The consultant/ firm will abstain from data collection from any person who will deny or show any reluctance in providing information. Written consent with signature or thumb impression of the respondents, therefore, needs to be obtained before collecting data. The researchers will be highly committed to the respondents to guard the privacy of their information and sources of data, as well as will put heartiest endeavour to be unbiased in collecting data. The research report will not reveal the identity of the respondents.

15. Funding disclosure Terre des Hommes Lausanne and Nespresso provided funding to undertake this research.

16. Application process and timeline TdH-NL Uganda Country Office invites interested individuals and companies to submit the following application documents: 1. Technical proposal (max. 12 pages) outlining their motivation for the application, the methodological approach on how to conduct the assignment, and the resources required (documents, survey questions, Focus Group Discussions, Key Informant Interviews checklists, etc). 2. A proposed activities schedule/ Work plan with time frame. 3. Copy of the CV of the evaluator (s) who will undertake the baseline study. 4. Two recent examples of a similar baseline report written by the applicant. 5. Financial proposal detailing evaluators itemized fees, data collection and administrative costs. Interested applicants should submit Technical and Financial proposals electronically in PDF format, addressed to “The Selection Committee”, with subject line clearly marked “EOI Baseline Study on Child Labour” via email on or before the 25th May 2021 to: [email protected].

The aim is to conduct the interviews of the shortlisted potential consultants in the 1st week of June 2021 and the assignment to kick off by 15th June 2021.

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