1. Background and rationale

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) make an explicit, bold and universal commitment to ending violence against children, in all its forms. In target 16.2 and other violence-related targets of the SDGs, UN Member States commit to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against children by 2030. In addition, AU Agenda 2063 (Aspiration 6: An Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children) and Africa’s Agenda for Children 2040 (Aspiration 7: Every child is protected against violence, exploitation, neglect and abuse) have a common focus to free children from all forms of violence. Given the widespread prevalence of violence and its detrimental impacts on a child’s human rights and dignity, governments need to fulfil their obligations so that the aspirations and commitments in these documents can be fully realized.

Undoubtedly governments are making commendable efforts towards preventing and responding to violence against Children through the development of legislative and policy frameworks and strengthening of national child protection systems. Integrating Child protection into national development agenda and other national programs has been undertaken. Many African Governments are increasingly recognizing the importance of generating the evidence through conducting national surveys as well as developing routine administrative data collection systems to better measure and track the scope and scale of violence against children but most importantly inform VAC national level interventions.

Amidst all these there is an increasing information/ knowledge gap on the new forms of violence, and challenges and constraints that governments face in instituting national prevention and response measures on VAC. In 2014, following a joint request by the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence against Children (SRSG VAC) and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) for more country-specific evidence of violence against children in Africa, ACPF conducted country-based studies that culminated into the African Report on Violence against Children 2014. The report helped to gain deeper understanding of the extent and depth of incidents of violence committed against children in Africa, and crucially it included a reflection of children’s own perspectives and experiences.

There is, therefore, the need to carry out an assessment of progress on preventing and eliminating VAC on the continent, exploring the magnitude and trends of the new and emerging forms of VACs and its implications for child protection on the continent. The study will build on the 2014 report and will review progress/challenges over the last 5/6 years in terms of scale and magnitude of the problem and government’s action to prevent and respond to VAC and examine the evolving nature of VAC and its new forms on the continent. The study will specifically hold national consultations with children to generate their perspectives on and experiences of VAC on the continent.

It is in the regard that ACPF and APEVAC are commissioning a continental study to assess progress and challenges on preventing and responding to VAC on the continent. Hence, this terms of reference for the services of a qualified Consultant.

2. Objectives of the study **

To undertake an in-depth, comprehensive assessment of progress made towards ending of violence against children in Africa since 2014 specifically exploring the new and emerging forms of VAC, its extent and magnitude and identify challenges hindering VAC prevention efforts.

The specific objectives are:

· To Assess progress, challenges and opportunities related to addressing VAC, five years since the adoption of the SDGs and Africa’s Agenda for Children 2040;

· To generate and consolidate knowledge on new and emerging forms of VAC on the continent;

· To document good practices in preventing and responding to VAC; and

· To promote priority for action and reinvigorate commitments at regional and national levels to end violence against children.

3. Methodology and Scope of work

The task will involve an analysis / assessment of progress on implementation of VAC interventions and progress towards preventing and responding to VAC on the continent. The study will make use of qualitative and quantitative tools and methodologies to gather and analyze data. In addition, the consultant will conduct a review of the existing literature and secondary sources to enrich the survey data.

Desk-based study

The consultant will undertake an extensive review of relevant documents and literature, including:

• SDG monitoring reports
• Reports on the implementation of Africa’s Agenda for Children 2040
• Annual and thematic Reports by the Global Partnership to End Violence against Children
• Annual and thematic reports of the Special Representatives and Rapporteurs of the UN Secretary-General on Violence against Children and Violence against Women,
• Reports and publications of the Global Partnership to End VAC,
• Country VAC surveys and other relevant government reports
• Universal Periodic Review reports,
• Plans of Action,
• Declarations and Concluding Observations of the UN Committee and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and
• States Party reports.

Documentation of good practices

Model practices will be documented from selected countries comprising both pathfinding and non-pathfinding countries, with a proper regional representation. The case studies will be based on the INSPIRE Framework, hence capturing good practices in the seven areas of the framework. The draft report will be validated by both the APEVAC Advisory Group and a group of imminent child rights experts and practitioners.

Key informant interviews/consultations

Key informant interviews will be conducted through skype and phone calls, with relevant government and CSO representatives to gather information about the state of implementation of the SDGs and the Africa’s Agenda for Children 2040. Key informant interviews will be conducted with Government officials responsible for implementing the SDGs and Africa’s Agenda for Children 2040 as well as those responsible for VAC-related efforts at the national level. The key informant interviews will include representatives from both pathfinding and non-pathfinding countries.

4. Expected Deliverables

The following deliverables are expected from the consultant:

· An inception report detailing major components of the study; detailed work plan, highlighting operational methodology, data gathering and data analysis instruments;

· A Draft study report;

· Final report addressing comments and inputs from ACPF.

The consultant will be responsible for timely delivery of the reports as per the deadline.

5. Timeframe

Activity

Timeline

Signing of the contract

15 May

An Inception Report

21 May

Draft continental Report on progress in preventing and responding to VAC

21 July

Feedback from ACPF

31 July

Submission of Final Report

7 Aug

6. Qualifications/requirements:

The consultant shall be a qualified expert with extensive experience in research in the area of child rights and program evaluation, and systemic issues related to VAC. The consultant should have the following qualifications:

· An Advanced degree in social science, humanities, development studies, or other related fields;

· Rich experience in undertaking both quantitative and qualitative assessments;

· Proven experience in documenting progress and good practices in the area of child protection

· Proven track record in undertaking cross-country studies

· Should have practical knowledge on child rights issues in Africa and well versed with global, regional child rights, the VAC agenda and processes.

· Demonstrated experience in conducting pan African studies, analysing and synthesizing results;

· Good track record in meeting deadlines;

· Willingness to be guided by ACPF’s mission, vision and values as well as adhere to its child protection policy during the assessment;

· Excellent writing and communication skills.