Call for Expression of Interest for EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT OF CHILDSAFEGUARDING PRACTICES and PROCEDURES IN SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGES Lebanon and Palestine At SOS Children’s Villages International

SOS Children’s Villages International is a non-governmental organisation focused on supporting children and young people without parental care or at risk of losing it. It was founded in 1949 and operates in 135 countries and territories. SOS Children’s Villages provides alternative care services for children without parental care and works with families and communities to prevent child-family separation.

SOS Children’s Villages implements a systematic child safeguarding approach to ensure that the organisation, its operations and staff do no harm to the children and young people and do not expose them to the risk of harm and abuse.

1. Purpose of the assessment:

SOS Children’s Villages International is looking for a team of at least two experts to conduct an external assessment of child safeguarding practices and procedures in programmes under operation of SOS Children’s Villages Lebanon and SOS Children’s Villages Occupied Palestinian Territories.

It is possible to submit an application for assessment only in one country or in both. Application should clearly indicate the chosen country(ies).

In particular, the experts are expected to evaluate child safeguarding structures, processes, as well as ability of the organization to adequately respond to child safeguarding allegations and prevent them from happening in the future.

The detailed Terms of Reference will be shared based on the expression of interest and upon signing a confidentiality agreement.

Description of the programmes to be assessed:

1. The planned assessments are to take place in:

Three programmes, in various locations in Lebanon

Two programmes in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, in the West Bank and Gaza.

1. Scope of work:

Based on the shared TOR, the experts are expected to develop a detailed methodology but, as a minimum, should apply the following methods:

• Interviews (individual and group) with relevant parties; site visits; detailed review of documentation; onsite observations.

4. Expected deliverables:

• The assessment should take place in April-June 2022.
• The final report is to be submitted by June 30, 2022.
• The assessment report has to be submitted in English language in both electronic and hard copies.
• The report should include all findings as well as recommendations for actions and necessary improvements.
• Qualifications and experience required: The potential experts should meet the following criteria:

· Proven experience in conducting assessments, evaluations or investigations in the field of child safeguarding and child protection. Previous experience in Middle East countries is a strong asset;

· Preferably knowledge of alternative care services;

· Expertise and proven capacity in child psychology and trauma healing;

· Ability to organize on-site interviews and data collection in Occupied Palestinian Territories and Lebanon;

· Ability to collect assessment data and information in Arabic language;

· Understanding of the socio-political, legal, and cultural context in the Middle East and specifically the two countries in focus;

· Fluency in English.