Terms of Reference: Two Individual National Research Consultants (India) At Coram Children’s Legal Centre

Terms of Reference: Two Individual National Research Consultants (India)

Date of request: 20 July 2022 Requesting institution: Coram International

Background to the study

Coram International is a research institution and consultancy based in the UK with over 30 years’ experience in children’s right and with particular expertise in child protection. Coram International has a strong track record of undertaking research studies and evaluations for and providing technical assistance to UNICEF other UN agencies and international NGOs. More information about our work can be found on our website: https://coraminternational.org/

Coram International has been selected to conduct a study on the impact of Covid-19 on child marriage determinants in South Asia, on behalf of UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (UNICEF ROSA). This research aims to analyse the changes in drivers and moderators of child marriage due to COVID-19, including adolescents’ attitudes, and assess the impact of the pandemic on girls already married. The research aims to contribute to strategies, policies, and programme interventions that will avert the negative impacts of COVID-19 on child marriage in South Asia. The detailed TOR for the study can be retrieved here.

Required services:

Coram International is looking to recruit a national research consultant from India to assist with the collection of qualitative data, utilising the following methods:

• In-depth qualitative interviews with adolescents, parents and caregivers;
• Key informant interviews with government stakeholders, community and religious leaders, health workers, teachers and educators, policy makers and others;
• Focus group discussions with adolescents, caregivers and community members; and
• Participatory activities with adolescents.

Qualitative data collection will be carried out in two locations in one of the following States: Assam, Odisha, Bihar and Rajasthan (to be determined), and will follow a training / orientation session and piloting of data collection tools. Outputs of the consultancy will include detailed transcripts from data collection exercises and a brief summary of key findings / observations. These outputs will be submitted in English at the conclusion of the data collection.

The assignment will require around 20 days of work in August – September 2022.

Competencies and experience:

• University degree in child protection, gender, human rights, or related field;
• Expert knowledge of India’s country context and customs;
• 5 years of research experience in field of human rights, children’s rights and/or child protection (child marriage research experience would be an added advantage);
• Experience of carrying out qualitative research (interviews / FGDs etc.) with adolescents, community members and Government stakeholders (on child marriage or a related thematic area would be an added advantage);
• Previous experience of producing high quality interviews transcripts;
• Fluency (oral and written) in English and Hindi;
• Confidence to translate transcripts from Hindi to English within tight timeframes;
• Excellent time-management skills and ability to meet deadlines; and
• Experience of participatory research methods with adolescents would be an added advantage.

Desirable:

• Fluency in Assamese and/or Oriya