INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT
CONSULTANCY SERVICES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT FOR CONDUCTING A CONTINENTAL STUDY ON THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN AFRICA
o Climate change has an impact on various rights recognized in the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (the African Children’s Charter/ the Charter), including the best interests of the child, the right to survival and development, the right to health and welfare and its consequential impact on the right to education, protection from harmful practices, non-discrimination and protection from violence and abuse and protection of children on the move.
o Cognizant of the devastating impact of climate change on children and the need for a child rights-based response to the challenges brought by this phenomenon, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) decided to establish a Working Group on Children’s Rights and Climate Change during its 35th Ordinary Session, which was held virtually from 31 August to 08 September 2020. The Working Group was established in accordance with Article 38(1)of the African Children’s Charter that authorizes the ACERWC to establish its own Rules of Procedures, which the ACERWC developed and revised in 2013 and 2015 respectively and Rule 58 of the Revised Rules of Procedure, which allows the ACERWC to establish special mechanisms, which includes working groups, and assign specific tasks or mandates to either an individual member or group of members concerning the preparation of its sessions or the execution of special programs, studies and projects. The aim of the Working Group is to integrate a child rights-based approach to climate change responses in the continent and to thereby ensure that children’s rights and welfare is protected from the impacts of climate change. The Group will be composed of four Members of the ACERWC and four external experts.
o It is within this context that the ACERWC would like to bring an individual consultant on board to undertake a continental study on children’s rights and climate change. The overall assessment shall facilitate the collection of information on and an analysis of the nature of the impact of climate change on the rights and welfare of the child in AU Member States. Particularly, the overall assessment shall establish the human rights impact of climate change (1) and developing the basis that climate change actions must be mandatory and underpinned by human rights norms (2).
ii. Purpose of the studyo The purpose of the continental study is to generate information on the linkage and interaction between children’s rights and climate change in Africa. This information will help to establish evidence, explore the various impacts of climate change on children’s rights; analyze the existence of legal, policy frameworks or standards on the protection of the rights and welfare of children in the context of climate risks and environmental crisis; identify gaps and good experiences in Member State’s response to climate change in the context of children’s rights. The study findings will be used by the ACERWC in execution of its mandate on the subject matter. The study will also be used by RECs/RMs, Member States, National Human Rights Institutions, and Civil Society as a guide and for benchmarking in the process of understanding the actual and future impact of climate change and environmental degradation on children’s rights and welfare. Consequently, it will strengthen the work towards the adaptation of responses that will reduce the magnitude of climate change and reduce its impacts.
iii. Objectives
The main objective of the consultancy is to assess the impact of climate change on children’s rights in Africa. Furthermore, the specific objectives include:
o Examine the baseline situation of climate, energy and environment-related issues affecting children in Africa.
o Mapping and situation analysis of the current state of children’s rights in the environmental context;
o Provide evidence-based analysis on the interconnectedness between climate change and key child rights issues in Africa;
o Identify how the adverse effects of climate change, affect the full and effective enjoyment of children’s rights, especially its impacts on groups of children at heightened risk of vulnerability and marginalization;
o Examine the impacts of climate change on children and the related human rights obligations and responsibilities of States and other actors;
o Examine the measures taken by Africa countries in integrating children’s rights in their responses to climate change;
o Identify the existing legislation frameworks and policies/standards related to the environmental and climate change regulation that could either hinder or foster respect, protection, and promotion of the rights and welfare of children;
o Identifying and mapping key stakeholders that can play a role to drive the promotion and protection of child rights in response to climate change;
o Analyze how governments, civil society organizations and other actors have already taken measures to integrate children’s rights in their climate actions;
o Identify the existing good practices to inform and enhance further national and intergovernmental action on climate change;
o Make recommendations on how to address and prevent the adverse effects, in particular ways to strengthen the integration of children’s rights concerns into policymaking, legislation and plans addressing climate change.
o Recommend ways in which Member States, AU, RECs, UN Agencies, CSOs, Children’s Organizations and other relevant stakeholders can work more effectively in responding to the impact of climate change on children’s rights.
iv. Scope of the study
o This is a continental study covering all five regions of the African continent. The study will collect information on children’s exposure and vulnerability to the impacts of climate change in Africa, as well as the impacts and the magnitude thereof of the climate risks on children’s rights and welfare. Focus will be on the direct and indirect impacts of climate crisis on children’s rights including but not limited to life, survival, development, participation, health, and their right to education which is also correlated with increasing in child labour, child marriage, and other violations of their rights. Additionally, the study will also Identify the existing legislation frameworks and policies/standards related to the environmental and climate change that promote the rights and welfare of the children that are adopted by member states. Furthermore, the study will analyse how governments, civil society organizations and other actors have already taken measures to integrate children’s rights in their climate actions and provide examples of good practices and concludes with concrete recommendations for fulfilling human rights obligations, particularly those related to children’s rights, in the context of climate change.
v. Methodology
o The Consultant is expected to undertake the Study by collecting both qualitative and quantitative data from primary and secondary sources. Information for the Study will be collected from desk review as well as interviews and discussions. The Consultant in consultation with the ACERWC and the Working Group will identify tools that will be used for collection of data and information. The Consultant will also identify key informants subject to the approval of the ACERWC. Interviews and key informant discussions will be carried out by the Consultant. Moreover, the Study will pass through several discussion and validation processes as directed by the Working Group on children’s rights and climate change.
o The data collection and development of the Study will be conducted under the leadership of the Working Group on the children’s rights and climate change of the ACERWC.
vi. Expected Deliverables
o A detailed inception report outlining the research teams’ understanding of the assignment and the approach to be employed. The inception report will be discussed prior to the commencement of the assignment in an inception meeting.
o Draft report on the Continental Study on children’s rights and climate change which will be subjected to a validation process in the form of a workshop convened by the ACERWC. The Consultants will be responsible for facilitating and being a rapporteur at this validation workshop;
o A final detailed report of the validation workshop; and
o A final report of the study on Children’s Rights and climate change; and
vii. Application
The ACERWC, in partnership with Save the Children Africa Union Liaison and Pan Africa Office, invites eligible Individual Consultants to indicate their interest in providing the consultancy services. Consulting firms may propose an individual consultant, but only the experience and qualifications of the individual shall be used in the selection process, and the contract would be signed with the proposed individual.
The application document should consist of the following:
o A cover letter summarizing the background of the applicant and with names and contacts of three references.
o A Customized Curriculum Vitae not exceeding 3 pages.
o A Technical Proposal on:
o Understanding and interpretation of the TOR;
o Methodology to be used in undertaking the assignment; and
o Time and activity schedule
o A Financial proposal on:
o Consultant’s daily rate in US$;
o Other costs e.g. travel and Daily Subsistence Allowance; and Total cost
The Financial proposal should be sent separately in a PDF format and it
shall be password protected. However, the password shall be submitted
by the Consultant to the ACERWC upon request and after concluding the
evaluation of CVs.
o Evidence of educational background and professional experience; and
samples of publications, professional undertakings or related activities
which demonstrate the applicants’ expertise on the areas of children’s
rights/human rights and climate change.
viii. Evaluation Criteria
For evaluation of the expressions of interest the following criteria will be applied:
o General Education Qualification and Relevant Training (20 points);
o Experience Related to the Assignment (25 points);
o Technical approach and methodology (45 points)
o Work plan (10 points)
o The pass mark for Technical proposals shall be 70%.
ix. Duration
o The estimated duration of the consultancy is 60 working days.
x. Remuneration
o Consultancy fees will be paid at the daily rate to be negotiated with the
selected consultant for the 60 days. Payment will be made in two
installments. The 1st installment which is 30% of the contract amount will
be paid after submission of the first draft of the report; and the 2nd and
final payment which is 70% will be paid at the end of the agreed period
upon submission of the expected deliverables.
xi. Application deadline
o Applications must be submitted by 8th June 2022 at 17:00 Hours East
African Time (EAT). Late applications will not be consideredQualification and experience
The Consultant(s) should have:
o Advanced university degree in Law, International environmental law, Human Rights, Child Rights, or a related technical field.
o Minimum 10 years of demonstrated work experience with issues related to climate change/ environment and children’s rights/ human rights or related field, in the African context;
o Demonstrated knowledge with environmental issues affecting children’s rights and welfare.
o Good knowledge and understanding of the African Human Rights System, specifically the African Children’s Charter as well as the ACERWC.
o Fluency in English or French is required, knowledge of additional African Union working languages is desirable; and
o Excellent writing and analytical skills, using both qualitative and quantitative methods.