TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR EXTERNAL CONSULTANT TO CONDUCT A GAP ASSESSMENT ON CHILD PARTICIPATION IN CLIMATE ACTION AND DECISION-MAKING.

INTRODUCTION

Rwanda is progressively warming, witnessing an average temperature increase of 1.4°C to 2.6°C between 1971 and 2016, whilst episodes of extreme rainfall are multiplying. The rainy season is becoming shorter and more severe in the northern and western areas, and some eastern regions are experiencing increased drought episodes. These conditions exacerbate landslides and erosion in the west, flooding in the centre and drought and aridity in the east and southeast of the country.

With almost 45 per cent of the country’s population comprising children, the Republic of Rwanda is cognizant of the disproportionate impacts of climate change on children and calls for enhanced action for their protection from these adverse impacts.

Rwanda is faced with multiple climate hazards due to its mountainous topography and geographical location in a seismic zone. On average, disasters cost the country approximately 300 million USD in direct effects on an annual basis. In a worse year, where several hazards combine, the cost can double or triple[1]. These disasters, especially floods, drought and landslides which occur almost every year, in addition to increasing the risks of injury, malnutrition and death, impact children’s health and well-being due to displacement; traumatic stress; damage to houses and critical infrastructure including schools, health centres and water, sanitation and hygiene services; disruption of education; loss of family assets such as crops and livestock; contamination of water supplies thus increasing risk of diarrheal disease outbreak; and through compromising their protection.

Save the Children (SCI) has conducted an analysis revealing that 162.2 million children[2] in East and Southern Africa are living in poverty and exposed to high climate risks. Without immediate action, these vulnerable children will face further poverty and hardship. Additionally, insights from 932 children in seven countries, including Rwanda, emphasize the need for urgent global action to tackle the climate and inequality crisis affecting children's lives.

According to UNICEF, Rwanda’s Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI) score is 5.7, implying high risk, composed of a hazard score of 4.5 (medium) and a vulnerability score of 6.7 (high)³. According to this study, in Rwanda, 87% of children live in areas with high pesticide pollution; 97% are exposed to high ambient air pollution levels; 18% are exposed to flooding, 21% are exposed to drought and 86 per cent of Rwandan children are exposed to one or more disease vector[3].

It's a fact that children’s views and demands should be heard during key national, regional and international climate crisis discussions and ensure their safe and meaningful spaces and opportunities to participate in climate action and climate decision-making[4]. Moreover there are opportunities for children to play an active role in assessing, monitoring, communication and preparing for climate-related risks, as well as monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness and relevance of climate services to support preparedness and anticipatory action.

Rwanda's national education sector is actively involved in the national seasonal climate outlook, reflecting the government's commitment to integrating climate change considerations into educational frameworks. The country's educational policies emphasize the importance of environmental education, as outlined in the 2018 Environmental Law, which mandates the incorporation of climate change education into school curricula at all levels.[5]

The impact of climate change on education in Rwanda has been a subject of research, highlighting how rising temperatures and extreme weather events affect local communities and schools. A recent survey involving school leaders across all 30 districts revealed significant concerns about the negative impacts of climate change on educational environments[6]. These findings underscore the necessity for educational institutions to adapt and prepare for climate-related challenges.

PROJECT BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

In partnership with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), since 2022, Save the Children has been implementing a Sida Civil Society Organisation (Sida CSO) Strengthening Programme, that builds the capacity of civil society to hold the Government of Rwanda to account for the realization of children’s rights in Ruhango, Nyarugenge, Nyamagabe and Burera Districts in Rwanda.

Through the partnership with Save the Children’s implementing local partners, children’s eco-clubs were established in four districts of Rwanda to mobilize, organize and empower children to advocate for issues affecting their well-being, environmental protection and climate justice.

Save the Children builds on its existing expertise and interventions to empower children, in line with our ambition to shift power to children and amplify their voices in climate decision-making and accountability processes.

SCI intervention in environmental protection and climate action focuses on the following key strategies:

Strategy 1 – Supporting children’s campaigning and advocacy. Ensure children’s views and demands are heard during key national, regional and international climate crisis discussions.

Strategy 2 – Implementing General Comment No. 26 on children’s rights and the environment with a special focus on climate change. Duty bearers uphold children’s rights to ensure that they live in a clean, healthy and sustainable world.

Strategy 3 - Increased capacity of children to participate in climate action and advocacy for a greener environment and enabling them to play a role in active communication, monitoring and preparing for near term (seasonal and within season) risk as well as considering longer-term adaptation.

JUSTIFICATION OF THE BASELINE SURVEY

Save the Children in partnership with Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) is planning to engage an external consultant to conduct a Gap Assessment on Child Participation in Environmental Protection/Climate Action and climate discussions at National level in 30 districts of Rwanda. The Gap Assessment will enable the identification of a significant disparity between the disproportionate impact of climate change on children and their lack of meaningful involvement in decision-making processes at all levels and across all steps, indicating a major gap where children's voices and perspectives are largely absent in climate policies, action plans, EWS and preparedness systems, and funding allocations, despite their right to participate and contribute to their future environment. 

Moreover, the review will assess the extent to which the education is integrated within existing EWS and preparedness systems, recognizing the tremendous benefit of linking with school preparedness systems to ensure inclusive reach at community level.

This assignment will cover the sample of 360 schools (primary and secondary schools) in 30 districts of Rwanda (12 schools in each district in different sectors).

OBJECTIVE OF THE GAP ASSESSMENT

The purpose of the gap assessment is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current evidence on the impact of climate change on children and to better understand gaps and opportunities in involving children in climate decision-making processes to address both near- and longer-term climate related risks.

The gap assessment results will later enable Save the Children and its partners to design child-centred climate and environmental protection interventions and strengthen its collaboration with Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) in ensuring meaningful children’s participation in climate action and decision-making.

SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant will:

• Conduct the review of secondary Data on Rwanda Environment Management on the related assessment,
• Review of Rwanda’s National Framework for Climate Services, Meteo Rwanda’s climate services products and EWS and DRR preparedness systems to see how education and children and youth are included
• Produce an assessment report including detailed methodology, survey tools, ethical considerations including safeguarding and present it to the project team for validation.
• Develop Tools for Data collection and translate the tools to be validated by SCI
• Conduct data collection in 30 districts (360 schools), Focus group discussion for children and Key informant interview for teachers and school leaders.
• Consult the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC) to gain insights into the educational curriculum and integration of climate change education.
• Consult Ministry of Emergency Management (MINEMA) to share expertise on disaster preparedness and response strategies.
• Consult REMA Representative (Marie Dalie) to provide valuable perspectives on environmental education and community engagement.
• Analyze the collected data,
• Present the Draft the assessment Report
• the draft final report should also synthesize all findings and conclusions,
• Facilitate the validation meeting with project stakeholders
• Incorporate feedback from all stakeholders into the final report.
• Share the Final Report with Data set
• Final Data Collection Tools
• Produce a final power point presentation on the findings
• Produce a fact sheet of the survey findings 

DELIVERABLES

The consultant will provide:

• Submit inception report detailing methodology,
• Data collection tools and work plan),
• Lead Data collection Process in all District and
• Final gap assessment report
• Submit raw data set
• Lead the Validation workshops with stakeholders
• Submit completed consent forms (for children, their parents/caregivers, and teachers)
• Produce a final power point presentation on the findings
• Fact Sheet of the survey Findings

METHODOLOGY

The consultant(s) should be prepared to use mixed methods both quantitative and qualitative methods and techniques that are gender sensitive, child and disability friendly to ensure the safety of children especially children with disability. The methodology with all details will be further be unpacked in the inception report by the consultant and be validated by Save the children project and MEAL Staff ; the methodology section should cover details of assessment approaches and design, sampling, sample size determination, data collection methods/instruments, data analysis techniques, plan for dissemination of assessment findings, and be cognizant of quality assurance, safeguarding and ethical considerations during the assessment as per SCI Policy..

TIMEFRAME AND DURATION

MANDATORY REQUIREMENT AND APPLICATION SPECIFICATION

Expected Qualification and Expertise: The consultant will have the following key qualifications and competencies:

• Education: A master’s degree in social sciences, statistics, Economics, Sociology, Environment studies, Development studies, and Civil Society strengthening from a recognized university;

Research Expertise:

• Technical M&E skills including demonstrated knowledge and experience in undertaking similar assignments (including Baseline, Midterm and Endline),
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of research methodologies.
• Relevant subject matter knowledge and experience in qualitative research: knowledge and experience required to conduct qualitative research, with the ability to draw findings from qualitative research and ensure triangulations from different sources.

Environmental Expertise:

• The research consultant should have the skills and expertise in environmental research.
• Familiarity with children’s issues in Rwanda

Country experience:

• The research consultant should have the required broader understanding of the Rwanda context
• A copy of Registration Certificate
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English

The consultant will work closely with Save the Children MEAL officer, HEAD of MEAL &Research, in collaboration with the project Coordinator and under the overall supervision of the Director of Program Development and Quality.

Support of Save the Children

Save the Children will provide the consultant with available information about organization’s interventions relevant to this research. The organization will keep all survey data and transcripts.

Child Safeguarding Policy

Any employee, consultant, contractor or the supplier undertaking an activity on behalf of Save the Children International's must sign [The Child Safeguarding - Declaration of Acceptance Form] and comply with the Save the Children International Child Safeguarding Policy, which is a statement of Save the Children International commitment to preventing abuse and protecting children with whom it comes into contact. This extends not only to children with whom Save the Children International and its partners work directly but also includes children whom staff are responsible for. Save the Children International believes that the situation of children must be improved through the promotion of their rights supported and demonstrated by all members of staff. Save the Children International's Code of Conduct sets out the standards, which all staff members must adhere to Save the Children, is zero tolerance to fraud.

Disclosure of Information

It is understood and agreed that the Consultant(s) shall, during and after the effective period of the contract, treat as confidential and not divulge, unless authorized in writing by Save the Children, any information obtained during the performance of the Contract. Information will be made available for the consultants on a need-to-know basis.

Intellectual property

All background intellectual property rights in all material (including but not limited to reports data and designs whether electronically stored) produced by Save the Children or its personnel, members or representatives prior to undertaking this project will be the property of Save the Children. All intellectual property rights in all material (including but not limited to reports, tools, data and designs whether electronically stored) produced by either the consultant or SC or its personnel, members or representatives during the assignment of this project will be the property of Save the Children.

HOW TO APPLY

• The prospective consultant(s) shall present a detailed CV along with a technical proposal that will include the understanding of the assignment.
•  Financial proposal should be prepared in Rwandan francs inclusive of all required taxes.
• The applicant shall present together with the above, copies of Work Certificate of related accomplished consultancy work in the past.

Interested consultant (s) should submit their applications to rwanda.bid@savethechildren.org with the mention CONDUCT A GAP ASSESSMENT ON CHILD PARTICIPATION IN CLIMATE ACTION AND DECISION-MAKING. not later than 22nd April 2025 at 17:00 PM. No hard copies will be accepted.

 MINEMA (20023), Report for the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Conference, held in Kigali on 27th - 28th March 2023, https://www.minema.gov.rw/index.php?eID=dumpFile&t=f&f=81955&token=02360eae1b1310b1ece46258172a31c9693248a7

https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/news/media-centre/press-releases/climate-crisis-33-million-dangerous-levels-of-hunger-in-africa#:~:text=With%20high%20populations%20of%20children,emergency%20levels%20of%20hunger9.

MINEMA (20023), Report for the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Conference, held in Kigali on 27th - 28th March 2023, https://www.minema.gov.rw/index.php?eID=dumpFile&t=f&f=81955&token=02360eae1b1310b1ece46258172a31c9693248a7

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2AyIHFnvYU

5. https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/Rwanda%20AdCom.pdf

6. https://www.edt.org/research-and-insights/the-impact-of-climate-and-environmental-change-on-education-in-rwanda/