Consultancy - Development of Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction Play and Arts-Based Resource

Consultancy - Development of Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction Play and Arts-Based Resource

Context

Handicap International Federation, under the operating name Humanity & Inclusion (registered trademark) is an independent and impartial international aid organization working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster.

Working alongside persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, our action and testimony are focused on responding to their essential needs, improving their living conditions and promoting respect for their dignity and their fundamental rights.

HI is currently implementing projects in more than 50 countries worldwide. “Growing Together” is a 4-year regional project implemented by HI and partners in Thailand, Bangladesh and Pakistan in order to support communities to raising socially and emotionally healthy children in refugee/IDP camps and in host communities.

The project goal is to enable children with disabilities and other vulnerable children (age 0-12) to develop their full potential on an equal basis with other children and acquire fundamental educational and social skills through inclusive play, arts, games, sport, culture, and early years’ education in displacement settings in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Thailand.

For this purpose, the project will engage various beneficiaries:

• Parents of children under five years old to participate in parenting clubs in order to raise their awareness on the importance of play for children and strengthen their knowledge and self-confidence on early child development, child protection and child participation.
• Children of primary school age to participate in clubs, where they will socialize but also learn knowledge — through inclusive play, games, arts, and sports — on 3 main topics: child protection, child participation and disaster risk reduction.
• Local child-development service providers to be more responsive to the needs of boys and girls with disabilities and other vulnerable children, and to implement measures and tools to encourage their inclusion in their services, especially through play.

As mentioned in the objectives above, the Growing Together approach recognises that play is a child’s way of learning and of coming to terms with the world around them. Therefore, child’s right to learn through play is at the centre of the project.

Objectives of the consultancy

The objective of the consultancy is to develop a guideline on inclusive play and art-based activities for children between 6-12 years old who, through participating in children’s club informal education activities, will learn about disaster risk reduction and disaster preparedness.

The guideline should be a user-friendly package that guides adults on lesson planning, and key technical messages related to DRR for children, with recommendations and examples of play and art-based activities that teach children basic knowledge on disaster risk reduction, including good practices to stay safe in the event of natural and man-made hazards or disasters. Especially important will be that the guideline incorporates and provides guidance on providing inclusive DRR activities.

Methodology of work, timeline and location

Description of work:

The consultant/firm is expected to carry out the following tasks:

• Desk and literature review of relevant documents (HI Vulnerability and Capacities Assessment reports produced in each country, existing curriculum and educational materials for children aged 6-12 produced/implemented at country level by authorities or other organizations in Thailand, Pakistan and Bangladesh, etc.).
• Analyze the key characteristics and information/learning needs of the target population on disaster risk reduction based on the previous desk review and primary and/or secondary data sources.
• Using information from steps 1 and 2, develop a framework for a DRR prevention and education program which includes outlining key DRR learning objectives and messages needed for the beneficiary groups.
• Develop an easy to use and clear DRR prevention and education program guideline and learning plan which references and links to creative play and art-based activities for children age 6-12 in the Growing together target population (vulnerable children with and without disabilities) on disaster risk reduction, for our three implementing countries (Thailand, Pakistan and Bangladesh.) This package should cover minimum technical content and knowledge as defined by the Growing Together technical standards and objectives.
• Develop and provide orientation to teams on the framework, guidelines, learning plan, supplementary learning materials.
• Pre-test learning materials, with country teams, to check for relevance and usability of guideline and learning plan.
• Work with and support country teams in localization process of the resources, and also integrate any major adaptations to the final guideline, learning plan and framework that are relevant for all teams/contexts (ex: related to child-friendly practices, usability of guideline, inclusion, technical content, etc.).

Time and location:

• The consultant will work remotely from his/her country of residence.
• The consultant/firm will work under the supervision of the Growing Together Regional Technical Coordinator.
• This consultancy is proposed to start in April/May 2018. The consultant/firm will propose a work schedule at inception phase. The work schedule must clearly specify the manner in which the consultant will approach the activities required to perform the mission.

Deliverables

• Detailed work plan and inception report at inception phase
• Framework for a DRR prevention & education program for children age 6-12 with and without disabilities, which outlines key learning objectives and key DRR messages for all children to learn.
• Draft guideline and learning plan with references and/or links to or sample activities and lesson plans of play and art based DRR activities, which are inclusive and align with the DRR prevention & education framework.
• Final guideline and learning plan with references and/or links or sample activities to play and art based DRR activities, which are inclusive and align with the DRR prevention & education framework.
• Outline of specifications explaining in detail how to reproduce any supplementary play/game/learning materials that have been identified as effective and important learning tools and could be localized and reproduced (ex: board games, playing cards, etc.)
• Brief introduction and overview of the guideline, learning plan and any supplementary materials for project teams (ex: in the form of PPT, worksheets or pamphlet)
• Support, recommendations, guidance to country teams during process of localization. In collaboration with RTC, validation of country team suggested modifications.
• Remote orientation to country teams on the new inclusive DRR prevention & education resource.

Logistics and budget

The consultant/firm will:

• Provide a proof of its freelance worker’s official status and the documents evidencing the legality of his/her activities in his/her country of domicile.

HI will:

• Make available relevant documents to the consultants.

Candidate profile

• Previous experience in curriculum and resource development for children, particularly using participatory and inclusive approaches to educate children
• Good understanding of play and art-based learning and teaching methodology
• Knowledge of DRR learning materials, resources, curriculum. Knowledge on inclusive DRR is preferred.
• Good understanding of learning methodology in development contexts
• Technical background in Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Preparedness is a strong asset
• Excellent written and spoken English skills