I. Background 

Save the Children believes every child deserves a future. We endeavor to ensure children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We do whatever it takes for children – every day and in times of crisis – transforming their lives and the future we share. Save the Children operates across all regions of Ethiopia with a vision of creating a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation.  Its mission is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children, and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives.

Save the Children has long-standing experience and particular expertise in implementing programs for children on the move globally and in Africa, including cross-border programing targeting children and young people in irregular and forced migration; and targeting sending, transit and destination areas. In Ethiopia, we have multi-sector programs that address particular issues of highly vulnerable children including children involved in unsafe irregular migration and their host communities. Our program uses multi-sectoral and coordinated approaches that deliver integrated services for children at-risk of irregular migration, those in transit, and upon arrival to longer-term destinations. 

Reports indicate a rise in irregular migration among Ethiopians directed to neighboring countries, to destinations in the Gulf and Southern Africa countries including increased number of children who are migrating alone. In 2015, it was estimated that there were a total of nearly 1.1m Ethiopian international migrants of which 48% were children^[1]. Some Ethiopian migrants return to their country voluntarily to be reunified with their families, but the majority of returnees are forced to return^[2] after having experienced detention, deportation and hardship. There is no comprehensive report showing the situations and vulnerabilities of Ethiopian returnee children across the different migration routes^[3]. Though, IOM and other field reports indicate that many returnees come empty handed or with little of their personal belongings, and they are in need of protection, economic, medical and psychosocial support^[4]. In addition, children may lack the support system to access basic services, including to continue their education, access skills training and engage in economic activities to provide for their living. On the other hand, families of returnee children may find it challenging to communicate with and reintegrate children within the household, due to changes in their behavior resulting from traumatic experiences and hardship they have faced during their journey.

There is limited data, programming or policy development related to the particular risks and challenges faced by unaccompanied migrant children after they return back to Ethiopia.With this background, Save the Children has developed a project: “protection and sustainable reintegration of vulnerable returnee children in eight woredas in North Wollo Zone (Amhara region) and East Hararghe zone (Oromiya region)” which is funded by International Organization for Migration (IOM).

This study is conducted in the context of the mentioned project and will assess vulnerabilities and challenges, risk and protection factors of unaccompanied returnee children after they return back to Ethiopia and the existing programming and policy framework (focusing on the inclusion of unaccompanied returnee children to the management of irregular migration and returnees, and programs).

2. Objective  

The overall objective of the study is to provide an in-depth understanding of returnee children's situation, and the existing responses at the policy and programming levels. As one recent global challenge, the research also assesses and informs the effects of COVID-19 pandemic regarding unaccompanied returnee children in the study area.

The study will specifically target vulnerable returnee children in the targeted eight districts both in North Wollo and East Hararghe zone.

Specifically, the study will:

·         Understand the (1) challenges, (2) risks and (3) protection factors of unaccompanied returnee children after they return back to Ethiopia

·         Identify the main needs of returnee children as identified by the children themselves, communities and relevant stakeholders.

·         Analyze existing programs and gaps regarding practices, plans, strategies, policies and legislations on the protection and sustainable reintegration of returnee children

·         Provide recommendations for future programming  and policy

·         Analyze the primary effects of COVID-19 pandemic on Reunification and Reintegration of unaccompanied minors focus on the study area.

3. Required qualification 

The consultant/study team to be contracted is expected to bring together a balanced level of national expertise relevant for the research. Team members should have proven expertise on mixed migration and strong experience of conducting research with active participation of children. In addition to this, team members should be experienced in participatory methods, quantitative and qualitative research, working with local communities, and in data collection and analysis.

The following are requirements for the team members:

·         Masters or PhD in relevant social science field of study, including sociology, social work, economics, law, development study, human rights and related.

·         A minimum of 8 years of practical work experience in the fields of migration management, child protection and reintegration of returnee children

·         Experience working in most vulnerable population: migrant, returnee and refugee children, adolescent and youth.

·         Experience in policy and legislation framework analysis on protection of migrant and returnee children    

·         Experience in conducting on similar studies as well as experience of social research and analysis

·         Experience in training and mentoring of qualitative researchers and enumerators.

·         Good analytical skills and report writing experiences to international and national organizations

·         Experience in the region and local knowledge of the country offices the study targets, as well as in the thematic area.

·         Experiences in interpersonal communication and facilitating learning meetings and workshops

Bidders are required to prepare and submit the following documents:

1. Technical Proposal (a. Company/Organization profile and expertise; b. Proposed Methodology and Implementation Plan c. Management Structure and Key Personnel (CVs) d. Past relevant experiences regarding the same thematic area

2. Financial Proposal - Detailed budget in Birr including all costs related to the research. The Consultant is expected to submit a breakdown of all costs under different categories of costs (research costs, travel, accommodation, administrative costs) that should be duly described.

3. Any attachments and/or appendices that relates to the Proposal.

Deadline for Proposals submission is 10 days from the advertised date.

Any Proposal received by SCI after the deadline shall be declared late and will not be considered.

The open Q&A session will be held subscribe to SCI Procurement Lead.