ToR – Development of a Regional PCSAE Influencing Strategy

REPSSI www.repssi.org, is a regional pan-African organization supporting governments, non-governmental organizations and communities to provide holistic mental health and psychosocial care and support to children, young people and their families. The organization has physical presence in 13 Eastern and Southern African countries and has extended services across Africa aimed at enhancing the psychosocial and mental well-being of children, young people as well as strengthen the capacity of their families and communities to respond to the mental and psychosocial needs of children and young people. REPSS’s vision is that all boys, girls and youth enjoy psychosocial and mental wellbeing. In pursuing this vision, we design and deliver interventions that prevent and respond to various mental and psychosocial life-stressors for children and young people that include but are not limited to child sexual exploitation and abuse. The organization boasts of over 20 years of demonstrable experience of working closely regional bodies, national governments, non-governmental organizations, UN-agencies as well as the private sector to enhance the plight of children and young people across Africa.

The Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI), with support from the Oak Foundation, is implementing a project titled “Enhancing Capacity for prevention and management of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Southern Africa.” This project aims to strengthen the capacity of regional, nation governments and none-state actors to integrate evidence-based approaches for prevention of child sexual exploitation and abuse within relevant and/or related policy and legal frameworks within the SADC region. This initiative will be implemented in collaboration with regional economic blocs, civil society organizations (CSOs), and government stakeholders. The consultant will play a critical role in achieving the project’s goal by developing a comprehensive policy influencing strategy.

Objective of the Consultancy

To develop a Regional Prevention of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Policy Influencing Strategy that:

1. Provides a holistic situation analysis of CSEA within the SADC region and related policies aimed at enhancing prevention and its management, clearly identifying policy gaps and inadequacies.
2. Demonstrates grasp of the political, economic, sociological, technological, legal and environmental context in relation to prevention of child sexual exploitation and abuse and outlines effective approaches to influence policy formulation at regional and domestication at national.
3. Establishes advocacy goals, objectives, monitoring and evaluation matrix along with performance measures, and action plans to engage stakeholders effectively.
4. Identifies key CSEA prevention actors at regional and national level and provides a roadmap for effective and meaningful engagement.

Scope of Work

The consultant will:

1. Desk Review –

• Conduct a situation analysis of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse within the region, highlighting key drivers and best practices from prevention and its management to inform policy-influencing.
• Conduct a desk review of existing policies on the prevention and management of Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Identify gaps therein along with implementation milestones.
• Develop and submit an inception report for the development of the CSEA prevention and management policy influencing strategy.

2. Stakeholder Engagement-

• Undertake consultative interviews with relevant resource persons, technocrats and practitioners from; regional political blocs, CSOs, national government, and other stakeholders.
• Collect qualitative data, including stories and promising practices, to contextualize CSA&E challenges.

3. Develop the Policy Influencing Strategy-

• Draft a detailed strategy that includes advocacy goals, objectives, target audiences, key activities, messages, and engagement methods.
• In respect to the strategy, conduct a detailed PESTLE-analysis and highlight clearly CSEA prevention policy influencing opportunities.
• Develop a comprehensive matrix of key actors, their roles, and levels of influence in CSEA policy advocacy.
• Outline a roadmap for engaging political blocs and regional actors, incorporating CSA&E prevention into existing frameworks.
• Highlight performance measures to track advocacy progress.

4. Facilitate Capacity Building-

• Orient regional actors and CSO partners on the policy influencing strategy (virtual).
• Support the establishment of a CSA&E Policy Steering Committee, including developing terms of reference and action plans.

Deliverables

1. A finalized Regional CSA&E Policy Influencing Strategy, including an implementation roadmap.
2. Orientation session(s) for regional actors on the policy influencing strategy.

Duration and Timeline

The consultancy is expected to run for a period of 10 weeks (cumulatively), starting from 30th March 2025 to 30th May 2025. Key milestones will include-

• Week 1: Submission of the inception report highlighting milestones and related timelines
• Week 2: Submission of the policy mapping report.
• Week 4: Completion of stakeholder engagement and consultation processes.
• Week 8: Submission of the draft policy influencing strategy.
• Week 10: Final submission of all deliverables, including advocacy materials and a consultancy report.

NB: The timelines are subject to review after the inception report

Qualifications and Experience

The consultant should have-

1. A postgraduate degree in Public Policy, Social Sciences, Law, or related fields.
2. At least 7 years of experience in policy analysis, advocacy, and strategy development, preferably in CSEA or related sectors.
3. Demonstrated experience working with regional economic blocs, CSOs, and governments in Southern Africa.
4. Excellent research, analytical, and communication skills.
5. Proven ability to develop advocacy materials and facilitate stakeholder engagement.

How to apply

Interested candidates are requested to submit the following:

1. A detailed technical proposal, including understanding of the assignment and approach/methodology.
2. An updated CV.
3. Examples of similar work conducted.
4. At least three(3) traceable references.

Applications should be sent to vacancies@repssi.org by 14th March 2025, with the subject line: Application for Consultancy to Develop CSAE Policy Influencing Strategy.