Formative Research and Development of BCC Strategy: Assessing Barriers and Drivers for Education and Women Empowerment Full Time NEW

1.0 About Plan International

Plan International is a global development and humanitarian organization dedicated to advancing children’s rights and achieving equality for girls. With over 80 years of experience, we work alongside children, young people, communities, and partners to address the root causes of inequality and challenges facing vulnerable children. We operate in over 75 countries, combining service delivery with evidence-based advocacy to drive change at local, national, and global levels.

Plan International Nigeria, established in 2014, focuses on empowering girls and young women through gender-transformative programs and strategic interventions. Our Country Strategy (FY2024-2028), titled “All Girls Standing Strong Creating Global Change,” aims to ensure 20 million girls in Nigeria can learn, lead, decide, and thrive.

We prioritize inclusive and quality education, youth employment and entrepreneurship, sexual and reproductive health and rights, nutrition, early childhood development, and protection from violence.

2.0 Background

The European Union-funded Accelerating Basic Education and Livelihood Opportunities for Children and Youth in North Western Nigeria project aims to support education and youth empowerment in North West Nigeria by providing youth, in particular girls in rural underserved and nomadic communities, with access to inclusive, gender transformative and conflict-sensitive equitable quality education and skill development. This will be achieved by providing increased access to vocational training, including training for green jobs, and developing critical skills for women, girls, youths and nomads in the North-West of Nigeria – Sokoto, Kano, and Jigawa states. The overall objective of the project is to contribute towards emancipating the poorest, underserved, and most marginalized population groups, including women, girls, youths and nomads, to access quality, inclusive, gender and conflict-sensitive education in the North-West of Nigeria (Sokoto, Kano, and Jigawa).

2.1 Project Specific Objectives

• To increase access to safe, quality, and inclusive alternative/ accelerated education programmes for 324,000 young girls and boys (194,400F & 129,600M, 32,400 persons with disabilities (PwDs)) and support their transition into formal or non-formal education.

To increase access to livelihood opportunities, vocational education and green jobs opportunities for 60,000 youth (36,000F & 24,000M, 6,000 People with disabilities).

• To advocate for and strengthen the capacities of education and community stakeholders on peaceful coexistence, safe schools and girls’ empowerment.

2.2 The Objectives of the Formative Research

• Assess the existing knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors of individuals, families, and communities regarding inclusive and quality education, gender equality (GE), and child protection (CP), particularly gender-based violence (GBV).
• Explore the key motivations and barriers that influence school enrollment and retention, gender equality, and child protection, with a focus on adolescent girls and boys, women, and men.
• Assess community perceptions and social norms regarding the rights of women, men, adolescent girls, and boys, and how these impact behaviors related to education, gender equality, and child protection.
• Explore the influence of various stakeholders, including healthcare providers, policymakers, community leaders, and other influential members, on behavior change about education, gender equality, and child protection.
• To develop Social Behavioral Change messages that will be used to communicate with the target audiences to improve desired behaviors and change harmful behaviors concerning education and women empowerment.
• To develop a policy brief that will be used for advocacy to government stakeholders at the national and sub-national levels, focusing on the intersection between gender, women empowerment, and education.

2.3 Domains and Research Questions

The formative research will focus on four key domains:

1. Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) Factors
2. Economic Factors
3. Safety and Security
4. Institutional Coordination

Research Questions.

These domains will cover critical socio-economic and safety and security factors that influence the capacity of communities to effectively address the challenges of education and out-of-school children, including coordination from government and other relevant stakeholders. Particular attention will be given to the challenges and opportunities faced by marginalized groups, including youth, women, girls, and vulnerable populations, to promote equitable and inclusive approaches to addressing the challenges of education.

Through the research questions (to be assessed via the link below), the study seeks to uncover the barriers, drivers, and opportunities for addressing education and women’s empowerment in Kano, Jigawa, and Sokoto States.

Scope of Work

The research will be conducted across 12 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in each of the 3 implementing states:

Kano State: Nassarawa, Gwale, Kumbutso, Tudun Wada, and Rimin Gado.

Jigawa State: Kafin Hausa, Gwaram and Babura.

Sokoto State: Gwadabawa, Bodinga, Sokoto North and Tambuwal.

Within each LGA, two intervention communities will be selected for full coverage.

3.0 Methodology

It is therefore expected that the consultant develops a detailed overall methodology, appropriate methods and specific tools to respond to the key research questions mentioned above.

The Consultant shall outline the reasons for selecting the methods proposed and depict the skills/ experience in applying them. It is recommended to apply a mixed method approach. The Consultant will also be responsible for piloting the tools, ensuring that they are gender-sensitive.

The proposal must contain a description of the envisaged data validation, quality assurance and data analysis techniques.

3.1 Sampling Design

The consultant shall propose a sampling strategy for the primary data collection to answer the research questions, including how they will identify respondents. More specifically, the intended sample strategy shall include a description of the:

– Sample size

– Necessary respondent disaggregation (this will be provided to the consultant)

– Number and type of locations

– Sampling approach (stating the reasons for the approach selected)

4.0 Safeguarding Children and Young People

Plan International is dedicated to actively safeguarding children and youth from harm and upholding their rights to protection. The organization is committed to fostering child-safe practices and preventing harm, abuse, neglect, or exploitation in all interactions with Plan International-supported interventions. Strict measures are taken to prevent child abusers from associating with Plan International in any capacity, and decisive actions will be implemented against any staff member or associate found guilty of abuse. All decisions and actions in child protection matters will adhere to the principle of prioritizing the best interests of the child.

Given that the study will involve data collection with young people, the consultant will ensure safe, inclusive, and non-discriminatory participation, with particular emphasis on capturing the voices of adolescent girls and young women. Processes should prioritize free, informed, and unforced consent, with the option to withdraw at any time, while maintaining strict confidentiality and anonymity for participants. Data collection environments and methodologies should be adapted to ensure the comfort of young people, with sufficient time and resources allocated to help adolescent girls feel prepared and confident to express their views.

Questions should be framed in an age-appropriate manner, considering participants’ literacy levels, age, and disabilities. Also, sensitive topics should be approached using trauma-informed practices to avoid re-traumatization for respondents who may have experienced violence, discrimination, or the impacts of flooding, such as injury, loss, or displacement.

Key Safeguarding Measures:

• Confidentiality and Protection: Ensure the confidentiality and best interests of all participants throughout the assessment.
• Data Protection: Implement secure procedures for the handling and maintenance of personal information.
• Informed Consent: Apply age-appropriate assent and consent processes.
• Survivor-Centred Approach: Provide emotional support during data collection and ensure non-discrimination based on gender, disability, or other identities.
• Gender-Specific Deployment: Assign enumerators based on gender, ensuring female enumerators engage with female respondents and male enumerators with male respondents as much as possible to enhance comfort and inclusivity.

4.1 Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Strategy

The following considerations should be prioritized to promote gender equality and social inclusion, with a focus on girls and PwDs:

• Participant Ratios: Where applicable, the surveys should ensure a gender ratio of 40% males and 60% females.
• Gender and Disability-Sensitive Practices: Female facilitators should lead FGDs with women and adolescent girls’ groups to ensure a comfortable environment.

4.2 Ethical Considerations

The consultant should adhere to national and global ethical standards to safeguard participants and ensure the integrity of the research. Key ethical commitments include:

• Risk Mitigation: Comprehensive projecting of potential risks and subsequent planning and implementation of mitigation strategies.
• Informed Consent: Secure consent from all participants, including parental consent for adolescents, and uphold the right to withdraw at any point.
• Anonymity and Confidentiality: Ensure participant privacy and secure handling of all data.
• Ethical Approvals: Secure internal and external approvals from Plan International’s Global Hub or National/State Ethical Boards, as required.
• Inclusivity: Ensure equal and fair participation opportunities while protecting vulnerable groups.

5.0 Key Deliverables

• Inception report including:
• an updated timeline
• a research matrix
• a detailed methodology, including draft sampling methodology and size
• draft data collection tools
• ethical and safeguarding considerations and risk assessment
• consent forms for any primary data collection
• draft methods for data analysis and quality control
• brief justification of the methods and techniques envisaged (including relevant underlying values and assumptions/ theories) with a justification of the selection made.
• Final data collection tools
• Final Sampling methodology (including unit of sampling and sampling frame) and size
• Draft research report, including cleaned data files (e.g. Excel, SPSS), transcripts of qualitative data syntax/ code books, etc. and completed consent forms (including for children and their caregivers and adults if any.
• Final research report including Executive Summary
• Advocacy policy brief and SBCC Strategy, including key messages in alignment with project indicators and activities.
• Research brief in PPPT

5.1 Submission Requirement.

• Technical proposal showing the approach to addressing the research questions.
• Detailed Financial proposal with a breakdown of activity cost.
• At least 2 samples of past research or evaluation reports conducted (It should not be more than 5 years)
• Reference/commendation letter from the past organization you have worked with.

5.2 Timeline/Schedule of Activities (Indicative)

The Formative research and SBCC Strategy must be finalized within two months of the date of signing the contract. It will be the consultant’s responsibility to manage the number of days to complete the tasks. The consultant is expected to provide the deliverables listed on the table below. These deliverables are to be submitted to Plan International’s team for review.

6.0 Budget

The research proposal should include a detailed budget breakdown, including fees, number of working days, and all other output-related costs.

7.0 Qualifications of Consultant(s)

• Social Sciences with an understanding of SBCC models in the context of Northern Nigeria. An advanced degree such as in a socio-anthropological discipline or a relevant field will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in coordinating, administering and leading Formative research/SBCC design or baseline/mid-term/end-line studies, including gender-sensitive data collection and entry,
• data management and storage, preferably for international non-profit organizations or multilateral/ bilateral agencies and multi-country studies;
• Demonstrated experience in facilitation and supervising data collectors/enumerators and data entry clerks to collect and enter data as per high-quality standards;
• Demonstrated experience in quantitative and qualitative data analysis;
• Knowledge and experience with education, especially girl child education, right-based advocacy, Child protection, GBV
• Knowledge of and experience in gender issues are highly preferred;
• Fluency in English and Hausa (spoken and written);
• Ability to produce high-quality work under tight timeframes;
• Ability to work jointly with Plan International

A detailed Terms of Reference including all relevant Annex documents, can be accessed via this link: Formative Research EU DevCO

Tagged as: Nigeria, Plan International