Consultancy: Update the Situation Analysis of Children and Women in Kenya at UNICEF

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The overall objective of the consultancy will be to provide an evidence-based situation analysis of children and adolescent (18 years and below) to provide information on key factors contributing to and hindering the realisation of rights by children and women in Kenya.

More specifically the objectives of the exercise are to:

1.  Develop a deep understanding of the situation of children and adolescents by analyzing the social, political, economic and technological trends affecting them (disaggregated by age, gender, urban/rural, ethnicity, wealth and other relevant factors).

2.  Identify trends, patterns, incidence and causes of key deprivations and patterns of vulnerability, disaggregated by relevant segments of the population using available data and other information.

3.  Identify and analyse the barriers and bottlenecks that prevent disadvantaged girls, boys and families from benefiting from required interventions and services.  The immediate underlying and root causes should be examined including the social, political and economic conditions and gender norms^[2] that result in shortfalls in the creation of an enabling environment for the realization of children's rights.

4.  Analyse the extent to which gender inequalities and the fulfilment/non-fulfilment of the rights of women affect overall inequalities and deprivations, including those affecting children.

5.  Assess the current or potential presence of risks, including conflict, natural hazards, existing and future hazards from climate change and other potential shocks; the likelihood of their occurrence, the underlying vulnerabilities, the nature of the hazard and the particularly vulnerable groups that will be affected.  The capacities and coping mechanisms of women and men, families, communities, local and national institutions to mitigate these risks and deal with shocks should also be assessed. 

6.  Analyse the extent to which the evidence-based interventions and services needed to address deprivations are prioritized in national policies, laws, strategies, plans and budgets, and supported by UNICEF and partners. This would include an analysis of the extent to which there is an enabling environment for the realization of the rights of all children including the promotion of positive social norms and behaviours, transformation of gender norms, organization of services, institutional capacities at national, sub-national and community levels.

7.  Analyse the country programme existing strategy and Identify relevant ones needed for the achievement of children rights in Kenya

Approach and Scope

The provisions and principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) will stand at the centre of the Situation Analysis.  The UNICEF KCO SitAn will embrace a comprehensive assessment of the rights of children in Kenya using a human rights-based approach, consisting of the following:

1.  Assessment of shortfalls in child rights and inequities;

2.  Analysis of the major causes of child rights shortfalls and inequities including

-  Causality analysis

-  Role pattern analysis of duty bearers and rights holders

-  Capacity Gap analysis

3.  Analysis of the enabling environment (this guided by the UNICEF determinate analysis for barriers and bottlenecks)

4.  Validation of analysis.

The thematic areas will include the right to survival and development; the right to education and development; the right to protection from abuse, violence and exploitation; the right to social protection and adequate living standard, and the right to participation.

METHODOLOGY

The SitAn will adopt different methodologies and techniques. Secondary data collection will be done through review of the existing literatures. Primary data collection will be conducted in selected counties to fill the gaps identified during desk reviews.

In-depth interviews and group consultations with local experts, UNICEF section staff, professionals, human/child rights activists, and opinion makers in non-government and government sectors, UN agencies and other international development agencies may be conducted to collect their views of the gaps, causes, and bottlenecks to the fulfilment of children's rights.

The SitAn will mainly entail desk review, complimented with field data collection at a small scale to assist explain any gaps as encountered during the desk review.