Consultant, Child Safeguarding

Organizational Background

International Justice Mission (IJM) is a global organization that protects people in poverty from violence. IJM partners with local authorities in 21 program offices across 14 countries to combat slavery, violence against women and children, among other forms of violence. Our model works side-by-side with local authorities and governments to protect and restore survivors, hold perpetrators accountable in local courts, and strengthen justice systems. This model is replicable and has worked to reduce modern day slavery in programs against commercial sexual exploitation of children, among others. IJM and our partners are helping local authorities protect more than 400 million people from violence.

IJM, by collaborating with survivors, offers a distinctive perspective on the intersection of modern slavery and online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC). Since 2011, IJM has partnered with the Philippine Government, international law enforcement, and NGOs to combat the trafficking of children to produce child sexual exploitation materials, particularly via live-streamed videos for foreign sex offenders.

IJM’s OSEC Program, initiated in 2016, aims to eliminate this form of exploitation, ultimately safeguarding vulnerable community members. Serving as the sole international non-governmental organization (INGO) in the Philippines working directly with local government. IJM has been a trusted partner since 2001 providing technical expertise contributing insights into the functioning of the Criminal Justice System (CJS) pipeline, identifying gaps in survivor services, advocating for policy changes, and exploring prevention opportunities.

This is a 3-month Consultant position based in Manila, Philippines with a hybrid work arrangement.

Theory of Change

IJM's Theory of Change centers around the concept of deterrence, which is built upon a comprehensive understanding of a well-functioning justice system that consistently enforces the law in a just and victim-centered, trauma-informed manner. This approach aligns with IJM's best practices and is grounded in thoroughly researched, evidence-based principles. IJM's initiatives involve various aspects of the justice system, including law enforcement, prosecution, judiciary, social services, as well as collaboration with civil society, community leaders, media, and survivor input. The most impactful reduction in crime and protection of vulnerable populations occurs when all these components of the justice system and stakeholders work together, coordinating efforts, strengthening capacities, and empowering each other to address specific crimes in particular locations.

Enforcing accountability in the CJS deters both current and potential criminals from committing future acts of violence. Through effective law enforcement and engagement with stakeholders, perceptions and beliefs within a community can be shifted, leading to increased awareness and protective responses for vulnerable individuals.

Objective

IJM Philippines is seeking a consultant to support the rollout of safeguarding procedures to the program office and partners in the Philippines. Under the IJM Philippines OSEC program, this project seeks to equip IJM with a comprehensive understanding of safeguarding and strong practice that ensures the safety of all survivors, staff and partners to improve and support reporting and risk assessment and mitigation where necessary of safeguarding risk.

1. The consultant is expected to provide safeguarding training supporting the OSEC team identify areas of risk and develop strong mitigation strategies.
2. Build out the safeguarding practice for verifying partner compliance and providing capacity building initiatives where required.

Scope of work

The consultant will work directly with IJM Philippines and IJM Australia to evaluate the safeguarding practice of the office and partners. In particular, the consultant will focus on the current procedures and supporting IJM Philippines to conduct all required tasks.

The safeguarding activities will encompass various components, including but not limited to the following:

1. Detailed training for select staff especially focal points to understand safeguarding risks and responsibilities;
2. Review and update current risk register for pertinent safeguarding risks;
3. Review current onboarding and agreements with partners on safeguarding protocols;
4. Assessment of safeguarding compliance and capacity of implementing partners in line with the IJM safeguarding policy;
5. Establish monitoring methodology and tools such as checklists for initial assessment and routine follow-ups for verification of ongoing compliance;
6. Co-develop reporting pathway for IJM and partners to receive safeguarding reports;
7. Design content and serve as facilitator for two in-person trainings (in Manila and Cebu) for implementing partner organizations to strengthen their safeguarding practices; and
8. Package training and procedures for use in other program offices and future training iterations led by IJM staff;
9. Accommodate requests for meetings and consultations with IJM staff on safeguarding questions during contract timeline.

Key Outputs

The consultant’s responsibilities will include:

1. Completing review of current safeguarding policy and practice as well as the knowledge and understanding of safeguarding in the IJM Philippines team;
2. Training resources for IJM Philippines and partners on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults;
3. Conduct trainings in Manila and Cebu for select IJM staff and implementing partners;
4. Develop an implementation plan for rolling out compliance checks on partners in line with safeguarding requirements (in line with DFAT standards);
5. Tools required for onboarding and monitoring of downstream implementing partners on child safeguarding.

Project Timeline

The consultant is expected to complete the project in a timely manner. The consultant is expected to provide a detailed estimate of the project’s duration including the turnaround time for outputs.

The project is expected to commence immediately once the consultant has been selected.

Project Reporting

The consultant will provide bi-weekly updates to local project manager and Global Officer for Safeguarding and Ethics.

Consultant Experience

The consultant is expected to have extensive safeguarding experience working with INGOs in international development or a relevant field.

• The consultant is expected to have a minimum of 7 years’ experience working on safeguarding issues in an international development context.
• Experience of DFAT’s Child protection compliance standards and creating resources in line with them.
• Experience working in the Philippines or South-East Asia especially with survivors and children would be highly regarded.

Application Process

Interested candidates may express their interest in a written response to this TOR via email detailing their qualifications, experience of conducting similar studies, estimated costs, timeline, and previous partnership engagements in the Philippines.

Qualified candidates may also submit any questions ahead of interviews. Consultants should submit:

1. Cover letter explaining qualifications, experience, and competence of the implementation partner and the team for this specific research study.
2. Portfolio containing details or examples of previous similar engagement/s specifically the:
1. type of work performed;
2. skills used to complete the project; and
3. contact details of the person who can verify the implementation partner’s successful delivery of the project.
3. Technical proposal with initial proposed work plan including timeline and financial proposal for the study.

The deadline for proposal submission is 16 August 2024. IJM will be reviewing proposals submitted on an on-going basis to decide the implementation partner to join on 23 August 2024.

Questions can be sent via email to Ms. Kristin Owen kowen@ijm.org.

Written responses and completed applications (in PDF) should be submitted and emailed to Ms. Elma Antkowiak eantkowiak@ijm.org and Ms. Kristin Owen kowen@ijm.org.

For more information, please see osec.ijm.org