UNICEF BULGARIA COUNTRY OFFICE TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT TO REVIEW AND ASSESS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL STRATEGY “VISION FOR DEINSTITUTIONALISATION OF CHILDREN IN BULGARIA” AND THE ACTION PLAN FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION Start date of consultancy: 15/02/2014 End date consultancy: 31/03/2014 Total number of days: 20 1. BACKGROUND In 2008 the National Parliament adopted the National Strategy for the Child 2008 – 2018, which is a rights-based document and outlines the country’s priorities related to realization of child rights in a 10-year period. On 24 February 2010, the Council of Ministers approved the strategic document “Vision for Deinstitutionalization of Children in Bulgaria” (hereinafter referred to as “Vision”). The document outlines the political commitment and will to reform the child and family care system. The reform aims to prevent the placement of children in residential care and provides for the development of new services, including replacement of the system of classic specialized institutions with a network of community-based services. The main objective of the document is to guarantee children’s right to live in a family environment and receive quality care and services according to their individual needs. All programs and projects for deinstitutionalization and child and family services, financed by the European Union or national budget, should be guided by this political document. On 24 November 2010, the Council of Ministers also approved an Action Plan that was elaborated towards attainment of the objectives of the Vision. It sets specific measures and actions aiming at devising integrated and comprehensive child and family policy and amending the sector policies. The objectives of the Action Plan to implement the Vision include: • To develop a system of family and community-based services across the country which exclude existence of residential care institutions; • To close systematically all big residential care institutions in Bulgaria and guarantee long-term and short-term placement in family-type care for every child; • To develop the legal and regulatory framework needed to support the transition to family and community-based care; • To improve the efficiency of the care system for vulnerable children and their families. The plan is to provide all vulnerable children and their families in Bulgaria by 2025 with high quality community-based services that are tailored to their individual needs. Children should only be separated from their families where such separation is necessary for the best interest of the child, according to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.The objectives set out in the Action Plan are being attained through the implementation of five projects covering Homes for Medical and Social Care for Children aged 0 to 3 (HMSCC), Homes for Children with

Mental and/ or Physical Disabilities (HCMPD) and Homes for Children Deprived of Parental Care (HCDPC), development of foster care and social workers’ career development. Two additional projects were included during the Action Plan implementation – one for regional planning and another one for support to the overall management and coordination. The State Agency for Child Protection (SACP) is coordinating the whole process at central level. A high-level inter-ministerial group, chaired by a Deputy Prime Minister was established in November 2013 to support the policy coordination and provide guidance. The group has decided to review the implementation of the Action Plan and to adjust it to the changing circumstances. Therefore it is necessary to conduct an external review to assess the impact the childcare reform had so far on the life of children, in order evaluate better the strengths and weaknesses of the implementation of the Action Plan and to propose amendments of the Action Plan. It is expected that the findings of this review will contribute for the improvement of the process of deinstitutionalisation in Bulgaria. 2. UNICEF’S ROLE UNICEF Bulgaria is in the first year of implementation of the Country Programme for the period 2013-2017. The overall goal of the country partnership is to strengthen the national capacity to ensure equity and social inclusion, to improve the right of children to equal access to education, health and protection and to strengthen child rights monitoring systems. Deinstitutionalization and development of a continuum of services is at the heart of the UNICEF programme for Bulgaria, as it will seek to improve policies and planning, better allocation of funds, improve inter-sectoral and institutional coordination and develop capacity of regional and local governments to better plan and deliver services to children and families. At national level, policies and budgets for children will be further enhanced in order that children’s rights are at the forefront of the political agenda and a more integrated national policy framework for children comes into place. At sub-national level, capacity development of regional and municipal governments will support the adoption of new approaches for effective and efficient delivery of social services to meet the needs of most vulnerable and promote child protection and development programmes. A special emphasis on the most vulnerable will include Roma and other minority groups. 3. OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT The main objective of the consultant will be to support UNICEF office and the Government of Bulgaria in the review of the Action Plan for the Implementation of the Government Strategy “Vision for DI” with regard to its up-date. The Action Plan implementation should be reviewed with reference to UNDG criteria - relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, inclusiveness and sustainability. Main reference points for the review should be the objectives as set in the Vision for DI and the realization of the child rights as per UN CRC. 4. SCOPE AND SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT 4.1. Review and assessment of the Action Plan for DI and its implementation The consultant will be expected to perform the following: a) Develop a methodology and a work plan for the review; b) Perform an assessment covering the following main issues: 2

-

-

To what extent and how the processes of preparation, implementation and management of the Action Plan correspond to relevant programme and strategic documents at national, regional and municipal level; To what extent the activities, means, measures, and financing in the Action Plan and their management create pre-conditions for: i) achievement of the objectives of the Vision for DI; ii) establishment of a child-focused child protection system, and iii) alignment with the measures and activities set in the Vision; To what extent the Action Plan and its implementation (structures, mechanisms and levels of management, activities and measures, financing, M&E), as well as the different projects under it, meet the main UNDG criteria; What are the main risks for the implementation of the Action Plan – in the initial phase and in the course of its implementation; how are they being identified and addressed; To what extent the preparation, management and implementation of the Action Plan take into account the public attitudes, including at local level; what are the activities for raising public awareness and involving communities and are they efficient; Does the implementation of the Action Plan lead to improvement of child welfare; What are the main factors that influence the implementation of the Action Plan; To what extent synergy and coordination in the implementation of the Action Plan and its projects at national, regional and local levels are achieved; To what extent the Action Plan and its implementation is based on the results-based management approaches and the human rights based approach to programming; To what extent the different stakeholders (including children and families) feel that they have been included in the planning and implementation of the Action Plan and its different projects.

The consultant will conduct the external review by: - Interviews and/ or focus groups with relevant stakeholders at national and local level, i.e. Ministries, Agency for Social Assistance, State Agency for Child Protection, UNICEF, Child Protection Departments, municipal authorities, service providers, children and families and other as identified. Field visits to 2 regions (excluding Sofia) should be performed; - Desk review of documents and data, studies, national legislation. 4.2. Proposal for up-dated Action Plan Based on the results and conclusions from the review and assessment of the Action Plan, the Consultant will propose amendments to the Action Plan in all chapters: objectives, activities, expected results, management arrangements, financing, M&E. 5. EXPECTED DELIVERABLES a. Proposed methodology for conducting the review, including requirement for additional local expertise if necessary, as well as work plan – drafts to be submitted to UNICEF for approval, including key instruments – within one week of contract signing; b. Draft of detailed report based on all sources of information used – within 6 weeks of contract signing;

3

c. Upon feed-back provided by UNICEF and partners prepare the final report with all key findings, recommendations (including prioritisation of key strategic recommendations followed by development of management response developed in close cooperation with UNICEF and stakeholders). d. Summary of the report with key findings, recommendations and lessons learned; e. Presentations for national round tables if necessary; f. Recommendations for changes/up-dated Action Plan for DI. 6. TIMEFRAME AND DURATION OF THE ASSIGNMENT It is expected that the assignment will take place in the period February - March 2014 and will be carried out by an international consultant with specific experience in child care reform, to include design and management of national strategies and/or programmes, monitoring and evaluation. The consultant will be supported by experts from UNICEF Bulgaria Country office, as well as by a team of SACP. UNICEF will ensure the provision of interpretation and translation for the purposes of the evaluation. 7. EXISTING INFORMATION SOURCES The selected consultant is expected to read the following documents: 1. National Strategy “Vision on deinstitutionalization of children in Bulgaria” and Action Plan for its implementation. 2. Monitoring reports on the implementation of the Action Plan. 3. Available official statistics on the situation of children and reports prepared by the Government. 4. Relevant legislation – primary and secondary normative provisions, guiding the development and provision of social services. 5. Any other relevant documents that may be provided by the partners. 8. STAKEHOLDERS’ PARTICIPATION This review is a joint initiative of the Government of Bulgaria and UNICEF and is of crucial importance that all partners and stakeholders at National and Regional level are involved in the process. SACP will lead the process ensuring logistical support by its regional structures and UNICEF will provide technical guidance. The selected expert should also consult with the main stakeholders at National, Regional and Local level – MLSP, ASA, SACP, Ministry of Health, RDSA, municipal authorities, CPD, Child Protection Commissions, foster parents, children and their biological parents, etc. In the process of work it may become necessary to have meetings with Ministry of Finance or some Structural Funds Management Units. 9. REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND COMPETENCIES The consultant is expected to meet the following criteria:  Education and expertise in the area of child rights, child care reform, child protection policies and planning.  Knowledge and expertise in de-institutionalization at system level.  Previous experience in programme evaluation and assessment.

4

    

Good understanding of the Bulgarian environment - social policies, deinstitutionalization programmes and priorities, child protection and welfare, foster care attempts – is an asset. Fluency in English. Ability to build effective relationships with colleagues and clients. Effective verbal and written communication skills. Energy and enthusiasm; ability to work under pressure; good negotiation, communication and presentation skills.

10. REMUNERATION AND PAYMENT SCHEDULE The consultant will be paid at a market rate per day upon completion of assignment and provision of deliverables and a time-sheet. All expenditures related to travels of experts to Bulgaria – DSA and transportation cost will be covered, based on the agreed plan. 11. MANAGEMENT, ASSIGNMENT

MONITORING

AND

EVALUATION

OF

THE

The selected consultant will work under the direct supervision of the UNICEF Child Protection Specialist. The implementation process will be jointly monitored by UNICEF and SACP, including the approval of final deliverables. The consultant will be responsible for conducting the review (including methodology, tools, scenarios for focus group discussions, interview sheets, observation sheets), and writing the draft and final reports. UNICEF and SACP will be responsible of the preparation of the meetings and field visits. UNICEF should be informed at a regular basis about the work development and will validate all steps of the process. UNICEF will approve the final product. Consultant’s performance will be evaluated against the following criteria: timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, and quality of the products delivered. In case of unsatisfactory performance the contract will be terminated by notification letter sent 5 days prior to termination.

5