Handicap International is an international organization specialized in the field of disability. Non-governmental, non-religious, non-political and non-profit making, it works alongside people with disabilities, whatever the context, offering them assistance and supporting them in their efforts to become self-reliant. Since its creation, the organisation has set up programmes in approximately 60 countries and intervened in many emergency situations.

Background:

Handicap International launched in March 2013 a 36 month project in Bangladesh, which supports communities and local institutions in the inclusion of children and youth with disabilities, through linking sport and leisure activities with education. The project contributes to holistic child development by using sport to address the problem of exclusion from opportunity for children and youths with disabilities. The project is being implemented in Manikganj, Tangail and Mymensingh districts in Bangladesh.

The child-centred study will focus on changes in the lives of children themselves, through exposure to sport and education, including self-confidence levels within the family, community and school. As such, a child-centred approach is required, which follows innovative methods which allow for the direct participation of children in the study. The study will be supported by an external consultant who will build the capacity of HI and partner staff in conducting the study and oversee the collection of data by field staff. The methods used should be participative and focused on capacity building.

Overall responsibilities of the external consultant:

• Planning the study, including developing a study protocol, training teams and developing tools;
  
• Implementation of the study, including data collection, processing and analysis;
  
• Drawing conclusions on the results of the study in the form of a report. 

Objectives of the study:

General objective: Explain how inclusive sport affects educational access, engagement and performance of children with disabilities between 8 and 18 years in schools in Manikganj and Tangail districts, Bangladesh.

Specific objectives:

1. Analyse how the interaction between inclusive sport and education affects the self-confidence and self-esteem of children with disabilities
2. Understand how the quality of education in schools affects educational access, engagement and performance for children with disabilities

Expected results of the consultancy:

1. A finalised study protocol is defined
2. The effect of the interaction between inclusive sport and education on the self-confidence and self-esteem of children with disabilities is analysed 
3. The effect of the quality of education in schools on educational access, engagement and performance for children with disabilities is understood
4. Improvements to project Monitoring and Evaluation systems are proposed 
5. A project-level Child-centred approach is proposed
6. Project teams, including HI and partner staff, are trained on the study methodology

Deliverables

1. Study protocol
2. Tools for data collection and analysis
3. Methodological guide
4. Filled data base
5. Final report

Required profile and experience

1 individual consultant is required; the study team will be made up of HI and partner staff.

Obligatory:

• Degree in  Social Sciences/ Education or equivalent
• Previous experience in conducting studies/research and data collection, compilation and analysis processes, particularly using qualitative methods.
• Proven expertise and knowledge of child-centred approaches to data collection.
• Capacity to train and coordinate teams on data collection and analysis
• High capacity of analysis, synthesis and writing
• Availability to travel to implementation areas.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills: ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect
• Fluency in English (written and oral)

Desirable:

• Knowledge and experience of the needs of people with disabilities.
• Knowledge of sport and education, particularly inclusive sport and education
• Experience working on development interventions in the context of Bangladesh
• Experience in conducting interviews with people with disabilities (tool adaptation, means of communication).

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS

The complete TOR of the consultancy is available upon request. Potential candidates interested in this assignment are requested to send the following:

Candidates should provide the following documentation by 16th November 2014 to the following address: jobs@handicap-internationalbgd.org

• Information on consultant :
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Letter of Motivation
  • References and/or samples of most recent work
• Technical proposal:
  • Methodological proposal for the study
  • Calendar, clearly detailing steps linked to preparation, implementation, follow-up, conclusions of the study.
  • Financial proposal detailing the daily rate for the consultancy and the operational costs (travel, accommodation, other material).

Please indicate “Child-centred study” in the subject of the email.

Handicap International is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people with disabilities qualifying with the above requirements.