SOS Children’s Villages International is a non-governmental organisation focused on supporting children and young people without parental care or at risk of losing it. It was founded in 1949 and operates in 136 countries and territories. SOS Children’s Villages provides alternative care services for children without parental care and works with families and communities to prevent child-family separation.

SOS Children’s Villages implements a systematic child safeguarding approach to ensure that the organisation, its operations and staff do no harm to the children and young people and do not expose them to the risk of harm and abuse.

1. Purpose of the assessment

SOS Children’s Villages International is looking for a team of at least two experts to conduct an external assessment of child safeguarding allegations in programmes under operation of SOS Children’s Villages Syria. In particular, the experts are expected to prove or disprove the reported allegations, evaluate the ability of the organization to adequately respond to child safeguarding allegations and prevent them from happening in the future.
The detailed Terms of Reference will be shared based on the expression of interest and upon signing a confidentiality agreement.

2. Description of the programmes to be assessed

The planned assessment is to take place in the areas of Damascus and Tartous and should cover the period from 2018 to present.
SOS Children’s Villages Syria operates 6 alternative care programme units in the Damascus region and 1 project in Tartous, which ended in the end 2020 but should be a part of the planned assessment.

3. Scope of work

Based on the shared TOR, the experts are expected to develop a detailed methodology but, as a minimum, should apply the following methods:

• Interviews (individual and group) with relevant parties; site visits; detailed review of documentation; onsite observations. 

4. Expected deliverables

• The assessment should take place in February 2021.
• The final report is to be submitted by March 26, 2021.
• The assessment report has to be submitted in English language in both electronic and hard copies.
• The report should include all findings as well as recommendations for actions and necessary improvements.

5. Qualifications and experience required

The potential experts should meet the following criteria:

• Proven experience in conducting assessments, evaluations or investigations in the field of child safeguarding and child protection. Previous experience in Middle East countries is a strong asset;
• Expertise and proven capacity in child psychology and trauma healing;
• Ability to organize on-site interviews and data collection in Syria;
• Ability to collect assessment data and information in Arabic language;
• Understanding of the socio-political, legal, and cultural context in the Middle East and specifically Syria;
• Fluency in English.

6. How to apply

Please express your interest by sending:

1. An expression of interest, including description of competences and track record to conduct child safeguarding assessments/evaluations
2. Curriculum vitae of all experts proposed for the assessment

Applications should be sent by email to address below:

Subject: Application for External Assessment, Syria
To: child-safeguarding-eucm@sos-kd.org

7. Deadline for applications

All applications must be sent by 21st January 2021.
Only successful applicants will be contacted.