SFCG Opening-Baseline Study Consultant

Baseline Study Consultant for Empowering Inter-Faith Collaboration to Respect and Protect Holy Sites in Indonesia Background of the Organization Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international conflict transformation NGO with a mission to help the world deal with conflict away from adversarial approaches to collaborative solutions. SFCG has been working in Indonesia since 2002. As a divers country Indonesia has challenge managing peace and tolerance within the community, SFCG with the local partner support the process of building peace culture through media, dialogue, outreach, and capacity strengthening. Today, SFCG-Indonesia works primarily with teachers, students, government and religious leaders and groups, and general community in Indonesia to promote peace and tolerance to end violence conflict in Indonesia. Background of the project Search for Common Ground (SFCG) Indonesia has started an 18-month project entitled “Empowering Inter-Faith Collaboration to Respect and Protect Holy Sites in Indonesia” aimed to strengthen inter-faith collaboration to safeguard Holy Sites in Indonesia by increasing religious tolerance by mapping holy sites, promoting respect of holy sites and empowering inter-faith task forces. Indonesia has abundance of holy sites because Indonesia is home to the world’s major religions including Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity. However, many holy sites in Indonesia continue to be targets of destruction, desecration, and controversy. Therefore SFCG Indonesia will implement the project with targeted teachers, students, religious leaders and groups to promote protecting and respecting holy sites of all religions through multi-media approaches; comic books, and video documentaries. Project objectives The overall objective of the project is to strengthen inter-faith collaboration to respect and protect Holy Sites in Indonesia. The specific objectives: 1)      Increase understanding on religious tolerance through mapping and describing holy sites in Indonesia; 2)      Promote the importance of respecting holy sites through innovative educational materials and outreach activities; and 3)      Empower and institutionalize inter-faith groups to protect holy sites.   Key partners of the project include: Primary partners:  Indonesian Inter-Religious Council (IRC), teachers, students and religious leaders and group in the targeted areas Secondary partners : The education institutions in the targeted areas We expect to accomplish the following results: ·         General public about religious activities of other religion being practiced in their locality are increased ·         Acts of harming of holy sites form other faiths are decreased. ·         The educational outreach materials are well received by the participants of the school activities and/or other outreach activities ·         Student learn how to respect holy sites of others ·          Initiative of religious group to secure the holy sites of others during religious celebration are increased ·         Collaborative works among inter-religious group to protect holy site others are increased Baseline: Aim and Objectives The SFCG approach to baseline, assessments and evaluations is grounded in the guiding principles of our work: participatory; culturally sensitive; affirming and positive while honest and productively critical and valuing knowledge and approaches from within the context.   SFCG- Indonesia will apply this approach to the “Teachers and Students Perception on protecting and respecting holy site of other religions’ baseline, which will be carried out in consultation and in participation with key relevant stakeholders, appropriate education institutions or key civil society individuals.  The aim of the baseline is to collect key data to inform implementation of the program.   The specific objectives of the baseline are: % increase of surveyed people in the target areas who say that they have equal respect for holy sites of other religious communities (25% increase over baseline) % of people surveyed in target areas who say that they would feel comfortable to visit the holy sites of other religions with equal respect (25% over baseline % of educational outreach activities participants who say that the promotional material and/or outreach activities have positively shifted their attitude/perception towards holy sites of other religion. % of students surveyed who know about the other religions and their holy sites as a result of the educational activities % of religious peers and leaders participating in the dialogue who say they feel better equipped to protect holy sites in their areas # of religious organization in target areas (out of total) who commit to protect holy sites of other religion   l  To assess the level of knowledge and skill of teachers on delivering tolerance messages l  To assess the level of knowledge and understanding of students and  people regarding protecting and respecting holy site of other religions l  To assess the level of understanding of leaders and religious organization on protection holy sites of other areas l  To assess changing level of  people of acts of harming structure or people from other faiths l  To assess the current situation regarding the inter-religious relation and cases Baseline Methodology A mix-method approach and methodology will be used to gather key data in order to inform program implementation. The methodologies will include; desk study review, key informant interviews, focus groups, and surveys.   Desk study review: At least in early 2010, significant academic and grey literature has been published on the inter-religious issues including protecting and respecting holy site issues in Indonesia. A desk study will review the literature, and where appropriate the secondary data will be included in the baseline report.  In other words, information that is readily available and published within the last 3 years will be used as complimentary information. Interviews:  will be conducted with key informants in the five-targeted locations. Key informant interviews will be providing information about the local situation regarding to inter-religious relations and conflict, and also getting information about the level of understanding of inter-religious tolerance and protecting and respecting holy sites of other religions.  This information will be used to measure long term impact of the change in knowledge, understanding, and behaviour in reducing destruction and increasing respect of holy sites. There will be approximate 6 to 8 interviews per location.  The key informants should be selected from the following groups of people: The intra and inter-religious leaders, community leaders, teachers, and students. Surveys: A community-based survey will be conducted to be able to measure the results of the project.  This short survey will collect quantitative data on general understanding of inter-religious holy sites, protection and respecting them to the teachers, students and community.  Sample size: will be discussed in-depth with the consultant and DME team of SFCG Indonesia. Focus Groups: A maximum of two-focus group will be conducted per location to measure the knowledge of inter-religious holy sites of the teachers and community. Focus groups will be used to probe into and validate the findings of the interviews and surveys.     Location     Target of Focus Group Depok Student and teachers Jakarta Student and teachers Bogor Student and teachers   SCOPE OF WORK  Location: The consultants of the Baseline study will be based in Jakarta but will spend a significant portion of the consultancy conducting research in the 3 cities around Jakarta (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok). And the Baseline consultant will work under the Country Director in collaboration with program staff and the DME coordinator based in Jakarta. The consultant will be expected to travel to the several locations cited above to conduct this work. Deliverables 1.      Baseline assessment work plan and inception report completed within first three days and consist of the assignment as agreed upon by the program team. The consultants may suggest work plan adjustments in order to better reflect and address the beneficiaries’ needs. S/He will coordinate with the youth mapping team who will work to gather in the field. 2.      First Draft of baseline report covering the data analysis. 3.       Final Baseline Report: The report should be in English, between 15-20 pages, and consist of: Executive summary of key baseline data, findings and recommendations (no more than 2 pages); Table of contents; this should go first Research findings, analysis, and conclusions with associated data presented, where appropriate in clear graphs or charts; and linking directly to the baseline objectives and indicators Recommendations for future program implementation; Appendices, which include collected data, detailed description of the methodology with research instruments, list of interviewees, bibliography, and consultant (s) brief biography; One electronic copy, in English.   Duration & Deadlines The duration of the contract will be a total period of 30 working days starting from December 01 to 31, 2014. §  Consultant’s CV should be submitted to Pramita Handayani via email: phandayani@sfcg.org no later than November 15, 2014. Workplan and inception report due by December 1 - 3, 2014. First draft of assessment due by December 26, 2014. Final receipt of all deliverables due by December 31, 2014.   Logistical Support SFCGI will provide preparatory and logistical assistance to the evaluator(s), which include: §  Background materials (Program Proposal/TOR, Log Frame, etc.); §  Preparation meeting with Country Director and key program personnel; §  Joining Youth Mapping Workshop and work together with youth mapping team §  Identify interviewees and set up interviews; §  Arrange transportation, lodging, etc.   THE ASSESSMENT CONSULTANTS Consultants’ Role The lead consultant is expected to be responsible for the following: Identify and define baseline priority areas, methodology and recommendations; Design and implement data collection coordination with the youth mapping team; Engage stakeholders in the assessment process; Data analysis coordination with the youth mapping team and reports; Develop and present a draft baseline report to SFCG staff and other stakeholders; Produce a 15-20 page report covering key findings, major conclusions and recommendations (including credible indicators and the setting of a baseline to measure progress) in order to help inform the development of the program. Qualifications: §  Minimum 5 years applied experience in research and Design Monitoring & Evaluation experience in conflict or development programs §  Minimum Bachelor’s level degree in conflict resolution, international relations, a related social science field or statistics; §  Proven quantitative and qualitative research skills (candidates should provide a copy of baseline/evaluation reports produced); §  Strong background in participatory design, monitoring and evaluation methodologies; §  Knowledge of logical and results frameworks; §  Knowledge of the use of conflict management curriculum, behavior change communications and media; §  Work experience in Indonesia; §  Fluent in English; knowledge of Bahasa Indonesia highly desirable. §  Preferably Indonesian __._,_.___ . __,_._,___