Consultancy Services required to Conduct Professional Editing of Parenting Training Manuals and Jobs Aids – ChildFund International

About ChildFund

ChildFund is a child-focused international development organization that works in 24 countries to connect children with the people, resources, and institutions they need to grow up healthy, educated, skilled and safe, no matter where they are. ChildFund International is a member of ChildFund Alliance; a global network of 12 organizations that assists over 23 million people, including over 16 million children, in more than 70 countries. In Kenya, ChildFund has been implementing Early Childhood Development (ECD) programs since the early 60’s, and currently implements various development interventions in 26 counties. We are working through 11 Implementing Partners registered as Non-Governmental Organizations and do direct implementation in 2 program regions. The thematic program focus areas are Child Protection, Household Economic Strengthening, Early Childhood Development (ECD), Education, WASH (Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion), Emergency Response, Health and Nutrition. ChildFund collaborates with other ECD/Nurturing Care stakeholders at the Community, County and National levels to improve and strengthen the nurturing care environment for young children through the provision of integrated ECD services. Through a strength-based approach, ChildFund supports locally led initiatives that strengthen the capacities of families and communities living in marginalized and resource-poor communities, helping them to break the cycle of poverty and protect the rights of children. ChildFund promotes early childhood development by ensuring that:

1. Infants and young children have empowered and responsive caregivers.
2. Infants and young children have safe and caring environments.
3. Expectant mothers and young children are healthy and well-nourished.
4. Infants and young children can access stimulating and high-quality early-learning environments.

About the Project

ChildFund received funding to implement the Operationalization of a Strengthened Partnership for Nurturing Care project for an 8-month initial planning phase. The planning phase seeks to undertake consultations with relevant government ministries, county government departments and other stakeholders implementing nurturing care intervention at national and county levels. The consultations aim to identify opportunities for strategic collaborations to support the expansion of Nurturing Care for ECD in the Lake Region Economic Bloc in Kenya.

The planning phase has three objectives:

1. Review, refine and adapt the existing parenting program in alignment with the evidence-based, baseline situational analysis data and government ECD priorities in Kenya.
2. Assess potential local implementing organizations and co-develop implementation plans
3. In consultation with the donor and its external evaluator, finalize an evaluation plan including proposed objectives, evaluation questions, child development indicator profiles, data collection tools, and analysis plans to support the measurement of child development outcomes.

Purpose of the Assessment

This assignment is purposed to actualize and achieve the first objective of the project to “Review, refine and adapt the existing parenting program in alignment with the evidence-based, baseline situational analysis data and government ECD priorities in Kenya”, ChildFund is thus seeking to engage the services of a reputable and experienced consultancy firm or individual to undertake professional editing of the reviewed parenting training manuals and job aids. Specifically:

1. Copy edit and proofread the training manuals to ensure logical flow, and presentation.
2. Draw illustrations/designs within- the manuals as per guidance from ChildFund technical team. .
3. Graphic designing of pictures (job aids) that speaks to the corresponding content being explained in the texts/ sessions.

Scope of Work

The work involves:

1. Review all the documents and professional editing for the concise, flow of thoughts, grammar and coherence and language use for simplicity and understanding. This should include spelling, punctuation and in full color as needed.
2. Develop graphic pictorials in full color for inclusion in the ECD Core Concepts training manual.
3. Develop graphic pictorials in full color for inclusion in the Reflective Supervision training manual.
4. Review of the existing job aids to include editing, development of new graphic pictorials in full color and aligning the text into the pictorials.
5. Packaging of these materials in a presentable and user-friendly manner.

Qualifications of Consultant (s)

Consultants or individuals interested in conducting this consultancy should have the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, fine arts, Journalism, or Communications.
• Graphic design skills and knowledge.
• Knowledge of media production and communication.
• Previous experience in similar works in editing and graphic designing.
• Excellent attention to detail and strong fact-checking skills
• Solid knowledge of content management systems, such as WordPress, is preferred.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Experience in leading and facilitating participatory processes.
• Ability to manage multiple, complex tasks being undertaken concurrently.
• Ability to analyze, interpret and synthesize information from several sources.
• Good understanding of Early Childhood Development, and/or nurturing care for ECD preferred.

Management and Coordination

The consultant will report to ChildFund’s ECD Specialist and will work closely with the ECD Project Coordinator, the Communications Specialist, Child Protection and Advocacy Manager, and the Grants Compliance Specialist.

Work Plan & Timelines

The assignment is expected to take 15 working days from the time of signing of the contract. The assignment should be completed on or before 31st May 2023 for payments to be made. Specific timelines for assignments will be agreed upon during the initial meeting.

Payment Schedule

1st installment submission and acceptance of 2 versions of each document worked on one with tracked changes and the clean copy of the same, in soft and hard copy 50%

2nd installment upon submission and acceptance of the final documents that incorporate feedback from review of first drafts by the ChildFund technical team. 50%

NB:

• The Consultant’s compensation shall be paid NET, within 30 days from receipt of a proper invoice unless otherwise specified.
• Payment will be made through direct bank transfer.
• The payment shall be subjected to 5% withholding tax as required by the Law at the time of payment.