GIRL EFFECT ENTERPRISE INDIA PVT LTD (GEEI)
Terms of Reference for a Digital Safeguarding Consultant (Individual)
Background
Working with girls in India, Girl Effect UK (a UK based charity) has created Chhaa Jaa (Go Forth and Shine) – a powerful youth brand that girls can access via social media. Chhaa Jaa focuses on inspiring, entertaining and empowering girls with the right skills and confidence to navigate adolescence – from accessing information about sexual and reproductive health to preparing them to enter the workforce.
About Girl Effect
We’re a global creative non-profit combining expertise in media, mobile, brand and international development, a unique mix of skills we use to solve global problems in a new way. Started by the Nike Foundation in 2004, we’re now an independent organisation working in 20 countries where girls are marginalised and vulnerable.
We use our in-depth understanding of the real needs of girls so that they are enabled to make choices about their health, education, and economic future. We use multiple touchpoints for branded story-telling and participation that millions of girls, and boys, love and interact with - from apps that build skills to TV dramas that explore vital issues to magazines written and distributed by girls.
We help girls change their lives by tackling social, cultural and gender norms – leveraging digital technologies to create change through creative content that engages and entertains audiences - designed to change and shift attitudes, knowledge and behaviours in tangible, measurable ways.
Our work is supported and funded by a wide range of people and organisations, from governments and philanthropists to NGOs and corporates. Recent examples include GAVI (The Vaccine Alliance), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Facebook, UNICEF, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Vodafone Foundation, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Nutrition International, and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Chhaa Jaa (Go Forth and Shine) – a powerful youth brand co-designed with girls in India
In June 2019, Girl Effect launched Chhaa Jaa (छा जा) – an online youth brand inspiring, entertaining and empowering girls with the right skills and confidence to navigate adolescence, from accessing information about sexual and reproductive health to preparing them to enter the workforce.
Chhaa Jaa’s content is aimed at girls aged 16-22, and accessible online and via mobile – because we know that’s the best way to reach and interact with girls. Our ecosystem of products includes -
Digital media content that girls can access on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, and soon on TikTok, that is both entertaining and informative. Characters and storylines have been developed with girls, and are designed to reflect their lives and the challenges they might face;
An online, moderated peer-to-peer community that acts as a safe space for girls 16 and above years of age, to discuss sexual and reproductive health concerns, interact closely with Chhaa Jaa’s content, explore the themes and topics that have been taboo, discuss their SRH journeys and apply what they’ve learnt to their own lives;
A chatbot that offers a private way for girls to ask questions about the themes and topics raised by Chhaa Jaa content and safely get information.
Girl Effect also implements another programme called TEGA, which stands for Technologically Enabled Girl Ambassadors. TEGA is a girl operated, mobile-based research program, born out of the understanding that an adolescent girl is more likely to feel comfortable speaking truthfully about her life to another girl like her. Employed from underprivileged communities, TEGAs are trained with bespoke mobile technology to become qualified researchers. The programme is implemented in partnership with Restless Development India in northern, Hindi-speaking states of India. We currently have 20 TEGA researchers aged 18-24, based in Munger, Bihar and Jaipur, Rajasthan.
The Requirement
The context for the role
The role of the consultant will be to support the strengthening of the digital safeguarding framework for Chhaa Jaa, and other initiatives undertaken under programmes by Girl Effect in India.
This consultant role will provide the following inputs to Girl Effect on an ongoing basis.
Digital safeguarding expertise in the design process for new and existing digital platforms and applications to ensure girls are safe and enhance their privacy;
Well informed with digital trends and safeguarding best practices across different social media platforms.
Knowledge and guidance on how we can develop healthy digital communities and keep platforms safe and available for girls by mitigating and preventing the risks of online harms and abuse;
Support and advice on tightening Chhaa Jaa’s data privacy and security practices in keeping with India’s data protection laws or GDPR to protect girls’ personal data throughout the data life-cycle. This may include, but is not limited to, developing a data breach plan and supporting the organisation with developing a workflow for secure data storage and file transfer.
Advising Girl Effect India in-country team on emerging digital safeguarding challenges to help future proof the organisation, collaborating with the Global Safeguarding team at Girl Effect.
Key Responsibilities
Working in close collaboration with the India Safeguarding Manager (Part-time), the Global Gender & Safeguarding team, and within the Programmes team at Girl Effect - the Digital Safeguarding Consultant will look across the following, as decided by the Senior Programme Managers & Country Lead;
Implementation of Global Safeguarding policy in collaboration with the Safeguarding Manager (Part-time), the Global Safeguarding Focal Point and wider Programme team for India
Ensure Global Safeguarding Policy is adapted to the local context - and support reviewing and updating the Girl Effect India Safeguarding Policy on an annual basis
Play a key role in supporting the completion of annual Girl Effect safeguarding self-assessments, including identifying priority areas from each self-assessment and developing action plans to implement to address
Thought leadership on digital safeguarding for Girl Effect’s programmes
Interpret the Girl Effect Global Safeguarding Policy meaningfully for a digital-first brand in India and contextualizing it accordingly
Mapping out India’s digital laws for data privacy, security and consent for young people and aligning these to our digital products
Advise and support teams to ensure that Girl Effect has robust measures in place to ensure implementation of digital safety and data protection laws to safeguard our users online
Work with the safeguarding Manager to conduct surveys and develop digital specific safeguarding training for staff (e,g, specialist safeguarding training for moderators)
Review the current reporting and response process and create an easy and systematic way to ensure that confidential records of digital safeguarding concerns are maintained, and appropriate follow-up is conducted.
Implementation of safeguarding processes for the Chhaa Jaa programme
Work closely with the Chhaa Jaa team to effectively implement Girl Effect India’s safeguarding policy and procedures within the programme
Feed into the design and development of new initiatives to ensure that risks identified are mitigated and that safeguarding measures are built into all activities (risk assessment facilitation)
Reporting and response focal point for Chhaa Jaa
Ensure that there are clear reporting and response procedures for all activities, events and initiatives related to Chhaa Jaa
Whenever Chhaa Jaa safeguarding concerns arise, ensure staff are given appropriate support to effectively and efficiently manage cases
Along with the Safeguarding Manager (Part-time), support with establishing and building relationships with key protection agencies and networks to ensure that safeguarding cases can be signposted to these agencies quickly and effectively as appropriate
Monitor and document the outcomes of safeguarding cases signposted to agencies
Analyse the types of cases received and the response provided biannually to inform organisational learning and improve safeguarding practice.
Review and update Chhaa Jaa’s key policies and procedures - privacy policy, terms and conditions, community guidelines
Work closely with moderators to effectively respond to online comments and messages from our users and solve their specific challenges, including support with updating canned responses and updating these in line with new disclosures or questions that users ask.
Work with Safeguarding Manager (Part-time) to ensure that signposting services are relevant for our online user needs.
Function specific support and streamlining safeguarding; Create
Leading Safeguarding Due diligence for any partners and agencies contracted (and reviewing long term partnership agreements and update these, for those over 2 years old)
Developing safeguarding agreements for partners
Onboarding partners and/or young people (activity-specific)
Developing Risk Assessments and consent forms
Supporting young people understanding consent for any research activities or marcomms events
We are looking for someone with
Knowledge of India’s data protection laws and/or GDPR and the application of it in the digital safeguarding sphere;
Relevant qualifications and certifications around community management, data protection and rights, online communications management
Relevant experience of 6 to 8 years with deep knowledge on data protection and rights, communications management and/or safeguarding
Experience in gender-focused work, especially adolescent girls and young women
Experience managing digital safeguarding mechanisms, including baking privacy and safety into the design of platforms and products, protecting and securing data, social media community management and moderation, conducting risk assessments and knowledge of the legal basis for processing data
Skills we are looking for
Proven ability to present complex digital issues to a non-specialist audience; good training skills and excellent English writing skills;
Ability to manage sensitive issues and maintain the highest levels of confidentiality
Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to work across departments
Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
Flexibility and resilience; can adapt to a fast-paced and entrepreneurial environment;
Positive, proactive approach; takes the initiative, exceeds expectations and actively looks for opportunities to improve the way we work
How to tell you are a suitable candidate for this role
You have an approach that focussed more on older teens and young women, rather than ‘children’
You have a balanced, pragmatic approach - that balances the need to create spaces free of abuse and exploitation while helping them grow and become places where young women can express themselves freely, and discuss things they find hard to share elsewhere
You understand digital, and the unique challenges and opportunities that accompany digital safeguarding
You are an excellent communicator, who can weigh up contradictions and challenges regarding digital safeguarding, legislation and communicate this in a way that informs the GE team to take the best interest course of action to safeguard GE Chhaa Jaa users
Expected Commitment
The consultant will be required to work 3 days a week on a 6-month contract (extendable, subject to requirements). The level of effort will be around 72 days with the possibility of extension.
Reporting
This consultant will be managed by the Senior Programme Manager in India, supported by the broader Programmes and local country team.
Payment Terms
The Consultant will invoice Girl Effect for the number of days worked. Payment terms are 30 days within invoice receipt subject to approval from Girl Effect.
Monthly fixed fees, Invoice after each deliverable and time and expense.
The professional fee quoted by the consultant shall be valid for the entire contract period.
Statutory Taxes will be paid at the prescribed rate during the contract period.
TDS will be deducted as per prevailing rates prescribed in the Income Tax Act from all payments made by GEEI.
Application Process
Intended Timelines
● Terms of reference published: 18th January 2022
● Deadline for responses: 31st January 2022
● Supplier selection, contracting and briefing: February 2022
● Project commencement: April 1st 2022
Proposal Submission
Interested consultants are asked to submit :
Your CV, including relevant qualifications, certifications and experience towards this consultancy
A one-page response to the question - What are some innovative and interesting ways digital platforms (with an emphasis on social media) can safeguard young people online?
A detailed fee structure breakdown
Cost estimates (Consultancy fees). Technical and Financial proposals will need to be submitted as separate documents. Financial bids will not be opened until the technical evaluation and then only for those proposals deemed qualified and responsive.
Evaluation Criteria
The criteria against which proposals will be evaluated are listed below:
Technical Evaluation
Qualifications and certifications of the consultant - 20%
Previous experience working on digital programmes/projects – 20%
Response to the question shared above - 10%
Demonstrated experience working with young people in India - 10%
Client testimonials (At least 3 references) – 10%
Financial Evaluation
- Value for money/proposed budget breakdown - 30%
GEEI is not liable for any cost incurred during the award/contract preparation, submission, or negotiation of the award/contract. All submitted documentation and/or materials shall become and remain the property of GEEI
Tax
Applicants are advised to ensure that they clearly understand their tax position regarding local jurisdiction tax legislation provisions when developing their proposals.
Disclaimer
GE India reserves the right to determine the structure of the process, number of short-listed participants, the right to withdraw from the proposal process, the right to change this timetable at any time without notice and reserves the right to withdraw this tender at any time, without prior notice and without liability to compensate and/or reimburse any party. GEEI shall inform ONLY successful applicant(s). The process of negotiation and signing of the contract with the successful applicant(s) will follow.
Equal Opportunities
Girl Effect Services is committed to equal opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.
We are committed to building an organization that is increasingly representative of, and works extensively with, the communities that we serve. To this end, due regard will be paid to procuring consultancy service organizations and individuals with diverse professional, academic and cultural backgrounds.
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How to apply:
How to apply
Please submit proposals, as described above, to suppliers@girleffect.org by 31st January 2022, 5:00 pm IST latest. Please clearly mark your email with the subject ‘GEEI Digital Safeguarding Consultant TOR submission.’