Consultant: ASML Parenting research

Background

Terre des Hommes Netherlands (TdH NL) is a child rights organization dedicated to creating a world where children can flourish, free from all forms of exploitation. We protect children by preventing and stopping exploitation while empowering them to make their voices heard. By addressing root causes, we develop scalable, evidence-based solutions that contribute to systemic change.

TdH NL is launching a project that focuses on empowering caregivers and parents to protect children from the risks of online sexual exploitation (OCSE) in the Netherlands. The aim is to enhance parental knowledge, attitudes, and skills to recognize, report, and respond to OCSE risks, while also providing them with access to institutional and community support systems.

Initial ideas for the focus groups with parents and caregivers already exist and can easily be transferred to a research protocol. The objective of this consultancy is:

• To engage 50 parents and caregivers in the Netherlands, following the protocol;
• Possibility to engage children and youth, following the protocol;
• Thematically analyze the data from these methods;
• Write a report to inform a project to increase parents' and caregivers' capacity to protect children from online risks and OCSE. 

Outputs

The consultant will be responsible for delivering the following:

1. Finetune and finalize the research methodology to engage research participants; 
2. Finetune and finalize a safeguarding risk assessment and mitigation plan, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all participants and researchers;
3. Apply for ethical clearance through an Institutional Review Board at a Dutch University; 
4. Recruit, select and prepare research participants;
5. Prepare logistics to carry out the data collection methods;
6. Conduct focus group discussions with parents and caregivers to understand OCSE risks, attitudes and needs in the online space;
7. Provide raw data, including verbatim transcripts in original language and English translation;
8. Thematically analyze the data and deliver a report with insights and recommendations to inform programming to empower parents and caregivers to protect their children from OCSE;
9. Develop and conduct a validation exercise with participants to ensure the project's findings align with their experiences and perspectives.

Timeline

The project is anticipated to begin as soon as possible, with data collection activities occurring in the final months of 2024 and the validation exercise in January 2025. The consultant will work closely with TdH NL research team and Sexual Exploitation of Children Thematic Program Team. 

Profile

Desired consultants can be individuals, groups or agencies, and will have:

• Extensive experience in participatory action research, desirably on topics such as child rights, child protection, or online safety.
• Strong understanding of intersectionality and its role in shaping OCSE risks and protective factors.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and leading focus groups, interviews, and collaborative sessions with diverse and vulnerable groups.
• The ability to communicate in Dutch fluently, as the data collection methods should be held with Dutch parents and caregivers in their national language.
• The ability to communicate and report in English and translate findings into English. 
• A cleared police background check and a commitment to child safeguarding procedures.

Agencies need to have no conflict of interest and a due diligence check will be part of the selection procedure. As a child rights organization, we uphold the highest level of safeguarding to protect children. This is reflected in our recruitment process. 

  How to Apply

Applicants should submit the following:

• CV or credentials showcasing relevant experience and expertise of anyone who would be working on this project.
• Motivation letter detailing interest in the project, skills, and experience.
• A brief proposal, including:
  • Your daily consultancy fee 
  • An approach / work plan with estimated duration and associated costs for each of the 9 output items, with special attention to how to recruit and engage research participants, including safeguarding aspects. 

Please submit your application here before October 20, 2024.