Consultancy – Enhancing Advocacy and Policy Influence in the EU

August- December 2024 (approx. 80 working days)

ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT

ECPAT International is a global network of organisations working together for the elimination of the sexual exploitation of children (SEC) in all its manifestations i.e., exploitation of children in prostitution, online child sexual exploitation, sale and trafficking of children for sexual purposes, sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism and some forms of child, early and forced marriage. The ECPAT Network currently consists of 126 members working at national and local levels in 105 countries.

The ECPAT International Secretariat coordinates the global work of the organisation and is based in Bangkok, Thailand. The Secretariat designs and implements global and regional level programmes, and undertakes programming, advocacy and research and facilitates a range of network initiatives.

CONSULTANCY CONTEXT

ECPAT International is embarking on the next phase of our ongoing strategic initiative to enhance our advocacy and policy-influencing efforts concerning the role of technology and online services in the sexual exploitation and abuse of children in the EU, with a particular focus on six selected countries. This initiative aims to strengthen Secretariat and member relationships, ensuring meaningful participation while maintaining a clear and strategic direction. External support is sought to drive this initiative forward and ensure it aligns with our strategic objectives.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this consultancy is to work closely with the ECPAT International Secretariat and our network members in the EU to:

• Conduct a thorough strategic analysis and ensure coherence in our advocacy efforts.

• Empower members to act independently and collaboratively.

• Deliver practical and actionable outcomes.

• Integrate learning and existing knowledge into a cohesive strategy.

• Develop communications and messaging capacity.

• Establish a sustainable forum for high-level strategic discussions and collaboration on advocacy efforts.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTANCY

Primary Aims:

• Strategic Analysis and Coherence:
  • Gain deeper insights and ensure strategic coherence in our advocacy efforts.
  • Align strategic goals with regulatory discussions at local, national, and EU levels.
  • Map national regulations and identify areas where member countries can benefit from each other’s work.
• Capacity Building and Member Empowerment:
  • Tailor strategies to the existing contexts of our members, enhancing their capacities.
  • Create concrete models and examples of effective campaigns and communication strategies.
• Practical Outcomes and Implementation:
  • Deliver national assessments and strategic recommendations that are feasible and impactful.
  • Develop models or plans for advocacy that can be adjusted to national needs, including crisis plans and communication training.
• Integration of Learning and Existing Knowledge:
  • Utilise existing mappings and insights from past projects.
  • Create a shared vision that aligns future steps with the broader organisational goals.
• Developing Communications and Messaging Capacity:
  • Enhance the communication and messaging skills of our members.
  • Establish an environment for collaborative messaging and communication.
  • Include crisis communications strategies.
• Developing a Sustainable Forum for Strategic Discussions:
  • Create a sustainable forum for members to engage in high-level strategic discussions.
  • Facilitate sharing of learning from national-level advocacy.

METHODOLOGY

Proposed Methodology:

• Stakeholder Mapping and Interviews:
  • Identify key influencers, allies, and potential obstacles in our advocacy areas.
  • Conduct 8-12 interviews with stakeholders in each country to gain insights into the local advocacy environment and inform strategic decisions.
• In-Country Workshops:
  • 3 x face-to-face in-country workshops and 3 x online workshops to understand members’ current capacities and needs.
  • Develop tailored and sustainable advocacy strategies/roadmaps.
  • Organise workshops with ECPAT members to present draft findings.
• Monitoring and Evaluation Tools:
  • Develop metrics to assess the effectiveness of capacity development initiatives, including specific measures for the capacity gained by members and ECPAT International.
  • Establish a learning agenda to document and incorporate lessons for ongoing improvement.

ENGAGEMENT WITH MEMBERS

Engagement Process:

• Initial Consultations:
  • Gather face-to-face input from members to align the consultancy’s objectives with their specific needs and contexts.
• Regular Updates and Feedback:
  • Provide consistent updates on the consultancy process and actively seek feedback.
• Integration of Feedback:
  • Adjust the consultancy’s approach and deliverables based on member feedback.
• Joint Workshop:
  • Conduct a workshop to review preliminary results and develop the analysis and practical recommendations collaboratively.

EXPECTED DELIVERABLES

• Initial Report:
  • Draft initial findings report based on the strategic analysis, stakeholder interviews, and initial workshops with ECPAT members. This report should include insights into the regulatory landscape, member capacities, and preliminary recommendations for advocacy strategies.
  • Draft report of initial findings based on the strategic analysis, stakeholder interviews, and initial workshops with ECPAT members. This report should include insights on the regulatory landscape, member capacities, and preliminary recommendations for advocacy strategies. The report should also outline the specific countries covered and the methodologies used for each.
• Final Report:
  • Comprehensive report including a detailed problem analysis, findings and assessment, strategic recommendations, and an actionable plan tailored to the capacities and needs of ECPAT members.
  • This report should integrate feedback from members and provide concrete models for effective campaigns and communication strategies.
  • The report should also include an assessment of the capacity gained by members and ECPAT International, with specific metrics to measure this growth.
  • The report should be divided into one overall regional report of approximately 70 pages and individual country reports, each with a recommended length of 7 pages per country and the regional report.
• Technical Advice and Support:
  • Provide ongoing technical advice and support for the implementation of the action plan. This includes participating in and facilitating workshops, offering training on communication and crisis management, and ensuring the sustainability of advocacy strategies.
  • The consultant will help establish a sustainable forum for strategic discussions and collaboration among ECPAT members. Additionally, the consultant will present their analysis, findings, and recommendations online to both the entire network in Europe and the entire ECPAT staff, as part of the capacity-building and information-sharing strategy.

CONSULTANT PROFILE

The consultant or (groups of consultants) should have:

• Proven expertise in developing and implementing capacity-building initiatives, with a focus on empowering organisations to act independently and collaboratively. The consultant should consider the capacity gained by the members (and ECPAT International) as a critical output, and this should be measured and reported.
• Strong background in communications, including the development of messaging strategies and crisis communication plans.
• Experience in facilitating workshops and training sessions, both online and face-to-face, to enhance member skills in advocacy and communication.
• Practical knowledge of integrating learning and existing knowledge into cohesive strategies, ensuring continuous improvement and adaptation.
• Ability to create and maintain a collaborative environment for high-level strategic discussions and advocacy efforts.
• Excellent English language skills (written and spoken). Knowledge of Spanish is desirable.
• High ethical standards and alignment with the values of ECPAT International, including a commitment to child safeguarding and protection.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This is a home-based position using personal equipment. The consultant should be available for online calls across different time zones, particularly with Thailand where the ECPAT International Secretariat is based.
• The Consultant is expected to act at all times in a manner consistent with the values of ECPAT International and in compliance with the organisation’s policies and procedures including Safeguarding Policies and the Code of Conduct.
• In case of travel, ECPAT International’s travel policy and procedures will apply and be compensated in addition to the daily fee.

OUR COMMITMENTS

As ECPAT’s International Secretariat we recognise that our strength lies in the diversity of the people who make up our global network, staff, volunteers and consultants. We are committed to being an inclusive workplace where people of all backgrounds and cultures can strive and be themselves. This means we will challenge ourselves to do better and to continue learning, to create and maintain a working environment steeped in respect, tolerance, safety, and where all parties are valued equally.