Background
Plan International’s Champions of Change program is a gender-transformative program that aims to engage boys and girls in promoting gender equality and challenging harmful gender norms. The program focuses on empowering young people to become advocates for gender equality and social change within their communities, addressing cultural norms and barriers that hinder gender and youth transformation. It has been successfully implemented in various countries, demonstrating a strong track record of breaking down barriers and fostering positive change, including countries across the Pacific.
As part of Plan International Australia’s new regional climate change program for the Pacific, focused on Fiji, the Solomon Islands, and Bougainville, the Champions of Change (CoC) program requires revision in order provide foundational knowledge around climate change and the links between climate change and gender. There are two objectives for the consultancy. Firstly, the program requires better contextualisation for key demographics (e.g., boys and girls between 13-15 years old) and stronger relevance to Pacific priorities and cultural norms. Secondly, there is a need to develop new modules that can effectively explain basic climate change terminology and concepts to young people in the region, including but not limited to adaptation, resilience, loss and damage, and the basics of climate change science. Wherever possible, the consultant should integrate links between gender and climate change within both new and existing material.
Tasks and Accountabilities
There are three key tasks associated with the consultancy.
Task 1: Review existing Champions of Change resource
Before integrating climate change content, the consultancy will review and revise the existing Champions of Change resource content, focusing on its cultural appropriateness and contextualization for Fiji, the Solomon Islands, and Bougainville. This process will involve:
- A detailed review and consideration of the existing CoC program, including existing evaluations and feedback solicited from the delivery of the CoC across the three country sites
- In-depth interviews with Plan International staff and key CoC implementers in one or more of the country sites. These interviews should aim to uncover current program challenges, understand the cultural nuances affecting implementation, and identify opportunities to streamline and enhance the CoC curriculum for greater effectiveness, particularly given feedback that the material has been too complex for both implementors and participants
- Identify modules in CoC resource that aligns with climate change adaptation and resilience programming
- Additionally, the consultancy will seek input from educators who are already using the CoC program. This engagement will provide valuable insights into local cultural values, traditions, and social norms that influence gender equality and climate resilience.
Task 2: Revise
By analysing these forms of feedback collected in Task 1, along with the consultant’s own experiences and perspectives, the consultant will make adjustments and program revisions to improve the CoC program’s cultural relevance and impact among young people across each country. This will include:
- Removing unnecessary or inappropriate modules or content in line with feedback
- Developing or drawing on examples that are more culturally and geographically relevant
- Develop culturally appropriate visual aids to assist learning in low literacy settings
- Developing glossaries for key terms in the local lingua franca or other appropriate language, working where possible with local Plan staff to ensure accuracy and consistency.
Task 3: Development of Climate Change Modules
The consultancy will develop new educational modules matching the existing CoC module style that clearly explain key climate change concepts while being culturally appropriate for the Pacific context. These modules will cover basic climate change terminology, including adaptation, loss and damage, and key aspects of global climate change architecture. To ensure the content is accurate, accessible, and resonates with local communities the consultancy will:
- Conduct a detailed desk review of relevant climate change impacts and consult, if possible, with local educators and climate experts (e.g., staff of the national meteorology bureau)
- Develop new or draw on real world examples and case studies from Fiji, the Solomon Islands, and Bougainville to make the material relatable and engaging
for participants - Develop and integrate participatory activities into the modules, aligning with the existing CoC format
- Pilot these modules with small groups in the Pacific, gather feedback, and make necessary adjustments to refine the content.
Reporting and deliverables
The following deliverables are required during this consultancy:
- A kick-off briefing and ongoing biweekly progress meetings
- A diagnostic review report of the existing Champions of Change program, including stakeholder interview summaries
- A suite of new climate change modules featuring clear explanations, local case studies, participatory activities, and a pilot test feedback report
- A revised Champions of Change program resource document that incorporates content simplification, cultural adaptation, new visual aids, and localised glossaries.
Timing and duration of consultancy
The consultancy needs to commence as soon as pragmatically possible, with an expectation that the consultancy would be completed no later than June 30 2025.
Location
Ideally, the consultants will be based in the Pacific, though Australian-based bids will be accepted. Depending on where the consultants are based, it is expected there will be travel to complete the assignment to interview country office Plan staff and other key stakeholders.
Skills and experience of consultants
Both relevant organisations and individual consultants or teams of consultants are
encouraged to apply for this consultancy opportunity. Desirable skills and experience include:
- Experience designing and/or delivering material for youth and young people in either a formal or informal education context
- Ability to conduct or interpret basic research around climate change impacts for young people in the Pacific
- Have a strong familiarity with the Pacific context, particularly Melanesia.
Budget Scope of consultancy
The total budget available for this consultancy is $30,000 (which would need to cover the fees of either 1 or 2 consultants, depending upon how a consultant team might wish to present their offer). Any travel and associated costs can be added on top of this $30,000 budget, but should not exceed A$10,000
Ethics and safeguarding
Plan International is committed to ensuring that the rights of those participating in data collection or analysis are respected and protected, in accordance with Ethical MERL Framework and our Global Policy on Safeguarding Children and Young People. The consultant will be required to ensure appropriate, safe, non-discriminatory participation of all stakeholders and pay special attention to the needs of children and other vulnerable groups (where relevant). The consultant must also ensure confidentiality and anonymity of participants in the data collection, analysis, management processes and reporting processes.
How to apply
Applications for this consultancy are invited by Plan International Australia and should be received no later than April 5th 2025. Applications are asked to email the following, and any enquiries, to will.smith@plan.org.au
- A 1-2 page summary of a proposed approach consultancy, including workplan and a tentative budget,
- The consultant’s CV or brief overview of your organisation’s experience,
- Optionally, a relevant sample of work.