CONSULTANCY TO DEVELOP A COMMUNICATION AND ADVOCACY STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN TO END CHILD MARRIAGE IN ZAMBIA

Zambia currently has the largest population of young people in its history with 52.5% aged below 18 years. The prevalence of child marriage in Zambia is high, with 31% of women aged 20-24 years old married before age 18 (DHS 2013/14).In order to appreciate the dynamics leading to the high rates of child marriage UNICEF supported the government in undertaking qualitative research. The research was conducted in the last quarter of 2014 in six districts in six different provinces.In order to appreciate the dynamics leading to the high rates of child marriage UNICEF supported the government in undertaking qualitative research. The research was conducted in the last quarter of 2014 in six districts in six different provinces.Findings from the research were used to inform the development of a national Strategy to End Child Marriage, which was launched in April 2016.

The Government of Zambia developed a National Strategy to End child marriage (2016 – 2021) aimed at addressing the vulnerabilities leading to child marriage. One of the objectives in this national strategy is development of activities to foster change in attitudes, behaviours, beliefs and practices that perpetuate child marriage.  To provide strategic direction to this intervention a communication and advocacy strategy will be developed. UNICEF is therefore looking to procure the services of a consultant to develop a four year advocacy and communication strategy with an action plan taking into account the findings from the qualitative research on child marriage in Zambia.

OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

The overall objective of the assignment is to develop an advocacy and communication strategy with an implementation plan which will clearly highlight the strategic approach and communication framework. This strategy will aim to address the beliefs, behaviours, knowledge and norms which contribute to children’s vulnerability to child marriage. The process of development needs to be collaborative with key representatives from government and NGOs to ensure ownership by and capacity/knowledge transfer to national stakeholders.

The key assignments are as follows;

1. Conduct relevant communication, audience, channel and  network analysis
2. Develop key messages for the identified audiences (based on a pre-test process)
3. Design a  communication strategy
4. Develop an implementation plan with a clear M & E framework

METHODOLOGY

The consultant will use various methodologies for data collection and in the designing of the strategy. The consultant will review available data from the ZDHS, qualitative research on child marriage and Education Statistical Bulletin etc. in order to understand the situation of child marriage in the country.