Research Consultant at Street Child

Nigeria occupies a central position as a country of origin and transit for trafficking whereby vulnerable young persons are transported abroad and subjected to the worst forms of abuse including forced labour and sexual slavery. Studies have shown that Edo State is a hub of trafficking in Nigeria, with 50% of Nigerian trafficking survivors originating there. Young persons, women and girls are affected disproportionately by trafficking abuses in Edo State: the average age of trafficked persons is 15 years old and 76% of all rescued child trafficking survivors are females.

Street Child of Nigeria in partnership with Girls Power Initiative, is funded by Expertise France to implement the “Stop trafficking! Prevention and Protection of Young Persons, Women and Girls Vulnerable to or Survivors of Trafficking Project in Edo State” to intervene and curb the prevalence of trafficking in young persons, women and girls’ incidences in the state.

The project seeks to prevent trafficking in the state by addressing the drivers of trafficking in communities including stemming deceitful strategies used by traffickers; increased protection of survivors of trafficking through a survivor-centered approach that meets the critical needs of returnee survivors of trafficking and breaks the vicious cycle of revictimization of trafficking survivors; and strengthening partnerships for combatting trafficking by creating cooperation and linkages between the efforts of key anti-trafficking actors in Edo State.

Based on the high-risk zones in the state, three local governments have been selected as project intervention locations: Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba-Okha. In each of the local governments, Utagban community (Oredo); Useh and Evbuotubu communities (Egor); and Idogbo and Umelu (Ikpoba-Okha) were then selected for intervention.

Studies have been conducted in the past in understanding the push and pull factors and how emigration happens in Edo state. Though findings from these studies have helped both government and actors in the development sector to develop strategies to alleviate the suffering of those affected, young persons have continued to be attracted by interconnected economic, occupational, individual, and other social factors to sometimes leave their locations in search of a better life, which at the end fall in hands that exploit their labour, often sexually.  

The decision-making process to stay in their place or relocate to other locations are complex, some of which are self-induced. Information on retention options available to motivate young persons to continue to remain in their place of abode is scanty. To attract and make individuals stay in their place of abode, there would be the need to develop retention strategies that address these social factors that influence young persons’ behaviour and guide their decision making on opportunities. Thus, a combination of well-selected interventions and incentives motivate young person such that they would not be attracted to overtures of a better life that makes them vulnerable to exploitation.  It is in the light of the foregoing that Street Child is seeking to engage a consultant that will lead in the conduct of retention strategies survey to address this menace.

2.0            OBJECTIVES OF THE PROPOSED RETENTION SURVEY

• To determine appropriate strategies that would incentivize and retain young persons in their community, thereby reducing their vulnerability of being trafficked.
• Examine the different factors that would motivate young persons to make the decision to remain in their locations.
•  Identify the different combinations of financial and non-financial incentives that would increase the probability of being vulnerable for trafficking.

3.0            SCOPE OF WORK FOR THE CONSULTANT

The Consultant will be overseen by the SCoN MEAL Manager and will be responsible of the following deliverable.

• Develop and provide a schema on how to implement this assignment with clear survey objectives, methodology for data collection and sampling method for approval as well as a developed report format.
• Work alongside SCoN’s partner in Edo, develop study tools and conduct the retention study targeting young persons in Edo state.
• Analyze data, write, and present information on findings with clear recommendations of strategies for programme use in developing intervention activities that will motivate young persons to remain in their communities.

4.0            KEY DELIVERABLES

• Approved work schema-protocol.
• Approved final report with findings and recommendation on retention strategies for programme use.
• Power point presentation (10 – 15) slides regarding the survey report.
• Submit dataset collected during this study in SPSS format to the MEAL Department of SCoN at the end of the study.

5.0            QUALIFICATION AND SKILLS REQUIRED

• First Degree in the social sciences with demonstrated experience in research work in issues around trafficking.
• Excellent report writing skills
• Familiar with locations in the Southern Nigeria.

6.0            DURATION OF THE CONSULTANCY

                  The consultant is expected to complete this assignment within 4 months.

7.0            PAYMENT

                  As negotiated.