Home-based: Finalisation of ‘Children Know Better’ Project Learning Briefs

August - November 2025
(Part-time estimated 15-20 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 142 members working at national and local levels in 115 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.

Context of The Consultancy: 

ECPAT International in collaboration with ACD Bangladesh and CWIN Nepal are implementing a Participatory Action Research project with children to pilot new ways to generate knowledge and inform strategies to protect children from sexual exploitation in Bangladesh and Nepal. In each country, a group of child leaders have been supported by young adult facilitators and trained to conduct participatory research with their peers to understand the drivers and manifestations of child sexual exploitation and abuse in their contexts, analyse existing responses and propose their views and recommendations to prevent child sexual exploitation and abuse. They will also collaborate and advocate with duty bearers to ensure more sustainable engagement with children on these matters.

In 2024–25, a series of learning workshops are being held with children and peer educators to explore lived experiences, analyse participatory data, and generate advocacy messages. ECPAT is commissioning a consultant to lead the finalisation of five thematic learning briefs, grounded in these participatory insights and aligned with the Children Know Better learning and dissemination strategy. These briefs aim to synthesise evidence, identify promising practices, and provide practical guidance to strengthen ethical, inclusive and effective child participation in advocacy and research.

Consultancy Objectives: 

To co-develop and finalise a set of five learning briefs on key themes emerging from the project’s participatory research and advocacy activities, working in close collaboration with the ECPAT team to:

• Review and synthesise existing secondary data
• Identify gaps requiring clarification or additional inputs
• Recommend targeted additional primary data collection

Scope of Work: 

• Review existing documentation, transcripts, notes, and facilitator reflections from participatory workshops
• Participate in planning meetings with ECPAT to identify thematic structure and expectations for each brief
• Conduct a brief desk review of relevant literature to contextualise findings within broader evidence and frameworks
• Identify any data or analysis gaps that may limit the credibility or completeness of insights, and collaborate with ECPAT to fill these gaps (e.g. via additional child/staff reflections, quotes, or case studies)
• If required, conduct 5-8 key informant interviews (KIIs) with staff, partners or peer educators to strengthen or validate emerging insights
• Draft and finalise the following five learning briefs (5–10 pages each):
  1. Strengthening child participation mechanisms
  2. Recruitment and creation of safe, inclusive spaces for childre
  3. Ethics of participatory action research with children
  4. Intergenerational partnerships and formal engagement mechanisms
  5. Child-led advocacy approaches and impact
• Integrate anonymised quotes, visuals, and suggested recommendations
• Provide summary versions for social media or dissemination briefs as requested

Expected Deliverables: 

• Annotated outline or inception note per learning brief (5 total)
• Summary of insights from brief literature review
• Recommendations for additional primary data collection, where needed
• Transcripts of additional key informant interviews (if conducted)
• Draft and final versions of all five learning briefs
• Suggestions for accompanying visuals, quotes, or summary products for dissemination

Data Sources Provided: 

• Outputs and reflections from the July–August 2025 participatory workshops in Nepal and Bangladesh
• Transcripts, notes, and facilitator debriefs
• Earlier PAR data and analysis (2024–2025)
• Project Learning and Dissemination Strategy
• Organisational Theory of Change and MEL framework documents

Consultant Profile: 

The consultant is expected to have:

• Demonstrated experience in research particularly in participatory research with children.
• Demonstrated experience in child protection and child participation, in particular on sexual violence against children.
• Familiarity with trauma-informed principles, inclusive research design, and safeguarding practices.
• Ability to synthesise qualitative data into accessible learning products for a range of audiences.

Additional Information: 

This is a home-based position using its own equipment. The consultants should be available for online calls including with Nepal and Bangladesh where the project is implemented.

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.

Our Commitment: 

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.

As a child-focused organisation, ECPAT has a strong commitment to child safeguarding and rigorous procedures, and the successful candidate will be required to sign our 2 codes of conduct.

How to Apply: 

Please submit your proposal to vacancy@ecpat.org, with the subject line: [Your Name] – “Children Know Better Learning Briefs”. Kindly include the following documents:

• CV detailing relevant experiences
• Financial proposal with clear daily fee in USD for an estimated approximate 15-20 days of work over 3 months.

Due to the high volume of applications, we receive, we are not able to respond to every application. If you have not heard back from us within 3 weeks from the deadline, it means that your application has not been successful.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: All proposals must be submitted by 20th August 2025.