Street Child - Call for Proposals - Expansion of Early Childhood Services - Family Type Creches

Call for Proposals for Moldovan NGOs to implement the project: Expansion of Early Childhood Services - Family Type Creches

We are excited to announce that Street Child, a UK based international NGO specializing in Child Protection and Education in Emergency in 35 countries, is inviting Moldovan NGOs to submit proposals for the implementation of the piloting project Expansion of Early Childhood Services – Family Type Creches
This project’s focus is on Family Type Creches under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection with the objectives to facilitate access to quality education services for children from the early years, in line with the goals set by the National Program for Childcare Services for Children under three years of age, 2023-2026 (henceforth, National Program).

The primary aim of this initiative is to create a network of family-type crèches that provide a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment for young children. These crèches should cater to the needs of working parents and caregivers while fostering early childhood development.

As advocates for the well-being of families and the holistic development of children, we recognize the essential role that high-quality childcare services play in supporting parents' work-life balance and nurturing the next generation.

Context of the alternative childcare services

In December 2022, the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova adopted the Law nr. 367 on Alternative Services which introduces 3 types of alternative childcare services: creches organized by the employer, family type creches and individualized caregivers.

Based on this, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection in cooperation with Street Child and other local development partners, are launching three types of services in early childhood education – Public Type Creches, Family Type Creches and Employer Type Creches. This call addresses Family Types Creches, for which Street Child is looking forward to identifying a motivated implementing partner.

Project’s Scope

Together with the selected Moldovan NGO we aim for establishing and operating 25 family type creches in the country by December 2023. Each creche will host no more than 5 children. The service providers will receive support for equipment and facilities improvements in value of most 3000 euro/household.

Ensuring minimum safeguarding standards and providing qualitative services are essential aspects of caregiving in early childhood education. One way to achieve this is by providing caregivers with capacity building in both administration of the service and early childhood education.

The Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, together with development partners, has designed the funding model to support the operational continuity of the creches while ensuring accessibility for our valued service beneficiaries. A reasonable and affordable fee structure has been proposed, allowing service beneficiaries to contribute to the creche's self-sustenance.

In line with our commitment to facilitating access to quality childcare services, it is offered an attractive incentive to the service beneficiaries. During the initial six months of attendance, all service beneficiaries will benefit from a generous 50% reduction on the applicable fees. This endeavor is aimed at encouraging enrollment and fostering the well-being of our community's children.

By striking this balance between affordability for service beneficiaries and the financial viability of the creches, the caregivers/entrepreneurs will remain dedicated to delivering excellence in childcare and securing a bright future for their activity.

Partnership responsibilities

The implementing partner's responsibilities:

• Development and design of the piloting project and the incubator program
• Development and coordination of the education program: capacity building to the service providers, coaching, mentoring
• Communication and visibility
• Implementation – administrative, logistical, procurement (includes support to service providers)
• Ensuring compliance to Street Child and local’s law policies and regulations in all the areas (procurement, safeguarding, data sharing, communication)
• Cooperation with technical advisors of SC and other development partners.
• Coordination with other development partners

Street Child’s responsibilities

• Monitoring, evaluating, accountability, learning
• Technical Assistance
• Capacity building
• Compliance and reporting
• Coordination with the Ministry and development partners
• Advocacy
• Programmatic support

Duration
First phase: September 2023 - December 2023.

Eligibility criteria for the organization:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in the field of incubation of services nationwide
• Strong in business development training and capacity building for entrepreneurs
• Experts in management consulting, coaching, training
• Strong in visibility and awareness campaigns
• Strong knowledge of the local laws, regulations, policies
• Strong in monitoring and evaluating.
• Minimum one external audit of the organization performed in the last 3 years
• Experience within the Refugees Crisis Response (minimum 6 months)
• Experience/interest in early childhood services

Interested organizations are invited to submit:

• Concept note*
• Estimation of budget
• Certificate of Registration
• Organigram of the organization
• Last annual report of the organization
• Last external audit report

Any additional documentation considered relevant to the application (e.g., existing resources developed by the organization relevant to the scope of the project).

*The concept note should include:

• a brief description of the organization
• experience in managing incubator programmes
• experience in education (in relevant fields)
• experience with refugee crisis response and/or early child education (if applicable)
• proposed work methodology
• proposed team structure
• resources
• brief information about the organisation's capacity in risk management, quality assurance,
• communication, and project evaluation.

Interested national non-government organisations are requested to submit their proposals electronically to cristina.virschi@street-child.org no later than 20 August 2023.

Street Child will contact interested organizations on a rolling basis.

Important Dates:

• Proposal Submission Deadline: 20 August 2023
• Project: “Expantion of Early Childhood Services - Family Type Creches”
• Scope: to establish 25 family type creches by 31 December 2023

We look forward to receiving your proposals and partnering with dedicated service providers to create a positive impact on our community's families and children.

For any queries or clarifications, please feel free to contact us at cristina.virschi@street-child.org.

Sincerely,
Cristina Virschi - Project Coordinator, Street Child.