PCRN
Steering Committee
The Steering Committee provides strategic direction, oversees PCRN’s activities, and ensures transparency and accountability in its operations.
Criteria for Steering Committee Members
Expertise in social science research on children: Demonstrates strong interest and/or a proven track record in social science research, particularly in child-related studies (e.g., child rights, education, health, well-being, protection, participation).
Recognized thought leadership: Holds credibility in the academic or development community with publications, policy contributions, or recognized research initiatives in child and youth studies.
Capacity to leverage resources and networks: Has the ability to mobilize institutional, academic, civil society, and government networks to advance PCRN’s agenda, including generating funding opportunities and partnerships.
Strong convening and facilitation skills: Possesses the ability to bring together diverse stakeholders, foster collaboration, and mediate discussions toward collective outcomes.
Commitment to PCRN activities and governance: Willing and able to attend and promote PCRN research fora, workshops, and other events, while actively participating in regular meetings, contributing to planning and decision-making, and ensuring follow-through on agreed actions.
Ethical and safeguarding compliance: Fully compliant with the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy and upholds the highest standards of ethics, integrity, and accountability.
Commitment to inclusivity: Actively promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in research, ensuring that marginalized and vulnerable groups of children are represented in PCRN’s agenda.
Strategic alignment: Demonstrates understanding of PCRN’s vision and can align personal and institutional expertise to advance the Network’s mission.
Tasks and Responsibilities of Steering Committee Members
In general, the Steering Committee members are responsible for providing strategic guidance, representation, and oversight to advance PCRN’s mission of strengthening child-focused social science research. They are expected to actively participate in meetings and events, uphold network policies, and leverage their expertise and networks to support PCRN’s growth and impact. Specifically:
Strategic Guidance: Provide direction in shaping PCRN’s research agenda, priorities, and partnerships, particularly in advancing child-focused social science research.
Representation: Act as ambassadors of PCRN by promoting its goals, mobilizing networks, and leveraging institutional and personal linkages to strengthen the network.
Participation: Attend and actively contribute to PCRN research fora, workshops, and other events organized by the network.
Engagement in Governance: Join and participate in PCRN’s regular meetings, ensuring collective decision-making and alignment with agreed principles.
Policy Compliance: Uphold PCRN’s values and policies, including adherence to the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy.
Support for Capacity Building: Contribute expertise, resources, or mentoring to enhance the capacity of PCRN members, particularly early-career researchers.
Monitoring and Accountability: Help review progress of PCRN initiatives, ensuring transparency and accountability in program implementation.
Research and Training Committee
- Identify priority research and policy gaps, and emerging issues and trends related to children’s development and well-being in the country.
- Lead the development and implementation of the PCRN’s research agenda and training priorities related to children’s research.
- Uphold and promote ethical standards, child safeguarding and child-friendly research methods, and Prevention of Sexual and Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) by ensuring standards and guidelines in research are being followed.
Knowledge Management and Communication
- Coordinate with the Secretariat in the collection, organization, storage, and dissemination of research outputs, data products, learning materials, and other knowledge generated by the PCRN and its members.
- Translate research findings and knowledge products into clear, child friendly, and relevant formats for diverse audiences, including through forums, child participation activities, dissemination events, and online platforms.
- Support the development and maintenance of knowledge dissemination channels, including the PCRN website and social media platforms such as Facebook, podcasts, and other media formats.
- Monitor engagement and consumption of knowledge products across platforms to inform communication and dissemination strategies.
- Develop standards and strategies for branding and messaging to ensure consistency with the network’s vision, principles, and identity.
Membership and Linkages Committee
- Develop and implement the criteria and processes for membership application, approval, renewal, and termination, in alignment with the PCRN’s visions and principles.
- Actively recruit members from the academe, civil society organizations, and other sectors engaged in children’s research.
- Facilitate the vetting, onboarding, and orientation of new members to ensure clear understanding of the network’s vision, principles, and activities.
- Develop strategies to sustain membership engagement, partnerships and linkages, and participation and retention of members.
Administrative and Finance Committee
- Prepare, review, and monitor the PCRN’s workplan and budget, in coordination with the PCRN Convenor and the Steering Committee.
- Ensure proper management of funds, including grants, donations, membership fees, and other resources, and provide timely financial reports.
- Oversee procurement processes and other administrative and financial support needed by the PCRN, ensuring fairness, cost-effectiveness, and compliance with partner/donor policies.
