UNICEF Zimbabwe is inviting applications from national individual consultants: To conduct an assessment of the gaps and barriers to the implementation of the existing SGBV/HP/SRHR legal and policy framework
Harare
- Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
- Location: Harare
- Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
-
Occupational Groups:
- Political Affairs
- Legal - Broad
- Human Rights
- Women's Empowerment and Gender Mainstreaming
- Information Technology and Computer Science
- Children's rights (health and protection)
- Sexual and reproductive health
- Programme Management
- Gender-based violence
- Closing Date: Closed
The purpose of the consultancy is to identify gaps and barriers to the implementation of the existing SGBV/HP/SRHR legal and policy framework and make recommendations for the effective implementation of laws and policies, including protection and monitoring mechanisms.
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TERMS OF REFERENCE
Locations: Selected Spotlight districts from the Spotlight provinces (Harare Province, Mashonaland West, Mashonaland Central, Manicaland, Matabeleland South)
Duration: 45 working days over a period of 10 weeks
Background and Rationale
The Spotlight Initiative (SI)
In September 2017, the EU and the UN launched a joint partnership to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls worldwide. The Spotlight Initiative (SI) aims to mobilize commitment of political leaders and contribute to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Initiative aims at ending all forms of violence against women and girls, targeting those that are most prevalent and contribute to gender inequality across the world. The Spotlight Initiative will deploy targeted, large-scale investments in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Pacific and the Caribbean, aimed at achieving significant improvements in the lives of women and girls. Zimbabwe is one of the eight countries in Africa to benefit from this transformative initiative.
The SI Zimbabwe Country Programme will use a multi-sectoral, multi-layered, interlinked community-centered approach to the implementation of the interventions on the following six Outcome Areas based on the socio-ecological model for addressing SGBV and HPs;
- Legislative and Policy Frameworks
- Strengthening Institutions
- Prevention and Social Norms
- Delivery of Quality, Essential Services
- Data Availability and Capacities
- Supporting the Women’s Movement
Purpose and Objectives of Assessment Study
Overall purpose
The assessment aims to identify gaps and barriers to the implementation of the existing SGBV/HP/SRHR legal and policy framework and make recommendations for the effective implementation of laws and policies, including the creation of protection and monitoring mechanisms.
The specific objectives of the assessment are:
- To map existing law and policies with implementation plans, M&E frameworks and identify related evaluation reports;
- To assess gaps and barriers at up-, mid- and down-stream level which hinder the implementation of SGBV/HP/SRHR related policies and laws, in particular focusing on women and girls facing intersecting forms of discrimination; as well as gaps and barriers in developing/implementing effective monitoring and protection mechanisms;
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To provide clear recommendations on upstream/midstream/downstream level on how these gaps can be addressed and barriers can be overcome, including parameters for measuring implementation of policies, and how the findings can positively influence other Spotlight activities in the areas of law and policy development, system strengthening and service delivery.
Scope of work and Methodology
The scope of work includes desk top research, consultations with high-level government officials as well as women’s and children’s rights group, key informant interviews (KII) with relevant experts, focus group discussions (FGD) with key populations (in particular , including women and girls with disabilities, women and girls living in the rural areas, adolescent girls in impoverished urban settlements, and women and girls living with HIV), as well as data collection through questionnaires in selected Spotlight districts. The key research questions are:
- What are the gaps and barriers at up-, mid- and down-stream level for effective implementation of existing laws and policies given the Zimbabwean SGBV/HP/SRHR context?
- Which are the gaps and barriers for women and girls to effectively use the existing laws and polices?
- What measures and actions need to be taken in order to implement and enforce the existing laws and policies so that women and girls have improved avenues of social welfare, protection and redress in SGBV/HP cases, as well as improved access to quality SRHR services given the lived experiences of people?
The high-level consultations aim to solicit a better understanding from Government’s side on the bottlenecks and gaps in the implementation of SGBV/HP/SRHR laws and policies, and what actions from a demand and a supply perspective could be undertaken to ensure that women and girls demand and have access to quality SGBV/HP/SRHR services.
A qualitative method of data collection is going to be used in order to have a deeper insight into people’s perceptions, experiences and how they deal with SGBV/HP/SRHR issues in their lives and in their communities as well; the multiple avenues they pursue to achieve certain outcomes through available social, cultural and legal mechanisms; if and how women and girls make use of the venues provided for by existing laws and policies . With this, as the starting point, the aim is to collect and analyse data from end–users for whom SGBV/HP is a harsh reality of everyday life and complement it with the views from Government and CSO service providers. Qualitative data collection method is also suitable to get an understanding of the underlying norms, behaviour and attitudes related to SGBV/HP/SRHR, as well as regarding the attitudes and behaviours in relation to existing laws and policies, and the influence and implications this has on efforts invested to enforce and implement relevant laws and policies.
In order to ensure that the most secluded communities in selected Spotlight districts are reached, the above qualitative data collection mechanisms will be complemented by a quantitative data collection through a questionnaire, which aims to gather additional information on the research questions from key populations as well as service providers.
The assessment intends to integrate the survivors’ point of view into the development of support systems and policy making. It is essential to listen to survivors’ voices to learn from their experiences and improve the response to future cases of SGBV/HP. Therefore, this assessment also asks the questions how survivors want to be helped and follows the paradigm of the survivor community ‘Nothing for us without us’. Thus, it strengthens the right of women and girls to active participation in decisions which directly affect them.
It is important for the consultant to take into consideration various issues such as guaranteeing the safety of both respondents and interviewers; ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of the interview; providing a minimal level of information or referrals for respondents in situations of risk; obeying key ethical standards. Further, the consultant needs to comply with global and local PSEA (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) guidelines and standards.
Roles and Responsibilities
- UNICEF will oversee and guide the consultant. The assessment will be directly managed by the UNICEF Child Justice and Legal Reform Officer with support from the UN Spotlight Initiative inter-agency technical team. UNICEF will be responsible for convening, coordinating and technically supporting the assessment in close collaboration with the SI Technical Coordination Unit.
- Consultant must comply with global and local PSEA (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) guidelines and standards. The consultant is expected to complete UNICEF mandatory training courses[1].
Expected Deliverables
The time frame for the entire consultancy should not exceed 10 weeks.
|
Task |
Items Covered/Included |
Time Frame
|
Payment Schedule |
1. |
Inception Report
|
Assessment work plan Travel and Meeting/ workshop schedules Detailed list of key research questions to be addressed Details on Methodology to be followed Bibliography of documents reviewed Map of existing law and policies, with a specific focus on identifying existence of implementation plans and evaluating related reports People contacted and met (if any) Copies of the data collection tools Plan for Data Analysis Quality assurance and risk management strategies Referral protocol for respondents in situation of risk |
5 working days, over a period of 1 (one) week after starting work (upon signing the contract) |
First payment (10%) |
2. |
High level technical consultations (1 day) |
Facilitation of 1-day consultation Presentation of inception report Focus areas: identify gaps and barriers which hinder the implementation of SGBV/HP/SRHR related policies and laws, in particular focusing on women and girls facing intersecting forms of discrimination, including development/implementation of effective monitoring and protection mechanisms Documentation of discussions and outcomes |
5 working days, over a period of 1 (one) week |
Second payment (50%) |
3. |
Technical consultation with women’s and children’s groups (1 day) |
Organisation and facilitation of 1-day consultation Focus areas: identify gaps and barriers which hinder the implementation of SGBV/HP/SRHR related policies and laws, in particular focusing on women and girls facing intersecting forms of discrimination, including development/implementation of effective monitoring and protection mechanisms Documentation of discussions and outcomes |
||
6. |
Conduct KII and FGDs in selected Spotlight districts |
Conduct semi-structured KII with service provides, informal justice system representatives, traditional leaders, church leaders, child care workers and community health workers Conduct semi-structured FGDs with women and girls, including women and girls facing intersecting forms of discrimination |
15 working days over a period of 4 (four) weeks |
|
7. |
Data collection in selected Spotlight districts through questionnaire |
Disseminate age-appropriate and gender-sensitive questionnaire to key population and key informants in selected Spotlight districts Capture and analyse data obtained from the questionnaires |
10 working days over a period of 2 (two) weeks |
|
7. |
Comprehensive Initial Draft Assessment Report prepared and submitted |
Findings, results and recommendations, presented in a comprehensive report, in particular focusing on upstream/midstream/downstream level interventions on how these gaps can be closed and barriers can be overcome, including parameters for measuring implementation of policies. |
5 working days over a period of 1 (one) weeks |
|
8 |
Stakeholder Validation workshop |
Dissemination of findings through a stakeholders’ workshop and incorporation of inputs into final report (both high level stakeholders and women’s and children’s group) |
5 working days over a period of 1 (one) week |
Third payment (40%) |
9. |
Final assessment report, addressing input from validation workshop and other key stakeholders.
|
Soft copy of the assessment report incorporating all stakeholders’ comments, fully formatted, edited and finalised to a professional printable standard; The report should be a maximum of 40 pages in length, excluding annexes Hard copy of the report All data transcripts |
Reporting
The consultant will meet with the Spotlight Initiative Technical Coordination Unit, members of the programmes team and M&E Technical Team every 2 weeks to discuss progress updates. Ad hoc meetings may be convened as per need.
Consultancy Requirements
- Master’s degree in relevant fields (Evaluation, Social Science, International Relations, Development studies, Gender, Law)
- Expertise in gender equality with special focus on protection, prevention and ending VAWG/HP, and on people with disabilities and adolescents
- At least seven years of proven experience in conducting qualitative and/or quantitative research
- Previous experience conducting gender and/or justice/SRHR related analysis, policy analysis and participatory research
- Professional experience in areas of Gender, SGBV, HP and/or Human Rights research is an added value
- Knowledge of the Zimbabwean development context and experience of working in Zimbabwe on at least one similar assignment desirable
- Fluency in English is required and at least one local language (Shona/Ndebele)
- Ability to write clearly and concisely in English
Application Procedure
If you meet the entry qualifications and you are interested and available to undertake the consultancy assignment, please submit your application online, upload your cover letter, highest academic qualification, CV, technical and an all-inclusive financial proposal detailing your professional fees, including travel, per-diem, car rentals/taxis, internet cost, communication cost, incidentals, etc. for delivering the assignment.
The selection process will be competitive.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
Remarks:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
[1] The courses include Ethics and Integrity at UNICEF, Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and BSAFE security training.
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