Consultant for Desk Review and Analysis of Guidance, Tools and Practices related to the engagement of Men and Boys (with a special focus on Male Youth) against Violence against Women and Girls

Background and Rational

Mitigating Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and promoting Gender Equality and Women Empowerment cannot be done in an efficient manner without the active involvement of men, male youth[1] and boys. Men often wield power over critical aspects of women’s lives, as heads of government, leaders of religious or faith based institutions, judges, militaries, community leaders or as husbands, fathers and brothers. They tend to be disproportionally in control of the access to information and services, finances, transportation and other resources. Too often men alone make decisions regarding the priority of the couple and/or the households, which perpetuates traditional gender roles and power imbalances. While some may impose their choice through coercion or violence. To address in depth these inequalities, the gender stereotypes and persisting discriminatory social norms, men, male youth and boys have a critical role to play. Their position as gatekeepers makes their engagement along with women and girls through Gender and SGBV programmes essential. Promoting with them gender-equitable attitudes and behaviors and women empowerment is key to mitigate gender-based discrimination and violence[2].

However, while this approach is now widely recognized and promoted, men’s resistances due to traditional roles and sensitivity of the issue combined with lack of experience and knowledge from the gender actors themselves make it often challenging to implement meaningfully[3].

In Lebanon, six years of conflict and protracted displacement, poor living conditions coupled with increasing inter-communities tensions triggered serious protection concerns, including Gender-Based Violence (GBV), with devastating consequences on survivor’s health including Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and emotional well-being, among others. As of 2017, it is estimated that a total of 3.3 million people (vulnerable Lebanese, Syrian refugees and Palestinians) are in critical need of protection and assistance[4]. The SGBV prevention and response is coordinated through the National SGBV Task Force chaired by UNHCR and co-led with UNFPA and the Ministry of Social Affairs[5]. Engaging men and Male youth in the fight against SGBV is part of the inter-agency SGBV strategy translated into the 2017-2020 Lebanon Crisis Response Plan (LCRP) under the Protection Chapter[6]. This approach is also in line with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence against Women (CEDAW) ratified by Lebanon and the 2011-2021 National Strategy for Women and Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC) ratified by Lebanon in 2002. A number of initiatives aiming at involving men, male youth and boys from Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian communities against Violence against Women and Girls (hereafter VAWG) - including early marriage - have been undertaken in Lebanon these past years by various partners.

UNFPA and UNDP are aiming at contributing to address this need as part of a joint UNFPA-UNDP SGBV project funded by the Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) for UN Action against Sexual Violence.

Purpose and Objectives

Under the guidance and supervision of UNFPA and UNDP, and with the support of the National SGBV Task Force partners, the purpose of the consultancy is twofold: 1. to take stock of the existing guidance, tools and practices aiming at engaging men and boys (with a special attention to male youth) on VAWG, including early marriage and; 2. to develop 2 guidance notes, one focusing on the different interventions with men and boys in order to differentiate them and one on engaging with men and boys in communities on mitigating and responding to GBV risks that women and girls face (from outreach activities to specific interventions ).

The specific objectives of the consultancy are:

• To research and compile existing resources and practices at global, regional and country levels that are related to engaging men and boys in communities on VAWG?;
• To highlight documented successful approaches and good practices relevant for the Lebanon context, with a special attention to innovative initiatives;
• To develop guidance notes on the different types of engaging with men and boys approaches;
• To develop a guidance note that includes best practices on engaging with men and boys in communities at different stages of intervention (Outreach, trust building, activities) to mitigate and respond to GBV risks that women and girls face.

Tasks

Under the supervision and guidance of UNFPA and UNDP offices, a consultant will be contracted by UNFPA on behalf of both agencies to carry out the following tasks:

• Develop a detailed timeline for the consultancy in collaboration and as agreed with UNFPA and UNDP;
• Carry out  a comprehensive literature and desk review in order to collect and compile related resources such as guidance, manual, tools and approaches existing at global, regional and country levels;
• Meet with SGBV Task Force and other identified organizations (at least 4 international organizations and 4 national organizations) who have been/are involved in engaging men, male youth and boys on SGBV- if needed only- to get the materials that they’re using for male engagement and the different approached they’re adopting.
• Draft a report summarizing and analysing findings (successful approaches, good practices, key challenges, lessons learned etc) and providing recommendations towards implementing and/or scaling-up promising practices, filling identified gaps and meeting needs, including in terms of capacity and tools development, specific to the Lebanese context
• Adapt the report to take into account UNFPA and UNDP comments and recommendations.
• Present at the National SGBV Task Force and the Child Protection Working Group findings and recommendations.
• Finalize report based on final set of inputs

Expected Outcomes/Deliverables
 

The consultant shall deliver the following:

• An electronical folder containing all materials/tools collected. This folder will be included of the SGBV Task Force dropbox.

• A comprehensive analytical report and Annexes(s); The report will be available in English and is suggested to consist mainly of the following substantive parts : Executive Summary, Background and rational (why engaging with men and boys), Methodology, Findings at global, regional, country levels, Analysis and Discussion, Recommendations, bibliography and List of Annexes (among which the guides). The final and agreed upon structure of the report will be discussed and agreed with the consultant.

• A PPT presentation in English (20-25 slides) summarizing the content of the report that will be delivered in a technical meeting.
• A guidance note on the different types and approaches for of engaging with men and boys:
• A guidance note that includes best practices on engaging with men and boys in communities at different stages of intervention (Outreach, trust building, specific interventions) to mitigate and respond to GBV risks that women and girls face.

Duration of Assignment

The assignment will consist of 20 working days and should be concluded with no more than 6 weeks from signing the signed contract date.

Support to be provided by UNFPA and UNDP

The assignment will be carried out under supervision of UNFPA and UNDP, who shall provide the following support to the consultancy:

• Related documents, material, reports, etc
• Contact of relevant partners and stakeholders if needed
• Facilitate meetings with relevant partners and stakeholders if needed
• Organize the SGBVTF and child protection meetings to present the preliminary findings
• Review and provide technical comment/inputs on guides, reports, etc.

Role of the SGBV Task Force members

The assignment will be carried out on behalf of UNFPA/UNDP and with the support of the National SGBV Task Force members. On a voluntary basis, and where need be, and in close collaboration with the consultant, the international and local members of the National SGBV Task Force will:

• Contribute to the desk review through sharing with the consultant tools and documents related past/current interventions engaging men, male youth and boys on VAWG.
• Contribute to the analysis through meeting with the consultant to share good practices, lessons learned, opportunities, needs/gaps, recommendations, etc.
• Advice on the stakeholders (i.e. grass-root organizations, community members) to be met and facilitate the contact.
• Provide inputs and comments to the findings and recommendations.

Qualifications

• Advanced University degree in social/development sciences or other related areas with previous work experience and considerable skills in survey design, analysis and report writing;
• Strong background in research and gender equality
• Good knowledge and involvement in humanitarian related contexts and familiarity with humanitarian related resources and material is an asset;
• Excellent analytical and drafting skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish effective and working relations with other stakeholders;
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in Arabic and English.

The consultant should provide the following documents:

• Updated resume with relevant experience
• P11 form filled out
• Cover letter

The above documents must be sent to the following address: info-lebanon@unfpa.org no later than September 18, 2018.

Please indicate the following title under subject when submitting applications: Consultancy for desk review and analysis.

Consultants who fail to submit the required documents above will not be considered for review.

UNFPA Lebanon will only be responsible to respond to those applicants submitting the required documents above and in which there is further interest.

ONLY consultants, not companies, are eligible to apply.

[1] “Youth in Lebanon are the category of people aged between 15 and 29”, see the National Youth Policy endorsed in April 3rd, 2012

[2] See more at: http://www.unfpa.org/engaging-men-boys#sthash.IOOzOudl.dpuf

[3] Engaging Men and Boys: A Brief Summary of UNFPA Experience and Lessons Learned, 2013: http://www.unfpa.org/fr/Node/8608#sthash.2NZAlbZm.dpuf

[4] See the Lebanon Crises Response Plan 2017-2020, http://reliefweb.int/report/lebanon/lebanon-crisis-response-plan-2017-2…

[5] The National SGBV Task Force aims at coordinating SGBV prevention and response interventions in Lebanon, gathering over 25 national and international organizations. 

[6] See the Protection Chapter of the 2017-202 LCRP at https://www.dropbox.com/s/g2knq8w2aiomtyu/Protection.pdf?dl=0