Consultancy for evidence and tools generated to better target specific GBV prevention and response interventions

Purpose of consultancy:

Seven years into the conflict and protracted displacement, Lebanon is hosting Syrian refugees. The number of registered Syrian refugees is a total of 972,000 individuals currently with UNHCR in Lebanon, considered being the largest proportion of refugees in the world if compared to the size of its population and the largest number in the region reaching and estimated 1.5 million of which about 78% are women and children[1].

Poor living conditions coupled with increasing inter-communities tensions aggravated serious protection concerns, including Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Refugees, face an unbearable level of stress, which is associated with increased violence within the household. Conflicts disproportionately affect women; people who do not have the means and opportunities to support themselves and their families in times of crisis are also at higher risk of adopting negative coping mechanisms, such as survival and sex trafficking, child labour and early and forced marriage. This has devastating consequences on survivors’ health, including Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and emotional well-being, among others. The impact of conflict on women was recognised 16 years ago with the adoption of UN security council resolution 1325.

Marginalized refugee women are especially at risk of GBV, such as being exposed to exploitation, being exposed to Intimate Partner Violence and other forms of GBV which seriously impacts their sense of safety, health and well-being. Thus, empowerment is paramount to contribute to women’s well-being, to secure their future and to ultimately achieve sustainable development goals.

Since the beginning of the Syrian influx to Lebanon, UNFPA collaborated with different national and international specialized actors, including NGOs and universities, to empower women and girls from both refugee and local communities through GBV programming. In addition, UNFPA is co-leading along with the Ministry of Social Affairs the SGBV Task Force[2] that is led by UNHCR. Developing guidance and best practices 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[3]. During the 2018 SGBV Task Force Retreat the need for developing guidance and best practices for Psycho-social support (PSS) provision to women, more specifically Emotional Support Groups (ESGs) has been raised as a priority as several curriculums are being/have been implemented however, there is no clear guidance on the use of such curriculum. That being said, carrying a comprehensive desk review of the existing ESG resources and practices at global, regional and country levels in order to develop guidance and best practise is needed. 

In this frame, the purpose of this consultancy is to better target specific GBV prevention and response interventions in an effective, efficient and relevant manners. This intervention will support the review of existing focused PSS curriculums and more specifically Emotional Support Groups (ESG) for women and girls at risk or survivors of GBV.

The above review will allow a better understanding of the available resources their use, effectiveness.

Scope of work:

This consultancy will directly contribute to generating evidence and tools to better target GBV prevention and response services, more specifically with women at risk of GBV or survivors of GBV. It will allow the development of recommendations and guidance tools about existing curricula in terms of their objectives, lengths, duration, topics, target groups, length, duration and setting of these curriculums and any possible gaps;

Under the supervision of UNFPA and UNDP, and with the support of the National SGBV Task Force partners, the purpose of the consultancy is to:

• Conduct a desk review where all Emotional Support Groups Curriculums are mapped out;
• Analyse the existing ESG curriculums, tools and practices related specifically for women at risk or survivors of GBV;
• Develop recommendations and guidance tools on the lengths, topics, pace and setting of these curriculums and generating evidence and tools to better target GBV prevention and response services, more specifically with women at risk of GBV or survivors of GBV.

To achieve the objectives of this consultancy, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Develop a detailed timeline for the consultancy in collaboration with UNFPA;
• Carry out a comprehensive literature review of existing ESGs curriculum resources, tools and practices at global, regional and country level;
• Meet with relevant stakeholders to assess their experience, priorities and take their recommendations in order to develop guidance and best practices. The following stakeholders are suggested:
  • 6-8 Key Informant Interviews with at least one ministry, Local and International NGOs having experience in ESG development and implementation,
  • 2 FGDs with women and girls? who have attended ESGs cycles,

• Draft a report including recommendations (10-15 pages)

• Draft guidance tools  

Duration and working schedule:

The assignment should be concluded within 7 weeks from official confirmation.

Place where services are to be delivered:

UNFPA Lebanon country office

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered:

Deliverables

• Folder containing the desk review documents.
• KII Interview guide for local and International NGOs (soft Copy).
• Focus group discussion guide (soft copy)
• Schedule of meetings/consultations (soft copy)
• Draft report with recommendations and guidance tools on the lengths, topics, pace and setting of these curriculums for harmonization plan (soft copy)

Timeline

16 November

• Final report incl. recommendations and guidance tools for harmonization plan – English (soft copy)
• PPT presentation summarizing the report incl. recommendations - English (soft copy)
• Executive summary (3-4 pages) – English (soft copy)

Timeline

7 December

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

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

• Inception meeting to discuss in details the process and deliverables of the consultancy
• Contact of relevant partners and stakeholders if needed
• Facilitate meetings with relevant partners and stakeholders if needed
• Review and provide technical comment/inputs on guides, reports, etc.

Supervisory arrangements:

The consultant shall work under direct supervision of the Head of Office/Assistant Representative, Lebanon CO

Expected travel:

NA

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Professional Experience: 

• Advanced University degree in social/development sciences or other related areas with previous work experience and considerable skills in analysis, report writing and field work;
• 5- 7 years professional experience in humanitarian context, with emphasis on vulnerable and/or marginalized groups. Experience in research, GBV and gender in a displacement context, with a special focus on the MENA region, and familiarity with PSS programming is essential.
• Extensive experience working on GBV/VAW and in coordination mechanisms with governments, civil society, development partners and community based organizations; previous work focusing on referral system for GBV survivors in Lebanon is an asset;
• Demonstrated experience in producing reports relating to Gender and GBV/VAW as well as familiarity with coordinated tools and set of essential and quality multi-sectoral services for GBV survivors;
• Verified practice on producing high quality peer reviewed publications for UN, development partners and government.

Functional Competencies: 

• Excellent written and spoken communication skills in Arabic and English;
• Ability to consolidate information from multiple sources;
• Able to prepare strategic information for decision makers;
• Ability to work independently as well as good team player;
• Excellent analytical and drafting skills;
• Excellent time management and ability to produce outputs as per agreed deadlines.

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g. support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:

NA

[1] http://data.unhcr.org/syrianrefugees/country.php?id=122

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

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