Consultancy for Assessment of GBV and RH integrated approach

Background

To date the Syrian crisis has entered in its seven year. The number of registered Syrian refugees amounts a total of 972,000 individuals currently registered 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].

Seven years into the conflict and protracted displacement, poor living conditions coupled with lack of privacy in overcrowded settlements increased serious protection concerns, including Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in general and early marriage/domestic violence in particular.  Access to GBV and Reproductive Health (RH) services and information among Syrians and vulnerable Lebanese also constitutes a major concern addressed by UNFPA through its programming.

Since early 2017, UNFPA initiated a program funded by the Swedish government, aiming at increasing the sense of wellbeing, support networks and safety and empowerment of vulnerable women and girls, participating in program activities. That being said, access to a comprehensive multi-sectorial service/information package including reproductive health, psychosocial support, and to legal services to address and combat SGBV are essential. This project was initiated in 2017 and is currently being implemented by 4 partners throughout Lebanon, and will end in December 2018. The interventions are contributing to increasing the availability and access to basic and specialized RH and GBV services including in safe spaces and to reinforce the awareness, knowledge and capacity of local service providers and community members on SGBV and RH allowing a more holistic response to the needs of women and girls at risk and those survivors of GBV.

Based on the above, UNFPA is seeking to undertake a rapid assessment to assess the relevance and appropriateness, effectiveness, efficiency and lessons learned of the integrated GBV/RH approach.

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

Purpose and Objectives

This evaluation will serve as an end project assessment of the integrated GBV/RH approach and it will address the relevance and appropriateness, effectiveness, efficiency and lessons learned. This will contribute to informed and evidence-based decision making for tailoring/scaling up/expanding interventions.

The specific objectives of the consultancy are:

• Assess   the effectiveness of the integrated RH and GBV approach;
• Assess  the relevance and appropriateness of the Integrated RH/GBV approach in the  project;
• Assess  the efficiency of the integrated RH and GBV approach;
• Identify challenges and constraints, retrieve lessons learned and come up with key recommendations; and
• To highlight practices.

Methodology and Tools

The following methodology is proposed to guide the evaluation:

• Conduct desk review including relevant proposal, reports, work plans, focus group discussion guides, etc.
• Design an evaluation methodology (including data collection tools, evaluation questions, and evaluation matrix with associated assumptions to be assessed);
• Conduct key informant interviews/Focus Group Discussion (FGD) suggested as follows:
  • 6 key informant interviews with central stakeholders (1 with each of the 4 implementing partners program managers,  2 with UNFPA);
  • 12-14 interviews with Implementing partners service providers/ key staff on the field;
  • 8-10 FGD with women and girls receiving RH and GBV services in the project.

UNFPA is committed to maintain the highest standard in implementation and systematically monitor the impact, including through beneficiaries’ participative approaches.

Tasks

Under the guidance of UNFPA Head of office, and in close collaboration with the concerned office personnel, a consultant will be contracted to carry out the following tasks:

• Develop a detailed timeline for the consultancy, including field visits and meetings, in collaboration and as agreed with UNFPA;;
• Inception meeting with UNFPA to ensure clear understanding of the TORs, expected results and deliverables;
• Desk review of relevant proposal, reports and work plans;
• Development of tools for data collection namely semi structured interview guide + FGD guide;
• Conduct FGD and Key Informant Interviews (KII) as indicated under the section on methodology and tools;
• Prepare and ensure timely delivery of the first draft of the report, in English, to be reviewed by UNFPA;

Expected Outcome

The consultant shall deliver a detailed assessment report in English based on the objectives and requirements set forth in the Terms of Reference. The report will constitute the final outcome of this consultancy and is suggested to consist mainly of the following sections (final structure to be discussed with UNFPA)

• Executive summary;
• Overview and background for the assessment;
• Approach and Methodology;
• Findings of the evaluation
• Recommendations to address challenges and lessons learned;
• Good practices
• Evaluation matrix summarizing the findings in terms of relevance, coverage, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence and connectedness;
• List of annexes (including the tools developed); and
• References.

Support to be provided by UNFPA

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

• Provide relevant documents, material, reports, etc;
• Provide list, contacts and map of UNFPA implementing partners and other stakeholders;
• Engage partners to facilitate the focus group discussions in the field;
• Review and provide technical comment/inputs on tools developed and final report.

Duration of Assignment

The assessment should be concluded within 8 weeks from the signing of the contract. (start up date 1st week of November)

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of increasingly responsible professional experience, and of which five years in GBV/RH and/or social sciences evaluation
• Advanced University degree in social/development sciences, public health or an associated field.
• At least 5 years’ experience in research and evaluation including considerable knowledge and skills in survey design, data collection and analysis;
• In-depth knowledge of humanitarian settings, UN system, government policies
• 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.