Consultancy - Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus Case Study

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Job Title: Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus Case Study Consultant

Contract type: Consultancy

Closing date: 31 August 2022

Duration of Assignment: 30 business days (over a 60 day period)

Duty Station: Home-based (as to be mutually agreed between UNFPA and the consultant)

Background & Context

UNFPA aims to achieve three world-changing transformative results by 2030: ending all preventable maternal deaths, ending unmet need for family planning and ending gender-based violence (GBV) including harmful practices such as female genital mutilation and child marriage. The work of UNFPA towards the transformative results takes place in a global context where an estimated 2 billion people are living in fragileand conflict-affected areas, a figure that is projected to grow to 2.3 billion by 2030.

The climate crisis represents a threat to sustainable development by multiplying existing risks that endanger the security of humans, ecosystems, economy, infrastructure and societies, with serious implications to the realization of human rights. Further, the associated humanitarian crises and increased levels of conflict induced by environmental degradation threaten livelihoods and in particular the well-being of women and girls.

Context plays an important role in contributing to the vulnerability and resilience of women, girls and other marginalized populations. More than half of all maternal deaths take place in countries affected by humanitarian crises and fragility. Gender-based violence (GBV) increases in humanitarian and emergency settings, raising the vulnerability of women and girls to domestic and sexual violence, abuse and exploitation, and harmful practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM), forced and early marriage and gender-biased sex selection (GBSS). But these vulnerabilities are not contained only to emergency settings. In periods of comparative stability, the reducing access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) or tacit acceptability and normalizing of GBV on the basis of prevailing social conventions also contributes to increased violence against women and girls.

The OECD Recommendation specifically addresses the need to strengthen coherence between humanitarian, development and peace operations, with the “aim of effectively reducing people’s needs, risks and vulnerabilities, supporting prevention efforts and thus, shifting from delivering humanitarian assistance to ending need”. ² The concept of the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus (‘HDPN’, ‘the triple nexus’ or ‘the nexus’) reinvigorates the push for stronger collaboration and coordination among actors through an approach focused on harmonizing coordination efforts across humanitarian, development and peace frameworks. The HDPN represents the culmination of an evolutionary process of thirty years within the fields of humanitarian assistance, development, and peacebuilding and peacekeeping. The comparatively recent interlinkage of these sectors is distinguished by emphasis on the achievement of collective outcomes through improved efficacy, accountability and impact.

For UNFPA, applying HDPN approaches aids the consolidation and integration of distinct operating silos and provides an enabling operational framework for functional and structural shifts to achieve the three transformative results and ensure continuity of interventions and services that leave no one behind no matter the context.

Consequently, in adhering to the OECD Recommendation, UNFPA aim in adopting the HDP nexus approach is to build resilience by strengthening the ability of the individual, community and systems to anticipate, mitigate and withstand shocks through the de-siloing of strategic frameworks, technical specializations and contextual practices which can improve collective efforts.

Rationale

Though there has not been a specific evaluation or assessment of the adoption of the HDPN approach in UNFPA, the external evaluation of UNFPA support to the prevention, response to and elimination of GBV and harmful practices (2012-2017), found that to reach the furthest behind, UNFPA should continue to strengthen the implementation of a continuum approach to address the HDP nexus. To this end, as UNFPA stepped up its efforts to achieve the three transformative results, there is evidence that the HDPN is a promising accelerator to strengthen interlinkages across the organization and through the work undertaken at country, regional and global levels. The HDPN approach has therefore been included as one of the accelerators in the new Strategic Plan 2022-25.

From focus group discussions, convened with 22 COs as part of the development of the UNFPA Strategic Guidance Framework for Applying the Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus Approach, it is evident that there are varying programme and operational strategies in applying the HDPN approach. These need to be captured to better inform overall guidance for UNFPA Offices as well as document the lessons, emerging good practices, gaps and challenges for cross-learning on programme and operational strategies being used.

In 2021 the IASC conducted a global mapping exercise to provide an overview of where and how HDPN approaches are implemented at the UNCT/HCT level, and to gather good practice and lessons learned. In applying a set of operational steps which are considered key components in constituting a HDPN approach, 16 countries were considered in the exercise. The key HDPN approach components were:

1. Joint analysis or sharing of analyses to obtain a shared understanding of need, risk, and vulnerability.
2. Articulation of ‘collective outcomes’ or HDP priority areas based on the areas of greatest need, risk and vulnerability.
3. Joined-up planning and programming in support of these collective outcomes or priorities.
4. Financing that is aligned or harmonized around these collective outcomes or priorities.

The IASC mapping and the identification of these 16 nexus countries is based on the implementation of collective outcomes. However, based on the varying experiences across UNFPA Offices that have adopted nexus approaches, including those implementing the Spotlight Initiative and global joint programmes for the elimination of FGM, to end child marriage and gender-biased sex selection, it is evident that other approaches have been developed and implemented which this collection of case studies is intending to identify and document.

Purpose of Consultancy

The purpose of the consultancy is to investigate and present case studies on the experiences of UNFPA country offices or programmes that have adopted nexus approaches, including those implementing the Spotlight Initiative and global joint programmes for the elimination of FGM, to end child marriage and gender-biased sex selection. Specifically, the consultancy will be to:

1. Compile the results/success stories, lessons learned, emerging good practices and gaps that require further support in implementing nexus approaches across UNFPA three transformative results.
2. Identify and assess the programme and operational strategies used in applying nexus approaches and in what contexts.
3. Provide practical and actionable recommendations for UNFPA strategic direction, operations and programming in regard to triple nexus approaches.
4. Develop case studies through a desk review, as well as quantitative and qualitative methods of primary data collection from at least 4 countries and support the finalization of 2 other case studies focused on joint programmes.

Key Areas to Document in Case Studies

Key areas to document in the case studies include but are not limited to:

• How nexus approaches are being operationalized and the successes, emerging good practices, and lessons learnt in the piloting and implementing of projects/programmes using triple nexus approaches. And the challenges and gaps that might inhibit the goals of using a triple nexus approach.
• In addition to the collective outcomes, identify the other approaches that are being used in advancing the nexus approach and the successes and challenges in these approaches.
• The extent to which UNFPA contributes to collective outcomes.
• Assess to what extent resilience is used as a framing lens for triple nexus approaches and in what contexts.
• Given the lessons learned during the COVID-19 crisis to date, include the extent to which GBV and harmful practices are systematically included in emergency preparedness and response plans, including in the context of services, access to justice, and support for interventions for social and gender norms change.
• Identify how work across humanitarian and development sectors is helping to build peace.
• The use of gender transformative programming and GBV as an integration factor of HDPN interventions, the inclusion of principles such as LNOB and other examples of UNFPA added value on nexus interventions.
• Identify the financing mechanisms to support nexus ways of working.
• Identify the partnerships, including for innovative financing, to support nexus ways of working.

Duties & Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the Technical Division led by the Gender Human Rights Branch, the tasks of the Consultant will include:

1. Literature Review: Lead preliminary desk research to identify available programme and support documents to take stock of HDPN programming in select UNFPA countries (list of countries and access to relevant UNFPA documents will be provided).
2. Consultations: Conduct interviews with key staff in select Regional and Country Offices on their current practices related to HDP nexus and what have been the results/success stories, lessons learned, emerging good practices and gaps that require further support in implementing nexus approaches across UNFPA three transformative results.
3. Assessment & Recommendations: based on review, consultants and data collected, provide practical and actionable recommendations for UNFPA strategic direction, operations and programming in regard to triple nexus approaches.
4. Draft case studies: lead the drafting of 4 case studies including responses to the research questions listed above for UNFPA review.
5. Validate, finalize & present Case Studies:
   1. Validate the findings and recommendations through at least one peer-review by staff of UNFPA (selection to be supported by UNFPA);
   2. Address the feedback provided and finalize the Case Studies for UNFPA approval;
   3. Present the Case Studies at a dissemination event; and
   4. Support the finalization of 2 other case studies being developed on joint programmes.

Required Expertise and Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s level) in gender, international development, humanitarian action or conflict studies, or other social science fields.

Competencies:

• Strong analytical, drafting and writing skills
• Skilled usage of computers and office software packages
• Excellent communication and advocacy skills to engage in effective consultation at all levels and target audiences

Knowledge and Experience:

• At least 5-8 years’ experience in developing comprehensive research studies and in using consultative approaches.
• Experience working with multiple international development and UN partners and agencies in national, regional or an international setting.
• Experience within UNFPA will be an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in writing strategic and research documents preferably for UN entities.
• Analytic capacity and demonstrated ability to process, analyze and synthesize complex information.

Languages:

• Fluency in English required; knowledge of other official UN languages, preferably French and/or Spanish, is an asset.

  How to Apply

Please send your application and a short letter of motivation with "HDP Nexus Case Study Consultant" in the subject line to GHRB@unfpa.org by 31 August 2022.

Disclaimer: UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, Embracing diversity in all its forms, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities for all including persons with disabilities.