National Consultant (Gender and GBV Assessment Consultant)

Programme & Policy

Overview

Lead GBV and gender assessment for CBT programming.

You have:

• Advanced degree in gender studies, development studies, international relations, social sciences or other relevant fields
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in the gender and GBV areas
• Specific experience on conducting qualitative research including key informant interviews and focus group discussions
• Fluency in oral and written communication in English and Myanmar languages
• Strong analytical and communication skills

.

WFP seeks candidates of the highest integrity and professionalism who share our humanitarian principles.

Selection of staff is made on a competitive basis, and we are committed to promoting diversity and gender balance.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Contract type Special Service Agreement SSA Post Title National Consultant (Gender and GBV Assessment Consultant) SSA9 Number of Post One Duty Station Naypyitaw (Home-based) Report To Programme Policy Officer Duration of Service 5 Months Opening Date for Application 16 August 2021 Closing Date for Application 30 August 2021

ABOUT WFP

The United Nations World Food Programme is the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. We are the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.

Every day, WFP works worldwide to ensure that no child goes to bed hungry and that the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children, can access the nutritious food they need. At WFP, we are driven and defined by our mission to fight world hunger, save lives, feed people’s dreams of a brighter future, reduce risk and help enable people, communities and countries meet their own food and nutrition needs. WFP goes anywhere it’s needed and does what it takes to get the job done. You will find our people at the heart of every major humanitarian intervention around the world, providing the essential life-saving foundation required for those furthest behind. Each year, we reach an average of 80 million people with food assistance in around 80 countries. Delivering our mission requires deep respect for personal and cultural differences and close collaboration between every member of our global team. While the 16,000-people working for WFP reflect the rich diversity of the world in which we work, the vital importance of our shared mission underpins a remarkably close community of purpose.

The World Food Programme (WFP) is offering life-changing job opportunities you are unlikely to find in other organizations. Working at WFP will give you the opportunity to work beyond your expectations, to be enriched by truly meaningful work and deepen your professional expertise.

BACKGROUND

A range of feasibility studies, and the HARP CTP Review (Kachin and northern Shan) highlights that there remains a number of key protection risks, including Gender based Violence (GBV) which must be taken into account and mitigated as an integral component in the design and delivery of Cash Based Transfer Programming (CBT). While this is not a reflection of the use of cash, in and of itself, it reflects concerns that injections of cash may have in households and communities with high levels of gender inequality impacted by domestic violence and low levels of women engagement in household decision-making. The contexts in which CBT programmes are being implemented include protracted displacement, lack of livelihoods, and high levels of substance and alcohol abuse which exacerbate existing gender inequalities reflected in the household dynamics to which CBT may negatively contribute.

WFP has had food security and nutrition programming in Kachin and northern Shan State since 2008 in Kachin and 2004 in northern Shan, supporting people affected by poverty, disasters and conflict. WFP CBT programming in northern Shan State includes unconditional assistance to households by cash-in-envelope to 7,205 people (3,823 female and 3,382 male) in 17 camps, unconditional nutrition assistance for selected mothers (1,877) and children under two years of age (3,377 girls and boys), and conditional assistance by cash-in-envelope to 120 people (21 female and 99 male) who participate in asset creation and livelihoods (ACL) projects decided upon by their communities. In Kachin State, WFP CBT includes unconditional assistance by cash-in-envelope to 28,000 people (14,360 female and 13,640 male) in 67 camps, unconditional assistance by e-cash through Wave Money in Myitkyina and Waingmaw reaching 19,800 people (10,310 female and 9,490 female) in 38 camps, and conditional assistance by cash-in-envelope to 249 participants (79 female and 170 male) in Asset Creation and Livelihood (ACL) projects. There is an intention to shift from cash-in-envelope to e-cash in the remaining townships in Kachin, except in remote areas without an enabling environment for e-cash. In both northern Shan and Kachin there is a small proportion of CBT for school feeding and some CBT work with government or COVID-19 response although they are less of the focus of this joint project.

Given the increased promotion of CBT in humanitarian programming, including in Myanmar’s Humanitarian Response Plan, as key modality for the delivery of humanitarian assistance which serves to empower communities, it is critical that the CBT programmes empower all the individuals within a household, including women. It is also clear that continued expansion of CBT should systematically ensure protection risks are not exacerbated, and that CBT projects remain flexible in adapting to changes in context, particularly conflict dynamics.

PURPOSE OF THE CONSULTANCY

The Consultancy implements an assessment project which is a joint initiative of WFP and UNFPA, to mitigate risks of GBV and support gender transformative outcomes through CBT. This brings together the widespread coverage of WFP CBT programmes in Kachin and northern Shan States (NSS), with UNFPA’s experience in working with women and girls in Kachin and NSS through health and GBV programming, to maximize impact.

This assessment activity is mainly focused on a household level analysis to look into intra-familial relations in households receiving CBT in order to develop strategies to mitigate potential harm from cash transfers, particularly on women, girls, and socially marginalized groups including persons with disabilities engaged in WFP CBT, and further expansion of enhanced mitigation measures to be implemented with cash distributions, if necessary, and also inform the use of cash assistance for GBV prevention and response where WFP operates.

The specific reason for hiring a National Consultant to conduct the assessment project, rather than using WFP research assessment and monitoring (RAM) staff, is to ensure the activity is implemented by persons with expertise in GBV, to ensure safe and effective assessments and activities are conducted that do not expose respondents to harm. The purposes are to: 1. evidence the risks and benefits to gender equality from WFP CBT programming; 2. inform risk mitigation strategies for gender-based violence during CBT, and 3. provide an evidence base for the development of social and behavior change materials (SBCC) which would support GBV risk mitigation and gender transformative programming through CBT; and 4. provide recommendations for the feasibility of increased use of CBT for GBV prevention and response.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Gender and GBV Assessment Consultant is responsible for leading the assessment activity with the support of UNFPA and WFP who have already prepared a concept note and some questions to be explored. The consultant will settle upon a hybrid methodology of face-to-face in camps and other settings, and phone discussions with respondents, depending on COVID-19 considerations. The consultant form and train a team of enumerators to implement the tools, provide support to them during the implementation, and use the findings to draft a report with recommendations to WFP for enhancing gender equality and women’s empowerment and reducing risks of GBV in its CBT.

The Gender and GBV Assessment Consultant’s specific responsibilities and key accountabilities are detailed below.

Preparation Phase (September 2021)

• Assess the situation in Kachin and northern Shan states and what is feasible for this project taking into account the programming, the political crisis and pandemic
• Provide a brief report on suitable methodology for the activity including a hybrid of face-to-face (focus groups, key informant interviews) and remote (phone) consultations
• Contribute to the development of questionnaires and guidance materials for the safe, ethical and accountable implementation of them, and translate to Myanmar language
• Form a team of enumerators with training in GBV, provide them with additional training and briefing on the tool, and develop detailed plans (including field trips to camps) for implementation of the interviews including estimated travel expenses to submit for approval

Consultation Phase (October – November 2021)

• Lead consultation processes with the local partner organizations in Kachin and NSS
• Facilitate the interview processes with respondents including phone respondents and face-to-face identified IDP groups (women, men, adults, people with disabilities, camp leaders on camp management committees, food management committees, project management committees, women and men groups, host communities) in the selected camps of both locations
• Ensure voices of women and girls, persons with disabilities and older people throughout the interviews, and take account for integrating their voices in the report
• Ensure participation of non-Burmese speaking beneficiaries, and interpretation available for them
• Review ongoing progress of the assessment activity and share the unexpected limitations with WFP and UNFPA focal persons immediately for any changes might be required
• Present to UNFPA and WFP representatives the initial consultation findings of each location to team with specific recommendations and guidance on mitigating GBV in cash interventions

Reporting Phase (December 2021 – January 2022)

• Prepare the initial draft report, and consolidate inputs from other team members
• In consultation with the project team, provide technical support to the review and finalization of report including key recommendations
• Draft key messages for Gender and GBV Social and Behavior Communication Change (SBCC) for each specific location based on the results

ASSESSMENT LOCATION

Home-based with frequent travel in Kachin and NSS, and possibly to Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw if necessary.

DELIVERABLES AND ESTIMATED TIMELINES

The Gender and GBV Assessment Consultant is expected to work for five months starting from September 2021. The duration might be extendable subject to COVID-19 restrictions and the local security situation.

Phase Deliverable Timeline Preparation Inception report including methodology, questionnaires, guidance materials and identified suitable enumerators with their CVs End of September 2021 Consultation Consultations with varied stakeholders and interviews with IDPs October – November 2021 Reporting Draft report and technical inputs to the report finalization December 2021 - January 2022

4Ps CORE ORGANISATIONAL CAPABILITIES

Purpose

• Understand and communicate the Strategic Objectives: Understands WFP’s Strategic Objectives and the link to own work objectives.
• Be a force for positive change: Flexibly adapts individual contributions to accommodate changes in direction from supervisors and internal/external changes (such as evolving needs of beneficiaries, new requirements of partners).
• Make the mission inspiring to our team: Recognizes and shares with team members the ways in which individual contributions relate to WFP’s mission.
• Make our mission visible in everyday actions: Sets own goals in alignment with WFP’s overall operations, and is able to communicate this link to others.

People

• Look for ways to strengthen people's skills: Assesses own strengths and weaknesses to increase self-awareness, and includes these in conversations on own developmental needs.
• Create an inclusive culture: Participates in open dialogue, and values the diverse opinion of others, regardless of background, culture, experience, or country assignment.
• Be a coach & provide constructive feedback: Proactively seeks feedback and coaching to build confidence, and develop and improve individual skills.
• Create an “I will”/”We will” spirit: Participates in accomplishing team activities and goals in the face of challenging circumstances.

Performance

• Encourage innovation & creative solutions: Shows willingness to explore and experiment with new ideas and approaches in own work.
• Focus on getting results: Consistently delivers results within individual scope of work on time, on budget and without errors.
• Make commitments and make good on commitments: Commits to upholding individual accountabilities and responsibilities in the face of ever-changing country or functional priorities.
• Be Decisive: Makes rational decisions about individual activities when faced with uncertain circumstances, including in times of ambiguity regarding information or manager direction.

Partnership

• Connect and share across WFP units: Seeks to understand and adapt to internal or cross-unit teams’ priorities and preferred working styles.
• Build strong external partnerships: Demonstrates ability to understand and appropriately respond to and/or escalate needs of external partners.
• Be politically agile & adaptable: Portrays an informed and professional demeanor toward internal and external partners and stakeholders.
• Be clear about the value WFP brings to partnerships: Provides operational support on analyses and assessments that quantifies and demonstrates WFP’s unique value as a partner.

STANDARD MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The Gender and GBV Assessment Consultant shall have;

• An advanced degree in gender studies, development studies, international relations, social sciences or other relevant fields
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in the gender and GBV areas at different levels with experience in working with IDPs in Kachin and NSS
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with networks in the gender, development, humanitarian and peace nexuses in a fragile context
• Specific experience on conducting qualitative research including key informant interviews and focus group discussions, with specific experience on working with women and at-risk groups
• Fluency in oral and written communication in English and Myanmar languages, and other language spoken in Kachin and Shan States
• Experience in working with diverse people in a culturally sensitive manner and in applying principles of ethical and safety researching GBV including sexual violence
• Knowledge of the political, economic and social situation in Myanmar
• Strong analytical and communication skills, including facilitation, organizing, partnership and teamwork

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This post is opened for Myanmar Nationals Only.

Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Only short-listed candidates will be notified.

.

Female applicants and qualified applicants from developing countries are especially encouraged to apply

WFP has zero tolerance for discrimination and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.

No appointment under any kind of contract will be offered to members of the UN Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), International Civil Service Commission (ICSC), FAO Finance Committee, WFP External Auditor, WFP Audit Committee, Joint Inspection Unit (JIU) and other similar bodies within the United Nations system with oversight responsibilities over WFP, both during their service and within three years of ceasing that service.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 5 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: wfp.org