Strengthen the Capacity of Social Workers to Efficiently Manage Cases of Women and Girls Users of Drugs, Gaza

Contract

This is a National Consultant contract. More about National Consultant contracts.

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women’s rights at the center of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinate United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

UN Women plays an innovative and catalytic role in the State of Palestine since its inception in 1997, (as UNIFEM). UN Women Palestine Office focuses its activities on one overarching goal, namely, to support the implementation at the national level of existing international commitments to advance gender equality in line with the national priorities. In support of this goal, and thoroughly taking into consideration the specificities of the Palestinian context, UN Women concentrates its efforts and interventions toward the realization of following strategic goals: Mainstreaming gender in governance, peace and security; Supporting women's economic security and rights; and Promoting women’s rights and protection against violence.

UN Women, as part of its’ global goals and commitments towards empowering women and enhancing gender equality and women’s access to justice is exerting efforts towards supporting the furthest left behind groups of women and girls’ victims and survivors of violence who face intersectional and compounded forms of Gender-Based violence (GBV), including physical, legal, psychosocial, economic, and sexual violence, which increase their marginalization and vulnerability. Deeply rooted discriminatory social norms and stereotypes reinforce the marginalization of the excluded groups within their families and the society at large. These norms and stereotypes are also reflected and translated into discriminatory laws and policies that reinforce exclusion and discrimination against them, in addition to the complete lack of responsive services to meet their needs, and the existence of non-responsive services that have not been adapted to the needs of the most marginalized, excluded and furthest left behind groups of women and girls’ victims and survivors of violence.

Under its work within SHAML Project - Enhancing the Protection and Reintegration of Furthest Left Behind Groups of Women and Girls, funded by the Government of Sweden through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), UN Women will capitalize on the ongoing efforts exerted by the different actors, particularly the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA), and the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) in relation to realizing the rights, and enhancing the status and services provided to the furthest left behind groups of women and girls’ victims and survivors of violence, and further support related national and local initiatives.

The furthest left behind groups of women and girls for this project are the seven groups of women and girls who are denied access to sheltering services as per the Cabinet’s decision of 2011 on Protection Centers for Women Victims of Violence: women who have committed crimes (misdemeanours and felonies) and are executing court sentences, women with physical and mental disabilities, substance abuse cases, women accused of prostitution, women or girls who have infectious diseases, women who form a threat to other women, and girls who are below the age of 18, in addition to elderly women particularly those with mental or physical disabilities.

Within this framework, UN women is working closely with civil society organizations in Gaza to enhance the wellbeing of women and girls’ users of drugs and accelerate the realization and fulfillment of their rights as one of the furthest left behind group. In this regards, UN Women is planning to contract a national consultant to enhance the capacity of social workers in the management of cases of women and girls’ users of drugs, to enable them to provide gender- responsive services, in line with the rights and best interest of these categories.

Objective of the assignment

The assignment aims to enhance the capacity of social workers providing services at CSOs centers and facilities, related to the management of cases of women and girls’ users of drugs, to enable them to provide gender- responsive care services.

More precisely, this assignment aims to achieve the following sub- objectives:

1. To increase the awareness of service providers at civil society organizations providing services to women and girls users of drugs, on the impact of drugs on women from the psychological, health, physiological and social aspects.
2. To increase service providers’ sensitivity towards the unique situation of women and girls’ users of drugs, including the compounded discrimination they face due to their use of drugs, and enhance their social skills to maintain victim centered and human rights-based approach,
3. To enhance social workers’ skills and knowledge in areas related to psychosocial support, protection, referral and reintegration services, to women and girls’ users of drugs

These objectives will be realized through providing social workers with capacity building programme, including awareness and training. The topics that will be covered in the capacity building programme, will include the below amongst others, while taking into consideration the special situation, rights, and needs of women and girls’ users of drugs:

• Case management guidelines for addiction cases including GBV cases.
• Developed strategies to deal with addiction cases according to case management methodology.
• Development of treatment plans and interventions for drug addicts inside the rehabilitation centers, with special focus on women and girls according to case management methodology.
• Criteria and standards to create an appropriate therapeutic home environment.
• Psychological and behavioral problems.
• Needs of the targeted group, the types of material used, the implication on their health and wellbeing, particularly within a politically and economically fragile context in Gaza.
• Practical mechanisms for prevention and treatment.
• Provision of psychosocial support skills, protection, and reintegration.
• International conventions related to drug use, such as the International Drug Control Conventions, the international law and drug policy reform, and the harm reduction strategy, which is the strategy adopted by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall guidance of the UN Women Special Representative in the State of Palestine, the direct supervision of UN Women Programme Specialist, and working in close cooperation and coordination with UN Women technical team, the selected consultant will undertake the following tasks, duties, and responsibilities:

1. Inception phase:

Develop an inception report that includes a detailed description of the work plan, list of targeted CSOs, and methodology, and share it with UN Women for review and approval, following the below tasks:

• Meet with UN Women’s technical team and stakeholders, to discuss the assignment’s objectives, methods and tools that will be used, and the main deliverables.
• Develop a methodology and a detailed work plan and share with UN Women for feedback. The workplan should include the main objectives of the assignment, target organizations, deliverables, time frame and initial outline of the capacity building programme.
• Conduct a review/ mapping of CSOs providing protection, rehabilitation and reintegration services to women and girls users of drugs in Gaza.
• Consult with UN Women to identify a list of CSOs that will be targeted, taking into consideration geographical distribution of these CSOs, with aim of reaching out to the most marginalized areas in Gaza.

2. Implementation phase:

Development and delivering of capacity building programme:

• To meet with UN Women’s technical team, partners and related CSOs to assess and identify the knowledge and skills gaps and priorities as pertaining to the provision of gender responsive services to the women and girls’ users of drugs.
• Based on the findings of the capacity assessment, to develop a comprehensive capacity building programme that takes into consideration the topics that have been listed above under the description of responsibilities section. The training programme will include different training tools, such as, case studies, PowerPoint Presentations, amongst other tools and materials.
• To share the capacity building programme with UN Women for inputs and approval.
• To deliver the capacity building programme (10 days), over two months. The capacity building programme should ensure the availability of interactive discussions and participatory tools and methods.
• To submit a report that will include a description of the capacity building programme, list of targeted CSOs, achievements, analysis of findings of pre and post capacity assessment and other aspects as relevant. Annexes should include the capacity building programme, agenda, pre and post assessment, list of participants, utilized methodology and others.

3. Final report:

To submit a final narrative report that includes a description of the assignment, the achievements, used methodology, main findings, lessons learned and recommendations for future interventions.

Deliverables:

• Deliverable 1: An approved inception report that includes the work plan, the methodological framework, list of CSOs that will be targeted, and the timeline for the deliverables, in English. (Expected delivery date: three weeks after the signing of the contract).
• Deliverable 2: A training report - upon the successful completion and delivery of the capacity building programme'. (Expected delivery date: two months after the signing of the contract).
• Deliverable 3: A final approved report in English that includes a description of the assignment, methodology used, target groups, lessons learned, recommendations for future related programming. (Expected delivery date: three months after the signing of the contract).

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity.
• Integrity.
• Professionalism.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and sensitivity towards gender, women’s rights, and violence against women
• Accountability.
• Creative Problem Solving.
• Effective Communication.
• Inclusive Collaboration.
• Stakeholder Engagement.
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: https://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf?la=en&vs=637

Functional Competencies:

• Very strong background on gender.
• Strong knowledge of rights and needs of users of drugs.
• Ability to manage time and meet tight deadlines.
• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
• Demonstrates strong oral and written communication skills.
• Builds strong relationships with clients, focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback.
• Remains calm, in control and good humored even under pressure.
• Proven networking, organizational and communication skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• A BA degree in social work supported with a diploma in related medical field, or therapy, or psychology, or societal health, or mental health, or any other related field. Master’s degree is considered a strong asset.

Experience:

• At least 4 years professional working experience in the field of health, or psyche social support, working specifically with women and girls’ users of drugs.
• At least 3 previous assignments in developing and delivering professional trainings specifically in areas related to services provision related to users of drugs, or substance abuse.
• At least 2 previous assignments in areas related to gender, violence against women and substance abuse (conducting training, writing reports and policy paper, etc…)
• Experience with the UN system or/and International Organizations is an asset.

Language Requirements:

• Professional knowledge of English, and fluency in Arabic

Evaluation Criteria:

This SSA modality is governed by UN Women General Terms and Conditions. UN Women will only be able to respond to applicants who meet the minimum requirements.

Candidates should clearly indicate how they meet the above-mentioned criteria in their applications.

The following documents should be submitted as part of the application. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials:

• UN Women P11 including experience in similar assignments; the P11 form can be downloaded at http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment, a signed copy should be submitted;

Candidates should have the ability to quickly submit degree certificates, medical certification (of good health) expression of Interest (EoI).

Evaluation of applicants:

Candidates will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications mentioned above, and financial proposal. A contract will be awarded to the individual consultant whose offer receives the highest score out of below defined technical and financial criteria. Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 50 points in the technical evaluation will be considered for financial evaluation.

Technical Evaluation (70%) – max. 70 points:

• A BA degree in social work supported with a diploma in related medical field, or therapy, or psychology, or societal health, or mental health, or any other related field. Master’s degree is considered a strong asset. (max. 10 points)
• At least 4 years professional working experience in the field of health, or psyche social support, working specifically with women and girls’ users of drugs. (max. 15 points)
• At least 3 previous assignments in developing and delivering professional trainings specifically in areas related to services provision related to users of drugs, or substance abuse. (max.20 points)
• At least 2 previous assignments in areas related to gender, violence against women and substance abuse (conducting training, writing reports and policy paper, etc.) (max. 10 points)
• A sample of previously developed and delivered training programme on rights, and services to users of drugs, preferably to women and girls’ users of drugs. (max. 10 points)
• Experience with the UN system or/and International Organizations (max 5 points)

Financial Evaluation (30%) – max. 30 points.

The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal is allocated to the lowest price proposal. All other price proposals receive points in inverse proportion. A suggested formula is as follows:

p = 30 (µ/z)

Using the following values:

p = points for the financial proposal being evaluated

µ = price of the lowest priced proposal

z = price of the proposal being evaluated

Only long-listed candidates will be contacted.

Financial proposal. Shortlisted candidate will be requested to submit a financial proposal. The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount breaking down a daily professional fee, proposed number of working days and any related expenses, i.e. travel and communications expenses.