Consultant - IFRC SGBV programming tools review

Background

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with 192 member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organization, with 192 member National Societies. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, our work is guided by seven fundamental principles; humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.
For one hundred years, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has been there, uniting 192 member National Societies and around 12 million volunteers in the world’s largest humanitarian network and delivering emergency relief, disaster preparedness and response, and humanitarian services to more than 160 million people per year. Whether the needs stem from disaster, disease or climate change, the IFRC is there to assist and to support National Societies in planning, preparing for and delivering services. The IFRC is a recognised leader in international humanitarian response. Our unique combination of community-level capacity, national know-how and a global network of solidarity, expertise and resources means that we can go faster, we can go further, and reach people and communities that others are unable to. We bring hope and relief to the last mile and do our part to ensure that no one is left behind.
The IFRC’s work on SGBV is one part of broader approach to ensuring that issues of Protection, Gender and Inclusion (PGI) are integrated into emergencies and development work. In 2015, The Movement of the Red Cross and Red Crescent adopted the 32nd International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Resolution (32IC/15/R3) on Sexual and gender-based violence: Joint action on prevention and response, outlining the roles and responsibilities of the IFRC to prevent and respond to SGBV in disasters and other emergencies such as public health emergencies and climate change. IFRC’s institutional commitment to address SGBV in emergencies is also reflected in its membership in the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-based Violence in Emergencies and GBVAoR, as well as the 2019-2022 Appeal on SGBV, which has a pillar on knowledge and implementation of standards.
In line with the commitments above and with the localization agenda formulated in the Grand Bargain, IFRC is committed to support national societies, as local actors, to design, implement, and evaluate gender- transformative, specialized SGBV prevention and response services in every phase of emergency response, and ensure continuity of services post-emergency. The SGBV programming approach envisioned will focus on strengthening local and national systems and foster local and national ownership, and will seek to empower communities, particularly women and girls and other groups at-risk of SGBV for a long-term change to prevent and response to SGBV.

Job Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to conduct a desk review of the different programming tools used by national societies in the field of SGBV prevention and response programming and assess their alignment with the Inter-Agency Minimum Standards for Gender Based Violence in Emergencies published in 2019 by the GBVAoR, and highlight gaps and needs for further programmatic tools development to ensure quality of interventions and alignment with acknowledged global standards taking into account the specific need and capacities of national societies as local actors and first responders.

The desk review and assessment of programming tools will focus on conducting an analysis to provide IFRC with knowledge and evidence on how IFRC could strengthen its technical support to national societies in the field of SGBV prevention and response programming.

The consultancy is expected to cover the following key areas of SGBV prevention and response programming: SGBV rapid assessments and service mapping, multisectoral assistance for coordinated healthcare, psychosocial support, justice and safety services. Community-based interventions to address root causes of SGBV, particularly intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual violence, sexual harassment, as well as harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation (FGM). Clear linkages will be made with the child marriage guidance being developed under the leadership of the IFRC Child Protection Advisor. The consultant is expected to review existing internal[1] and external tools being used by national societies on building safety, dignity, participation of groups at-risk of SGBV, particularly women and girls, as well as M&E and Information Management of SGBV programming interventions, and Coordination in light of the 14 minimum standards outlined in the IASC GBV Minimum Standards.

Further to the desk review and assessment of existing programming tools highlighting key gaps and priorities to address, the consultant is expected to provide a proposed outline for an SGBV prevention and response toolkit that will aim to guide, in a user-friendly and practical way, national societies staff and volunteers involved in designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating SGBV prevention and response interventions, in line with global best practices. This outline will take into account contexts where a trained SGBV or Protection Gender & Inclusion (PGI) staff/ focal point is available in the national society to lead and support SGBV prevention and response as well as contexts where no SGBV/PGI focal point is available in a national society but essential life-saving interventions can still be implemented.

The consultant will also review and assess the existing IFRC SGBV training materials and propose, if needed, a concrete way forward to strengthen them and will propose a training outline for managers/focal points of SGBV programmes in national societies and within the Federation field delegations, in line with global best practice. [1] E.g. Community-based Health and First Aid and Youth as Agents of Behavioural Change (YABC)

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The consultant will be responsible for:

1. Desk review of existing internal and external SGBV prevention and response tools and approaches used by selected national societies. The consultant will take stock of available tools and approaches for SGBV prevention and response programming and will assess them against globally recognized SGBV prevention and response programming tools and approaches, using the IASC GBV Minimum Standards as well as other key resources as relevant (such as the Interagency Gender-Based Violence Case Management Guidelines) in order to highlight the gaps and needs for the development or adaptation of programming tools and resources such as an SGBV prevention and response programming toolkit in line with global standards as well as the need to revise and update existing resources internal to the movement. As part of the desk review, the consultant will be responsible to conduct key informant interviews with IFRC staff in Geneva, Regional Offices, and field delegations, as well as selected national societies SGBV focal points, Health and PSS staff and volunteers, and other key informants such as SGBVWG Chair, SGBV focal points in Partner National Societies and ICRC Sexual Violence Team members.

2. Creation of a resource e-library of tools being used by selected NSs with brief description of each tool.

3. Development of an outline for an SGBV programming toolkit. The proposed outline will take into account two scenarios:

3.1. Scenario A: national societies with no to limited SGBV capacity: an outline with a minimum package of services/interventions will be developed, focusing on essential actions such as SGBV mainstreaming/risk mitigation across sectors (building on the PGIiE Minimum standards and Toolkit as well as external resources), safe referrals and coordination with other actors to be implemented at the onset of emergencies but also as part of preparedness plans.

3.2. Scenario B: national societies with capacities to address SGBV (trained staff and available resources): an outline with an expanded package of services and interventions will be developed. It is envisaged that this outline will cover all aspects of SGBV response and prevention programming designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating SGBV programmatic interventions, from initial response through recovery efforts, with a focus on strengthening local and national systems, both formal and informal, to empower communities, particularly groups at-risk of SGBV such as women and girls, and support long-term change to prevent and response to SGBV.

3.3. Review of existing training materials developed by IFRC related to SGBV and desk review of training materials used by selected national societies on SGBV prevention, response, and mainstreaming/risk mitigation and assessment of these training materials to identify gaps and needs for further training materials development or updating existing IFRC tools.

3.4. Development of a training outline for SGBV programme management targeting IFRC and national societies staff involved in supervising and implementing SGBV interventions.

The consultant will provide:

1. An inception report outlining the proposed methodology to conduct the desk reviews and identification of gaps and development of toolkits and trainings outlines. The inception report will outline the consultants’ methodology, work plan, and proposed timeframe.

2. A draft desk review of the programming tools and a draft desk review of the training materials.

3. A draft outline of the SGBV programming toolkit with the minimum package toolkit outline and the expanded package outline. final evaluation report for comments. The comments to be forwarded to the evaluation team within two weeks after receiving the draft.

4. A draft outline of the training package on SGBV programme management for SGBV staff and focal points.

5. A final report with action-oriented recommendations on the next steps to develop a comprehensive SGBV prevention and response toolkit adapted to the needs of national societies.

The consultant will work under the supervision of the SGBV Officer in IFRC Geneva. A steering committee composed of IFRC regional focal points and partner national societies will be established to review and validate deliverables and progresses as well as final products of this consultancy. The consultant will work closely with a list of key informants from IFRC and national societies as well as ICRC (list of focal points to be provided) in selected countries and regional offices.

Education

Advanced university degree or equivalent in social sciences, public health, or other relevant field related to SGBV programming.

Experience

Minimum 7-8 years of progressive humanitarian experience in the field of SGBV; at least 5 of which should be field-based or in emergency contexts.

Knowledge, skills and languages

Required:

• Strong knowledge of SGBV in emergencies programming (prevention, response, and mainstreaming/risk mitigation).
• Experience in SGBV programme management.
• Experience in SGBV training materials and programming materials development Experience working with conflict-affected communities, particularly women and children.
• Ability to collect, collate and analyse data in an efficient and effective manner.
• Analytical, methodical and precise style of writing.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
• Communicates effectively to varied audiences.
• Good communication skills.
• Ability to work quickly and deliver products in line with agreed timeframes.
• Excellent English writing skills.
• Fluency in English required.

Preferred:

• Previous experience in designing SGBV programming toolkits.
• Fluency in French and Spanish is highly desired.

How to apply:

Please include:

1. CV
2. Motivation letter (no longer than 3 pages) outlining the process for conducting this work, the methodology, timeframe, your budget and overall rate
3. Writing samples (at least 3) of similar work conducted previously

Applications are accepted exclusively through the IFRC jobs portal at: https://www.ifrc.org/en/who-we-are/working-with-us/current-vacancies/job-description/?id=64256

Closing date for this application 10 November 2020, 24h00 Geneva time

The Federation is an equal opportunity employer.