Background:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA expands the possibilities for women and young people to lead healthy and productive lives. Since UNFPA started working in 1969, the number – and rate – of women dying from complications of pregnancy or childbirth has been halved. Families are smaller and healthier. Young people are more connected and empowered than ever before.
Eradicating violence against women requires a comprehensive, holistic approach to address the impact on women’s physical and psychosocial health, as well as her participation in the economy and public life. Cash and voucher assistance (CVA) is now a common tool in humanitarian action used to meet the diverse needs of those affected by crisis and conflict, and it is on the rise. For example, CVA can help prevent early marriage or support GBV survivors to afford essential health or legal services.
GBV is a tremendous concern in humanitarian/health crises. In Lebanon, experiences have demonstrated that during this COVID-19 pandemic, the combination of economic and social stresses brought on by the pandemic, as well as restrictions on movement, confinement and weakened protection systems have increased the numbers of women and girls facing GBV. As of May 2020, UNFPA Lebanon initiated partnerships with 10 Implementing Partners (IPs) including national and international NGOs for implementing GBV and RH integrated activities focusing on provision of remote GBV case management along with needed referrals with particular focus on reproductive health services, remote psycho-social support, in addition to remote awareness raising interventions on GBV and RH and peer to peer initiatives focused on engaging men and boys in GBV prevention and response. UNFPA ensured also distribution of sanitary kits to vulnerable women and girls of reproductive age.
UNFPA Lebanon has made commitments to strengthen the mainstreaming CVA into its integrated GBV prevention, mitigation and response and reproductive health programming and is now seeking an expert to help guide UNFPA and its IPs in tailoring CVA interventions that would play a key role in the prevention of and response to GBV.
UNFPA requires a concrete plan for the country office outlining key programmatic steps and proposed operational decisions focusing on:
- Assess feasibility of different models (linking CVA to GBV case management, topping-up to other CVA interventions such as multi-purpose cash initiated by other actors, linking
CVA to national social protection schemes, etc…) for integrating CVA with GBV/RH programming. While the key focus of the assignment revolves around CVA and GBV, the expert is also expected to assess at small extent the mainstreaming of CVA in the integrated GBV/RH package.
- Validation or proposed updates of the selection process through case management, building on existing tools such as the WRC/Mercy Corps/IRC PDM template
- Design of the CVA (amount, frequency, delivery mechanism/ financial service provider)
- Draft monitoring plan and short/minimum info questionnaire for use by case managers or other IPs.
The consultant should also propose recommendations/ considerations for the following, which can be complemented and followed up by the country office:
- Multi-channel feedback via case management/IPs, SMS or hotlines etc. taking into account COVID-19 context/avoiding in-person contact
- Data protection considerations specific to the context or to the proposed delivery model
- Exit strategy considerations including linkages to national social protection and/or employment schemes
There is a strong foundation - growing global evidence base and inter-agency tools on CVA and GBV such as the CVA and GBV Compendium, WRC/MC/IRC package on CVA in GBV case management – that already exists on CVA and GBV. The consultant should adapt existing tools as relevant and refer to best practices on CVA in GBV in Lebanon and the region.
Deliverables:
CVA design plan in English with detailed operational aspects of CVA as part of the GBV/RH programme. CVA monitoring plan and questionnaire for use by case managers or other IPs.
Duration:
15-20 working days starting June 29th, 2020, to be completed by July 24th, 2020.
Duties and Responsibilities:
On behalf of UNFPA and guided by the UNFPA Lebanon Head of Office and the GBV Specialist, the expert will undertake the following duties to develop the CVA design:
- Carry out an inception meeting to ensure clear understanding of the TORs and expected outcomes and deliverables.
- Gather the most updated assessments from the Cash Working Group and key actors such as UNHCR, WFP, CAMELEON and others e.g. on financial service providers to quickly and concisely provide a landscape of feasible delivery models for UNFPA.
- Carry out 2-3 virtual meetings with country-level stakeholders that have successfully mainstreamed CVA in their GBV programmes (to be facilitated by UNFPA).
- Consult with UNFPA staff and partners.
- Based on the above consultations, develop a CVA design plan in English including concrete recommendations and proposed operational aspects, including a) how CVA can be used as a GBV intervention (including through remote service packages), b) what do programmes need to know before implementing CVA interventions to prevent or mitigate GBV, c) what challenges are foreseen and how they can be addressed/minimized, d) what evidence is there of the effectiveness of CVA interventions on GBV/RH , and e) a roadmap/plan of action for implementing the CVA through a gradual/pilot approach.
- Suggest needed tools (based on existing tools) for monitoring implementation of CVA interventions on GBV/RH.
- Finalize the report based on UNFPA’s feedback.
Core Values and Competencies:
A. Core Values:
- Respect for Diversity;
- Integrity;
- Professionalism.
B. Functional Competencies:
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in CVA programming/ and protection/gender/GBV, ideally having already conducted similar work on CVA as part of GBV programming;
- Strong knowledge and familiarity with the Lebanese humanitarian context, particularly CVA and GBV response.
- Ability to communicate complex information and ideas in a simplified manner;
- Strong written and oral communication skills in English;
- Ability to work under pressure and to deliver on time.
Required Qualifications and Experience:
The Consultant should fulfill the following requirements:
A. Education: Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Development Studies, or equivalent work experience.
B. Experience:
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in CVA programming and monitoring related to protection/gender/GBV, ideally having already conducted similar work on CVA as part of GBV programming;
- Demonstrated understanding of issues related to confidentiality, data safety/security and other ethical concerns related to GBV sensitive data;
- Experience in strategic analysis and report writing;
- Familiarity with governmental /non-governmental entities in Lebanon;
- Demonstrated organizational skills, including the ability to work independently and productively, with multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
- Familiarity with UN work is desirable C. Language and other skills: Proficiency in oral and written in English is essential. Proficiency in Arabic is an asset.
Interested individual consultants and readily available to take up this task must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
- A cover letter with a brief presentation of your consultancy explaining your suitability for the work and previous work portfolio, and ability to meet the requirements, method of engagement and other relevant information;
- Personal History form (P-11)
- Updated and relevant Personal CV; and
- Financial proposal inclusive of daily and lump-sum rate.
The above-mentioned documents should be submitted together by June 22, 2020 through the email link: bids_lbn@unfpa.org Incomplete submission can be a ground for disqualification.
