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UNICEF Consultant Finalization of GBV Coordination handbook and Revision of IASC GBV Guidelines

Terms of Reference Junior Consultant for Finalization of the Gender-based Violence (GBV) Coordination Handbook and Revision of the Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC) GBV Guidelines

  1. Background The GBV Coordination Handbook The GBV Area of Responsibility, under the leadership of UNICEF, published the Handbook for Coordinating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings (GBV Coordination Handbook) in 2010. This ‘provisional’ edition of the Handbook was field tested in various settings in 2011 and was made available in 3 languages (English, French and Arabic) to facilitate an inclusive pilot phase. Hardcopies of the handbook have been disseminated in 18 countries and workshops have been conducted in 14 countries.

Two instruments were specifically developed to facilitate the monitoring and field testing process: a ‘Feedback Form’ appended to the Handbook and posted on the GBV AoR website, as well as a ‘Monitoring Checklist’ distributed through GBV AoR partners. Fifty-eight respondents representing 18 countries and 29 organizations (UN agencies, national and international NGOs and government departments) completed the Feedback Form. In addition, awareness-raising and training material was developed to support field colleagues to roll-out the provisional edition.

In December 2011, UNICEF on behalf of the GBV AoR, consolidated findings from the pilot phase of the provisional edition of the GBV Coordination Handbook into a report entitled Utility and Uptake of the Handbook for Coordinating Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings: Outcomes of the Preliminary Monitoring Process. This report details recommendations from field practitioners for adding or expanding upon various elements of the Handbook.

The IASC GBV Guidelines While the IASC Guidelines for Gender-based Violence Interventions in Humanitarian Settings (IASC GBV Guidelines) have led to greater cross-sectoral awareness around the prevention of and response to GBV in humanitarian settings, GBV is still often neglected at the earliest stages of an emergency and not considered a life-saving intervention.

And though the IASG GBV Guidelines have set the parameter for “best practice” action to prevent and respond to GBV in humanitarian emergencies, the Guidelines were published the same year as the launch of the Humanitarian Reform in 2005, and unfortunately could not refer to the evolving humanitarian response architecture which is now key to ensuring that the right structures, partnerships and leaders support an integrated GBV response. This includes the cluster system, humanitarian financing and interaction with in-country humanitarian leaders (“Humanitarian Coordinators”).

Seven years after their publication, a number of lessons have been learned that can improve the Guidelines and ensure that they continue to be a relevant vehicle through which to advocate for and implement cross-sectoral GBV prevention and response. This is also the year of the ‘Transformative Agenda’- an ongoing review the current approach to humanitarian response-, the outcomes of which can be reflected in the Guidelines revision. In addition, the GBV AoR has just finalized review of the provisional edition of the GBV Coordination Handbook; a concurrent update or revision of the GBV Guidelines will ensure consistency between these two major tools.

For both the finalization of the GBV Coordination handbook and the revisions of the IASC Guidelines, a dynamic and inclusive consultative process is crucial to ensuring both these tools strengthen GBV work in humanitarian settings.

  1. Purpose This contract seeks a consultant to work for a period of 11 months to support the finalization of the GBV Coordination Handbook and the Revision of the GBV Guidelines. This will include logistical and technical support to a Senior Consultant on the collection of feedback through workshops, hands-on and remote discussions with field users of the Handbook/GBV Guidelines as well as with other relevant organizations at the global/field levels, and drafting of new contents.

This work will be undertaken in full collaboration with the GBV AoR Working Group and through consultative process in and outside the GBV/Protection sector to generate a broad-based consensus. A dedicated Task Team has been established under the GBV AoR and will function as a peer-review working group comprised of GBV experts from IASC membership, humanitarian organizations representing of the diversity of the humanitarian community, and will include both field and global technical experts from UN agencies, NGOS and Academic world.

  1. Expected Results The consultancy will support UNICEF to finalize the GBV Coordination Handbook and revise the IASC GBV Guidelines. The consultant will fully or partially carry out the tasks specified below: • Track and monitor progress made on the workplan in line with the agreed timeframe for finalizing the Handbook and revising the Guidelines; • Provide logistical support to monthly or bi-weekly teleconferences with the GBV AoR Task Team/peer-review working group to document and track progress on the agreed upon objectives of the workplan within the designated timeframe; • Track, document and consolidate feedback from users of the GBV Coordination Handbook and IASC GBV Guidelines; • Provide planning and logistical oversight for field missions and for one (3-day) face-to-face meeting in New York or Geneva, including documentation of key discussion points and recommendations; • Undertake field consultation missions and document key recommendations from field-based stakeholders; • Conduct desk reviews and summarize material relevant for revisions and new content for each tool; • Collect, organize and track substantive inputs provided by multiple stakeholders including key field cluster/sector partners on the preliminary draft of the Guidelines; • Review the GBV Coordination Handbook and assist in the validation process from the Task Team on the final edition; and • Draft new content for the GBV Guidelines and the GBV Coordination Handbook.

  2. Duration: 231 days within a 11-month period from 15 October, 2012 to 15 September, 2013

  3. Major Outputs and Timeline UNICEF and UNFPA in collaboration with the GBV AoR Handbook and Guidelines Task Team will work closely with this consultant, to support different elements of the tools revision, finalization, and pilot testing. The specific outputs will include:  Questionnaire design and dissemination to solicit information from various stakeholders and field practitioners;  Maintain consistent communication with GBV field coordination mechanisms and other relevant actors, including other sectors and Global Cluster Coordinators, throughout the project to ensure that tools reflect a variety of inputs and views;  Roll-out material for the GBV Coordination Handbook is updated;  Roll-out material for the IASC GBV Guidelines is available;  Final Edition of the GBV Coordination Handbook is ready for editing and printing;  Revised Edition of the IASC GBV Guidelines is ready for field-testing;  A dissemination plan for the 2 revised tools is available.

  4. Location: The consultancy will be home-based. Travel to UNICEF Headquarters in New York and/or to Geneva as well as to countries affected by humanitarian crises may be required during assignment.

  5. Key skills, technical background, and experience required: This consultancy requires experience on GBV programming in conflict and natural disasters affected countries and/or on other protection issues at the field level and (if possible) at the international level along with strong organizational skills. • A minimum of 5 years of humanitarian or related work experience in GBV programming in natural disasters and conflict-affected countries. • Experience in supporting research and development of training and tools on GBV programming issues in humanitarian settings. • Excellent organizational, communication, writing and editorial skills in English, knowledge of another UN language such as French will be an asset. • Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Public Health or other related field is required.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

The following conditions of service apply to all individual consultants:

  1. LEGAL STATUS Individuals engaged under a consultant contract serve in a personal capacity and not as representatives of a Government or of any other authority external to the United Nations. They are neither “staff members” under the Staff Regulations of the United Nations and UNICEF policies and procedures nor “officials” for the purpose of the Convention of 13 February 1946 on the privileges and immunities of the United Nations. Consultants may, however, be given the status of “experts on mission” in the sense of Section 22 of Article VI of the Convention. If they are required to travel on behalf of the United Nations, they may be given a United Nations certification in accordance with Section 26 of Article VII of the Convention.

  2. OBLIGATIONS Consultants shall have the duty to respect the impartiality and independence of the United Nations and shall neither seek nor accept instructions regarding the services to be performed for UNICEF from any Government or from any authority external to the United Nations. During their period of service for UNICEF, consultants shall refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on the United Nations or UNICEF and shall not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the discharge of their duties with the Organization. Consultants are required to exercise the utmost discretion in all matters of official business of the Organization. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, consultants are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the Standards of Conduct in the International Civil Service. Consultants are to comply with the UNICEF Standards of Electronic Conduct and the requirements set forth in the Secretary General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, both of which are incorporated by reference into the contract between the consultants and UNICEF. Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the office concerned, consultants shall not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or other authority external to UNICEF any information that has not been made public and which has become known to them by reason of their association with the United Nations. The consultant may not use such information without the written authorization of UNICEF. Nor shall the consultant use such information for private advantage. These obligations do not lapse upon cessation of service with UNICEF.

  3. TITLE RIGHTS UNICEF shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material which bears a direct relation to, or is made in consequence of, the services provided to the Organization by the consultant. At the request of UNICEF, the consultant shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to the Organization in compliance with the requirements of the applicable law.

  4. TRAVEL If consultants are required by UNICEF to travel beyond commuting distance from their usual place of residence, such travel at the expense of UNICEF shall be governed by conditions equivalent to the relevant provisions of the 100 series of the United Nations Staff Rules (Chapter VII) and relevant UNICEF policies and procedures. Travel by air by the most direct and economical route is the normal mode for travel at the expense of UNICEF. Such travel will be by business class if the journey is nine hours or longer, and by economy class if the journey is less than nine hours, and first class by rail.

  5. MEDICAL CLEARANCE Consultants expected to work in any office of the Organization shall be required to submit a statement of good health prior to commencement of work and to take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement, including confirmation that they have been fully informed regarding inoculations required for the country or countries to which travel is authorized.

  6. INSURANCE Consultants are fully responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the period of their services on behalf of UNICEF as they consider appropriate. Consultants are not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to United Nations staff members. The responsibility of the United Nations and UNICEF is limited solely to the payment of compensation under the conditions described in paragraph 7 below.

  7. SERVICE INCURRED DEATH, INJURY OR ILLNESS Consultants who are authorized to travel at UNICEF’s expense or who are required under the contract to perform their services in a United Nations or UNICEF office, or their dependants as appropriate, shall be entitled in the event of death, injury or illness attributable to the performance of services on behalf of UNICEF while in travel status or while working in an office of the Organization on official UNICEF business to compensation equivalent to the compensation which, under Appendix D to the United Nations Staff Rules (ST/SGB/Staff Rules/Appendix D/Rev.1 and Amend.1), would be payable to a staff member at step V of the First Officer (P-4) level of the Professional category.

  8. ARBITRATION Any dispute arising out of or, in connexion with, this contract shall, if attempts at settlement by negotiation have failed, be submitted to arbitration in New York by a single arbitrator agreed to by both parties. Should the parties be unable to agree on a single arbitrator within thirty days of the request for arbitration, then each party shall proceed to appoint one arbitrator and the two arbitrators thus appointed shall agree on a third. Failing such agreement, either party may request the appointment of the third arbitrator by the President of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal. The decision rendered in the arbitration shall constitute final adjudication of the dispute.

  9. TERMINATION OF CONTRACT This contract may be terminated by either party before the expiry date of the contract by giving notice in writing to the other party. The period of notice shall be five days in the case of contracts for a total period of less than two months and fourteen days in the case of contracts for a longer period; provided however that in the event of termination on the grounds of misconduct by the consultant, UNICEF shall be entitled to terminate the contract without notice. In the event of the contract being terminated prior to its due expiry date in this way, the consultant shall be compensated on a pro rata basis for no more than the actual amount of work performed to the satisfaction of UNICEF. Additional costs incurred by the United Nations resulting from the termination of the contract by the consultant may be withheld from any amount otherwise due to the consultant from UNICEF.

  10. TAXATION The United Nations and UNICEF undertake no liability for taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant on payments made under this contract. No statement of earnings will be issued by the United Nations or UNICEF to the consultant.

How to apply:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV and signed P11 form (which can be downloaded from our website at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html, to pdconsultants@unicef.org with the subject line mentioning “Junior Consultant Finalization of GBV Coordination handbook and Revision of IASC GBV Guidelines” by 3 October 2012. Please indicate your ability, availability and daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily (or monthly) rate will not be considered.