UNDP Jobs - 62688- Arabic Speaking Consultant To Support Research and

Arabic Speaking Consultant To Support Research and Analysis of an Ongoing Study on the laws, olicies and Practices Affecting Sexual and Gender Based Violence in Countries in the Middle East and North Africa

Location :

Home- Based

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

15-Jan-2016

Application Deadline :

05-Jan-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

65 Working Days until 31- August-16

Languages Required :

Arabic English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Although GBV is a worldwide phenomenon cutting across cultures, religions, age groups, and socio-economic statuses,GBV in the Arab States Region is most frequently manifested as reports of domestic violence, child, early, and forced marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM),sex and labour trafficking, rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, and honour-based crimes, including mutilation, acid throwing, and femicide.It is therefore an area of great concern to the Arab States, due in part to the following factors in the region:

Legal framework in the region

Almost all Arab countries recognize women’s rights as human rights, and GBV, a serious and pervasive human rights violation and an extreme form of discrimination. Constitutional rights, civil rights, and political liberties overlap and intertwine; hence, they cannot be reviewed individually. The constitutions and positive laws of most Arab countries explicitly stipulate the principles of equality between men and women. However, contradictions do exist between constitutions and public life related laws on the one hand and laws managing private life, such as penal code and family laws that legalize discrimination and even violence in its different forms, jeopardizing all legal achievements and gender norm shifts related to gender equality.

In a number of countries, constitutions clearly state the prohibition of sex-based-discrimination, gender equality as a fundamental principle, and for some of them combating violence against women as a priority. Yet, the repeated weakness in providing protection and meaningful recourse for violations of human and legal rights of women and GBV survivors has led to growing needs for the adoption of stronger measures and legislation to protect women’s rights and increase women’s access to justice.

Consequently, several important questions arise regarding the adoption and strength of GBV laws, including:

What is the definition of GBV in the various legislations and laws in the Countries of the region?
What are the differences between countries that have, or do not have, legal protection of women survivors of GBV?
What differences in the laws addressing GBV exist across countries?
What laws protecting women from GBV currently exist and how strong are these protections?
What influences the adoption and strengthening of GBV laws?
How do traditions and customs affect the implementation of such laws?
What influences the adoption and strength of GBV laws?
How do traditions and customs affect the implementation of such laws?
How do countries use CEDAW enacting laws and legislation in terms of GBV?
What are the institutional responses that enhance protection towards GBV?

Project Description

In order to facilitate effective evidence-based programming on GBV that focuses on rule of law and access to justice interventions, the Governance and Peacebuilding Team (which includes HIV, Health and development areas of work) together with the gender team at the Regional Hub for Arab States commissioned in November 2015 a comprehensive study on laws, policies and practices related to GBV in the 20 countries in the Arab States.

While there have been several studies already conducted analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of Constitutional protections, Penal Codes, Anti-trafficking laws, Family/Personal Status laws, etc. vis-à-vis Gender Based Violence, the research has generally been on the main laws and analyzing countries within it, and not country by country with in depth analysis of laws, policies and practices. The aim of this initiative is to focus on each of the 20 countries specific legislation.

The study will include the legal frameworks on domestic, local, and cultural/religious laws and de facto policies and practices that have an impact on, and relate to, GBV in its 5 different forms i.e. sexual violence (SV), physical violence, emotional and psychological violence, harmful traditional practices, and socio-economic violence in each of the 20 countries in the region. In addition it will contain an overview of the current GBV responses and the capacity of state and non-state actors in preventing, protecting and providing access to justice to those affected by GBV.

A lead consultant was hired in November 2015 and already started to define the framework and do some analysis. However, since the scope of work is extensive a second consultant fluent in Arabic and with through understanding of GBV in the Arab States is sought to support the ongoing efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities

The objective of this assignment is to support the lead consultant to produce the analysis in the 20 countries. This will be done initially through a literature review, and then supporting incorporating the feedback that will be obtained from countries.

This assignment’s objectives are to support:

nitial Desk Review by; Supporting the lawyer and lead consultant hired for this assignment to identify through a desk-based literature review the different laws, regulations and law enforcement practices and policies related to GBV in the 20 countries in the Arab States, especially all the material written in Arabic; Translating relevant information in Arabic to be included in the desk review; Supplementing the findings of the desk review with inputs from known resources not necessarily published; Country consultations; When each country chapter is ready, a consultation process facilitated by UNDP in country will take place, with the objective of a) validating the written chapter and b) organizing country consultation with lawyers, key justice stakeholders, women’s groups, people specialized and working on GBV in country to gather the policies and practices that occur on the ground regardless of what the law stipulates; Proof reading the Arabic translation of each country chapter before those are sent to each country for validation; Supporting the inclusion of feedback into each country chapter and follow up for clarifications in Arabic and English as needed; Given the expertise of the consultant in the subject matter, he/she will also support identifying key actors that should be involved in consultations that will be conducted to supplement the information gathered through all the initiative.

Competencies

Ability to consolidate information from multiple sources;
Able to prepare strategic information for decision makers;
Ability to work independently as well as good team player.
Excellent written communication skills in English and Arabic, including editing;
Excellent time management and ability to produce outputs as per agreed deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Advanced Degree (MSc) in Law, Gender, Development Studies, Social Sciences or academic equivalent

Experience:

At least 7 years professional experience producing Human Rights advocacy and analytical work, with emphasis on vulnerable or marginalized groups'
Of which at least 5 years of extensive experience working on sensitive legal environment issues with governments, human rights bodies, civil society, development partners and community based organizations;
Demonstrated expertise in producing flagship advocacy documents that are able to influence policy and programmatic change relating to Human Rights, Gender and Gender Based Violence;
Substantive previous experience working with the UN, donors, multilateral organizations and NGOs an asset;
Verified practice on coordinating and producing high quality peer reviewed publications for UN, development partners, government and academic journals;
Previous experience with UN system is preferable including knowledge of UN terminology, language and style.

Language:

The candidate shall be fluent in English and Arabic, with excellent writing abilities in both languages, including editing.

Documents to be included when submitting the proposals:

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information as one file to demonstrate their qualifications. Candidates that fail to submit the required information will not be considered.

Duly accomplished letter of confirmation of interest and availability using the template provided by UNDP;
Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
Brief description of why you consider yourself as the most suitable for the assignment, and two samples of work that show your competence to undertake this assignment;
Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per the table given in section D. template provided.

All necessary information including: Complete Procurement Notice, The selection criteria, and annexes are found on the following link under procurement http://procurement-notices.undp.org/

Interested candidate should apply to Job advertisement website by submitting CV/P11, then it is mandatory to submit the following documents to website: Proc.contract.rscjo@undp.org not later than 5th of January, 2016:

CV/P11; Confirm availability and financial proposal; Brief description of why you consider yourself as the most suitable for the assignment; Two samples of work that show your competence to undertake this assignment.

Financial proposal

Interested candidates should make a lump sum to produce the 4 outputs which can be guided by the estimated number of days that have been provided for each output in the table above. In addition provide breakdown of lump sum fees by mentioning daily professional fees, number of Working days and travel fees (If any) is requested

Evaluation:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Step I: Screening and desk review:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology

Applications will be first screened and only candidates meeting the following minimum criteria will progress to the pool for shortlisting:

Master’s degree in in Law, Gender, Development Studies, Social Sciences or academic equivalent;
Language: Complete fluency in English and Arabic (written and oral);
Mandatory submission of UNDP Personal History form (P11);
Brief description of why you consider yourself as the most suitable for the assignment,and two samples of work that show your competence to undertake this assignment;
Competences and qualifications based on the UNDP P11 form submitted by each candidate;

Shortlisted Candidates will be then assessed and scored against the following evaluation criteria.Evaluation of Candidates (max 100 points):

Work sample and motivation letter demonstrate expertise in working on GBV in the Arab states, and the candidate show ability to produce complex topics easy to understand with clear, coherent and concise argumentation and analysis and able to influence policy and programmatic change relating to Human Rights, Gender and Gender Based Violence – 30%;
At least 7 years professional experience producing Human Rights advocacy and analytical work, with emphasis on vulnerable or marginalized groups;20%;
Extensive experience working on sensitive legal environment issues with governments, human rights bodies, civil society, development partners and community based organizations – 20%;
Candidate shall be fluent in English and Arabic, with excellent writing abilities in both languages, including editing 30%.

Step II: Final evaluation

The final evaluation will combine the scores of desk review and financial proposal with the following weights assigned to each:

Shortlisting: 70%;
Financial proposal: 30%.