Background

I. Background
Inter-group violence in the Hela Province of PNG is long-term and protracted. The causes of these violence are complex and multifaceted, intergenerational trauma at an individual and collective level is fundamentally linked to conflict in the Hela Province. Conflict and oppression have significant but often overlooked mental health impacts on persons, which in turn may weaken the social fabric that governs relationships, the capacity for recovery and opportunities for reconciliation. In the aftermath of conflict, these causes of the conflict often remain and continue to foster mistrust and fear. Hence, trauma from past conflicts tends to self-perpetuate through the concept of grudges and ‘payback’, which can span generations. Trauma-processing is hindered by repeated exposure to traumatic experiences, combined with the erosion of social protection, limited resources, and learning opportunities, loss of community modeling and support, and effectively no access to professional assistance. The mental health impact of this violence challenges any meaningful peaceful cohabitation and social cohesion that may come as a result of conflict resolution efforts. Studies in other contexts, notably in Bougainville in 2013, found that a key contributing factor to violence, including against women, is persistent and unaddressed conflict- related trauma12. Further research has shown that individuals with unaddressed conflict-related trauma are less likely to engage in peacebuilding, mediation, and development initiatives. Thus, addressing conflict-related trauma is critical to interrupting patterns of violence and promoting sustainable peace.

MHPSS services in Hela Province are scarce. There are no specialized mental health care providers. Facility-based health care workers have been trained in basic counseling and provide these services in the context of one-to-one clinical care. However, access to facilities and
services is often severely limited due to conflict, poor infrastructure, and the overwhelming scale of need which exceeds the
capacity of staff. Community and church-networks provide a critical source of emotional and spiritual support for communities affected by violence. Some have received basic training in psychological first aid, however, most have not. Interviews with providers raise significant concerns about their practice of ‘counseling’, which often functions as harmful mediation between a survivor, perpetrator and their families which results in re-traumatization.

In 2022, UN Women and UNFPA secured funding under PBF to mitigate the MHPSS.
consequences of violence, in particular but not limited to GBV, as well as support individuals and communities to develop the skills to effectively manage and address trauma without resorting to violence to interrupt this cycle. MHPSS interventions envisioned to provide an avenue for group processing of trauma, inter-group trust building and the re-envisioning of collective identities to address said structural drivers of MHPSS concerns and intra-group violence. In this way, these intersecting approaches provide a critical contribution to local peacebuilding processes. MHPSS Intervention is to complement existing initiatives responding to violence in Hela Province with mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSS) that address the intergenerational trauma driving and perpetuating communal conflict.

MHPSS intervention aims to address the underlying causes of conflict responsible for the cycle of inter-group violence, and resultant conflict-related trauma, in Hela province by providing mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) to women, men and young men and women and capacities for ongoing support to the efforts. These efforts require specialized MHPSS professionals to be engaged by the project to provide capacity building trainings (counselling), data collection research on MHPSS best local practices and integrate the findings to MHPSS curriculum development.

Duties and Responsibilities

II. Objectives of the engagement.
The task required under this engagement supports delivery of Outcome one and three of MHPSS initiatives. The Specific objectives are:

• Generate knowledge and evidence on the gendered and age-specific impacts of

conflict and gender/age differences in response to conflict-related trauma (Output 1.1)

• Contribute to the training of community stakeholders and health workers on MHPSS improve knowledge and skills based on the research outcome (Output 1.3)

III. Scope of Work/Duties and Responsibilities

• Under the direct supervision of the MHPSS Technical Specialist, and in close collaboration with the Program Manager and Men and Boys Coordinator, the Consultant will be responsible for Design and implement research data collection tools and methodology based on gender and age focused MHPSS and peacebuilding.
• Implement data collection using designed tools and methodology.
• Analysis of data and report the research findings.
• Validation of research findings presentation through workshop/seminar

Expected Deliverables and Timeframe

The duration of this assignment will be for 6 weeks, beginning 1 April (upon signing of the contract) and
end on the 19th May 2023.

Deliverables                                                                         Target Date                                      Payment
1. Develop data collection tool, materials, and                    1st –  14th April 2023                          50% of the agreed total after presenting
    methodology                                                                                                                                research findings for part 1

• Conduct data collection                                            17th – 28th April
  2023
• Data validation, analysis, and documentation          17th – 28th April

2. Presentation of findings through Seminar/                      1st –  12th May2023                         50% of the agreed total amount after presentation     Workshop                                                                                                                                    of MHPSS Curriculum for part 2          

• Review MHPSS curriculum for its                            19th May – 2023
  effectiveness to address the key findings of
  the research and final reports.

V. Expected Deliverables
The consultant is expected to deliver the following milestones:
a) High Quality data collection tools and methodology are developed for MHPSS curriculum
development.
b) Data collected are analysed, validated, reported, and presented.
c) Gender and age focused MHPSS training curriculum reviewed for its effectiveness in addressing
research findings and presented to stakeholders.

VI. Inputs
Admin support:
The Consultant is expected to work remotely using her/his own computer but may access the UN Women
field office for printing/scanning of relevant documents during the assignment.
UN Women will cover the costs for translation of printed materials as required throughout the duration of
the assignment. UN Women will also cover the costs of daily subsistence allowance (DSA), as per UN
Women regulations, for all approved official travel.
Transport:
The consultant will be responsible for arranging their own travel to the duty station and this cost should
be included in the budget for the financial proposal. Official movements at the duty station will be
facilitated by UN Women 
Communications:
The Consultant will be required to provide their own local communications such as SIM cards. Some
internet access is available in Southern Highlands Province. These costs should be included in the budget
of the financial proposal. The consultant will provide her/his own laptop and mobile phone including a
mobile Wi-Fi hotspot device to enable internet access (which is highly limited).
Accommodation:
All accommodation costs and other living expenses will be covered within the consultancy fee. Venue for trainings and living expense for participants and trainer for approved official travel will be covered by UN Women.
Security:
The consultant will be provided with a UN security briefing and will be required to follow UN security rules and guidance.
Insurance:
The Consultant will arrange private insurance and the cost of which will be included in the financial proposal.
Office space and facilities:
The Consultant is expected to provide his /her own office space for this assignment.

Competencies

Core Values and Guiding Principles

• Respect for diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Performance evaluation

Contractor’s performance will be evaluated based on timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered.

Required Skills and Experience

Required qualifications, experience, and competencies.

Qualifications 

• Master’s degree in Psychology, Social Science, Public Health or related field
• A thesis-based postgraduate qualification in Social Science or related fields is an asset.

Technical expertise   

• At least 10 years of experience working in the area of community development or humanitarian field with at least five years’ experience in conducting educational research.
• Sound knowledge of qualitative and quantitative educational research methodology
• Knowledge and extensive experience in data collection, data analysis and reporting.
• Previous experience conducting conflict related and peacebuilding research.
• Previous experience developing training materials, manuals, course guide and outlines.
• Extensive experience working in tribal conflict areas especially in the Highlands.
• Strong cultural competency, communication, and analytical skills.
• Based in the Highlands of PNG will be an advantage.
• Uphold UN core values and code of conducts.

Language and other skills

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.  
• Ability to speak and write Tok Pisin is essential.
• Ability to speak local language in Hela is an added advantage.
• Computer literacy and ability to effectively use office technology equipment, IT tools, ability to use Internet and email.

Submission of application

• Interested candidates are requested to submit electronic application to the email address indicated on the email.

  Submission package:

• Cover letter explaining the suitability of the consultant: applicants are encouraged to address experience and qualifications listed in the ‘criteria for technical evaluation’.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) of consultant including references.
• Copies of certified academic certifications.
• Financial/Price Proposal evaluation:
• The prospective Individual Consultant should take the following explanations into account during submission of his/her price proposal:
  • The consultant’s daily rate estimated to complete deliverables.  Please note that UN Women solely pays upon submission of deliverables.
  • The daily price proposal should indicate a "lump sum amount" which is "all-inclusive"; All costs (professional fees, communications, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor needs to be factored into the proposed price.
  • UN Women will not withhold any amount of the payments for tax and/or social security related payments. UN Women shall have no liability for taxes, duties, or other similar charges payable by the Individual Contractor in respect of any amounts paid to the Individual Contractor under this Contract, and the Contractor acknowledges that UN Women will not issue any statements of earnings to the Individual contractor in respect of any such payments.
  • Currency of the price proposal.  The applicants are requested to submit their price proposals in PGK. In case of proposals in other currency, these shall be converted into USD using the official UN exchange rate for currency conversion to USD at the date of applications’ submission deadline.

Annex I: Price Proposal Guideline and Template

Daily fee

• The daily price proposal should indicate a "lump sum amount" which is "all-inclusive"; All costs (professional fees, communications, consumables during field related missions, etc.) that could possibly be incurred by the Contractor for counselling trainings and MHPSS Curriculum Development research needs to be factored into the proposed price.

  UN Women will not withhold any amount of the payments for tax and/or social security related payments. UN Women shall have no liability for taxes, duties, or other similar charges payable by the Individual Contractor in respect of any amounts paid to the Individual Contractor under this Contract, and the Contractor acknowledges that UN Women will not issue any statements of earnings to the Individual contractor in respect of any such payments.

Travel costs

• No Travel Costs is envisaged at this time.

Daily Subsistence Allowance

• The Consultant may include in the financial proposal DSA applicable for mission days.

Currency of the price proposal

The applicants are requested to submit their price proposals in PGK. In case of proposals in other currency, these shall be converted into USD using the official UN exchange rate for currency conversion to USD at the date of applications’ submission deadline.

The procurement process will be governed by the rules and regulations of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).

Deadline of all submissions: no later than Tuesday, 28 February 2023 (close of business).

Proposed starting Date: 01st April 2023

Contact:

For further information and questions about this Term of Reference, please contact.

Programme Analyst, CCfP, Highlands Joint Program. bonifas.durua@unwomen.org or telephone / mobile 79014396

Please send you expression of interest, and CV demonstrating relevant experience (with links to previous written reports/work if permitted by copyright) HR, UN Women grace.nauga@unwomen.org by 28/02/2023

Annex II: Price Proposal Submission Form

[ Mandatory document for the Consultant to complete and submit]

To:      United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

Ref:     ___________________________________________________________________________

            [ name of consultancy position]

Dear Sir / Madam,

I, the undersigned, offer to provide professional consulting services to UN Women within the scope of the referred Assignment.

Having examined, understood and agreed to the Terms of Reference and its annexes, the receipt of which are hereby duly acknowledged, I, the undersigned, offer to deliver professional services, in conformity with the Terms of Reference.

My maximum total price proposal for the assignment is given below:

I confirm that my financial proposal will remain unchanged.  I also confirm that the price that I quote is gross, and is inclusive of all legal expenses, including but not limited to social security, income tax, pension, etc., which shall be required applicable laws.

I agree that my proposal shall remain binding upon me for the duration of the contract timeline i.e. __________________________ days / weeks / months / year.

I understand that you are not bound to accept any proposal you may receive.