Antecedentes

Despite the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), there are still a significant amount of local conflicts taking place in various parts of Southern Sudan. Although they take place at the local level, they threaten peace building and political consolidation of Southern Sudan as communities go through disharmony and displacements. To date in 2009, 140,000 people have been displaced in Jonglei, Upper Nile and Lake States after inter-community conflicts between hundreds - in some instances possibly thousands - of heavily armed men. In the past six months in Jonglei and Upper Niles States more than 1,000 people have been killed and more than 250 wounded.

One of these inter-tribal conflicts has been fought in Jonglei State in Southern Sudan. The Government of South Sudan (GSS) and UN agencies have been concerned about the development of the Jonglei conflict in recent months.  The rising tensions appear to have accelerated insecurity and interethnic fighting. This has worsened an already critical humanitarian situation.  According to the Annual Needs and Livelihood Assessment Mid-Year Review, about 1.5 million people in Southern Sudan face severe food insecurity but heightened insecurity makes aid delivery very difficult to implement. A new and worrying trend is the deliberate targeting of women and children.
 
The UN Support Plan for Jonglei State Stabilization Efforts focuses on security dimensions so as to provide protection to the population. However, in-depth understanding of the dynamics underpinning the conflict and its gender is required in order to develop effective and innovative means of protection. Beyond protection, a recent UN assessment mission found that delivery of justice will need to be strengthened through tapping traditional and customary law mechanisms in order to enhance dialogue at the community level. This may pose challenges for the implementation of basic rights for women.
 
Key assessment questions and methodology
 
The assessment shall create a knowledge base of the Jonglei conflict and the effect it has on women and children. Therefore it is particularly important to understand the socio-cultural and political contexts, in which the conflict takes place, as well as to understand possible means of redress (including formal and informal protection mechanisms, available justice systems and mechanisms of conflict resolution). Key assessment questions are:
 
Analysis of conflict dynamics
  • How are women and children affected by the conflict?
  • What are the political and socio-cultural dynamics that make women and children a target in the conflict?
  • What other dynamics have allowed that women and children are targeted?
  • How does the conflict relate to the current socio-economic-political environment in Southern Sudan?
  • What is the root causes of the conflict?

Mechanisms of Protection

  • Which formal and informal mechanisms or institutions of protection for women and children exist?
  • Why have they not been effective in protecting women and children?
  • What other social protection, livelihood and governance issues are underpinning the conflict?
  • Which formal and informal mechanisms or institutions of protection for women and children exist?
Conflict Resolution and Justice
  • What customary conflict resolution mechanisms exist among the affected communities? What is the role for women?
  • How do customary conflict resolution mechanisms relate to international standards of human rights?
  • How can such mechanisms better protect women's access to justice?
Possible Interventions
  • Which interventions have been undertaken by the UN and other external actors that aim to strengthen a) the protection women and children, b) the management of the conflict and address the root causes of it, c) the fostering of justice for the victims of the conflict? Have they been effective?
  • What are the recommendations from women and the affected communities in preventing and responding to future conflicts and in reducing vulnerabilities? How can any future interventions better address women's special needs and priorities for security?

Deberes y responsabilidades

The consultant will be working under the day-to-day supervision of the UNIFEM Program Manager in Juba and under the overall direction of the UNIFEM Country Program Director. 
 
Specifically, the consultant's tasks will include:
  1. Discuss the assessment with key UN agencies (UNIFEM, UNMIS, OCHA, UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR and others),  INGOs, relevant departments/ministries in GOSS, local civil society organizations and other key stakeholders to receive their input and direction, as well as assistance with available data and possible support in the field;
  2. Discuss the assessment with key INGOs, relevant departments/ministries in GOSS, local civil society organizations and other key stakeholders to receive their input and direction, as well as assistance with available data.
  3. Based on the key questions outlined in these TOR, develop a set of research tools;
  4. Develop a research plan, including research tools, key resource people, time table, field logistics support, and costs for the assessment;
  5. Implement the research, including necessary travel to Jonglei and neighboring areas hosting the populations displaced as result of the conflict, security permitting;
  6. Analyze the research data and draft a final report, including recommendations;
  7. Present the report and recommendations to UNIFEM, the UN RC/HC and to the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) for review and discussion.

Competencias

Core Competencies:

  • Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN's values and ethical standard
  • Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNIFEM
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
  • Treats all people fairly without favoritism
  • Focuses on impact and result for the client
  • Leads teams effectively and shows conflict resolution skills
  • Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude
  • Builds strong relationships with clients and external actors 
  •  Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities 

Functional Competencies:

  • Understanding of development issues particularly with those dealing with gender equality and women's empowerment.
  • Familiarity with UNIFEM work in one or more specific thematic areas relating to gender equality and women's empowerment an asset, e.g., human rights; governance, peace and security; HIV/AIDS; violence against women; and economic security and rights
  • Ability to link key institutional processes to promote overall organizational effectiveness
  • Experience in the formulation of policies, procedures, tools and guidance for programming, monitoring, reporting, evaluation and knowledge management
  • Excellent ability to write and communicate orally with accuracy and professionalism

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

  • Master's Degree in Social Sciences or other relevant discipline;
  • At least 10 years of experience in applied research;
  • Strong experience in conducting qualitative research, field assessments, and policy development in Africa, from a gender perspective;
  • Excellent analytical skills, in particular gender analysis of conflict prevention and recovery;
  • Strong understanding of Southern Sudan and its cultures and political environment;
  • Excellent written and oral skills in English language;
  • Experience in the drafting of assessment report and excellent oral presentation skills.

Besides your CV, please upload a sample of written work.