Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security. UN Women engagements globally are guided by the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (PFA), among others.

UN Women Somalia’s Strategic Plan 2014-17 deepens its engagement within two major areas, i.e. women’s political participation and leadership and access to justice. During 2016, UN Women will further explore how to best engage and play a value added role within a third focus area: ending violence against women (VAW). 

In order to support initiatives against VAW and to boost UN Women’s key role in advocacy, coordination, technical advice and knowledge management and to ensure more informed decision making in UN programming addressing gender equality, UN Women is planning to arrange a ‘Women’s Intergenerational Dialogue’ as part of the 16 Days of Activism in November 2016 and the FGM Day in February 2017. The dialogues will be held in form of conferences that bring together women from a cross section of Somali society - across the regional, clan and generational boundaries to discuss the status of women and human rights in Somalia, with a specific focus on FGM. 

It is envisaged that the Dialogues will help shape an intergenerational platform in the fight against FGM and other forms of discrimination against women. The activities will be informed by a series of academic and practitioner papers prepared by key stakeholder and academics familiar with issues around SGBV/FGM in Somalia. The Dialogues will also support the creation of a platform that goes beyond the typical clan, political and kinship boundaries, one that places added emphasis on a healthy cooperation between women of different generations. 

Duties and Responsibilities

The Objectives of the assignment

UN Women Somalia is planning to support a series of intergenerational dialogues that will bring together women of different generations and allow them to share experiences on gender roles in Somali society, including a focus on FGM - as it is an integral part of gender-role expectations.

The Inter-generational dialogues aim to build on existing experiences that show that change of social dynamics and norms is key in eradicating FGM. It builds on approaches that have used various forms of dialogue, as change needs to come from within society. While other dialogues have focused on community gatekeepers and families, this initiative will emphasize intergenerational dialogues as an entry point. It is expected that the intergenerational dialogues will fill some analytical gaps and the way forward on anti-FGM dialogue can be supported by solid empirical evidence.

Further, there is need to understand the health costs of FGM in Somalia. A study conducted by WHO in 2009, focuses specifically on the medical costs associated with the obstetric complications of FGM in six countries namely, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and the Sudan. Prior studies revealed higher rates of Caesarean section, postpartum haemorrhage, prolonged hospitalization and perinatal death among women who have suffered FGM. However, it is evident that these aforementioned obstetric complications only account for a very small portion of the overall health impact of FGM. There are in fact many other costs associated with FGM. Thus, when the financial burden that FGM imposes on the health system is measured, it becomes obvious that caring for women who have undergone this procedure imposes an even greater economic burden for a country like Somalia, whose population has by and large one of the most severe cases of FGM. It is estimated that traditional practitioners in Somalia on average charge up to US $50 per procedure, depending on the family’s income.

The overall objective of this assignment is to write a paper, which will identify key knowledge gaps on SGBV/FGM in Somalia as well as key areas that can spark discussions at the inter-Generational Dialogues.

More specifically, the paper aims:

  • To advance knowledge and understanding of the impact of the existing medical costs of FGM on families, government and communities at large in Somalia.
  • To advance knowledge and understanding of the impact of FGM on the productivity of the women/girls who have undergone FGM in everyday life.

Scope of Work and Responsibilities

The consultant will:

  • Review relevant research papers and knowledge products around medical and productivity costs of FGM locally and internationally;
  • Conceptualise and research topical paper on the medical and productivity cost analysis of FGM in Somalia;
  • Ensure timely delivery of the draft paper including responses to the feedback and comments from the intergenerational dialogue consultant and other UN women staff;
  • Participate in the intergenerational dialogue events to present findings of the paper;
  • Liaise and meet with relevant actors and institutions;

Deliverables:

The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs:

  • Production of a discussion paper including the following:
    • Concrete recommendations to create awareness amongst community, religious leaders and the government to pursue eradication of FGM using the medical costs approach showing the unnecessary financial burden borne by individual and society;
    • Concrete recommendations to create awareness amongst community, religious leaders and the government on the impact of FGM, such as absenteeism from work, school, university, etc., highlighting the negative implications of these on the overall productivity of women in Somalia;
  • Presentation of the discussion paper at the 16 Days of Activism in November and International anti-FGM Day in February 2017;
  • Submission of paper by end of consultancy (date to be decided following feedback on discussion paper of November 2016), incorporating feedback received in the intergenerational dialogue meeting in Mogadishu.

Key questions to be addressed:

  • What is the short and long term health impact of FGM in Somalia?
  • What are the specific medical costs of FGM in Somalia especially as a majority of the Somali population use the severe type of FGM?
  • What is the economic impact of FGM on families, community and government?
  • How is the health consequence of FGM debated in Somalia?
  • What does it take to convince community to stop FGM considering the high medical costs?

The consultant will report to the UN women Somalia Country Program Manager, while liaising technically with Asia Abdulkadir, a consultant for the Intergenerational Dialogues on FGM/SGBV in Somalia.

Methodology  

The consultant will approach the consultancy as follows:

  • Review key documents of World Health Organisation (WHO), Edna Adan Maternity and Teaching Hospital Hargeisa and Physicians Across Continents (PAC) in Mogadishu;
  • Carry out interviews with key actors;
  • Present Discussion Paper in the intergenerational dialogue events.

Specifications:

  • Paper extent: 4000 - 5000 words (font type: Calibri; font size: 11);
  • Language: English;
  • First draft;
  • final revised draft.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

  • Understands and applies fundamental concepts and principles of a professional discipline or technical specialty relating to the position;
  • Possess basic knowledge or organizational policies and procedures relating to the position and applies them consistently in work tasks.

Integrity:

  • Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.

Professionalism:

  • Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.

Core Values and Ethics:

  • Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and able to work in a multi-national environment;
  • Support the Organization’s corporate goal;
  • Comply with UN WOMEN rules, regulations and code of conduct integrity.

Teamwork:

  • Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds;
  • Build effective client relationships and partnerships;
  • Interact with all levels of staff in the organization.

Communicating and information sharing:

  • Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication;
  • Excellent oral and written skills;
  • Listen actively and respond effectively.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

  • Master’s Degree or equivalent in social science or related fields.

Experience:

  • 7 years’ extensive experience in gender based violence, FGM, reconciliation, women empowerment. Bachelor’s Degree with 9 years’ relevant experience maybe considered in lieu of Master’s degree. Experience from similar assignments a significant advantage;
  • Experience working in Somalia;
  • Clear evidence of Publications in the field of research;
  • Solid methodological and research skills;
  • Ability to write clearly and concisely;
  • High proficiency in computer systems, internet navigation and various office applications.

Language:

  • Fluent in English and Somali.