UNDP Jobs - 93698- BBRSO107759 – Assessment of Human rights and of th

BBRSO107759 – Assessment of Human rights and of the capacity of local LGBTI organizations

Location :

Barbados and The Eastern Caribbean, BARBADOS

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

21-Sep-2020

Application Deadline :

11-Sep-20 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

2 Months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

2 Months

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

ADMINISTRATION

To apply, interested persons should upload the combined* Technical Proposal/Methodology (if applicable), CV and Offeror’s Letter to “UNDP Jobs” by navigating to the link below and clicking “APPLY NOW”, no later than the date indicated on the “UNDP Jobs” website. Applications submitted via email will not be accepted**: -

UNDP Job Site – https://jobs.undp.org/cj_view_job.cfm?cur_job_id=93698 (cut and paste into browser address bar if the link does not work)

* PLEASE NOTE: The system allows the upload of one (1) document ONLY – if you are required to submit a Technical Proposal/Methodology, this document along with your CV/P11 and Offeror’s Letter, MUST be combined and uploaded as one.

NOTE: The Financial Proposal should not be uploaded to “UNDP Jobs”**.

**Please email the password-protected Financial Proposal to procurement.bb@undp.org. The subject line of your email must contain the following: “BBRSO##### Financial Proposal – Your Name”

If the password for your Financial Proposal is required, it will be requested by the Procurement Unit.

Any request for clarification must be sent in writing to procurement.bb@undp.org within three (3) days of the publication of this notice, ensuring that the reference number above is included in the subject line. The UNDP Barbados & the OECS Procurement Unit will post the responses*** two (2) days later, including an explanation of the query without identifying the source of inquiry, to: -

http://procurement-notices.undp.org/view_notice.cfm?notice_id=69566 (cut and paste into browser address bar if the link does not work)

A detailed Procurement Notice, TOR, and all annexes can be found by clicking the above link.

*** UNDP shall endeavour to provide such responses to clarifications in an expeditious manner, but any delay in such response shall not cause an obligation on the part of UNDP to extend the submission date of the Proposals, unless UNDP deems that such an extension is justified and necessary

BACKGROUND

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) people in the Caribbean face Legal, Social and Economic barriers to full inclusion and enjoyment of their human rights. Despite positive developments regionally, including increased attention and funding to advance inclusion and the development of anti-discrimination policy and law, there remains much work to be done to build acceptance and guarantee equality of LGBTI people under the law and to ensure protection from violence and discrimination as well as equal access to services. Punitive laws and practices have a critical impact on the enjoyment of human rights, health as well as on social and economic development more broadly. Punitive laws, policies and practices contribute to pervasive stigma and discrimination, which can lead to hate crimes, police abuse, torture and ill-treatment, harassment, sexual assaults and family and community violence, even death Within the English-speaking Caribbean, same-sex relations in all forms continue to be illegal in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, St Kitts, Dominica, and St Lucia, while the laws in Jamaica, Grenada and Guyana forbid sexual relations between men. Though these laws are not strictly enforced, there is still rampant discrimination and open violence against LGBTI persons in many Caribbean countries. In its 2015 report "Violence against LGBTI people in America," the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) highlighted that laws criminalizing consensual sex between same-sex persons are incompatible with the principles of equality and non-discrimination. It also underscored the relationship between these discriminatory laws and high rates of violence and discrimination against LGBTI people. The IACHR has noted that several states including Barbados, Dominica, and St. Kitts and Nevis, featured in this report, have rejected UN Universal Periodic Review recommendations to decriminalize same-sex acts.

In recognition of the importance of acting on these issues and the connection between securing the rights of LGBTI people and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for the region, the Being LGBTI in the Caribbean (BLIC) Project was developed. The project aims to enhance knowledge, partnerships, and capacities of LGBTI communities, civil society and States to reduce human rights violations and negative attitudes towards LGBTI people in the Caribbean. The Project includes country level focus discussions in Jamaica, Barbados, St. Lucia and Grenada, The Dominican Republic, and Haiti, as well as regional activities and dialogues; It will seek to increase access to justice for LGBTI persons, through the promotion of LGBTI inclusive public policies, increased representation of LGBTI in national and regional for a and by addressing stigma and discrimination.

The project has three main objectives:

To develop and disseminate knowledge, strategic information and evidence on the impact of inequality and exclusion of LGBTI people
To support the meaningful engagement of governments (supported through national and regional dialogues)
To develop the capacity of LGBTI Community Groups through enhanced coordination, increased access to existing tools, transfer of knowledge and concrete actions to address stigma & discrimination

Duties and Responsibilities

Scope of Work
Using a Human Rights Based approach, the consultant will conduct an assessment of the LGBTI experiences in the target countries to identify the differential impacts of inequality and exclusion on the capabilities of those within this marginalized group. The activities to achieve the objectives of this research include but are not limited to the following:
1. Present a workplan for the implementation of the research, inclusive of a finalized methodology, timelines and clearly defined outputs
2. For each country, conduct a desk review of LGBTI rights in country which would include:

A History of local LGBTI movement and activism
A review and analysis of the local policies and legislation pertaining to LGBTI rights international norms and practices
A review and analysis of local attitudes and perspectives from within the LGBTI community as well as the general public through Key informant Interviews (KII), Focus group discussion (FGD) Virtual and by other means of data collection that the consultant deems necessary to use.
A review of discrimination and violence faced by the LGBTI community, including both qualitative and quantitative data analysis and an assessment of attitudes, capacities and institutional structures of the existing state organs that protect LGBTI rights.

Document case studies to highlight the lived experiences and day to day challenges of LGBTI persons in their private and public spaces.
3. Work with UNDP, Equals, ECADE, United and Strong and GrenChap and any other pertinent groups to develop a detailed assessment and analysis of the LGBTI experience in these islands and on the following topics:

Employment, Income and Housing
Education, Health and Wellness
Family and Society
Media and Technology
Community Development.

4. Provide a thorough assessment of the capacity of local LGBTI organizations, to include interviews with staff and board member; Focus must be on the organisation’s legal status, institutional vision, networks, political activism/advocacy efforts and any challenges being experienced in Human Resources, Communication, Coordination and Fundraising. Determine who are the focal point persons within these organizations in each country.
5. Provide a draft report for revision by the Project team of Being LGBTI in Barbados, St. Lucia and Grenada, the team will provide the necessary feedback and request for clarification, prior to submission of the final report.
6. Provide a final report with a summary document on Being LGBTI in Barbados, St. Lucia and Grenada.

Competencies

Years of experience:

At least five years of advocacy experience, including advocacy for LGBTI rights, human rights and health, HIV;

Competencies

Individuals interested in this assignment should be able to demonstrate previous experience in working with assignments relating to Human Rights and/or Gender Studies. Women, LGBTI people, PLHIV and people living with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

At least five years of relevant experience in the area of LGBTI rights, health, human rights, key populations most at risk of HIV;
At least two years of experience in researching, reporting and contributing to reports related to the violation of the rights of LGBTI people and other key populations;
Have at least two years’ experience in writing documents related to the reality of LGBTI people
Have a good knowledge of the functioning of international and regional human rights mechanisms.

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in gender studies, law, history, Economics and Social Sciences.