Background
UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality 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.
The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and in particular, General Recommendation Nineteen which speaks to violence against women and girls, encourages on-going efforts to build more stable and secure societies, which integrate strategies that support government and civil society. The support to government and civil society is necessary in the following ways:
- Implementation and monitoring of the existing legal frameworks to address gender-based violence (GBV) and intimate partner violence;
- Ensuring a strengthened response by the judicial and policing systems to address impunity;
- Realizing improved, coordinated response services; ensuring increased voice and leadership of women and girls in this process; and
- Significantly expanding social mobilization prevention efforts which address culturally sanctioned behaviours which result in GBV, including the active engagement of men and boys, as well as community and faith-based leaders.
The UN Women Multi Country Office for the Caribbean (MCO) covers 22 countries and territories in the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean, which are part of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Strides towards gender equality in the countries covered by the MCO have resulted in gains for women and girls in the Caribbean, relating primarily to high education rates, and increases in employment rates, however critical gaps remain
The Turks and Caicos Islands Department of Gender Affairs currently falls under the purview of the Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture, Library and Social Service, Transport and Communication. It was first established in 1999 as the Women’s Desk, under the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports and in January 2001, it was renamed the Department of Gender Affairs to reflect its expanded mandate. The Department is the focal point for the Government in promoting gender equality and equity in Turks and Caicos. The office is also charged with promoting the integration of a gender perspective into mainstream activities of government at the policy, programme, and project levels.
The activities of the Department are coordinated within the framework of international conventions relating to human rights of women, such as the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The Convention was extended to the Territory on behalf of the United Kingdom Government in April 1986. It is part of the United Nations Human Rights system which is intended to improve the status of women.
Presently, the work of the Department of Gender Affairs covers advocacy as it relates to legislation, political and economic empowerment of women and men, policy development, and gender training and intervention strategies, that reduce and eliminate gender-based violence, and other forms of discrimination against men, women, and children. For this reason, a sensitive approach to the problem of domestic and gender-based violence requires commitment to specific local and international guiding principles. These principles need to be established and followed as they will serve as the foundation for the support service provided to survivors of domestic and gender-based violence while serving as a basis for the work being undertaken by the Department of Gender Affairs. They will also contribute to the establishment of and operating guidelines for the Safe House that is scheduled to begin operations soon.
The increased rate of domestic and gender-based violence as a result of COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced the need to expedite the development of protocol to guide the internal procedures of major stakeholders and responders to domestic and gender-based violence and their working relationship with each other. The need for guidance in this regard is underscored by an existing system, which can be considered fragmented and uncoordinated to ensure a more effective and efficient response to domestic and gender-based violence.
The development and implementation of a National Domestic Violence protocol is regarded as a critical step- especially considering the Sheltering-in-place protocol-, in ensuring a more coordinated and integrated response system to the growing levels of domestic and gender-based violence in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
In an effort to facilitate the development and implementation of this National Domestic Violence protocol, UN Women MCO Caribbean and the Department of Gender Affairs intends to engage the services of a consultant who will lend technical support in this area. The objectives of this consultancy are tied into the various strategies which form the comprehensive group of initiatives carded for implementation.
Duties and Responsibilities
The overall object of this consultancy is to provide strategic technical support to the development, planning and implementation of a National Domestic Violence Protocol.
Specific objectives include:
- Develop a National Domestic Violence Protocol to support stakeholders in their prevention and management of domestic violence, with specific emphasis on intimate partner abuse
- Develop and implement the content and format of a National Domestic Violence workshop that would engage key stakeholders inclusive of target group discernment, methodology and follow up strategies for implementation
- Engage in stakeholder consultations, develop information dissemination strategies and provide support in building the stakeholder base for the implementation of the National Domestic Violence Protocol.
- Actively engage staff of the Department of Gender Affairs and share the knowledge and skills required to effectively execute the National Domestic Violence Protocol.
SCOPE OF WORK AND DELIVERABLES
The consultant is expected to deliver the following results:
- Prepare a comprehensive report on the National Domestic Violence protocol.
- Develop inception report and work plan.
- Conduct capacity building and review unit in the areas including relevant policies and legal framework.
- Conduct a virtual national stakeholder consultation to ensure engagement.
- Develop Draft Domestic Violence Protocol.
- Prepare for and conduct virtual sensitization workshop with key stakeholders on Draft protocol.
- Finalize Domestic Violence protocol based on feedback form stakeholders.
- A clearly detailed domestic violence protocol for all components of gender equality within the ambit of the strategic documents under the purview of the ministry and the unit.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the UN Women MCO-Caribbean Representative and the Director of Gender Affairs in Turks and Caicos.
Competencies
Core Values:
- Respect for Diversity;
- Integrity;
- Professionalism.
Core Competencies:
- Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
- Accountability;
- Creative Problem Solving;
- Effective Communication;
- Inclusive Collaboration;
- Stakeholder Engagement;
- Leading by Example.
Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies:
Functional Competencies:
- Excellent knowledge and understanding of standard office software such as word processing, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint etc.
- Excellent written and oral communications skills including the conveying complex concepts and recommendations, in a clear and persuasive style tailored to match different audiences.
- Ability to interact independently as part of a team.
- Ability to multi-task and operate effectively in stressful situations.
Required Skills and Experience
The consultant should meet the following criteria:
Experience:
- At least four years’ experience in policy development design and implementation is required
- At least three years’ experience working in Law Reform is required
- At least three years’ experience working with a range of stakeholders including government officials, policy makers and regulators, private sector representatives, consultants and academics is required
- Familiarity with the OECS Domestic Violence Model Bill is an asset but not required.
Languages:
- Fluency in written and oral English is required
Education:
The consultant should meet the following criteria:
- A Master’s Degree in Policy Development, Public Policy, Social Policy, Gender and Development, Sociology, or any other related field.
LOCATION AND DURATION
- The consultancy will be home based (no travel is required).
- The consultant will be engaged for a maximum of 40 working days during the period October 2020– December 2020
REMUNERATION
- The consultancy fee will be negotiated before contracting. Each payment will be based on a predefined and formal agreement between UN Women and the consultant and will be disbursed based on satisfactory completion of agreed deliverables.
HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, AND COMMUNICATION:
- The consultant must be equipped with a fully functional laptop, which must run at least Windows 7. The consultant must be reasonably accessible by email and telephone (preferably mobile). The use of reliable, internet-based (Skype or equivalent) is required.
REFERENCES:
- Minimum of three client references that include the name of the contact person, title and contact information.
OTHER:
- Interviews may be conducted with the shortlisted applicants.
- The consultant contracted will be required to sign a statement of confidentiality and freedom from any conflict of interest with potential future contractors with respect to the TORs and work that they will be delivering.
Note:
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All applications must be submitted through UNDP jobs. Please do not send applications to UN Women staff as they will not be accepted.