Background

To address the global challenges of VAWG, the European Union (EU) and the United Nations have partnered on a new multi-year programme, the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative to Eliminate Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG). The Spotlight Initiative aims to support transformative change on the ground to end violence against women and girls. The overall vision of the Spotlight Initiative in Timor-Leste is that women and girls enjoy their right to a life free of violence, within an inclusive and gender equitable Timor-Leste. The programme is aligned to the Timor-Leste “National Action Plan on Gender-based violence (2017-2021) and National SDG Roadmap, particularly on SDGs 5 and 16.  It will contribute to the National Strategic Development Plan and reinforce Timor-Leste’s Development Plan and reinforce Timor-Leste’s implementation of commitments under the Beijing Platform for Action, the Concluding Observations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Committee, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, among other international obligations. 

The program was globally launched in 2017 and began implementation in Timor-Leste in 2020. There are five UN agencies participating in the Timor-Leste Spotlight Initiative. There are the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nation Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the International Labour Organization (ILO). The Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO) provides overall strategic oversight and coordination for the Spotlight Initiative within the UN, with UN Women acting as the Technical Lead.

Despite progress which has been made, violence against women and girls, and particularly intimate partner violence, remains widespread, with 38% to 59% of women in Timor-Leste between the ages of 15 to 19 experience violence in their lifetime.1 As stated at Timor-Leste’s Voluntary National Review on the SDGs in 2019 and the report for the Beijing Platform of Action +25, there is a need for a comprehensive approach to ending violence against women and girls (VAWG).

The Spotlight Initiative will contribute to the elimination of domestic violence/intimate partner violence (DV/IPV) by responding to the needs of women and girls and addressing the underlying causes of violence against women and girls, using a multi-sectoral and intersectional approach across the ecological model. This will involve strengthening and widening partnerships and solidarity across civil society, government, media, private sector and development partners. The Initiative will empower individuals, equip institutions at national, sub-national and community levels with the policies, systems and mechanisms to prevent and respond to VAWG, and encourage the public to challenge harmful gender norms. Using innovative approaches, the SI will build a social movement of diverse advocates and agents of change for gender equality and social inclusion.

It is important to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) principle of national ownership and the commitment to leave no one behind. These are both key goals of the Spotlight Initiative. Civil society networks and organizations have been accorded a unique role in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the Spotlight Initiative at country level and as such, are important partners in supporting the implementation of key strategies to prevent and respond to VAWG. Groups of focus for the Spotlight Initiative in Timor-Leste are women and girls with disabilities, living in rural areas, in vulnerable employment, girls out of school or pregnant, girls married before the age of 18 and women and girls who identify as lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LBTI).

Timor-Leste has a strong VAWG national framework, having ratified most of the core international human rights treaties/conventions and development frameworks, with clear articles in its Constitution dedicated to gender equality (Article 16, 17, 18 and 26). The SDP 2011-2030 also addresses gender equality and women’s empowerment. In 2016, Timor-Leste ratified ILO Core Conventions No. 111 and No. 100 on gender equality and contributed to the adoption of a new International Labour Standard concerning the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work (Convention No. 190) in June 2019.

Violence is criminalized in the Penal Code (2009) and the Law Against Domestic Violence (LADV) was enacted in 2010, less than ten years after the country regained independence. Policy frameworks are also in place, particularly with the National Action Plan (NAP)  GBV 2012-2016 and NAP GBV 2017-2021, NAP on Children, NAP on Women, Peace and Security (2016-2020), the Maubisse Declaration (focused on upholding rural women’s rights and promoting their economic empowerment). Sexual Harassment Guidelines for Civil Servants were adopted in 2017, recognizing the various forms of GBV that exists and the connections between different forms of violence.

Despite the existence of this legal and policy framework, there are gaps in implementation by state actors that prevent women and girls to access their rights to live free of violence. Key implementation gaps identified include:

• Disconnect in how customary law, criminal law, labour law and potential revision of legislation adequately protects women and girls from domestic violence (especially cases of IPV). This includes addressing the linkages between laws regarding VAWG and other laws, such as social protection or land laws, among others.
• Low demand for state actors to implement the NAP GBV and weak monitoring of the law's implementation (illustrated by the limited data available for the annual NAP GBV progress reports)
• Inconsistent knowledge by authorities/ stakeholders at national and sub-national levels on the LADV and NAP GBV
• Limited abilities of institutions with implementation obligations on costing plans to end VAWG
• Insufficient access by marginalized persons to information or to the necessary support to seek services and access justice mechanisms

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the Spotlight Initiative, UN Women in Timor-Leste is seeking an international consultant to provide guidance and accompaniment to national civil society organizations and gender equality advocates for conducting Feminist Participatory Action Research[1] and analysis of the Law on Domestic Violence and related legislation, including its gaps and presentation of recommendations, using CEDAW and the SDGs as a framework, and other international norms and standards.

Within the participatory approach, consultation and presentation of research findings will include creating opportunities for government, relevant Parliamentary bodies and CSOs to increase understanding of the protections and gaps in existing policies and legislation (with a focus on the Penal Code, LADV and NAP GBV, and including in the context of alternative dispute resolution and customary justice practices), based on Timor-Leste’s commitments to CEDAW and the SDGs. [2] In addition, the consultant will provide support to strengthen and expand spaces for survivors of VAWG and gender advocates to engage with legislators towards ending violence against women and girls and establishing a more systematic link between rights holders and legislators (as duty bearers).

The consultant will provide capacity development supports for designing and conducting FPAR, working with a CSO partner(s) who will lead the research with key stakeholders. This will include guiding the CSO(s) on accessing existing legal analysis, technical advice, mentoring and coaching to CSOs to support women and marginalized groups in the process of assessing and monitoring the implementation of relevant legislation.

This consultancy will contribute to:

Spotlight Initiative Outcome 1:  Legislative and policy frameworks, based on evidence and in line with international human rights standards, on all forms of violence against women and girls and harmful practices are in place and translated into plans.

And more specifically implement:

Spotlight Activity 1.1.1: Participatory Action Research and analysis of legal gaps on DV by rights holders, especially civil society groups representing women survivors or women at risk of intimate partner violence and marginalized groups (women with disabilities, young women, women in rural areas). This will increase understanding of the protection and gaps in the Penal Code, LADV, NAP GBV and related legislation (including in the context of alternative dispute resolution and customary justice practices), and with regards to alignment with TL's commitments to CEDAW and the SDGs.

Scope of work/Duties and Responsibilities

The overall objective of the proposed consultancy is to support UN Women in provision of technical assistance to an organization(s) in Timor-Leste to conduct Feminist Participatory Action Research and implement strategies to utilize this research for awareness raising and advocacy. The consultant will be supervised by UN Women’s Spotlight Initiative – EVAW Program Specialist and collaborate with other staff on UN Women’s Spotlight Initiative team, as well as partners, consultants and staff of UNDP who are involved in complementary activities.[3] There will also be coordination with the UN Human Rights Advisor’s Unit in Timor-Leste. Overall guidance will be provided by the UN Women Head of Office in Timor-Leste.

This will specifically include the following tasks:

1. Review existing analysis of Law against Domestic Violence (LADV), CEDAW implementation and other relevant policies

• Desk review of existing analysis and research to identify trends and gaps in research related to legislation and policy for ending violence against women and girls in Timor-Leste. Of particular importance will be the review undertaken by UNDP as part of the Spotlight Initiative (Gender-Based Violence and the law: an assessment of laws, policies and practices affecting gender equality and gender justice in Timor-Leste) and recent submissions from Timor-Leste to the CEDAW Committee

• Liaise with other Spotlight programmes globally on similar activities and lessons learned from Pillar 1 on legislation
• Consult with key groups of focus to identify data or research which they have produced as well as areas of inquiry they would like covered in the research
   

1. Review relevant research initiatives and develop potential methodology for research

• Mapping of existing participatory action research (PAR) conducted on women’s rights and legal protection, including in Timor-Leste, and compiling available guidance for conducting such research
• Design proposed methodology for the research as a basis for final development with civil society organization partner, including methods for assessing and mitigating risks and ensuring a Do No Harm approach
• Identify and respond to any requirements for ethical clearance of research

1. Co-develop and facilitate roll-out of research with civil society partner(s)

• Discuss the proposed research methodology for the participatory action research, adjust as needed and finalize
• Guide the process of risk assessment, ethical requirements and training on Do No Harm. This includes ensuring that people involved in research have information about services to respond to violence if it is identified and researchers have access to support services to cope with vicarious trauma.
• Assess capacity development and training needs to carry out research and ensure that these are addressed in a timely way
• Support selected CSO partner(s) to ensure that the research engages with a diversity of rights-holders from groups of focus for Spotlight
• Provide mentoring and coaching to selected CSO partner(s) on participatory action research approaches and tools as they implement the research
• Ensure that all data from research is documented and stored in a way that ensures confidentiality and protection of data
• Support civil society partner(s) to organize and conduct interviews and consultations with respondents and stakeholders at national, municipal and sub-municipal levels. This will include legal actors, police, social service workers, health workers, local authorities, CSOs and grassroots organizations, people from marginalized groups and survivors of violence
• Consultations will increase understanding of the experiences of perspective of users on the strengths and weaknesses of the legislative framework in regards to protecting women from intimate partner violence and children from witnessing or experiencing abuse as a result of domestic violence.

1. Support civil society partner(s) to develop a research product and utilize research findings

• Work with CSO partner(s) to develop final report which includes inputs provided by Secretary of State for Equality and Inclusion, UN Gender Theme Group, CSOs and Spotlight Civil Society Reference Group
• Support CSO to use research to generate substantive recommendations for strengthening implementation and perhaps advocating for development of new policies and legislation to protect and promote the rights of survivors. This should ensure compliance with CEDAW and be informed by international best practice on legislation to end violence against women and girls.
• Enable development of a strategy to share research findings and engage in advocacy, including engaging relevant authorities at municipal and sub-municipal levels.
• Develop templates and guide CSO partner(s) to present research findings at the EVAW Forum and share written documentation
• Engage with the Spotlight Initiative and UN Women globally to share research findings

1. Strengthen systematic mechanisms for right holders to engage with policy makers and implementers on VAWG

• Provide technical support to support to UN Women, CSOs and government institutions to assess and propose ways to strengthen existing opportunities for rights holders to meet with policy makers and implementers to share their experiences. This will involve liaising with UNDP, Human Rights Advisor’s Unit and other relevant partners working with parliament and justice actors
• Support UN Women and CSO partners to convene a safe and respectful space for dialogue between survivors and those responsible for implementing and overseeing legislation to present experiences people effected by VAWG and their recommendations to strengthen and improve legislation and policy
• Support engagement with the Inter-ministerial NAP GBV Commission and Parliament members to build understanding of the experiences of survivors and the need for evidence-based plans and legislation and meaningful implementation of laws and policies on VAWG
• Finalize research tools for inclusive and feminist PAR in the Timor-Leste context to be shared publicly

Duration of the assignment

The total duration of the consultancy is 10 months from November 2020 to August 2021.

Key Deliverables

The assignment deliverables shall be:

All documents, including reports, questionnaires, presentations, and reports should be submitted in English language, or if in Tetum, include an English summary.

Upon receipt of the deliverables and prior to the payment of the instalment all submitted reports and documents will be reviewed and approved by UN Women.

Inputs:

• The consultant is expected to use their own computer. 
• UN Women will provide the consultant reference materials printing facilities, and internet access as needed, will facilitate coordination with key stakeholders.  
• UN Women will facilitate in coordination the CSO partner logistics and transportation support when travelling out of Dili to municipalities if required in support of the assignment. 
• UN Women will provide Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) to cover expenses outside of the Duty Station when applicable, as per UN Women rules and regulations.  

All arrangements will need to be adapted to current conditions, guidelines and requirements related to the COVID-19 pandemic

[1] See examples of feminist participatory action research studies UN Women has supported in Timor-Leste: (CEPAD, 2014: https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/-/media/field%20office%20eseasia/docs/publications/2015/01/cepad%20a2j%20research%20report_english_to%20print.pdf?la=en&vs=3502 and ACBIT, 2020: https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2020/02/improving-the-lives-of-women-survivors-in-timor-leste)

[2] This will include: the Parliament’s Committee for Health, Education, Culture, Veterans, and Gender Equality, the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus and the Parliamentary Centre for Promotion of Gender Equality (CEPIG) to strengthen their technical expertise and skills in drafting and approving gender-sensitive and survivor-centered legislation and engaging with relevant stakeholders in monitoring the law’s implementation.

[3] Activity 1.1.2 Strengthen technical expertise and skills of the Committee for Health, Education, Culture, Veterans, and Gender Equality (F) in drafting and approving gender sensitive and survivor-centred legislation by providing longer term support, incorporating the results from the Action research on A.1.1.1  and Activity 1.1.5 As part of the process of reviewing/developing legislation to EVAWG the SI in Timor-Leste will organize public consultations and seminars to enhance the consultative process of the specific legislation that is being revised (under activity 1.1.3) with a focus on VAWG. These consultations should open space for the legislators to hear the voices and meet the survivors of VAWG and advocates, especially those facing intersecting forms of discrimination.

Competencies

Competencies

Core Values:

·         Respect for Diversity

·         Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues

·         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:

https://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf?la=en&vs=637

Functional Competencies:

• Strong commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of women, with demonstrated experience of researching or working on gender issues;
• Strong research and writing skills, with strong analytical skills and creative thinking;
• Ability to think and work logically and work precisely with attention to detail;
• Initiative, sound judgment and demonstrated ability to work harmoniously with staff members of different national and cultural backgrounds;
• Previous experience (also volunteer experience) from the non-profit sector is an advantage.
• Ability to multi-task and address competing priorities
• Ability to produce quality deliverables in a timely manner

Strong computer skills, including Word, Excel, and Power Point

Required Skills and Experience

Education:  

Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Education, Social Work, Communications, Psychology, Gender and Development or other relevant fields. 

Experience 

• At least Master’s degree with three years experience or Bachelor’s degree with five years of experience of work on gender equality, women’s rights and prevention of violence against women and girls. 
• Experience in Participatory Action Research
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical and contextual research approaches
• Experience in community-based development in Timor-Leste
• Knowledge of best practice in social change-oriented activities and research, particularly focussed on violence against women and girls 
• Commitment to transformative change for gender equality  
• Management of projects, including monitoring and evaluation 

Language and other skills:  

• Proficiency in oral and written English and Tetum languages 
• Computer literacy
• Knowledge of Timor-Leste laws and policies related to violence against women and girls would be an asset

Submission of application 

Interested candidates are requested to submit electronic application to UNDP Job site, not later than COB October 26, 2020 

Submission package 

• CV and copy of the latest academic certificate  
• Letter of Interest containing the statement on candidate’s experience in the field of recruitment
• Sample of written work relevant to the assignment
• The financial proposal shall specify a total lump sum amount per each deliverable, including travel and administrative fees, based on the template in Annex 1. The lump sum costs must be accompanied by a detailed breakdown of costs calculation. The actual payment will be payable based on the stated lump sum for each satisfactorily achieved deliverable.  

All applications must include the CV and the financial proposal. Both CVs and financial proposal need to be uploaded as one fine/ attachment. Applications without a financial proposal will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.  

Selected candidates will need to submit prior to commencement of work: 

1. UN Women P-11 form, available from http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment 

1. A statement from a medical doctor of “good health and fit for travel” 

 
Evaluation 

Applications will be evaluated based on the Cumulative analysis.  

• Technical Qualification (100 points) weight; [70%]  
• Financial Proposal (100 points) weight; [30%] 

A three-stage procedure is utilized in evaluating the proposals. Candidates who are fulfilling all the required skills and expertise will go to the technical evaluation process. The evaluation of the technical proposal is being completed prior to any price proposal being compared.  Only the price proposal of the candidates who passed the minimum technical score of 70% of the obtainable score of 100 points in the technical qualification evaluation will be evaluated. 

Technical qualification evaluation criteria: 

The total number of points allocated for the technical qualification component is 100. The technical qualification of the individual is evaluated based on following technical qualification evaluation criteria: 

Only the candidates who have attained a minimum of 70% of total points will be considered as technically-qualified candidates. 

Financial/Price Proposal evaluation: 

• Only the financial proposal of candidates who have all the required skills and expertise and have attained a minimum of 70% score in the technical evaluation will be considered and evaluated.  
• The total number of points allocated for the price component is 100.  
• The maximum number of points will be allotted to the lowest price proposal that is opened/ evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum of 70% score in the technical evaluation. All other price proposals will receive points in inverse proportion to the lowest price. 

Annex I: Financial Proposal  

 
BREAKDOWN OF COSTS SUPPORTING THE ALL-INCLUSIVE FINANCIAL PROPOSAL 

Breakdown of Cost by Components: 

The lump sum costs should include professional fees, travel and administration costs and expenses related to the consultancy. All prices/rates quoted must be exclusive of all taxes. The lump sum costs must be accompanied by a detailed breakdown of costs calculation.