Antecedentes
ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT
The OHCHR Surge Team disposes of some seed funds to provide OHCHR Field Presences with small budgets to undertake pilot projects. The projects are aimed at piloting new/innovative ideas that will allow OHCHR Field Presences to address ESCR and prevention, possibly through the use of the SDG platform as a vehicle/entry point.
Following the civil crisis that greatly impacted the national economy negatively, Liberia’s post-war recovery efforts were being buttressed by the large influx of foreign aid and weaver of the country’s debt between 2005 to 2014 and the Liberian economy grew at an average annual rate of 7% between 2006 and 2014. However, this slow but steady growth was hit by the deadly Ebola virus outbreak in Liberia. While the economy is yet to fully recover from the impact of the Ebola virus outbreak, couple with the current financial and economic challenges faced by the new government, COVID 19 has shockingly disabused its spread globally including Liberia, thus having a direct negative impact on Country.
This trend of events is no doubt directly impacting the enjoyment, protection, and promotion of Economic Social and Cultural rights, especially that of women, children, and the vulnerable population.
This project is intended as first steps (e.g. baseline assessments; consultations; recruitment of experts for short periods; etc) for enhanced engagement - i.e. to lay the ground for strengthened follow-up/scaled-up work in the area of Economic Cultural and Social Rights , potentially as part of The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Liberia office’ work plan.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Liberia office is in this like requesting a call for proposal to recruit a consultant to write an analytical paper on the current economic context in Liberia from a human rights perspective especially in the wake of the Covid 19 pandemic. The paper will place special attention on the state of play of the economy, with emphasis on the rights to social security, health, water and sanitation, employment opportunities, especially for youth and women, including children welfare and security particularly in rural areas and among the vulnerable population. Also to be considered in the Consultant’s analysis are the economic impact on the enjoyment of the right to food and housing, especially the elderly, and right to adequate standard of living. The study will highlight the economic and social rights perspective of the overall impact of COVID 19 on the Liberian economy to include GDP growth, decline and projections, and austerity package/measure, conduct budget analysis and present different sectoral scenarios for the realisation of human rights. The issue of discrimination and the identification of those mostly left behind is relevant to the analysis. It is important that the data gathered be disaggregated to include but not limited to sex, age and location. It is expected that this research will result in analysis that will show concrete evidence of the impact of a declining economy and related economic measures, including austerity, and resulting budget allocations, etc., on the enjoyment of the social and economic rights of Liberians. Recommendations should include strategy for advocacy on rights for social security, health, water, food security and livelihood, income, and employment opportunity.
Deberes y responsabilidades
In particular, the analysis should:
Provide conceptual clarity that will contribute to the understanding of economic policy issues from a human rights perspective, and reframing debates;
Discuss the impact of COVID 19 on the Economy, livelihood, rights and social security of the Liberian people to include the economic impact of COVID 19, austerity measures, stimulus plan, banking and other financial transactions, formal and informal sectors among others
Identify early warning as related to economic and social rights violations;
Identify strategies for equality and improving access to services for marginalized groups (enjoyment of economic rights) and prevention.
Impact on women, children and other vulnerable groups;
Recommend strategies for influencing the development of policy, practice or service provision, from a human rights based approach, while using the SDGs/2030 Agenda as an important entry point in the analysis.
Major partners, stakeholders, and rights-holders to be included in the study are:
Independent National Human Rights Commission (INCHR);
Finance Ministry, Ministry of Health, Planning, etc.
Ministry of Justice (MOJ);
Law Reform Commission (LRC);
Legislative Drafters;
National Union of Disabled Person;
Umbrella Organization of Women to represent the interest of women organizations;
National Youth Council;
LGBTIQ organization to represent the interest of persons of diverse sexual orientation;
Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGCSP);
Civil Society Platform;
National Civil Society Council of Liberia (NCSCL)
Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA); Ministry of Mines and Energy;
Ministry of Labour (MOL);
Civil Service Agency (CSA).
Trade Unionists (eg: Firestone Agricultural Workers Union of Liberia (FAWUL), GAWUL, etc.)
Ministry of Health;
Ministry of Justice
Tasks to be performed include:
Task 1: Prepare Inception Report (Inception Report)
Complete an inception report and submit same to OHCHR with proposed methodology to include mapping of existing social security facilities, timeframes for each activity of the study. The activities should include the following:
Desk review: the study should be informed by an initial desk review. The purpose would be to review (a) the general legal framework (eg: constitution, policies, executive order, statues, optional protocol agreements that have been signed and or rectified etc. and other related laws) that include ESCR output and the economic context from a human rights prospective considering the impact of COVID 19 on the economy, livelihood, rights, and social security of the Liberian people; (b) specific information about ESCR, including national and provincial budgets, with emphasis on area of focus, disaggregated data to include age, gender, and sex. and (d) where possible, significant documents available at OHCHR and or INCHR and other institutions that could enhance the study final result, (10 working days).
Proposed structure for case study report: Include a summary on the proposed sections and subsections of the case study report. The report should address issues surrounding economic deprivation, impact of COVID 19, early warnings, ESCR as it linked to SDGs, etc. Other issues may be identified by OHCHR’s Country Office, and as the study progresses. It should include a situational analysis based on the desk review as detailed above.
(10 working days)
Qualitative interview protocol: (a) proposed questionnaire/survey tool for conducting interviews; (b) detailed list of proposed key stakeholders to be interviewed from stakeholders’ institutions listed c) Focus group discussions. They should be reviewed and agreed by OHCHR including those listed in project document. Interviewees may include male and female (gender inclusive). (7 days)
Task 2: Conduct mapping of basic social services
Using agreed methodology and in close collaboration with OHCHR, conduct mapping of basic services in line with ESCR/SDGs/Laws of Liberia.
Liaising with country office, hold de-briefing sessions with listed organizations, sharing initial mapping findings and analysis, and presenting any identified recommendations.
Prepare the draft case study report with findings of the study and draft report to the project team. The report should summarize interview findings and complement the baseline data of the inception report to include specific and detailed information.
Task 3: Finalize and support dissemination of study findings Prepare executive summary of the study main findings for feedback, and present final draft report for clearance by OHCHR.
Complete annexes, acronyms and classify all the resources used, including interviews.
Contribute to the general review of the analysis of the final multi-country report which will include compiled mapping findings.
Contribute to the launching of the study at OHCHR (including presentations and video/radio interviewing if necessary).
Competencias
KEY DELIVERABLES:
- Inception report in English, which includes proposed methodology and interview protocol and guidelines (Task 1)
- Draft case study report in English, which includes summary and initial analysis of desk review, audit interviews, findings and recommendations and debriefings and evaluation of challenges and lessons learned from the process (Task 2)
- Final report in English and strategy for dissemination of findings’ as needed
Institutional Arrangement
The consultant will work under the guidance of OHCHR and will be accountable to the assigned Human Rights Officer, for each deliverable as stipulated in the proposal. Meetings with OHCHR senior management will be held as and when needed.
Duration: 26 days between June 15, 2020 – July 30 2020
Duty Station: Monrovia
Competencies
Corporate Competencies
- Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards and acts in accordance with the Standards of Conduct for international civil servants;
- Advocates and promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of OHCHR;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Treats all people fairly without favouritism.
Functional Competencies
- Knowledge about the OHCHR programmes would be an advantage;
- Proven strong analytical abilities;
- Comfortable with economic topics and data
- Ability to work under pressure with several
- Excellent writing, presentation/public speaking skills;
- A pro-active approach to problem-solving;
- General IT Literacy
Habilidades y experiencia requeridas
Required Skills and Experiences
Education
• Masters degree in economics, gender, development studies, research, human rights, law or related social science
Experience
• Minimum 7 years of professional experience in the development sector as practitioner or a researcher;
• Minimum 5 years of experience in research, report reporting etc;
• Experience working with OHCHR or other UN agencies is an added advantage
Language requirement
Fluency in written and spoken English is required
Application process
Interested individuals must submit the following as proposals in order to demonstrate their qualifications.
• A letter indicating why the candidate considers himself/herself suitable for the required consultancy;
• Submission of an updated detailed Personal CV or P11 form which can be downloaded from http://sas.undp.org/documents/p11_personal_history_form.doc
• Lump sum financial quotation, with a breakdown of daily consultancy fee, daily subsistence allowance and ticket fees as applicable – clearly indicate the breakdown of daily fee and number of days of work per activity;
• At least two references from recent previous jobs or three references contact detail