International Consultancy: Mainstreaming of MISP in Humanitarian Response Clusters/Sectors, Johannesburg, South Africa

Hiring Office:

ESARO Humanitarian Unit

Background

The humanitarian situation in the ESA (East and Southern Africa) region is complex and characterised by multi-hazard cyclical and protracted crises. A combination of conflict, climate change-related phenomena, and socioeconomic and political instability has had a daunting effect on populations in many countries. There are acute humanitarian challenges to which the UN and other humanitarian actors must respond to. These include a sizable internal displacement; food insecurity; refugee crises; and gender-based violence that has been exacerbated by conflict. Equally, these crises threaten the gains made in development initiatives that have cost communities, governments, and partners significant resources. Cyclical and protracted crises have put additional strain on capacities and resources across the region and, because of the fluid situation on the ground, have changed the priorities of governments and partners. This has significantly affected progress toward the SDGs, both for those impacted by the humanitarian crises and those who are not. 

Currently there is conflict, political instability; drought cyclones and heavy rainfalls (affecting countries in the ESA region and other have become host of protracted refugee camps and or Internally Displaced Persons. Sudden-onset emergencies related to climate change can be expected anytime in virtually all the countries of eastern and southern Africa, particularly those at the coastal line and those which are semi-arid. 

Women and girls are the most affected during the humanitarian emergencies, these are characterised by the increased risk of excessive maternal mortality and morbidity, transmission of HIV, GBV and harmful practices, and difficult access to ARV for those living with HIV, contraception and family planning services as well as general disruption of health and other social and protection services due to weak resiliency and widespread dysfunctionalities. There is often a breakdown of social cohesion, absence of or limited household income; shortages of food and non-food items such as hygiene kits and condoms; significant disruption in HIV prevention and treatment programmes and overall absence of livelihood opportunities and even absence of access to education. 

In response to the increasing trend of humanitarian crises, the international humanitarian community has put in place coordination mechanisms to ensure effective and timely multisectoral humanitarian response. Depending on the nature of humanitarian crises, a cluster system or a refugee coordination system are put in place to ensure effective coordination of humanitarian response programmes. UNFPA, the UN Sexual Reproductive Health Agency, leads on SRH and GBV throughout the humanitarian programming cycle. Where the cluster approach has not been activated, coordination is still structured along sectors and working groups aligned with the clusters. 

Gender-based violence (GBV) is a reality and human rights violation for women and girls globally and in the ESA region. During emergencies, the risk of violence, exploitation and abuse is heightened. At the same time, national systems, including health and legal systems, and community and social support networks weaken. This breakdown of systems can reduce access to health services, including sexual and reproductive health services, and legal services, leading to an environment of impunity in which perpetrators are not held to account. 

Prevention and mitigation of, and response to, GBV are classified as life-saving interventions in humanitarian settings. All agencies involved in humanitarian response have a responsibility to protect those affected by GBV. This includes implementing programme interventions to reduce the risk of GBV, designing initiatives to promote community resilience to GBV, supporting survivors and other women and girls at risk to access care and support services, and strengthening local and national capacities (government, other authorities and civil society) to establish systems to prevent and respond to GBV in a sustainable manner.  The GBV programming in emergency is guided by the 16 interagency Minimum Standards for GBV programming in Emergency and GBV Mainstreaming across all humanitarian response sectors is guided by  IASC Guidelines for Integrating GBV into humanitarian actions.

On the other hand, women and girls face significant SRHR and HIV issues due to disruption of services during humanitarian crises. The Inter Agency Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) is the key programmatic SRH and GBV entry point for acute crises. It is comprised of four programmatic objectives: Prevent sexual violence and respond to the needs of survivors, Prevent the transmission of and reduce morbidity and mortality due to HIV and other STIs, prevent excess maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality, Prevent unintended pregnancies. It also aims to enhance SRH coordination and return to comprehensive SRHR services as one its objectives in line with rebuilding and preparedness for future shocks. 

Though MISP is fully recognized as a lifesaving component under the health sector/cluster, its successful implementation relies on inputs from other humanitarian response sectors hence the need for a multisectoral approach for effective MISP implementation. There have been efforts to enhance SRHR preparedness for emergencies and a tool kit “Ready to Save Lives A Preparedness Toolkit for Sexual and Reproductive Health Care in Emergencies” has been developed. However, this guidance focuses on the preparedness phase; hence creating a guidance gap on mainstreaming of MISP during the response to an emergency. On the other hand, the existing MISP monitoring tools are limited to the health sector hence not systematically capturing valuable contributions from other humanitarian sectors.

It is in that regard that the 2gether 4 SRHR joint program is seeking services of a consultant to undertake a systematic review of the existing guidance and tools for integration of SRHR across humanitarian response sectors and come up with one simple and user-friendly tool to enhance MISP mainstreaming into WASH, Education, Food Security and Nutrition, Livelihoods, Shelter and Access Working Groups/Clusters.

Rationale of having a user-friendly guide for mainstreaming MISP in humanitarian response

Integrating MISP into other humanitarian response sectors is crucial for ensuring comprehensive and holistic assistance to affected populations. Effective implementation of the MISP relies on invaluable inputs from other humanitarian response sectors beyond health. For example, livelihood interventions contribute to enhancing women empowerment and decrease risk of engaging in transactional sex which is one of the drivers of HIV transmission. Protection aspects for women, adolescent and young people impact positively on prevention of GBV, unintended pregnancies and contribute to positive maternal health outcomes which are both among the main objectives of MISP. Integration of MISP into the WASH sector is important for ensuring hygiene promotion, access to clean water, and sanitation facilities, which are essential for maintaining SRH hygiene practices. Lack of integration guide and user-friendly tools to guide the mainstream of MISP into other humanitarian response sectors constitutes a huge gap especially during emergency crises usually characterised by shortage of human resources and overwhelming workload.   Leveraging on the capacities, resources and reach of other sectors is critical for the delivery of life saving SRH and GBV services.

The goal of availing the user-friendly guide is to support frontline MISP providers with tools that can ease their interface with other clusters/sectors during preparedness and response. This will help ensure that priorities MISP contributing strategies/interventions are being mainstreamed across the humanitarian response. The user guide will also serve as a checklist which will be used to assess the quality and comprehensiveness of MISP programming in ESA region.

Objective of the consultancy

The objectives of this assignment are to do a literature review of existing multi-sectoral tools and come up with a simplified user-friendly guide for mainstreaming of MISP across other humanitarian response sectors

Scope of work:

(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

The Humanitarian Consultant with the support of 2gether 4 SRHR technical taskforce will undertake a range of activities scheduled for completion by 31 August 2024. In particular, the duties of the consultant include: 

1. Conduct a desk review of existing key guidelines and tools for the delivery of humanitarian services across the clusters/sectors and identify opportunities for the integration of SRH and MISP in humanitarian settings.
2. Review MISP (GBV and SRH) tools and identify entry points for integration into other sectors.
3. Develop a guide for MISP mainstreaming and a user-friendly tool to guide and monitor integration of MISP into other humanitarian response sectors. 
4. Organize a webinar to present the draft guide/tools and collect feedback/inputs              

Expected deliverables:

• Inception report detailing the plan and methodology to undertake the assignment (30%) (5 days)
• Review of sectoral programmatic and operational tools, guidelines to identify opportunities for the integration of MISP.
• Draft guide for integration of MISP into other humanitarian response sectors (word and PPT document) (20%) (10 days)
• Draft user-friendly tool to check progress of MISP mainstreaming and monitor its integration in other humanitarian response sectors throughout implementation (25%) (10 days)
• Final guide and user-friendly tool (25%) (5 days)

Duration and working schedule:

30 working days within the period 01 June - 31 August 2024

Place where services are to be delivered:

Remote work 

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g., electronic, hard copy etc.):

31 August 2024

Electronic

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

Consultant will be required to provide bi-weekly/weekly updates to the 2gether 4 SRHR humanitarian Technical Working Group

Supervisory arrangements: 

The Humanitarian Consultant will work under the overall guidance of the 2gether4SRHR partners agency lead for this activity (UNFA)

Expected travel:

N/A

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

1. Master’s degree in Humanitarian studies, public health, Social sciences or related field 
2. At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional work of which a minimum of 5 years of management and coordination of Sexual Reproductive Health and Gender Based Violence programs in humanitarian and fragile settings including coordination experience of humanitarian programs at the international level. 
3. Experience in working for bilateral and multilateral organizations/donors operating in humanitarian settings and familiarity with the ESA region.
4. Good organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and within tight timeframes.
5. Fluency in English required, excellent oral and written communication skills, working knowledge of French is an added value.
6. Having conducted similar assignment within UN would be an added advantage.

Inputs / services to be provided by 2gether4 SRHR partner agencies or implementing partner (e.g. support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:

2gether 4 SRHR will provide support to facilitate consultation process and meeting with stakeholders as required.