International Consultant – Clinical Management of Rape Survivors (CMR)

Purpose of consultancy:

1. Introduction:

 

Gender-based violence including rape is an acknowledged problem throughout the World. If left unaddressed, Sexual Violence and particularly rape may have severe negative physical, mental and social consequences for the survivors as well for their families and the larger community. It is therefore critical to prevent and manage consequences of Sexual Violence including rape because it is a human rights violation and has devastating health consequences to the survivor, their family and the community at large.   Survivors may suffer from depression, anxiety, contract HIV or other STIs, unwanted pregnancies or stigma from family and community members. In situations of conflict and forced migration, sexual violence is known to escalate as community’s protection systems break down.

 

In South Sudan, the protracted instability and conflict have exacerbated the incidence of rape cases. According to the GBV Strategy (2017), rape is a common feature of the conflict threatening civilians inside and outside of the Protection of Civilians (POC) sites.  Gang rapes and abductions of women and girls by armed actors are reported regularly, often occurring when civilians cross military checkpoints; flee areas under military attack or when they leave PoC sites to collect firewood or food.  This has resulted in an increased need for Clinical Management of Rape Survivors (CMR). 

 

Given the immediate as well as long-term negative effects of rape and sexual assaults on the physical and mental health of survivors, medical response, as a life-saving measure, is very critical.  However, the delivery of medical services for GBV survivors in South Sudan is often uncoordinated, of varied quality, and not accessible to a majority of survivors. Therefore, there is need to assess the availability of CMR services in order to improve the quality and consistency of delivery of CMR services by all the stakeholders in South Sudan.

 

Scope of work:

The consultant will conduct a Literature review; Key Informant Interviews, CMR-Health facility assessment and Focus group discussions. The assessment covers the whole country and consultant will endeavour to assess as many facilities.  

 

       2. Objective and methodology of the assessment:

The main objective of the CMR assessment is to have up to date mapping of the CMR services and recommendations for improvement.

1. Literature review: The objectives of the literature will be to:

1. Provide background information essential to CMR, including a. Existing reproductive health (RH)/CMR infrastructure of country b. South Sudan RH policies and policies
2. Facilitate the identification of cultural sensitivities, especially related to CMR;
3. Identify barriers and facilitating factors to implementing the CMR.

2. Key informant interviews: The purpose of undertaking key informant interviews (KIIs) during will be to understand the extent to which the CMR has been integrated into the health sector efforts. The objectives of the KIIs are to:

1. Follow-up incomplete information from the literature review on the integration of the CMR into Health cluster and protection plans and strategies in South Sudan
2.  Assess key informants’ knowledge of the CMR
3. Explore key informants' knowledge about affected communities’ priority CMR concerns and needs;
4. Explore key informants’ engagement with affected communities including adolescents and persons with disabilities;
5. Assess agencies’ CMR response;
6. Examine availability of CMR services;
7. Explore accessibility of CMR services;
8. Determine key barriers and facilitating factors to CMR implementation in crisis response.

 

Key informants may include health, RH, HIV and gender-based violence (GBV) focal points representing: Ministry of Health (MOH) and other relevant government agencies; Relevant United Nations (UN) agencies including the World Health Organization (WHO); United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UNAIDS and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF); and relevant international, national and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

 

3. Health Facility Assessment: HFA will examine the availability, quality and utilization of CMR. The objectives of the health facility assessment are to:

1. Establish the type of health facilities and their catchment population.
2. Explore the availability of basic infrastructure and systems at the health facility;
3. Determine health facility readiness with human and material resources.
4. Determine availability, accessibility and quality of CMR services;
5. Examine the utilization of CMR service;
6. Explore the availability of information about CMR at the health facility to the community;

4. Focus group discussions: Purpose of FGDs will be to:

1. To assess the extent that CMR services are available and accessible;
2. To explore how resources (human and material) relevant to the CMR were allocated, mobilized, and delivered by agencies in the humanitarian response;
3. To explore awareness about and use of CMR services by the population
4. To explore the factors that influence the implementation of the CMR

 

Main Tasks and Responsibilities  

The consultant  will perform the following tasks:

1. Develop the tools for collecting information on CMR around the country
2. Collect information through review of existing reports/documents, interviews (client exit interviews, Key Informant interviews, etc.), focus group discussions and observations; and health facility assessment as outlined above.
3. Collate, analyze and produce a synthesis and analytical report;
4. Document good practices and lessons learned in the delivery of CMR,
5. To present the draft report to the programme officers of UNFPA and selected partners for comments;
6. To integrate comments and finalize the Report of the assessment; and
7. To undertake any other tasks as appropriately related to this study that may be required/necessary.

 

Duration and working schedule:

21 working days

Starting May 2018

 

Place where services are to be delivered:

South Sudan, Juba 

 

Delivery dates:

An electronic copy of the final assessment report

An electronic copy of mapping of CMR around the country

 

Monitoring and progress:

UNFPA will be responsible to monitor Consultant’s work based on the agreed work plan and agreed deliverables.

The final deliverables will be submitted to UNFPA on the last day of the consultancy

 

Supervisory arrangements:

Emergency Coordinator but works closely with Programme Analysts for SRH and GBV in Emergencies 

 

Expected travel:

10 States

 

Qualifications and Experience:

• University Degree in Medicine and Public Health, health policy, social science
• 7 and above years of experience in strategic work related to RH, GBV with a focus on CMR
• Proven understanding of the Survivor centred approach and guiding principles of working with survivors
• Field experience on CMR
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish an effective and working relationship with MoH, and other partners
• Good knowledge of South Sudan medical, Social, Health and Judicial context as well as of relevant I/NGOs and a Public health sector that might be relevant to the CMR
• Forensic medicine experience is a plus. 
• Excellent written and spoken Communication skills in English

 

How to Apply:

Applicants are kindly requested to send their application to ssco.vacancies@unfpa.org by COB 18 May 2018. Applications received after this date will not be taken into consideration. All applications should be cleared marked with Subject Line “Clinical Management of Rape Survivors (CMR) (International Post)”.

Applicants will be short-listed on the basis of their qualifications and work experience. Only the short-listed candidates will be invited for interviews.

IMPORTANT: There is NO application processing or other fee at any stage of UNFPA application processes.