International Consultant: Accelerating Prevention and Response to GBV Programmes in Mozambique

Background:

The United Nations and the European Union (EU) have a global, multi-year initiative focused on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG) - the Spotlight Initiative.

Deep-rooted power imbalances remain between men and women based on a discriminatory structure of society that legitimizes an ideology of male sexual entitlement, and mainly values women for their reproductive capacity and economic benefits they bring through marriage. Furthermore, women and girls are regularly subjected to physical and sexual violence and early sexual initiation. According to Mozambique’s 2011 Demographic and Health Survey (DHS, 2011), more than one in three women (37.2%) has experienced physical or sexual violence at some point in their lifetime with rates higher (42.8%) among young women aged 20-24. In a more recent time period, 6.9% of women have suffered sexual violence in the last 12 months with rates higher in urban (7.9%) than in rural areas (6.4%) and among young women (17.5%). Mozambique also has the 10th highest early marriage rate in the world, 48% of women aged 20-24 married before age 18 (55.7% in rural areas and 36.1% in urban areas). Related to early marriage, the percentage of 15 to 19-year- olds ever pregnant is 46%. Also, the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is 13.2% and 9.8% for women between 15-24 years of age.

After two years of SLI implementation, important experiences and understanding of the local context and dynamics, involving at least 6 Government sectors: Gender, Health, Interior, Justice, Youth, Statistics, and the Judiciary, have been collected. UNFPA in Mozambique is leading the Spotlight pillars 4 and 5, related to the provision of services and data. Under other pillars important interventions such as mentorship, through adolescent girls' Safe Spaces, under pillar 3, and capacity development efforts under pillar 2 generate knowledge and tools that can be used for future actions.

Although, due to the COVID-19 pandemic emergency that hit Mozambique in March 2020, a considerable delay has been registered in SLI implementation. Recognizing that pandemics compound existing gender inequalities and vulnerabilities, increasing risks of abuse. In times of crisis such as an outbreak, women and girls may be at higher risk, for example, of intimate partner violence and other forms of domestic violence due to heightened tensions in the household. They also face increased risks of other forms of gender based violence including sexual exploitation and abuse in these situations.

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the comprehensive acceleration of GBV initiatives adapted to COVID-19 response. In this context particular support is required for revising the UNFPA commitments under the SLI, propose and effective and result oriented WP to reach the expected results, with innovative approaches.

Scope of Work:

Under the leadership of the UNFPA Representative and the overall guidance of the Deputy Representative, the consultant will be directly supervised by the Assistant Representative. The consultant will work in close collaboration with the participating SLI core group, UN Women, UNFPA Humanitarian Unit, UN agencies, UNFPA Implementing Partners, the Government and civil society.

The consultant will facilitate and implement UNFPA interventions as well as production sound documents, and materials integrating VAWG/SGBV/HP, namely:

• Guide and improve programming and results on gender equality within UNFPA’s work.
• Enable UNFPA to promote gender equality and the human rights of all individuals, especially marginalized women and adolescent girls, and fully support the implementation of international obligations on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and adolescent girls.
• Further guide UNFPA’s interventions to enhance resilience and reduce vulnerability to gender-based violence utilizing a continuum approach.
• Realize UNFPA’s institutional gender mainstreaming throughout CO units and thematic areas.
• Strengthen partnerships and collaboration with other UN agencies, bilateral and multilateral donors, and civil society, among others, using evidence- and results-based advocacy and accountability.

The Consultant is Expected to:

• Review main UNFPA achievements, and identify the gaps, including review of SLI M&E framework.
• Provide technical assistance to the implementation of the UNFPA acceleration plan.
• Develop a TA workplan to ensure UNFPA reaches main goals and specific expected results.
• Develop capacity particularly materials adapted to SGBV and HP of vulnerable groups (people with disabilities, people living with albinism, people living with HIV, people at risk of being trafficked, sex workers and the LGBTI community) in response to COVID-19.
• Support SLI UNFPA core group in the development of SLI phase II.
• Participate in technical UN inter-agency group and provide technical assistance to dialogue with bilateral and multilateral donors through existing forums.
• Provide technical support to SLI reports.
• Ensure timely and high-quality UNFPA inputs to documents, proposals and presentations and key messages related to VAWG/SGBV/HP and COVID-19.

Key Expected Results:

• Work plan for the consultancy period, continuously updated and revised as per need, including an external engagement plan, within three days of the consultancy.
• Prepare technical papers on GBV based on SLI experience, to address existing gaps based on  UNFPA's  mandate  and  global commitments,  and achieve UNFPA's corporate gender equality strategic goals, two by end of contract.
• Based on successful experiences, and within the core mandate of UNFPA, propose key areas of interventions for the SLI phase II.

Deliverables:

• Place where services are to be delivered: Maputo, with eventual travel to the provinces, particularly Nampula, Gaza and Manica.
• All outputs will be delivered by e-mail in soft copy according to tentative deadlines established at the beginning of the consultancy.
• On 30^th of each month, provide a report with annexes on results achieved: workplan, concept note for mentor training, training materials, training reports, and other required documents.

Required Qualifications:

Education:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in gender studies, human rights,  international development, international relations or other social science or public health fields is required.

Work Experience:

• Minimum 7 years progressively responsible experience in designing and managing programmes, preferably on gender, SRHR and/or violence against women and girls.
• Proven experience on violence against women and girls, harmful practices and SRHR.
• Experience in capacity building programmes, in providing technical assistance, data and policy analysis, strategic planning, M&E and results-based management, human rights based approach.
• Experience working with governments, donors, civil society organizations.
• Proven experience supporting partnerships
• Working experience in developing countries and Africa, especially Mozambique, is an asset.
• Previous experience with the UN and specifically UNFPA is an asset.

Language:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of Portuguese is an asset.

How to Apply:

• The deadline for applications is 19 February 2021, 5:00 pm Africa/Maputo time.
• Duration of the contract is 5 months. Starting date as soon as possible. 
• Email to submit applications: moz.recruitments@unfpa.org. Please specify in the email subject: International Consultant:  Accelerating Prevention and Response to GBV Programmes in Mozambique.
• Documents required:  Curriculum Vitae (CV) and motivational letter.  Financial proposals:  Not required as the consultant remuneration amount has been established by the UNFPA country office, which will be shared as required.
• The Consultant will receive a monthly lump sum, based on deliverables of the monthly report, in five payments, totaling 100% by the end of the contract.
• UNFPA will only respond to those applicants in whom the Mozambique country office has further interest. In the event that UNFPA does not contact you, please consider your application unsuccessful.

Notice to Applicants:

• UNFPA does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training) or other fee, or request information on applicants’ bank accounts.