Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Disability Inclusion Consultant

2023-02-13

Full Time

Description

The Position:

The purpose of the International Consultancy on Gender based Violence (GBV) and Disability Inclusion is to support UNFPA APRO in strengthening disability inclusive GBV programming at regional and country level.

You will report to APRO GBV Technical Advisor and APRO Regional Programme Specialist (Disability).

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

Scope of work:

Women with disabilities account for almost one-fifth of women worldwide. Many girls and women with disabilities living in poverty are subjected to “triple discrimination” due to their gender, social and economic status, and their disability. A study carried out by UNFPA in 2018, found that persons with disabilities are up to three times more likely to experience physical, sexual, and emotional violence and women with disabilities are up to 10 times more likely to experience sexual violence. For women with disabilities, GBV is often compounded by disability-based discrimination. In addition, support services for women experiencing violence tend not to be accessible to women and girls with disabilities or prove inadequate to respond to the specific needs of women and girls with disabilities. Crisis situations disproportionately affect girls and young women with disabilities. During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the risks for exposure to gender-based violence (GBV) among women and girls with disabilities increases due to social isolation, disrupted routines and if caregivers can't reach them.

UNFPA has taken several steps already to strengthen disability inclusion in GBV programming at both global and regional levels. Most notably, UNFPA’s Disability Inclusion Strategy 2022-2025 provides a “whole-of-institution” framework for the agency to meet UNDIS commitments and advance the rights of persons with disabilities through its work globally.

In line with this strategy, UNFPA has undertaken a range of global initiatives relating to disability inclusion, such as the We Decide programme, which among other goals seeks to strengthen disability inclusion in sexual and reproductive health and rights and efforts to end gender-based violence.

Throughout 2021 and 2022 APRO has provided technical support on disability inclusion to UNFPA country offices in their advocacy and technical GBV programming. This technical support has included the development of complementary tools and resources to strengthen GBV programming for survivors of disabilities. In addition, APRO organised a range of virtual capacity building sessions including webinars/learning sessions, bi-monthly CO check-in calls, and ad-hoc bilateral support. APRO has also been documenting promising practices and innovative approaches on GBV and disability inclusion at country-office level, and organised a sharing workshop with GBV and disability CO Focal Points to enhance cross-country learnings and exchanges.

From the results of a survey sent to UNFPA GBV CO Focal Points at the end of 2022, 55% of the respondents indicated GBV and Disability Inclusion programming as one of the key focus areas of their GBV programme. Furthermore, according to 75% of the CO respondents, disability inclusive GBV programming is one of the main technical areas in which COs would like APRO to focus on in terms of capacity building opportunities.

In 2023, APRO aims to strengthen regional understanding on programming by conducting an operational research to generate evidence-based knowledge on what is needed in order to make GBV services more inclusive of the needs of women and girls with disabilities. APRO expects its research to produce concrete applications that impact women and girls’ wellbeing in the Asia Pacific Region, by:

1. establishing a framework to track progress on disability inclusion in GBV programming at country and regional levels,

2. evaluating strategies and approaches that promote disability inclusion in GBV programmes in the APRO region,

3. documenting and sharing effective practices for disability inclusion across the APRO region.

Furthermore, in the context of the kNOwVAWdata project, APRO aims at integrating disability considerations into regional disability kNOwVAWdata analysis and training modules to ensure they are accountable to the needs of women and girls with disabilities.

Under the supervision of APRO GBV Advisor and in close collaboration with APRO Disability Specialist, the consultant will be expected to work on the following:

Technical Support:

Provide technical support, coaching and mentoring to COs on disability inclusive GBV programming, including through the review of documents and resources and quarterly check-in calls;

Develop a methodology and participatory action research tools to improve access and inclusion of women and girls with disabilities and their caregivers programme activities;

Testing the tools in identified countries;

Review kNOwVAWData disability course to incorporate APRO tools and lessons learned

Knowledge Management:

Support the development of a regional brief on violence experienced by women with disabilities based on regional VAW prevalence survey analysis.

At least 2 webinars on new resources and tools on GBV and Disability Inclusion

Final presentation to APRO on achievements, challenges and recommendations for future strategies and interventions to ensure disability inclusive GBV programming

Duration and working schedule:

The total duration of the consultancy will be 45 working days between 1 March - 31 December 2023. The selected consultant will develop an agreed monthly work plan in consultation with the UNFPA APRO team.

Expected travel on mission:

Travels to the Regional Office (APRO) and/or UNFPA Country Offices or other venues are expected, with exact dates and duration to be determined based on the need at the time of deployment.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

Master’s degree with specialization in areas such as clinical psychology, clinical social work, and Public Health.

Knowledge and Experience:

At least ten years of specialized experience in programming to support disability inclusion.

Demonstrated knowledge of global and regional guidelines on disability inclusion, sexual reproductive health and rights and gender-based violence.

Experience in programming to promote gender equality and address gender based violence in line with the unique needs of women and girls with disabilities.

Experience in developing and implementing action research to measure the effectiveness of disability inclusion interventions.

Languages:
Proficiency in English and in other official languages or the UN required/desirable.