TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR AN EXPERT CONSULTANT FOR STUDY ON MECHANISMS, STRATEGIES, APPROACHES, AND BARRIERS FOR REFUGEE WOMEN EXPOSED TO SEXUAL AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE (SGBV)

Project “Strengthened the active participation of women (Jordanians, Syrian Refuges, Youth and Women with Disabilities) with a comprehensive approach to rights in Jordan”, funded by AECID – Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation.

INTRODUCTION

Alianza por la Solidaridad was born with the vocation of working to achieve a better and more sustainable world for all, regardless of where they were born or where they decide to live. We invest all our work, knowledge, experience, and creativity in defending and advancing global rights in all parts of the world and for all people.

Our work responds to the defense of the rights of migrants, the rights of women around the world, the sustainability of the environment and the defense of the rights of people affected by humanitarian crises. For this we know that we need to build an informed, critical global citizenship that is eager to get involved in the social changes necessary to achieve a world that puts people and human rights at the center. And we know that advocacy is key to achieving this.

Alianza has been working in Jordan since 2007. The organisation has always collaborated with Jordanian organizations of a strong feminist nature and supported the work of civil society, especially in terms of empowerment and women’s rights, prevention and response to sexual and gender-based violence, both with Jordanian women and refugees. It is specialized in the detection and care of cases of GBV through clinics and OneStop Centres, training to non-specializetraining, for the detection, referral and response to cases of GBV, the application of standard procedures and policies to ensure quality in multisectoral services, training and awareness in GBV and women’s rights, promotion of women leadership and participation, studies, etc.

In 2018 we became part of the International Federation of Action Aid, which has allowed us to expand the network of countries in which we work, to more than 50 in the 5 continents, reach more people, make our projects more visible and be more effective with our political pressure.

Project Context

Alianza is part of a project funded by the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECID) and entitled “Strengthening the active participation of women (young, refugee, Jordanian, Jordanian and WwD) with a holistic rights-based approach in Jordan”. The project aims to contribute to a violence-free life for women at risk of exclusion, Jordanian and refugee women, youth and WwDs, through economic empowerment, protection and prevention of SGBV and conflict prevention in their communities, as a strategy to reduce the inequalities and ensure their contribution to sustainable development, while promoting social cohesion and conflict prevention. On the one hand, to mitigate and respond to GBV situations so that women survivors can rebuild their lives and emerge stronger from the process. On the other hand, to create the conditions for the existence of an environment of integral protection, where: 1. Women are aware of their rights, the situations of violence to which they are subjected and know how to react to it; 2. Society, and in particular men, recognize and condemn GBV, and changes are made to promote a protective environment and women’s empowerment (including greater participation in the public sphere and greater co-responsibility at the household level); 3. Staff of local organizations and CBOs have a high level of capacity and innovative strategies to contribute to this change in the long term.

The current service that is looked for, relates to the implementation of A3.2 of the aforementioned project: “Study on the different mechanisms, strategies, approaches and barriers of refugee women exposed to SGBV”.

There are reasons to believe that Jordanian and refugee women face different barriers and risks and adopt different strategies and coping mechanisms when they undergo situations of GBV or risk of it and when they try to reach GBV services. By better understanding these practices and what causes them, it will be possible to better adapt the GBV services provided, and the methodology used to be truly inclusive in serving refugee women in Jordan.

CONSULTANCY

The consultant will undertake a comprehensive study to explore the mechanisms, strategies, and barriers for refugee and Jordanian women in coping with SGBV. The study will involve data collection and analysis, with a specific focus on women with disabilities, to provide actionable recommendations for adapting GBV services.

Objective and Outputs of the Consultancy

This consultancy aims to analyze the mechanisms, strategies, and barriers refugee women face when coping with GBV, examining how factors like legal status, social norms, and disability shape their experiences. The study will identify variations in support-seeking behaviors and service accessibility and provide recommendations to make GBV services more inclusive and responsive to both Jordanian and refugee women, including those with disabilities. An intersectional approach will ensure that the unique experiences and needs of women with disabilities are thoroughly considered.

Location and Target Group

The study will be conducted in various locations across Jordan, targeting mainly refugee women (but also Jordanian) who have experienced SGBV, including women with disabilities. The final number of participants and locations will be determined based on the research design and logistical considerations.

Research Questions

These are preliminary research questions that the study should address. The candidate should include a section in the proposal addressing these and eventually adding her/his own input. The final research questions will be agreed between Alianza and the consultant.

1. Which are the main coping mechanisms of refugee women facing GBV or being at risk of it? Which are the main barriers they face when they try to and access GBV services? How does their status pose specific challenges in this process?
2. How does this differ from the situation of Jordanian women? What happens when the refugee status intersects with some type of disability?
3. Which are the recommendations for different stakeholders (refugee women, public institutions/services, policy makers, service providers) to ensure integration of refugee women with and without disabilities in the protection and GBV response system?

Tasks and Deliverables

The expert consultant will conduct a comprehensive study to examine the mechanisms, strategies, and barriers faced by refugee women exposed to GBV. This includes a literature review of existing research on GBV among Jordanian and refugee women with and without disabilities, followed by qualitative and quantitative data collection through interviews, focus groups, and surveys. The consultant will analyze this data to identify themes and barriers, incorporating an intersectional disability-focused lens to highlight unique challenges faced by women with disabilities. The study will result in actionable recommendations to enhance GBV services, with findings compiled into a detailed report to be presented to stakeholders at an open dissemination event.

Responsibilities of the Expert Consultant

1. Study Design and Methodology
2. Data Collection and Analysis
3. Report Writing and Recommendations
4. Dissemination and Stakeholder Engagement

The consultant will develop a research design with inclusive data collection tools such as interview guides, survey questionnaires, and focus group protocols. The study design will ensure gender-sensitive, ethical, and accessible approaches.

Fieldwork will be conducted to gather data from diverse groups across Jordan, with participatory methods capturing experiences of women with disabilities. Analysis will focus on identifying patterns and key themes relevant to GBV challenges and coping mechanisms.

Findings and coping strategies will be summarized in a comprehensive report that includes specific recommendations to improve the inclusivity of GBV services. The report will be accessible and understandable to a broad audience.

The consultant will present findings at a stakeholder event, encouraging discussions on policy and practical applications of the study’s insights.

Deliverables

1. Inception Report: Outlines study design, methodology, and data collection plan.
2. Data Collection Tools: Inclusive tools for interviews, surveys, and focus groups.
3. Mid-term Progress Report: Updates on data collection and initial findings.
4. Draft and Final Study Report: Comprehensive report with findings, analysis, and recommendations, incorporating feedback from Alianza.
5. Presentation of Findings: Presentation materials for the stakeholder dissemination event.

Duration

The consultant’s commitment for the specific service is expected to last for 3 months. The specific work plan will be agreed with Alianza. With the following initial timeline:

• Month 1: Study design, literature review, and tool development.
• Month 2: Data collection and fieldwork and data analysis and report writing.
• Month 3: Final report submission and dissemination event.

Budget Availability

The amount of the service contract will be based on the consultant’s proposal, taking into account the budget availability under the project.

REQUIREMENTS & SELECTION PROCESS

Profile Requirement

The consultant profile shall comply with the following requirements:

• High education in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Gender Studies, Psychology, or related fields.
• Specific training in gender, gender-based violence, human rights, and related issues.
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in the fields of: training and awareness raising, project development and implementation, strategy development, community mobilization.
• Knowledge of and prior involvement in women’s rights/gender justice movements or organisations;
• Knowledge of innovative methodologies for training and awareness raising
• Fluency in English and Arabic (spoken and written).
• Ability to produce high quality work under tight timeframes.
• Enthusiastic about human rights and gender equality.
• Creative and proactive.

Application and Submission Deadline

The consultant must submit a technical and financial proposal (maximum 10 pages in total) including the following:

• Cover letter of maximum 500 words, highlighting the motivation and key skills for the service.

• CV of the consultant/team.

• Tentative workplan.

• Methodological approach.

• Tentative activities and/or other relevant considerations.

• Detailed financial proposal including all applicable taxes.

• All applications should be submitted by 30th Nov 2024. Please send your application to bmingo@aporsolidaridad.org and balshdeifat@aporsolidaridad.org with the subject line: "Application for GBV Study Consultant – [Your Name]".

• Pre-selected consultants may be requested to have an interview.

• Evaluation

  Proposals will be evaluated according to the following:

  CRITERION VALUE

• Academic profile 20%

• Prior experience 35%

• Quality of the proposal 30%

• Added value 5%

• Financial offer 10%

• Incomplete proposals will not be considered.

• Profiles not complying with the mandatory language requirements will not be considered.

• “Alianza por la Solidaridad (the Spanish member of ActionAid International) is committed to preventing any kind of unwanted behavior at work, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity, and/or financial misconduct. We expect all our staff, volunteers, suppliers and partners to share this commitment and adhere to our code of conduct, as well as other policies related to and approved by the organization. Only those who share our values and code of conduct will be selected to work with us”

How to Apply:

All applications should be submitted by 30th Nov 2024. Please send your application to bmingo@aporsolidaridad.org and balshdeifat@aporsolidaridad.org with the subject line: "Application for GBV Study Consultant – [Your Name]".

Pre-selected consultants may be requested to have an interview.