Consultancy to support the review and finalization of the Caribbean Essential Services Package Lessons Learnt Study and development of the Standard Methodology and Resource Package - Spotlight Initiative

THE UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND (UNFPA)

Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean invites applications from suitably qualified individuals

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

Under the overall supervision of UNFPA’s Deputy Director and in close working relationship and technical direction from the Regional GBV Specialist, the consultancy team/consultant, will lead two main activities:

1. Develop a standard methodology and resource package with templates and guidance, which can then be adapted at the national level by countries wishing to start the process of the ESP implementation or to revise and improve the process in which they are already involved.
2. Review and finalize the final draft of the lessons learned study, identifying the key lessons learned in the implementation of the ESP at national levels across the region.

BACKGROUND

Gender based violence (GBV), in particular VAWG, is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations. It is estimated that globally, one in three women and girls have experienced some form of GBV in their lives. GBV is a public health issue that has taken pandemic proportions, and it tends to dramatically increase during periods of instability as well as humanitarian emergencies.

In the Caribbean, particularly, “domestic and family violence is a complex concept as violence might take place in formal and informal settings, as well as in intimate relationships within different households. Family relationships may involve previous and current partners or siblings and half-siblings who do not live in the same household”1. Women and girls living with disabilities, sex workers, migrants/refugees, indigenous communities and individuals identifying as LGBTQI, are increasingly at risk of experiencing GBV, and are often indirectly excluded from lifesaving service provision, leaving them even more vulnerable and unprotected. It is not possible to calculate or estimate the prevalence or incidence rates of GBV, because there are extreme levels of under-reporting, and reporting systems tend to focus only on verified incidents of sexual violence mainly, which would be an under-representation of the variety of forms in which survivors experience violence.

The United Nations Joint Global Programme on Essential Services (ESP) for Women and Girls Subject to Violence, exists to support the provision of and greater access to a coordinated set of essential and quality multisectoral services for all women and girls who have experienced GBV. The ESP programme is the result of a general consensus on essential services for women and girls who have experienced GBV, and the core elements of response to be provided through the health, social services, police and justice sectors, forming a multisectoral coordinated response to GBV. The programme also includes guidance for the coordination and implementation of the ESP.

UNFPA and the CARICOM Secretariat have operationalized the Caribbean Essential Services Package Community of Practice (ESP CoP) in early 2022, under the Regional Spotlight Initiative Programme2. The first regional coordination mechanism to promote greater cooperation among key regional institutions representing the four pillars of the ESP, national gender machineries and fund-recipient agencies of the United Nations.

During the in-person meeting of the ESP CoP, Standing Members agreed on a set of key gaps and priorities for the region. One of the main gaps that countries have reported is the lack of standard templates and technical guidance around the assessments necessary to plan for the implementation of the ESP in their countries, a lack of knowledge and guidance in the process, and a lack of technical capacity in those individuals conducting the processes. As such, one of the main priorities agreed upon by all Standing Members, is to develop a standard methodology and resource package available at the regional level, to support the planning and implementation of the ESP at the national levels, including technical assistance throughout the process.

In 2022, UNFPA developed a first version of a regional study on the status of implementation of the ESP across the region. Important data was collected throughout the process of conducting the assessment, and UNFPA is interested in ensuring the data can be organized and shared with members of the ESP CoP, as well as used to allow for monitoring, follow up and advocacy purposes. Overall, the study needs to be revised and finalized before it can be published along with an interactive dashboard that will be available on the ESP CoP Website to be launched in 2023.
 

Scope of work – inter alia

The consultancy team/consultant will perform the following specific activities as part of this consultancy:

Develop a standard methodology and resource package templates and guidance, based on lessons learnt in the region and globally, which can then be adapted at the national level, by countries wishing to start the process of the ESP implementation or revise and improve the process in which they are already involved.

• Conduct a consultation with countries that have developed their own tools for the assessment, planning and implementation of the ESP, to gather information highlighting best practices and challenges, as well as templates used in the Caribbean and with selected global examples in other regions globally.
• Conduct a set of consultations with key stakeholders from the different sectors of work and government partners, so as to inform key components of the resource package that can speak to their preferences, capacity and main needs in the planning of and implementation of the ESP.
• Develop the standard methodology and resource package for the planning and implementation of the ESP for the Caribbean, including assessment tools, costing plan guidance, relevant administrative and technical templates, M&E Framework, and capacity building plan based on gaps identified.
• Present the resource pack during a validation session, following which, tools will be finalized.

Review and finalize the final draft of the lessons learned study, identifying the key lessons learned in the implementation of the ESP at national levels across the region.

• Review the current draft of the study and make sure it is comprehensive, technical and strategically positions UNFPA as GBV lead in the implementation of the ESP as well as the ESP CoP (with special focus on sustainability recommendations).
• Reach out to countries and territories that have not yet been able to provide feedback, to give them another chance to do so and incorporate their inputs and preferences.
• Based on data collected from the ESP Study, organize the data and allow for key information to be used in the development of a dashboard outlining the work being done across the region.
• Work with graphic designers to make sure the study is properly reflected in the website and ready to be launched.

Submission Details

Interested Individual Consultants should submit their Application packages by Saturday, May 6, 2023 23:59 Hrs (EST) by email to vacancy.sroc@unfpa.org ONLY and register in UNFPA Consultants Roster via this link: http://consultantroster.unfpa.org.  

To apply, kindly submit application letter and CV to:

Vacancy #: 2023/ESPC-001

The Spotlight Initiative

14-20 Port Royal Street, Kingston
Email:  vacancy.sroc@unfpa.org

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Note:

• There is no application, processing or other fee at any stage of the application process. 
• UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status. 
• UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, teamwork, respect for diversity, integrity and a healthy balance of work and life. We are committed to maintaining our balanced gender distribution and therefore encourage women to apply.