Tender Description

1.1.   PROJECT OVERVIEW

CARE is seeking a provider to submit proposals intended for the [provide requirement description.

TERMS OF A REFERENCE FOR A CONFLICT-SENSITIVE GENDER AND SOCIAL INCLUSION ANALYSIS GASHAAN PROJECT

Context

Somalia is a country that has gone through decades of conflict, recurrent climate shocks, disease outbreaks that has resulted in widespread displacement, rapid urbanization, food insecurity, and increased poverty. A total of 2.9 million IDPs have been displaced by conflict, insecurity, drought and/or floods.  The conflict and climate related shocks have exacerbated the humanitarian situation of both IDP and host communities, with increased numbers of children married earlier as a coping strategy. Somalia is characterized by structural gender inequalities.  Women continue to experience social discrimination and exclusion due to the strong patriarchal nature, low levels of literacy, limited access to employment opportunities. Women and the youth are generally excluded from leadership positions because of the traditional clan system operational in Somalia. The successive humanitarian crises continue to make Somali women and girls vulnerable to heightened levels of conflict related sexual violence and FGM practices. Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) is prevalent in many regions, but cases go unreported due to fears of rejection and stigmatization. Many women and girls who have been sexually assaulted may not seek help medical or psychosocial services due to the lack of availability of services and due to the stigma attached to sexual assault.

Background

The GAASHAN Programme (Somali word for shield or protect) aims to provide sustainable and comprehensive humanitarian response and prevention to protection and GBV risks for marginalized and hard to reach communities in humanitarian hotspot areas in South Central Somalia. The project will reach 43,756 direct beneficiaries (10,528 men, 21,533 women, 2,850 boys and 8,845 girls of whom 5% people with disabilities) in 18 districts across 9 regions in South Central Somalia. We will also reach an estimated 117,200 indirect beneficiaries (46,452 men, 59,748 women, 5,000 boys, and 6,000 girls). The target districts have been prioritized as they experience consistently high levels of humanitarian needs and face the compounding effects of conflict and climate-related shocks and stressors, making populations vulnerable to gender based violence (GBV) and abuse. These districts are among the priority locations in the 2023 Somalia Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) due to the magnitude and severity of needs following the five-season drought. In addition, El Nino is projected during the October to December Deyr rainfall season, resulting in excess rainfall and flooding. There are increased risks of flooding along the main rivers of Juba and Shabelle, leading to displacement, loss of lives, livelihoods and infrastructure, and heightening the risk of disease outbreaks. This threatens to worsen the humanitarian situation in these hotspot areas.

The project will also target locations in newly liberated areas which lack/have low humanitarian service provision, especially for protection and GBV services. The Programme will build on the consortium’s programming experience in delivery of prevention and response services in humanitarian contexts. We will continue targeting the most vulnerable communities who have been impacted by displacement due to conflict and climate-induced shocks, especially in hard to reach or newly accessible areas.

GASHAAN project is a 5-year initiative that seeks to address the needs of women, men girls, and boys for better protection systems against GBV, and child abuse including family separation and child recruitment and receive high-quality response where needed. GASHAAN  works with communities  in Banadir, Hirshabelle, South West, Jubaland and Galmudug to implement an integrated and innovative package of interventions that intend to; 1) Strengthen the capacity of GBV and child protection actors to ensure improved access to and availability of GBV and CP services 2) Empower communities and enhance community-based protection structures effectively to prevent, mitigate, and respond to GBV and child abuse (especially family separation and child recruitment) 3) Strengthen protection monitoring to trigger an effective GBV and child protection response to ensure better protection outcomes. 4) Enhance capacity and collective action amongst women and girls' groups, civil society actors and platforms to advocate for social change and policy reforms that promote gender equality and protection of civilians. GASHAAN target locations consistently experience high levels of humanitarian needs and face the compounding effects of conflict and climate-related shocks and stressors, making populations vulnerable to GBV, abuse and conflict. The consortium works together to carry out community-oriented initiatives to ensure community support and promote the project's long-term viability. The project’s local partners assist communities in reducing and resolving conflict through community-based measures such as dispute resolution, community dialogue sessions, and protection/GBV community awareness programs as they have experience operating in the complex Somali context for many decades and a fundamental component have been the use of conflict sensitive techniques in their operations.

Objective

Somali society is a patriarchal society whose culture is shaped by a fusion of nomadic traditional practices and norms with Islamic teachings. In Somali culture, the clan system defines the identity and affinity of both men and women and serves as the collective memory. According to the 2022 CARE Drought Rapid Gender Assessment 60% of all respondents of the RGA felt that there is no equality among males and females in their communities. Within Somali family systems, men are regarded as central figures of the household responsible for providing for and making decisions for the household therefore men are largely responsible for earning an income through different livelihood initiatives. Meanwhile, based on cultural and social norms, women and girls are primarily responsible for the private sphere within the household that includes caregiving responsibilities. Protection concerns in Somalia stem from acts of violence, exploitation, abuse, oppression, and deprivation, especially in situations of conflict, displacement, and through violations of International Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law. There is a high prevalence of GBV in Somalia and is present in all forms including rape, domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment, trafficking of women, girls and boys and harmful traditional practices including female genital mutilation/cutting, early marriage, bride inheritance and others. GBV primarily – but not exclusively – affects women and girls. Inevitable features of the conflict in Somalia exacerbated by climate induced shocks such as droughts and floods include targeted and indiscriminate physical attacks on civilian and on property, widespread sexual and gender-based violence, child recruitment, arbitrary arrest, forced displacement, evictions, and clan conflicts. However, due to the deeply ingrained conflicts, GBV and social exclusion inclinations in Somalia, that have ever been potential sources of polarization within society or between groups because of the fragility and conflict-affected states and stakeholders. Due to the rigid cultural and traditional roles, Somali societies experience deeply ingrained male dominance culture and social pressures impending women's development and indirectly supporting violence against women among many social groupings. The GASHAAN project will address these challenges by providing sustainable and comprehensive humanitarian response and prevention to protection and GBV risks for marginalized and hard to reach communities in humanitarian hotspot areas in South Central Somalia. The project will draw on the experience and lessons of the CHANGES project phases I and II which used a multi-level approach to transform harmful norms and tackle child, early and forced marriage, GBV and FGM. Previous phases used the ecological model to target adolescent girls and boys, their families, and the wider community, as well as religious leaders, service providers and the wider policy environment, and used targeted conversations and curriculum, economic empowerment, promotion of champions, media, and advocacy to achieve both prevention and response outcomes. Phase III of the project will adapt these approaches to make them appropriate for the humanitarian setting and focus on the most impactful interventions. The project will be inclusive of men, women, girls, and boys (with and without disability) who are at risk of GBV and/or survivors.

The project seeks to engage a consultant for a conflict sensitive gender and social inclusion analysis to inform the project development and implementation and  gather gender-related information especially gender roles, responsibilities, barriers, misconceptions, social norms, policies, stressors and shocks that heighten risks of GBV and support systems available for survivor of gender based violence while taking account prolonged conflict, displacement, violence and social exclusion of women, minorities and other vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities.

Specific Objectives

• Conduct a detailed conflict-sensitive Gender and Social Inclusion Analysis in conflict and climate-affected target areas.
• Analyze the gender and social inclusion aspects of conflict-related violence, encompassing the prevalence and various forms of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and their impacts on individuals and communities.
• Present a comprehensive analysis of areas that should be addressed in delivering services related to protection initiatives that are based on conflict and climate change analysis best practices.
• Explore the different needs, capacities, levels of participation (both in the private sphere and the public), and coping strategies of specific minority or marginalized groups, including clans or tribes, as well as barriers and opportunities around access to services during and after conflict and climate shocks.
• Explore the roles and experiences of women, girls and men and WROs in peacebuilding and conflict resolution efforts in Somalia.
• Identify key protective / AA measures and strategies in place or needed to ensure the safety and well-being of women and children in conflict-affected regions of Somalia and how effective these measures are in practice.
• Explore cultural and economic factors that influence the differential impacts of climate change on men, women, and marginalized groups in Somalia.
• Provide concrete and actionable recommendations that inform both the design and implementation process of protection activities and programming based on evidence and established best practices in conflict or environmental shocks affected regions.

Scope of Work:

The scope of the conflict-sensitive Gender and Social Inclusion Analysis will include but not necessarily be limited to the following:

• Review literature on gender, social inclusion, and conflict in Somalia at large and in the project target regions in particular Banadir ( Hawlwadaag/ Dayniile) Jowhar, Beletweyne, Baidoa, Kismayo, Dollow, Afmadow and South Galkacayo)  including observed and projected impacts of conflict on exuberating gender inequalities; the  extent  of  integration and implementation  of  gender and social inclusion  into  various  key  development  policies,  National/local government  capacity on gender equality and clan conflicts; recognition  of  socio-cultural  dimensions  of  vulnerability,  in  particular  the  power imbalance/dynamics of vulnerability between men and women;
• Developing and adapting the conflict Inclusive sensitive GESI analysis to analyze the interconnection between gender, social inclusion, and conflict.
• Develop an inception report that describes the methodology, timeline and includes data collection instruments and tools for feedback and approval.
• Train/Orient and guide the assessment team to conduct field assessments that are both qualitative and quantitative.
• Facilitate a reflection workshop to outline recommendations for the design and implementation of project interventions and opportunities to help communities adopt gender-equitable and safe environments for women, girls and socially excluded groups.
• Finalize GESI analysis report detailing findings, recommendations and share for review and feedback.
• Presentation and submission of the final validated GESI analysis report to CARE.

Deliverables:

In reference to the scope of work, the consultant team is expected to submit the following:

1. An inception report including:

• Methodology
• Sampling
• Draft data collection tools

2. Detailed work plan outlining all tasks to be completed by each of the members of the consultant team.
3. Data collection protocols
4. Enumerators’ training plans
5. Complete clean datasets in Excel
6. An independent report that provides an analysis of the data

CARE will review all deliverables and provide feedback to the consultant within three business days of receiving the deliverable.

Expected duration of the assignment

The consultancy shall be executed within a maximum of 30 days commencing after signing the contract. The proposal should include a detailed schedule.

Milestone   Deadline dates

Literature/document review / review of project’s theory of change, impact logic         2

Draft Inception Report submission and finalization    3

Data Cleaning and Analysis  4

Data collection enumerator training                 4

conflict-sensitive gender and social inclusion analysis Study Data collection    11

Draft report Briefs submitted for review        2

Consultant addresses comments, revises and share final the report   4

Total              30

Budget

The budget prepared by the consultant should cover all the activities outlined above, including design, data collection, cleaning, analysis, and reporting. This budget is inclusive of all costs covering team member costs, travel, Enumerator training research costs and any other costs associated with the completion of the work including where required costs for reasonable adjustment. The selected consultant is required to organize and fund their own duty of care arrangements as required.

The consultant/s is required to provide a costed proposal in the form of a price schedule that as a minimum should include:

• Sub-total of fees for the delivery of any task or deliverable.
• Expenses and overheads broken down by deliverables.
• Reasonable adjustment costs; and
• Total costs before and after any taxes that are applicable.

The selected consultant is required to provide a payment schedule based on milestone payments for the successful delivery of each deliverable.

Proposals should include the following:

• Technical proposal –approach to the study; work plan with milestones; how meet qualifications.
• Financial proposal
• CVs of all involved persons

1. Professional Skills and Qualifications

Qualifications: The selected consultant/s is required to clearly identify and provide CVs for all those proposed in the team, clearly stating their roles and responsibilities for the study.

The proposed person or team should include the technical expertise and practical experience required to deliver the scope of work and outputs, in particular, concerning.

• Design: the team should include skills and expertise required to design, plan and conduct electronic data collection in fragile contexts, including developing qualitative and quantitative tools.
• Experience and expertise with studies and research on gender, GBV social inclusion, and conflict in Somalia
• Relevant subject matter knowledge and experience: at least 5 years of experience required on conducting research with women and girls in conflict areas, gender and social inclusion, socio-cultural practices and beliefs, to ensure that the design and methods are as relevant and meaningful as possible given the aims and objectives of the project and the context in which it is being delivered.
• Data collection management: manage a data collection process from end-to-end.
• Country experience: it is particularly important that the team has the appropriate country knowledge /experience and ability to interpret findings from a contextual perspective, as required to conduct the research.
• Data management and data cleaning.  Ability to supervise the collection, entry (if required), cleaning and management of large data sets. 
• Safety and ethical considerations: Ensuring the whole process adheres to best practice for research with children including the implementation of child protection policy and procedures to ensure safety of participants.
• Our selection process reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse. CARE is a Zero Tolerant organization for child abuse and sexual exploitation and abuses.

Application Procedure 

The interested candidates are requested to submit: 

• Technical proposal showing how the consultant intends to carry out the consultancy. 
• Financial proposal 
• Qualifications
• Relevant experience related to the assignment including samples and references of most recent similar work done.

Skills Required

Attachment

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