Terms of Reference – Required Consultant for the Study on Sexual and Gender Based Violence against Persons with disabilities

1. Background   

My Right is the Swedish disability rights movement’s umbrella organisation for international development work. It is a politically and religiously independent aid organisation that works to ensure the fulfilment of the rights persons with disabilities.

The goal for My Right’s work is to strengthen Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) and their capacity to effectively advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities as well as, empower their target groups. My Right has been supporting the joint advocacy initiatives conducted by umbrella organisations/ coalition of DPOs in all its program countries. In Nepal, National Federation of the Disabled Nepal (NFDN) is one of the key partners of My Right to lead the joint advocacy initiation through disability right based movement together with its other DPO members.

NFDN is legally registered non-governmental and non-political organization according to the institutional enrolment act of Nepal. As the federation, NFDN is a national apex body of persons with disabilities from different category and currently it is representing 331 Disabled Peoples’ Organizations (DPOs) throughout the country. The organization has been working since 1993 for promoting the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities through its key interventions Advocacy, Awareness, Capacity Building, Social Activism and Networking & Collaboration.

Focus of the Study

The focus of this Disability and SGBV – strengthening the human rights advocacy project is to enable the disability movements in Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Nepal to strate-gically integrate the issue of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) within their on-going monitoring of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The global epidemic of violence against women, men and girls, boys with disabilities must be haltered. The rates of SGBV against persons living with disabilities are drastically higher than for persons living without disabilities. In the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bolivia, and Nepal the SGBV directed toward PwD is prevalent both in the domestic sphere and at institutional level. The three countries present alarming rates of SGBV incidents of violence, exploitation or abuse against women, men and girls, boys with disabilities.

NFDN is going to conduct this Study in Nepal in the support of My Right to generate the evidence on the sexual and gender based violence among persons with disabilities. This study is expected to contribute, firstly to the process of policy making and implementing the existing legal frameworks in the favour of men, women, girls and boys with disabilities to protect them from the different forms of violence and secondly, to implement various projects on reducing sexual and gender based violence against persons with disabilities. Similarly, in longer term, this study will contribute to integrate the issue of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) within their on-going monitoring of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). In the case of Nepal the SGBV directed toward persons with disabilities is prevalent both in the domestic sphere and at institutional level. It presents alarming rates of SGBV incidents of violence, exploitation or abuse against women, men and girls, boys with disabilities.

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities highlights the importance of enforcing comprehensive SGBV prevention and protection measures that guarantee the equal right and freedom of persons with disabilities in Nepal. The committee have in their recommendations expressed their concern regarding the situation of the widespread SGBV violations that persons with disabilities are exposed to and claim that improvements must be done in areas such as evidence gathering and making disaggregated data accessible. This project will strengthen the disability movement in these three countries in their CRPD monitoring by specifically targeting the issues of SGBV and disability. A main expected outcome is that DPOs have strategically incorporated SGBV within their advocacy strategies and particularly, in following-up the CRPD. Well elaborated advocacy strategies, when carried out by DPOs, can push for making policy and legislation gender and disability sensitive. DPOs are key actors able to raise awareness of the magnitude of the intersection of SGBV and disability, by involving persons with disabilities to vocalise and claim their right to not be left behind.

Purpose of the Study 

Following this line of reasoning, the project’s first outcome is, the DPO’s have established how girls, boys and women, men with disabilities are affected by sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in their country context.

To achieve the project’s first outcome the DPOs need to gain knowledge on how SGBV affects persons with disabilities, identify what actors are working with the thematic, the policies and laws in place, and the needs of persons with disabilities. To achieve this, DPOs will carry out research processes where primary and secondary source of information will be gathered and analysed. Information will be collected using scientific methods of research such as interviews with individuals with disabilities, their relatives, civil servants at public institutions and focus groups, public institutions such as governmental agencies and with other civil society organisations. It is important that the three reports that will be produced during the project should describe girls, boys and youths with disabilities situation especially. The three reports should include disaggregated data on girls, boys and women, men with disability and in a clear way describe the group’s specific vulnerability. The information will be compiled in country reports that present how persons with disabilities are affected by SGBV, what the state parties are doing to ensure the SGBV prevention, protection and response, and identify other actors that are working with these topic.

The second outcome of this project is, Disabled People Organisations (DPOs) integrate work against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) more strategically in their advocacy work
The country reports will be used to draft advocacy strategies that strategically integrate work against SGBV. The country reports will also permit DPOs to network with other DPOs as well as non-traditional stakeholders working on the same issue. In addition, reports will provide DPOs with a specialisation on the issue of SGBV enabling them to hold accountable the relevant stakeholders.

An indirect effect of this project that has been foreseen is that disability organisations trough this project will become more versed in the CRPD monitoring stage of following up the CRPD recommendations in general. The expertise gained by closely monitoring laws, policies and protective measures related to SGBV can be transferred to the monitoring of other issues. Additionally, disability movements are expected to increase their collaboration and knowledge sharing with state institutions, academic institutions and non-governmental actors, such as women, children and youth rights groups.

2. Position Description                                                                                                                                                                                     Position: Research Consultant
Location: Nepal, National Federation of the Disabled-Nepal (NFDN)
Duration: Short-term contract; August-December

As mentioned above, the study will include field visits and research of first and secondary sources.
The consultant will work with the NFDN to undertake the Study on Disability and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence that will be concluded in a report. Specifically, the consultant will report to and work alongside the project team from the DPO.

The Consultant is responsible for developing the methodology for the study when initiating the consultancy. Prior to collecting the data the consultant should assure that DPO arrange with support in place for participants. The consultant can in dialogue with project coordinators develop support systems for how participants can be supported after participating in the research, in case of re-traumatisation and present a proposal on how to handle sensitive data. During the field visit, the national consultant will conduct qualitative interviews and focus group discussions with a variety of actors relevant to the study alongside the secondary source collection. The actors may include government officials, representatives from public institutions such as governmental agencies and with other civil society organisations, representatives from women’s organizations, child and youth organizations, and disabled people’s organizations (DPOs), members from other civil society organizations (CSOs), and girls and boys and young persons with disabilities.

Following the data collection, the consultant will submit all collected data in a format agreed upon in consultation with NFDN. The data will be compiled in country reports by the Consultant that present how persons with disabilities are affected by SGBV, clarifying the underlining causes and consequences, determining the scale of the SGBV that women, men and girls, boys with disability experience in comparison to persons without disability. As well as, what the state parties are doing to ensure the SGBV prevention, protection and response, and identify other actors that are working with these topics.

To uphold the human rights principle of inclusion of young persons with disabilities in matters that concern them, NFDN encourages qualified and experienced research organizations, researcher on social field, or qualified researcher with disabilities to apply for this position. Further, the Consultant may also collaborate with one or several young persons with disabilities during the data collection phase in order to better integrate the child and youth perspective.

 2.1 Deliverable

• Develop a comprehensive research design with a detail methodology for the study in-cluding methods for ethical and safe research with vulnerable groups.
• Collect data (primary and secondary source) regarding the situation of the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence that women, men and girls and boys with disabilities are experiencing in Nepal.
• Conduct interviews with a variety of actors (government, UN organizations, CSOs, disabled people’s organizations, children and youth groups, women’s groups, etc), using a full-range of qualitative research techniques (focus groups, record tracking);
• Preparation of detailed notes, records, etc. for all interviews in Nepali Language.
• Daft and submit a report (Word file) in the language/s agreed by the parties regarding the situation of the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence that women, men and girls and boys with disabilities experience in the country (Bolivia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Nepal).
• Provide insights into the findings of field research, using substantial local knowledge (political, institutional, cultural, etc). The DPO representatives involved in the project should be consulted and closely updated on the report progress, for them to be able to make use of the report content in their advocacy work.
• The deadline for the first draft version of the report is 31st October 2019 and for final version of the report 15th November 2019; and
• Share learning and experiences with the project team and advisory groups by, among the continuous involving the project team in the study report process, holding a Session to Present the Report Conclusion to the DPO representatives involved in My Right’s SGBV-project.

 3. Qualification
3.1 Required Skills and Experience:

• Relevant professional experience required gender equality and prevention and re-sponse to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
• M.Phil or Ph.D in social sciences (preferable sociology) gender studies or disability studies or equivalent experience (with two to four years working in a relevant field);
• Relevant professional experience required Disability, women rights and Children’s rights.
• Solid experience in qualitative and quantitative data collection and storing, interpreta-tion and analysis by using SPSS or other renowned data analysis software.
• Experience with participatory design processes an asset.
• Experience in ethical and safe evaluation research required, versed in consent procedures, confidentiality and the development of protocols for disclosure, distress, safety and risk assessment, which support ethical and safe research with women and men with disabilities and especially girls and boys with disability.
• Experience drafting of research findings and recommendations.
• Experience in synthesizing research findings and drafting recommendations in lan-guage accessible to local partners.
• Experience working with communities in low resource settings and knowledge of the local cultural context in Nepal.

3.2 Competencies
Corporate:

• Demonstrates integrity;
• Displays cultural, age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality and disability sensitivity and adaptability.
• Behavioural Competencies:
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task under pressure and to meet strict deadlines;
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to prioritize tasks and to work effectively in teams, delivering through and with others;
• Ability to manage heavy workloads and solve complex problems with minimum supervision.

3.3 Language Requirements

• Excellent writing and editing skills in Englishand Nepali when required.4. Roles and Responsibilities

4. Roles and Responsibilities
4.1 The Consultant Position

• Conducts the consultancy with utmost professional diligence in accordance with the timeframe and this Terms of Reference.
• Carries out the consultancy in a manner and standards that best realise the objectives of the consultancy as stated in this Terms of Reference.

4.2 The Project Holders
                                                                                                                                                                                                     a. NFDN

• Make available the required documents and the relevant information re-quested by the Consultant.
• Instruct and support the Consultant during the preparation of the Disability and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.
• Coordinates the Disability and Sexual and Gender-Based Violence project implementation.
• Facilitates communication and contact with the relevant parties.
• Facilitates communication with Disabled persons’ organizations (DPOs) MyRightcountry offices and other relevant stakeholders.
• Assists the Consultant with accessibility aspects of the Study.
• Coordinate the practical matters of the Study, such as interpreters and over-all budget.
• Provide management and administrative support to conduct various activities of research as per the demand of approved research design.

5. Timeframe  

An estimation of the working days for the consultancy is summarised in the table:

Activty	Indicative Days
Development of Methodology	20 – 25 August 2019
Formation of Study team (Supervisor, enumerator, coordinator etc)	26 – 30 August 2019
Orientation to Study team	1 – 6th September 2019
Data Collection	7 – 30 September 2019
Data entry and cleaning	1 October – 20, 2019
Data Analysis and Interpretation	21 October – 15 November 2019
Report Writing and Submission	16 – 30 November 2019
Dissmination of Study Findings	1-7 December 2019

6. Accessibility  

The consultant must respect needs for accessibility when conducting trainings or involving respondents with impairment and pay particular attention to using tactile and sign language interpreters whenever communicating with deaf individuals in Bolivia, BiH or Nepal or abroad. It is also crucial to respect breaks for interpreters and respondents to prevent physical or mental exertion.

7. Conditions Applied

• The consultant will provide full time to NFDN for the research and carry out all the activities in coordination with NFDN admin system.
• NFDN will provide NPR 5,00,000/- as the consultancy fees to the consultant for the whole research period including all applicable taxes according to the law of land.
• The travel cost for the consultant and other team member needed for field work will be pro-vided by NFDN according to the policy of the organization.
• The cost includes to mobilize enumerators, organize workshops, discussion, meetings, Fo-cused Group Discussion, Expert advise will be paid by NFDN according to the policy of NFDN.

8. How to apply 

The interested eligible individual (registered in PAN of VAT) , company (Registered in VAT), are requested to apply to admin@nfdn.org.np with the following documents;

• For Individual – Cover Letter, Updated CV with three professional references and PAN or VAT certificate
• For Company – Cover Letter, Updated Company Profile, website link (if available), CVs of consultant designated for this research work.

9. Deadline for Submission : 12th August 2019           

Note: Eligible persons with disabilities, women and individual form marginalized community are highly encouraged to apply.      

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