BACKGROUND -
Solomon Islands Context:
Gender-based violence is endemic in the Solomon Islands. According to the Solomon Islands Family Health and Safety Study, around 64% of women have been physically or sexually assaulted by an intimate partner; 37% of women have been sexually abused before the age of 15, and 38% of women report that their first sexual experience was forced. Approximately 83% of women surveyed in the capital city of Honiara believe a man can be justified in beating his wife (Secretariat of the Pacific Community, 2009).
Gender-based violence is endemic in the Solomon Islands. According to the Solomon Islands Family Health and Safety Study, around 64% of women have been physically or sexually assaulted by an intimate partner; 37% of women have been sexually abused before the age of 15, and 38% of women report that their first sexual experience was forced. Approximately 83% of women surveyed in the capital city of Honiara believe a man can be justified in beating his wife (Secretariat of the Pacific Community, 2009).
This is within a context where approximately 97% percent of the population are registered as Christians (Census, 1999), with women tending to make up the majority of congregations. In the Solomon Islands, churches are powerful instigators of social messaging, and influence morality, culture and societal norms. While there has been some engagement from churches in the Solomon Islands in providing support services to survivors of violence, the scope for harnessing the influence of churches remains largely untapped.
The potential of faith-based organisations in mobilising change has been widely documented by agencies like AusAID (2007, 2008). UNFPA, for instance articulates this explicitly in its guidelines for engagement with Faith-Based Organizations: “the case for working with faith‐based organizations, as one community among many critical agents of change, is no longer a matter of discussion, but rather, one of considered, systematic and deliberate engagement of the like‐minded partners among them.” (UNFPA, 2009).
There is a clear need to engage churches and faith leaders in the Solomon Islands on gender issues like gender-based violence. This will enable synergy with existing initiatives, for example implementation of the Solomon Islands National Policy on Eliminating Violence Against Women. Mechanisms such as the National Taskforce on the Elimination of Violence Against Women are already in place, and effort has been made to build capacity of the police force by the Australian Government, among others. These initiatives would be strengthened through mobilising the strategic influence of churches at community-level.
Channels of Hope for Gender:
World Vision has developed an innovative approach to exploring the issues of gender within predominantly Christian contexts. The model - Channels of Hope for Gender (COHG) - takes a biblical approach to understanding gender. It has been piloted with faith leaders in African countries such as Ethiopia, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and has helped to mobilise faith leaders and churches to respond to gender inequality.
World Vision has developed an innovative approach to exploring the issues of gender within predominantly Christian contexts. The model - Channels of Hope for Gender (COHG) - takes a biblical approach to understanding gender. It has been piloted with faith leaders in African countries such as Ethiopia, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo and has helped to mobilise faith leaders and churches to respond to gender inequality.
The COHG model has been adapted to the issue of gender-based violence in the Solomon Islands. World Vision’s project, “Community Vision 4 Change” seeks to reduce the incidence of gender-based violence in selected communities in Honiara over three years. A key part of the project involves using the COHG model to influence people’s attitudes and behaviours on gender and GBV. The project also looks at how some of the contributing factors to GBV - specifically: lack of conflict resolution and communication skills, and substance abuse - can be influenced through biblical messaging and other methods. World Vision seeks to capture evidence on how engaging with faith beliefs results in sustainable behaviour change. The project has a research framework to help validate this approach. A baseline was conducted in March 2012 and we are seeking to strengthen the body of knowledge using consistent methods.
PURPOSE OF THE MID-TERM REVIEW: World Vision Australia is seeking the assistance of a researcher with expertise in gender and faith issues to conduct a mid-term review of the “Community Vision 4 Change” project. This will involve:
- Adapting the existing research methodology, where necessary, for a mid-term review. The methodology should explain the rationale for different approaches and why they would be more appropriate for this mid-term review.
- Refining the monitoring & evaluation framework where necessary (ensuring there is a strong action learning component).
- Supervising and leading the mid-term review, including strengthening capacity of field staff who will carry out the data collection.
- Analysing and writing up the final findings.
We also invite the researcher to reflect on the assumptions made in the methodology, e.g. that faith, religion and biblical messaging influence behaviour in the Solomon Islands; that faith is more powerful an influencing factor in the prevention and response to violence, than culture; and how those assumptions impact on the methodology.
TIMEFRAME:
It is anticipated that initial work will begin in January 2013, with data collection taking place in March 2013 and the final report required by the end of April 2013. The consultancy will consist of approximately twenty-two days in total: five days for pre-work, ten days for data collection and seven days for analysis and write-up.
It is anticipated that initial work will begin in January 2013, with data collection taking place in March 2013 and the final report required by the end of April 2013. The consultancy will consist of approximately twenty-two days in total: five days for pre-work, ten days for data collection and seven days for analysis and write-up.
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES:
The consultant should have the following skills and competencies:
The consultant should have the following skills and competencies:
• Relevant Masters (or higher) degree (e.g. Development, Gender and Development, Human Rights, Social Protection); • Field work experience in the Pacific, and preferably in the human rights or gender equality field; • Experience in analytical work in gender and development, gender analysis and/or human rights; • Proven track-record of carrying out empirical research, preferably research on gender-based violence; • Experience in interacting with faith-based organisations and faith leaders. • Sensitivity to differing faith perspectives. • Experience in using software to analyse quantitative data.
How to apply:
To be considered for this assignment, kindly submit a cover letter (outlining how you meet the criteria and proposed cost), Curriculum Vitae and a writing sample to Michelle Lokot, Gender Advisor: Michelle.Lokot@worldvision.com.auby Friday 30th November, 5pm.
