Terms of Reference Consultant to Undertake a Review and Reproduction of a Draft Study on Violence against Indigenous Girls, Female Adolescents and Young Women

Terms of Reference Consultant to Undertake a Review and Reproduction of a Draft Study on Violence against Indigenous Girls, Female Adolescents and Young Women

Background UNICEF, the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence Against Children (OSRSG on VAC), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), UNFPA, ILO and WHO (the partners) are seeking a consultant to facilitate the publication of an existing draft study on violence against indigenous girls, female adolescents and young women.

This initiative builds on the UN Secretary General’s Study on Violence against Children (2006) which acknowledges the special vulnerability of indigenous children as well as those belonging to minorities and recommends steps to improve data collection and information systems in order to identify vulnerable subgroups, inform policy and programming at all levels, and track progress towards the goal of preventing and eliminating violence against children.

The UN Secretary General’s Study on Violence against Women of the same year furthermore points to the importance of assessing the differential impacts of violence against women based on factors such as race, class, ethnicity, religion, disability, culture, indigenous or migrant status, legal status, age or sexual orientation. It notes specifically that “in many societies, women belonging to particular ethnic or racial groups are likely to experience gender-based violence as well as violence based on their ethnic or racial identity. Indigenous women are subject to various forms of violence, including intimate partner violence, custodial violence by police and murder, sometimes at a much higher rate than non-indigenous women.” As a consequence in 2006, the International Forum of Indigenous Women, an Indigenous Peoples Organization, submitted a companion report (Mairin Iwanka Raya) to the UN Secretary General’s study on violence against women, highlighting in particular, the special circumstances of indigenous women and girls.

In more recent times, the conclusions and recommendations of the 2012 International Expert Group Meeting of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues highlighted the importance of taking the perspectives of indigenous peoples, particularly girls, adolescents, young women and older women into account to develop a meaningful understanding of violence and therefore interventions in their favour.

On-going and future initiatives such as the SGs Unite Campaign, ICPD +20, the post-2015 consultations on inequalities, the 2013 session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) as well as the 2014 World Conference on Indigenous Peoples present additional opportunities to build the momentum around violence against indigenous girls, female adolescents and young women.

The research focus and objectives

Within the broader context of the above initiatives and processes, the partners commissioned a study in October of 2011 with a view to (a) assessing the state of the art in the field of violence against indigenous girls, female adolescents and young women and (b) determining gaps in existing literature and the merits of making a case for in-depth research and data collection.

The overall aim of the study was to address gaps in knowledge of the situation of indigenous girls, adolescents and young women in regards to violence, including gender-based violence with the following four specific objectives in mind:

1. Analysis of the risk factors and nature of violence (e.g. gender-based violence including in situations of armed conflict, domestic and sexual violence and harmful practices; environmental violence; worst forms of child labour as defined by the ILO Convention 182) that indigenous girls, adolescents and young women face including any factors that may distinguish violence committed against them as indigenous persons from non-indigenous populations of the same age categories;
2. Specify the historical, political, economic, social and cultural contexts in which violence against these target groups take place, recognising that the overall particular historical and contemporary contexts of indigenous peoples are critical to any understanding of violence;
3. An overview of the availability, accessibility, effectiveness, relevance and appropriateness of preventive and protective services provided by States and non-state actors including legal and policy frameworks upon which they are based; and
4. Identification of appropriate policy, advocacy and other programmatic recommendations pertinent to the global, regional and national contexts.

The research groups were to be examined in their contexts as girls (0-9 years); female adolescents (10-19 years) and female youth (15-24 years) and from the perspective of domestic, community, school and reproductive health settings. The undertaking is based on three country studies of Kenya, Guatemala and the Philippines, and is complimented by the regional contexts of Africa, Latin America and the Asia Pacific, in which these countries are located. The country and regional experiences are furthermore supported by an overview of an overarching global context.

Methodology and sources

An existing draft study has been prepared through a comprehensive literature review, primary data analysis (e.g. DHS) and secondary data analysis (e.g. police records, social welfare, school and other records of state and non-state actors) of the prevailing forms of violence among indigenous girls, adolescents and youth. This has been accompanied by a more systematic review of the countries concerned: Guatemala, Philippines and Kenya using both primary and secondary data sources. Sources of material have furthermore included the respective data bases, reports, publications of the partners; national, regional and international jurisprudence including those of treaty bodies and Special Procedures of the UN system.

Purpose of consultancy

The purpose of the consultancy is to reproduce in publishable and reader-friendly format a document based on the an existing draft of a study on violence against indigenous girls, female adolescents and young women to suit an audience cutting across member states (policy makers, officials responsible for the implementation of public policies, practitioners, professionals working with indigenous children, indigenous girls, adolescents and young women), managerial and technical staff of UN agencies as well as Civil Society Organisations (including those with mandates which relate to the rights of indigenous peoples, particularly girls, female adolescents and young women). The final product will be launched during the next session of the CSW in March 2013.

Tasks of the consultant

Guided by the research focus and objectives and in close consultation with the partners the consultant will produce a 40-50 page analytical and concise report by extracting information and data that is currently contained in a 250 page document. The consultant will furthermore cross-check data and information for factual and scientific accuracy, and ensuring uniformity in presentation, style, language and content across the document.

Duration and deliverables

The assignment will be undertaken over a period of 60 days beginning from the 26th of November 2012 and ending on 21st of February 2013. The consultant will submit the following products within the estimated time frame of the consultancy:

First draft report: 25 days (3rd January 2013) Second draft report: 20 days (23rd January 2013) Final fully edited report of publishable standard: 15 days (21st February 2013)

Submission of inception report and previous research

Due to the time-sensitive nature of the assignment, short listed candidates will be requested to submit an inception report based upon a preview of the existing draft. The inception report (not exceeding 3 pages) will outline the approach that the potential candidate will use to undertake the tasks including arrangement and presentation of the information in the expected time frame. Candidates will also be required to submit evidence of prior written and peer reviewed research, including where possible, assignments that have involved substantial reviewing and editing of existing research material.

Qualifications and competencies

• Advanced university degree in public health, political science, inter-cultural studies, public affairs and/or international development;
• Ten (10) years solid responsible professional work experience in social development, human rights in general, women and children’s rights in particular, knowledge of gender relations, violence against women, girls, adolescents and youth within the context of international human rights norms, national legislation and protection systems;
• A track record of excellent writing and editorial skills;
• Proven experience in undertaking qualitative and quantitative research including primary and secondary data collection;
• Prior experience working with UN agencies or other international organizations is an asset;
• Advanced computer skills in common office programmes (MS Word, Excel PowerPoint, etc.) and good knowledge of information management;
• Ability to communicate effectively in English is essential. Spanish will be an advantage.

The following conditions of service apply to all individual consultants:

1. LEGAL STATUS Individuals engaged under a consultant contract serve in a personal capacity and not as representatives of a Government or of any other authority external to the United Nations. They are neither “staff members” under the Staff Regulations of the United Nations and UNICEF policies and procedures nor “officials” for the purpose of the Convention of 13 February 1946 on the privileges and immunities of the United Nations. Consultants may, however, be given the status of “experts on mission” in the sense of Section 22 of Article VI of the Convention. If they are required to travel on behalf of the United Nations, they may be given a United Nations certification in accordance with Section 26 of Article VII of the Convention.
2. OBLIGATIONS Consultants shall have the duty to respect the impartiality and independence of the United Nations and shall neither seek nor accept instructions regarding the services to be performed for UNICEF from any Government or from any authority external to the United Nations. During their period of service for UNICEF, consultants shall refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on the United Nations or UNICEF and shall not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the discharge of their duties with the Organization. Consultants are required to exercise the utmost discretion in all matters of official business of the Organization. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, consultants are expected to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with the Standards of Conduct in the International Civil Service. Consultants are to comply with the UNICEF Standards of Electronic Conduct and the requirements set forth in the Secretary General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, both of which are incorporated by reference into the contract between the consultants and UNICEF. Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the office concerned, consultants shall not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or other authority external to UNICEF any information that has not been made public and which has become known to them by reason of their association with the United Nations. The consultant may not use such information without the written authorization of UNICEF. Nor shall the consultant use such information for private advantage. These obligations do not lapse upon cessation of service with UNICEF.
3. TITLE RIGHTS UNICEF shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material which bears a direct relation to, or is made in consequence of, the services provided to the Organization by the consultant. At the request of UNICEF, the consultant shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to the Organization in compliance with the requirements of the applicable law.
4. TRAVEL If consultants are required by UNICEF to travel beyond commuting distance from their usual place of residence, such travel at the expense of UNICEF shall be governed by conditions equivalent to the relevant provisions of the 100 series of the United Nations Staff Rules (Chapter VII) and relevant UNICEF policies and procedures. Travel by air by the most direct and economical route is the normal mode for travel at the expense of UNICEF. Such travel will be by business class if the journey is nine hours or longer, and by economy class if the journey is less than nine hours, and first class by rail.
5. MEDICAL CLEARANCE Consultants expected to work in any office of the Organization shall be required to submit a statement of good health prior to commencement of work and to take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement, including confirmation that they have been fully informed regarding inoculations required for the country or countries to which travel is authorized.
6. INSURANCE Consultants are fully responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the period of their services on behalf of UNICEF as they consider appropriate. Consultants are not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to United Nations staff members. The responsibility of the United Nations and UNICEF is limited solely to the payment of compensation under the conditions described in paragraph 7 below.
7. SERVICE INCURRED DEATH, INJURY OR ILLNESS Consultants who are authorized to travel at UNICEF’s expense or who are required under the contract to perform their services in a United Nations or UNICEF office, or their dependants as appropriate, shall be entitled in the event of death, injury or illness attributable to the performance of services on behalf of UNICEF while in travel status or while working in an office of the Organization on official UNICEF business to compensation equivalent to the compensation which, under Appendix D to the United Nations Staff Rules (ST/SGB/Staff Rules/Appendix D/Rev.1 and Amend.1), would be payable to a staff member at step V of the First Officer (P-4) level of the Professional category.
8. ARBITRATION Any dispute arising out of or, in connexion with, this contract shall, if attempts at settlement by negotiation have failed, be submitted to arbitration in New York by a single arbitrator agreed to by both parties. Should the parties be unable to agree on a single arbitrator within thirty days of the request for arbitration, then each party shall proceed to appoint one arbitrator and the two arbitrators thus appointed shall agree on a third. Failing such agreement, either party may request the appointment of the third arbitrator by the President of the United Nations Administrative Tribunal. The decision rendered in the arbitration shall constitute final adjudication of the dispute.
9. TERMINATION OF CONTRACT This contract may be terminated by either party before the expiry date of the contract by giving notice in writing to the other party. The period of notice shall be five days in the case of contracts for a total period of less than two months and fourteen days in the case of contracts for a longer period; provided however that in the event of termination on the grounds of misconduct by the consultant, UNICEF shall be entitled to terminate the contract without notice. In the event of the contract being terminated prior to its due expiry date in this way, the consultant shall be compensated on a pro rata basis for no more than the actual amount of work performed to the satisfaction of UNICEF. Additional costs incurred by the United Nations resulting from the termination of the contract by the consultant may be withheld from any amount otherwise due to the consultant from UNICEF.
10. TAXATION The United Nations and UNICEF undertake no liability for taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant on payments made under this contract. No statement of earnings will be issued by the United Nations or UNICEF to the consultant.

How to apply: 

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV and signed P11 form (which can be downloaded from our website at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html to pdconsultants@unicef.org with subject line “Consultant to Undertake a Review and Reproduction of a Draft Study on Violence against Indigenous Girls, Female Adolescents and Young Women” by 22 November 2012, 5:00PM EST. Please indicate your ability, availability and daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily (or monthly) rate will not be considered.