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: Individual Consultant (Equivalent UN grade – P3)

PSEA Deep-Dive Review International Consultant

21 April 2023
Juba, South Sudan
PSEA Deep-Dive Review International Consultant

Opening for Consultancy

Job Title: PSEA Deep-Dive Review International Consultant

Contract type :  Individual Consultant (Equivalent UN grade – P3)

Closing date: 21st April 2023 (5pm-South Sudan Time)

Duty Station:  Juba, South Sudan

Purpose of consultancy:

Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) is a high priority for the United Nations Country Team (UNCT), Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), and the United Nations Mission (UNMISS) in South Sudan. The South Sudan systemwide PSEA strategy for 2018 – 2022, extended to June 2023, remains the bedrock for system-wide planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting, and coordination of PSEA at national and subnational levels. The strategy extension was warranted due to implementation challenges caused by capacity gaps, resource constraints, COVID-19 travel restrictions and to allow time for developing a new system-wide PSEA strategy in an inclusive and participatory manner.

 

Unconducive conditions, including an unprecedented humanitarian crisis with heightened vulnerability of populations, continue to drive sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) making South Sudan one of the top countries in the world. In 2022 alone, over 8.9 million people need urgent assistance and protection. Poverty, armed conflict marked by systemic sexual violence, subnational and inter-communal violence, and recurrent climatic and economic shocks, combined with limited access to basic social services and high levels of food insecurity remain the primary drivers of SEA.

 

Deep-rooted gender inequality in education, economic opportunities, and decision-making as well as harmful socio-cultural norms characterize inequalities in South Sudan. Gender-based and conflict-related violence and weakened social and community support systems perpetuate vulnerabilities and marginalization, disempowering women, and girls. Over 52% of girls are married or in another form of union before the age of 18, and approximately 9% of girls in South Sudan are married before the age of 15. Around 65% per cent of women and girls have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetimes. In South Sudan, the prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) is estimated to be as high as 40%. It's important to note that data on child marriage and gender-based violence in South Sudan can be difficult to gather due to ongoing conflict and displacement in the country, so these statistics may not be fully representative of the situation. These entrenched fragilities and inequalities have further been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic exposing those in vulnerable situations to increased risks of sexual exploitation and abuse. The substantial presence and co-location of humanitarian, development and peacekeeping personnel and vulnerable affected populations, imbalances of power, and staggering wealth and income inequality are aggravating factors.

 

The South Sudan PSEA Taskforce was established in 2007 and revitalized in 2016 as a system-wide coordination body, under the leadership of the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary- General (DSRSG), UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC). The PSEA Taskforce includes UN agencies, funds, and programmes, the UNMISS, and all other categories of institutions and entities having direct cooperative and or contractual arrangements with the UN such as international and national NGOs, partners, and service providers. The Taskforce has established 15 field-level PSEA Taskforces, with specific terms of reference in priority risk locations where service providers and aid organizations are present. The taskforces provide oversight to established Community Based Complaint Mechanisms (CBCMs), with different levels of functionality, across high-risk locations in Aweil, Bentiu, Bor, Jamjang, Juba, Kuajok, Maban, Malakal, Mingkaman, Pibor, Rumbek, Torit, Yambio, Yei, Wau.

 

With the current PSEA strategy expected to end in June 2023, the UNCT and HCT are proposing to develop a new systemwide strategy for PSEA to run from July 2023 to 2026. The new strategy will be informed by the midterm review of the PSEA Strategy (2021), 2022 PSEA quarterly and annual reports, Joint SEA risk assessment (to be conducted concurrently with the PSEA deep dive review) and report of the PSEA deep dive review of existing PSEA mechanisms in South Sudan to be conducted by external PSEA specialists.

 

It is against this background that the UNCT and HCT in South Sudan is looking for an experienced PSEA evaluation and strategic planning consultant to conduct the PSEA deep dive review. The review is expected take place in a period of not more than four months, from April – July 2023.

 

The consultant will conduct the PSEA deep dive review based on existing PSEA mechanisms and programmes at inter-agency/ PSEA Taskforce and its members/ entities, the UN agencies, funds and programmes, national and international NGOs, the donors, implementing partners and UN vendors and contractors in South Sudan. The external consultant will review the effectiveness, relevance, coherence, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of the existing PSEA mechanisms and programmes in South Sudan to inform the development of a systemwide mechanism for collective accountability for zero tolerance on sexual exploitation and abuse. The consultant is also expected to review the appropriateness of existing coordination structures and funding modalities for PSEA work in South Sudan. The PSEA deep dive review will be conducted in an inclusive and participatory manner, in consultations with victims/ survivors of SEA, women, children, young people, communities, community-based groups, national and international NGOs, UN vendors and contractors, implementing partners, UN entities and donors.

 

 

Purpose

The overall purpose of the assignment is to conduct a deep dive review of existing PSEA mechanisms and programmes in South Sudan. Specific objectives are to:

  • Review the effectiveness, relevance, coherence, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of the existing PSEA mechanisms and programmes in South Sudan by end of July 2023.
  • Review the appropriateness of existing coordination structures and resourcing for PSEA programming in South Sudan
  • Propose concrete recommendations to inform development of a new Systemwide mechanisms to address sexual exploitation and abuse in South Sudan.

Scope of work

 
  • Develop and present an inception report and an action plan for conducting the PSEA deep dive to the PSEA Taskforce Co-chairs for approval. The inception report should include a stakeholder mapping, an initial desk review/ literature review of not more than 10 pages including a high-level assessment of SEA risk and outlining gaps in information and data, reporting and response to allegations of SEA, investigations, and accountability for zero tolerance to SEA policy; and the methods to be adopted to address the gaps in existing PSEA mechanisms/ programmes. The inception report should also outline how the DAC criteria (effectiveness, relevance, coherence, efficiency, impact, and sustainability) would be defined and measured within the South Sudan context and should indicate where gaps in information may present challenges in measurement. The consultant will meet with PSEA Reference Group and Humanitarian Donors Group to agree on the scope of the review.
  • Undertake stakeholder consultations (members of affected community, victims/ survivors of SEA, government, national and international NGOs, the private sector, donors, the UN) to assess the effectiveness, relevance, coherence, efficiency, impact, and sustainability of the existing  PSEA programmes; 
  • Conduct review meetings and/ or workshops with UN Entities, Government, Donors, National and Field level PSEA taskforce, NGOs, civil society, private sector, victims/ survivors, and members of the affected community. This will include analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to address sexual exploitation and abuse, PSEA coordination structures, reporting mechanisms, victims’ assistance, and response mechanisms to allegations of SEA, investigations, and accountability for addressing SEA and resourcing for PSEA programming. The review will also identify risks and mitigation measures; and propose recommendations to ensure PSEA is right sized to local perceptions on sexual exploitation and abuse in South Sudan. This will include recommendations to improve prevention, reporting, victims assistance and investigations to improve collective accountability for zero tolerance to inaction on sexual exploitation and abuse in South Sudan.
  • Conduct a validation workshop for findings of the PSEA deep dive review of existing PSEA mechanisms and programmes in South Sudan
  • Edit and finalize report of the PSEA deep dive review; and present final detailed report and synthesis report of the PSEA deep dive.

 

Methodology and approach:

The consultant is expected to work in collaboration with one of the local organizations/ research institutes of choice (Safeguarding resource Support Hub/ Conflict Research Centre and/ or Rift Valley Institute) in Juba. The local organizations/ research institutes will provide insights into local perception on sexual exploitation and abuse and tailored-advice for conducting an inclusive and participatory PSEA deep-dive review in South Sudan.

 

The consultant will conduct the PSEA deep dive review in an inclusive and participatory manner, in consultations with victims/ survivors of SEA, women, children, young people, communities, community-based groups, national and international NGOs, implementing partners, UN vendors and contractors, UN entities and donors.

 

The consultant will adopt a victim-centered approach ensuring that the review is organized with care, ensuring safety and confidentiality. Consultations should be organized in safe and neutral locations where victims and members of affected population can express themselves freely without fear to be stigmatized. Different modalities for engagement will be adopted based on the context while ensuring effective engagement including those marginalized groups and hard-to-reach places/populations. These will include desk reviews, virtual and face-to-face engagements, workshops, meetings and focused group discussions with new and existing networks/structures and mechanisms at sub-national, national and global level.

 

The UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office can provide some technical expertise to support the consultant with this deep dive. The support could involve technical support on the elaboration of methodological approach for the review, data collection and analysis, and elaboration of findings and recommendations. This support would involve an FCDO Humanitarian and Safeguarding expert who could provide 3-4 weeks remote support from London and 1-2 weeks support in country (depending on timing and availability). This technical expertise offer also includes inputs from the British Embassy Juba’s Social Development Adviser who is available to provide inputs into the methodological approach and other aspects of the assessment. The consultant will meet with the FCDO to agree the nature of the support.

Expected Deliverables

  • The consultant is expected to work in collaboration with one of the local organizations/ research institutes of choice (Safeguarding resource Support Hub/ Conflict Research Centre and/ or Rift Valley Institute) in Juba. The local organizations/ research institutes will provide insights into local perception on sexual exploitation and abuse and tailored-advice for conducting an inclusive and participatory PSEA deep-dive review in South Sudan.
  • The consultant will conduct the PSEA deep dive review in an inclusive and participatory manner, in consultations with victims/ survivors of SEA, women, children, young people, communities, community-based groups, national and international NGOs, implementing partners, UN vendors and contractors, UN entities and donors.
  • The consultant will adopt a victim-centered approach ensuring that the review is organized with care, ensuring safety and confidentiality. Consultations should be organized in safe and neutral locations where victims and members of affected population can express themselves freely without fear to be stigmatized. Different modalities for engagement will be adopted based on the context while ensuring effective engagement including those marginalized groups and hard-to-reach places/populations. These will include desk reviews, virtual and face-to-face engagements, workshops, meetings and focused group discussions with new and existing networks/structures and mechanisms at sub-national, national and global level

 

Required expertise, qualifications, and competencies, including language requirements.

 

Skills: 

Strong development planning and strategic planning skills coupled with strong writing skills and excellent communication skills with multiple stakeholders.

 

Education: 

Advanced university degree in public administration and public policy, gender, human rights, law, or related social sciences field.

 

Knowledge and Experience:

  • 7 years’ experience in conducting complex evaluations and strategy development in the field of humanitarian, development and peace keeping contexts for the UN and / or international organizations.
  • Extensive knowledge on mainstreaming protection, gender and human rights in projects and programmes with extensive professional experience in the area of Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and accountability to affected populations.
  • Extensive knowledge and experience on results-based management/reporting with hand-on-monitoring and evaluation experience on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
  • Evidence of having carried similar assignments supporting the evaluation and development of strategies on PSEA programmes and strategies.
  • Prior relevant experience and knowledge of South Sudan or relevant context is an added advantage.

 
   

Languages:

  • Fluent in written and spoken English, knowledge of Arabic will be an asset.

 

How to Apply

Please send your application and a short letter of motivation with " PSEA Deep-Dive Review International Consultant " in the subject to UNFPA South Sudan email, ssco.vacancies@unfpa.org before close of business (COB) on 21st April 2023