Consultant to Develop a Standard Disability Inclusive Referral System and Directory
Consultancy, Research Jobs
- Institute for Community Devel…
- Expires 08 Dec 2023
- Masvingo
- Contractor
Job Description
Institute for Community Development in Zimbabwe (ICODZIM) is a woman founded and women led organization operating in the Masvingo and Midlands Provinces of Zimbabwe. The organization envisions “an inclusive, safe, empowered society for the diverse groups of women and girls including those with disabilities.” ICODZIM ’s work is centred on improved policy and legislative influence for the benefit of women, girls and men with disability from various political, tribal and socioeconomic backgrounds. It is against this background that ICODZIM is working towards increasing community based and led gender based violence (GBV) support services for women and girls with disability who are survivors of physical and sexual abuse in the 3 target districts of Gutu, Chiredzi (Masvingo Province), and Zvishavane (Midlands Province). The Consultant shall be tasked with developing a standard GBV support service referral system and directory to be uploaded on the ICODZIM ’s website and the public domain.
Background
In Zimbabwe, 1 in 3 women between the ages of 15 and 49 experience physical violence in their lifetimes, while 1 in 4 women experience sexual violence in the same age range . For women and girls with disability, the risk of encountering GBV is more acutely pronounced. Discrimination comes in intersecting forms based on gender, disability, harmful religious and sociocultural norms that exist in rural, mining and farming communities across Zimbabwe. One of the significant drivers of GBV prevalence in Zimbabwe is poverty, and in a country where employment challenges are rife, PWDs, especially women with disability face severe obstacles in finding the means to make a living due to discrimination by employers. Women with disability are saddled with gender roles and discrimination more than men, and are more susceptible to the obstacles faced by PWDs in Zimbabwe.
According to the Zimbabwe Poverty Report (ZIMSTAT 2017b), 74% of persons with disability in Zimbabwe live in poverty, with 32.2% living in extreme conditions. Women and girls with disability also have gender discrimination to contend with, and this begins with education opportunities which most are forced to forego due to negative family and community discourse around gender, disability and patriarchal norms. As adults, deprivation of education and networking opportunities impedes women with disabilities’ access to income generating opportunities, thereby ensuring a widespread prevalence of poverty and abject dependence, all of which increase their vulnerability to GBV.
It is worth noting that while efforts have been made by government (I.e. One Stop Centers to offer medical, psychological and legal remedies to GBV survivors), development institutions such as Musasa Project (shelters) and other groups, there remains a need to ensure that support services for GBV survivors, particularly WGDs are readily available at grassroots level, and that they are community driven to ensure that they are within reach of women and girls with disability.
It is against this background that ICODZIM targeted the three districts of Gutu, Chiredzi, and Zvishavane which are predominantly developing rural communities, and therefore fall into the category of Zimbabwean communities where poverty, GBV and the discrimination of women and girls on the basis of gender and disability exist. The development of a standard referral system and directory, will be a key intervention in ensuring the availability of quality, community based, led and disability inclusive GBV support services in the 3 targeted districts. It will be a way of linking women to services after mapping and sharing them.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Consultant shall be tasked with the development of a standard Referral System and Directory which shall be uploaded onto ICODZIM’s e-library for use in the targeted districts. The candidate should have relevant experience working with Non-Governmental Organizations in rural, mining and farming communities and experience in disability programming and project administration with considerable knowledge of NGO Good Governance methodologies.
Specific tasks
-The Consultant is expected to consult OPDs, key GBV response stakeholders I.e. Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Ministry of Health and women with disabilities through 3 focus group discussions in the targeted districts to map GBV response systems.
-The consultant shall do desk and literature review of GBV services accessibility, availability, inclusiveness and acceptability in the targeted districts. The outcome of this exercise is an Evaluation Report.
-The Consultant shall conduct a GBV response mapping exercise in line with findings from the desk and literature review, and consultations with key stakeholders from which the Directory shall be developed.
-Develop a standard GBV Disability Inclusive Referral System and Directory.
Expected Deliverable
The Consultant will be expected to deliver the following:
A comprehensive GBV Referral System and Directory
A comprehensive Analysis Report
Qualifications and Experience
A postgraduate university degree in Development Studies; at least five years in research of which at least 2-3 years must be with Development Studies, Research and Development, and Monitoring and Evaluation. Experience in and conversant with disability international and local instruments. Previous working experience in Zimbabwe in gender, GBV and disability programming is an asset.
Competences: Experience and proven competence in liaising with government authorities as well as with international institutions, NGOs and academia, preferably within the Zimbabwean context.
In addition, the candidate must possess strong writing skills; all applicants are required to submit at least two copies of relevant publications or previous studies.
Reporting: The consultant will work with the Programs Unit at the organization and a technical working group comprised of OPDs representatives
How to Apply
In light of the above, the organization wishes to invite suitably qualified consultants to submit expressions of interest as per the scope of work indicated above. Expressions of interest should include the following:
A capability statement
Attach resume of individual who will undertake the task
The consultant’s technical proposal
Methodology of how the task will be accomplished;
A work plan with detailed activities, milestones, time frames and fees charged
Proposed consultancy fees payment schedule
Three contactable referees from similar previous work done.
During the application process, ICODZIM will not charge any fee nor will it require any payment for an application to be considered. The organization is an equal employer and employs personnel without regard to race, place of origin, language, creed, religion, gender, marital status and or physical disability: persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Applications should be directed to: recruitmentmsv2021@gmail.com
