Assistant Consultant - SGBV, 216-6117-01
Increased Demand and Engagement for Accountability (IDEA) Activity, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Company Profile:
MSI, a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, D.C. metro area international development firm with a 35-year history of delivering development results across the world. Our core expertise is in the fields of monitoring and evaluation (M&E), institutional development, public sector management, peace and stability, governance and anti-corruption. MSI has implemented projects in 90 countries around the world such as Jordan, Kenya, Indonesia, Syria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Colombia and Mexico. As one of the leading companies in our field, MSI has partnered with organizations across all sectors of international development to support clients ranging from large bilateral and multilateral donors such as USAID, the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program to national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, foundations and universities. For more information on MSI, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com.
Project Summary:
Increased Demand and Engagement for Accountability (IDEA) is a 4-year USAID funded activity to strengthen the civil society sector working in all regions of Sri Lanka on national and local governance issues, and to build capacities of CSOs and networks. Some of the objectives of the project are to support civil society advocacy to advance good governance rights promotion and to promote gender equality and improve the rights of women.
Given that gender-based violence (GBV) is a systemic problem, efforts to address the issue whether at global or national level have emphasized the need for a multi sectoral effort. Sri Lanka has many laws to protect the rights of women and girls. The milestone Prevention of Domestic Violence Act passed in 2005, reflected the recognition of violence in the household. In practice, however, there are many gaps that prevent the speedy and effective implementation of the law, and provision of essential services to women and girls affected by violence. The lack of quality services such as counselling, safe homes and legal aid is compounded by the poor coordination between various state agencies.
In 2016, the Ministry of Women and Childrens Affairs launched the Policy Framework and National Plan of Action to address Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) in Sri Lanka 2016-2020 to strengthen a multi-sectoral approach to addressing GBV. The Plan specifies the restructuring and strengthening of existing multi-agency District/ Divisional Child Development Committees as District/Divisional Child and Women Development Committees (DCWDC) under the guidance of the District Secretary and Divisional Secretary. Such forums have been supported by development partners in the past and the main objective of establishing these forums was to address the critical gap in coordination among various state actors, and to develop a robust referral system to ensure that victim survivors receive effective remedies and services at both divisional and district level.
**Please note: Only Sri Lankan citizens are eligible for this position
Position Summary:
Through the award of grants IDEA supports the National Plan of Action to address Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) by providing support to grantees across the country to advocate for the establishment of these multi-sectoral SGBV forums at District and Divisional level. Grantees are also provided support to carry on regular meetings in already established forums and to set up new District/Divisional SGBV Forums in target districts/divisions.
The Consultant shall play the following role in supporting the senior consultant recruited by IDEA to work on addressing Sexual and Gender Based Violence in conceptualizing, designing and/or setting-up of district and divisional forums against GBV. Proposed Period of Performance: April 1, 2020 to September 30, 2020 with approximately 30 days level of effort.
Responsibilities:
- Provide basic orientation to CSO grantees identified by IDEA on objectives and purpose of establishing the SGBV forums, how they function, the benefits of such mechanisms and challenges they face.
Provide capacity building to members and participants of the SGBV forums (developing Standard Operating Procedures, documentation, referral mechanisms, gender analysis, victim/survivor centric approaches etc.).
Support/assist in necessary coordination to carry out trainings and or meetings with relevant stakeholders;
Assist CSOs develop ToRs SOPs for these forums.
Collate the lessons learnt and challenges from these forums and contribute them at the national level to advocate for joint Govt-CSO initiatives to combat SGBV.
Qualifications:
- A strong conceptual understanding of gender equality, improving the rights of women, SGBV and barriers to it in the Sri Lankan context.
- Bachelors degree in a relevant field. Masters Degree or post-graduate diploma will be an advantage.
- Five (5) years of hands-on experience in working in the field of gender equality, improving the rights of women and SGBV are advantageous.
- Direct experience in setting up divisional/district SGBV forums, training government officials/CSO staff on SGBV forums will be an advantage
- Fluency in English and one national language required; proficiency in a second national language desired and will be a distinct advantage.
- Willingness to undertake field visits to provide their inputs.
Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please.
MSI is an EEO/AA/ADA Veterans Employer.
To apply: Please visit our website, www.msiworldwide.com
PI119115685