Oxfam: Consultancy to develop referral guidelines and protocol on GBV Services

Reports to

Women’s Rights Programme Manager and Oxfam Country Director

Background

Oxfam is an international non-governmental organization with presence in 70 countries worldwide and operating through an alliance of 19 affiliates across the globe. Oxfam has been operating in Zambia since 1980s, contributing to poverty reduction, and fighting injustice and inequality.

Through one of its affiliates, Oxfam has mobilised resources from the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada (GAC) to implement Her Future, Her Choice (HFHC) project in Chibombo and Namwala districts of Zambia. The selection of the two districts was premised on high rates of child, early and forced marriage (CEFM), teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortions, and harmful social norms and cultural practices hindering adolescent and young women access to sexual and reproductive health services.

HFHC is a four (4) year project designed to strengthen sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) targeting adolescent girls and young women in school and out of school. The project was developed to respond to the gender inequality and women’s rights violations undermining access to comprehensive, rights-based sexual and reproductive health information and services for adolescent girls and young women (10 – 24 years). The program directly addresses the barriers that are hindering access to sexual and reproductive health and rights for adolescent girls and young women in communities — particularly harmful social norms, traditional practices and taboos regarding sexuality. In so doing, the project will ultimately contribute to transforming gender inequality and discrimination, which are at the root of these barriers.

This project will contribute to improved SRHR by working around three areas of intervention:

• • Engaging adolescent girls and young women, men and boys, community leaders and norm-setters to understand and transform discriminatory social norms;
  • Strengthening the health system to deliver comprehensive SRH services, including family planning, contraception, safe abortion and comprehensive post-abortive care and secondary prevention services for GBV; and

• Promoting change in SRHR policy and practice through building the capacity of local women’s rights organizations and youth-led organizations to influence SRHR policy and practice.
• This consultancy is being sought to contribute to interventions around pillar two of HFHC project as defined above.

Consultancy summary

This consultancy aims to provide an important tool with reference to sexual reproductive health and gender-based violence in the operational districts. The referral guidelines and protocol of SRH and GBV services will be an integral input in ensuring that adolescent girls and women have easy recourse and redress. This assignment is therefore aimed at reviewing the best referral practices in public health facilities, and drafting areas of strengthening the same based on the gaps. It is expected that this assignment will be based heavily on the practical knowledge and experience of the Consultant on the subject of SRH and GBV in Zambia, especially at the lower levels such as districts and health facilities.

The Consultant will work independently throughout the assignment but will provide periodic insights and updates to Oxfam on the process.

Assignment Objectives

• To review the guidelines and protocols available with reference to GBV services in the districts and provide an informed determination of completeness and gaps.
• To collate existing and documented best practices on referral system for GBV services and develop a concise referral guidelines and protocol which addresses what is working well and taking take to address the existing gaps.
• To make recommendations and suggestions on how the guidelines and protocol can be rolled out and implemented, including the monitoring of effectiveness.

Requested services

Based on the guidance from Oxfam, the Consultant is expected to:

a. Submit a three-paged inception report detailing the analysis process, deliverables and timelines, including key insights.
b. Make a presentation to Oxfam and its partners during the validation meeting based on the draft referral guidelines and protocol on GBV services.
c. Produce and submit a final referral guidelines and protocol to Oxfam based on inputs and comments from Oxfam and its partners by Tuesday, June 30, 2020.

Experience and skills

Candidates will be assessed based on the following criteria:

• Proven experience in developing protocols and guidelines, able to demonstrate past assignments.
• Technical working knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender-based violence (GBV).
• Strong writing skills and proven experience delivering high-quality reports. The consultant will be required to submit an example of similar work.

Travel

The Consultant will determine whether or not to travel to the districts or provinces will be necessary. The logistical costs for such travel will be met by the Consultant within the contract sum provided under this assignment.

Application process

Proposals should be no longer than five (5) pages and include both technical details (methodology and process) and budget proposal (itemizing all related costs).

Include contact information for two NGOs or organizations as references. Please submit an example of prior work along with the proposal.

Please submit your application to [email protected], using job reference number OX/HFHC/01/20. In your application, please ensure that you address your suitability as stipulated by the ToRs. Applications should be received before or on May 26, 2020. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.

Oxfam is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those that are suitable to work within our values are recruited to work for us. This post is subject to a range of screening checks.