Gender and Protection Risk Analysis Consultancy At Catholic Relief Services

1. Background

Catholic Relief Services – United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (CRS-USCCB) is a humanitarian assistance and community development organization founded by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1943 to help the poor, marginalized and people affected by natural and/or humanitarian disasters.

CRS has been operating in Indonesia since 1957. We help local communities alleviate human suffering, eradicate poverty and become self-reliant. We work in collaboration with local partners—both church-affiliated and secular. CRS is operating in Indonesia under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia that provides CRS with access to the target areas and communities. CRS Indonesia currently has a diverse portfolio of projects, including disaster risk reduction (DRR), climate change adaptation (CCA), humanitarian response, shelter and settlements, livelihoods, and agriculture.

CRS recognizes that gender equality and social inclusion are foundational for the realization of human rights and key to effective sustainable development outcomes across all sectors and programs. To that end, CRS is carrying out a gender and protection risk analysis in the areas where CRS projects are in place in order to identify specific actions that can contribute to reducing gender inequalities and improve gender-responsiveness, inclusion and diversity in programmatic processes.

2. Purpose / Justification

The overall purpose of the gender and protection risk analysis is to identify opportunities for programs to advance gender equality, social inclusion, protection, and women’s empowerment. The gender analysis will make visible the differing needs, roles, interests, opportunities, barriers, protection risks and experiences of women and men, boys, girls and marginalized groups at the household and community levels in target areas to be used to identify actions or adaptations that can help remove obstacles to participating in and benefiting from programs.

The gender and protection risk analysis and the activities outlined in this Scope of Work are in line with CRS’ 2020-2030 Global Gender Strategy, Protection Mainstreaming Framework and CRS’ Minimum Standards for Gender Integration to “conduct and utilize gender analyses” and “perform risk assessments/Do No Harm analysis on gender-related risks”[1].

The analysis is also aligned with USAID’s Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Policy which includes a focus on equitable access, asset accumulation and control, voice and living free from restrictive gender norms and violence. BHA requires partners to: a) integrate gender, protection, and inclusion considerations into analyses; b) mitigate unintended negative effects through thoughtful activity designs and meaningful efforts to address access barriers; and c) champion participation and empowerment[2].

3. Objectives and Domains of Inquiry:

The consultant(s) will undertake a gender and protection analysis of selected programs, gathering first-hand and secondary information to strengthen gender and protection-responsive approaches. Programs that are included in the analysis have a focus on resilience, detailed as follows[3]:

Results of this analysis are intended to inform a deeper understanding of gender and protection aspects related to specific programs, intervention sectors and geographical areas.

Objectives:

1. Identify and assess the differing needs, roles, interests, opportunities, barriers, protection risks and experiences of women and men, boys and girls, and marginalized at the household and community levels in target areas as they relate to interventions and relevant sectors.
2. Identify specific constraints and opportunities to support gender and protection responsiveness across activities, maximizing achievement of the project’s goals and objectives.
3. Provide actionable recommendations to address gaps and issues identified in the analysis within project resources and constraints.

The analysis will be designed to explore information about gender, risks and inclusion under the following domains:

1. Law, Policies, Regulations, and Institutional Practices;

2. Cultural Norms and Beliefs;

3. Gender Roles, Responsibilities, and Time Used;

4. Access to and Control over Assets and Resources;

5. Participation, Empowerment and Meaningful Access;

6. Patterns of Power and Decision-Making; and

7. Safety and protection risks.

4. Methodologies

The analysis is expected to apply qualitative methods for data collection and data analysis. Expected methods are as follows.

Desk Review: Review of existing data collected by the project (such as the Needs Assessment, Gender Assessment, Baseline Report), prior gender analyses, risk analysis, safety audits, gender assessments done in the country and in program locations; documents around laws, policies, regulations, and customary/institutional practices relating to gender and protection issues; government data; and other relevant secondary materials.

Interviews with Key Informants:

Key informant interviews will be conducted with selected government officials and non-government representatives who have in-depth insight on gender and protection dynamics in their respective geographies. Potential informants may include:

– CRS staff that have worked in or come from the targeted geographic area and have lived experience or understanding of gender and inclusion dynamics in the area.

– Staff or representatives from partner organizations, INGOs, NGOs, CSOs, women’s organizations, DPOs, multi-stakeholder forums, and universities that work in gender and inclusion in relevant sectors in the targeted areas.

– District LGU staff from relevant sectors (Social Department, Agriculture Department, District DM Agencies)

FGDS:

Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) will be conducted across a sample of target locations, engaging 6-12 individuals with shared characteristics relevant to domains and specific topics, separating women and men into different groups. Groupings should also take into consideration, where applicable and feasible, sub-categories of men and women (for example youth, people with disabilities, members of minority or ethnic groups, occupation, rural & urban areas, and other contextual factors).

For the abovementioned method, the consultant(s) will work closely with CRS’ Program Quality Technical Advisor and project teams to develop and finalize discussion/interview guides around predetermined topics. The consultant will provide sampling rationale for KIIs and FGDs.

5. Tasks

The primary tasks of the Consultant(s) are to conduct:

A. Review and analysis of pertinent literature and documents, including, but not limited to such materials as: (i) Project technical narratives, proposals or concept notes; (ii) Studies and assessments conducted by donors, NGOs, government and the academic community; (iii) Any other materials or documents as necessary to glean a comprehensive view of gender and protection issues in specific sectors.

B. Conduct meetings and discussions with Technical Advisors and other staff involved, including: (a) Entry briefings with Technical Advisors and leadership; (b) Meeting with project staff on specific sectors and areas of interest, to understand project contexts, specific analysis needs, and identify possible gender and protection issues and considerations into design, ongoing (as appropriate) and future activities; (c) Technical meetings on methodology and data collection tools; and (d) Check-ins to verify initial findings and recommendations.

C. Prior to commencing data collection in target locations, the consultant(s) will prepare a workplan that includes: (a) Final data collection tools; (b) sampling design for primary data collection; (c) timeframe/schedule for data collection.

D. Lead field level data collection as per agreed methodology and tools, coordinating data collection with relevant staff. This will include facilitating and documenting focus group discussions and KIIs.

E. Conduct data analysis taking into consideration relevant domains and sectors, drawing on both secondary and primary findings for evidence-based data.

F. Prepare and finalize a report with findings and recommendations, incorporating multiple rounds of feedback/revision, to inform project design and interventions addressing specific sectors, domains and specific requirements for each project (structure to be determined in discussion with CRS’ Technical Advisor and Head of Programs).

G. Facilitate the sensitization of findings to project teams.

6. Deliverables

Within the timeframe of the consultancy, the consultant(s) should complete the following deliverables: (Please email Indonesia_HR@crs.org for a complete deliverables)

Expected start date: May 2023

Expected completion date: June 2023

Duration of Consultancy: Approximately 40 days (with a possibility of extension to include new locations contingent on funding approval).

Reports to: Head of Programs with support from Program Quality Regional Technical Advisor (PQ RTA)

7. Table of Payment Schedule

8. Budget

Applicants should submit the total amount paid to the consultant(s) detailing daily rates, translation costs (if required), communication costs, VAT/taxes, and other expenses necessary to complete the tasks in the SoW.

Relevant project budgets will cover costs relating to logistic arrangements relating to travel, transportation, accommodation, and allowances (based on the local CRS/partner per diem rates). CRS will also provide support to make logistical arrangements (organizing travel/transport and accommodation), share key documents, data collection (if applicable), facilitating contact and support letters to access key respondents.

9. Expected Qualifications

The required skills and competences for the consultant are:

• At least 7 years’ experience in conducting data collection and gender analysis/assessments, preferably with (I)NGOs
• Experience in conducting protection risk analysis is preferred
• Proven experience in qualitative data methodology and analysis
• Specific knowledge and expertise in agriculture or DRR (desirable)
• Regional working experience in Eastern Indonesia (desirable)
• Good communication skills, with the ability to explain complex problems or concepts in simple and easy-to-understand language
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to gender equality, protection risks and development issues
• High level of English language proficiencies (both written and oral) in the use of English both oral and written

10. Ethics and Safeguarding

CRS is committed to ensuring that the rights of those participating in data collection or analysis are respected and protected, in accordance with CRS’ Safeguarding Policy. Applicants are expected to follow CRS’ ethical and safeguarding guidelines accordingly, including but not limited to data collection processes, which should be incorporated into the workplan. Specifically, the consultant(s) shall explain how appropriate, safe, non-discriminatory participation of all stakeholders will be ensured and how special attention will be paid to the needs of vulnerable groups. The consultant(s) shall also explain how confidentiality and anonymity of participants will be guaranteed.

[1] Gender Strategy 2030_minimum standards_September 2020 – Copy.docx (sharepoint.com)

[2] https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/2022-11/ER4_Framework-10.13.2022.pdf

[3] The scope of programs may expand to an additional location depending on new funding opportunities.