Consultancy Opportunity: Development of the MENA Regional Roadmap under the Call to Action on GBV in Emergencies At Arab Women Organization of Jordan

Consultancy for the Development of the MENA Regional Roadmap
Countries Covered: Lebanon, Iraq, Libya, and Jordan.
Lead Organization: Arab Women Organization of Jordan (AWO)

Introduction

The Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (CtA) is a global initiative aimed at transforming how Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is addressed in humanitarian settings. Since its inception, it has emphasized collective action, accountability, and the empowerment of affected populations—particularly women and girls—as key pillars of its mission. The CtA Road Map (2021-2025) sets forth principles, objectives, and actionable steps to integrate GBV prevention, response, and risk mitigation across all levels of humanitarian programming. In the MENA region, the Field Implementation Project (CAFI), launched in 2021, brings this vision to life by addressing region-specific challenges and opportunities. CAFI catalyzes the Call to Action on the ground by working closely with Women-Led Organizations (WLOs) to drive change and foster GBV prevention, risk mitigation, and response in humanitarian emergencies. The project emphasizes strengthening WLOs through capacity-sharing approaches that promote co-creation and adaptability. By engaging WLOs from the outset, CAFI ensures that women’s voices and leadership remain central to the project cycle, enhancing accountability and fostering sustainable impact.

The MENA Road Map (2022-2026), a cornerstone of this initiative, reflects local actors’ collective priorities and needs, aligning with international frameworks while tailoring interventions to the unique contexts of Lebanon, Iraq, Libya, Jordan, and beyond. By leveraging regional and national structures, CAFI facilitates the cascading of learning and experiences, fostering a gender-responsive humanitarian response across the region.

Currently, in its second phase (May 28, 2023 – December 31, 2025), CAFI continues to build on its foundational work to empower WLOs as key actors in addressing GBV in emergencies. This consultancy aims to support the development and implementation of the MENA Regional Road Map by fostering partnerships, leveraging the expertise of WLOs, and creating actionable plans. Through shared goals and coordinated efforts, this initiative will contribute to a sustainable, gender-equitable, and responsive humanitarian response across the MENA region.

The objective of the Consultancy

The primary objective of this consultancy is to support the development and alignment of a comprehensive MENA Regional roadmap under the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (CtA). The consultancy aims to achieve the following:

1. Survey on Progress of Implementation:
Conduct a thorough survey to evaluate the progress of current initiatives across Lebanon, and Iraq, ensuring all activities align with CAFI’s regional goals.
2. Integrate Regional Updates:
Incorporate specific updates from Lebanon and Iraq into the roadmap, highlighting current achievements, challenges, and insights to provide a holistic view of regional progress.
3. Develop Actionable Activities:
Design a set of actionable, region-specific activities to achieve the outcomes of the roadmap, ensuring these actions are realistic, measurable, and time-bound.
4. Finalize the Regional Roadmap:
Collaborate with a regional consortium, including stakeholders from each of the target countries, to finalize an updated version of the roadmap, with inputs reflecting on-ground realities.
5. Define Roles and Responsibilities:
Clearly outline the roles and responsibilities of each participating organization and stakeholder, ensuring effective implementation of the roadmap with defined accountability.
6. Identify and Engage Stakeholders:
Identify key stakeholders in Lebanon, and Iraq, Libya, and Jordan and establish a strategy for engaging them in the roadmap’s implementation. This includes Women-Led Organizations (WLOs), local NGOs, humanitarian actors (e.g. UN Agencies), and relevant government entities.

Scope of Work

The consultancy will focus on reviewing, updating, and aligning the MENA Regional Road Map with the national plans of Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan under the Call to Action on Protection from Gender-Based Violence in Emergencies (CtA). The consultant will work collaboratively with CAFI members, Women-Led Organizations (WLOs), and stakeholders, to ensure the roadmap is comprehensive, actionable, and context-specific. The consultant will undertake the following key activities:

Scope of Work and Deliverables
1. Implementation Progress Survey:
o Design and conduct surveys across Lebanon, and Iraq.
o Analyze and report findings to assess the current status of roadmap implementation.
2. Consultation for Regional Updates:
o Facilitate discussions and consultations with consortium members to incorporate progress updates, especially from Lebanon and Iraq, into the roadmap.
3. Development of Action Plan:
o Create an actionable plan detailing steps to achieve the roadmap’s goals, including timelines, key activities, and expected outcomes.
4. Roles and Responsibilities Matrix:
o Prepare a matrix that defines roles and responsibilities for each participating organization and stakeholder to ensure effective implementation.
5. Stakeholder Engagement Strategy:
o Develop a strategy to identify and engage essential stakeholders, outlining a plan for collaboration with WLOs, local NGOs, humanitarian actors (e.g. UN Agencies), and government bodies.
6. Draft and Finalize Roadmap Document:
o Prepare the first draft of the regional roadmap and circulate it for feedback from the consortium.
o Incorporate feedback and finalize the roadmap in consultation with the AWO and regional consortium members.

7. Submission of Final Report

o Prepare a comprehensive report detailing:

• Activities undertaken, findings, and insights.
  • Challenges and lessons learned.
  • Outcomes and recommendations for future improvements

Responsibilities

Consultant

• Work closely with AWO and other CAFI focal points to conduct consultations, prepare updates, draft the action plan, and coordinate with stakeholders in Lebanon, Iraq, and Libya.
• Desk study of relevant documents, including the revision of the to-be-updated regional CtA MENA Roadmap, the global CtA Roadmap1, and available CtA progress reports.
• Facilitate workshops and feedback sessions with stakeholders to refine the roadmap.
• Submit the first and final drafts of the roadmap for approval by the AWO and the regional consortium

Arab Women Organization of Jordan (AWO)

• Manage and oversee the consultancy process, including the preparation of Terms of Reference (ToR), selection of the consultant, and overall guidance throughout the project.
• Ensure that all deliverables are aligned with CAFI’s strategic goals and the objectives of the Call-to-Action initiative.
• Coordinate communications with CAFI focal points in Lebanon Iraq, and Libya, and facilitate the logistical arrangements for workshops and meetings.
• Administer the contract and issue payments based on the agreed schedule

  Reporting lines:

• The consultant will report to AWO Project Manager Ms. Rawan Sabah

CAFI Regional Consortium (Lebanon, Iraq, Libya)

• Actively participate in consultations and workshops to provide input and feedback on the roadmap development process.
• Support the consultant by sharing relevant information, data, and insights specific to the implementation of GBV-related action plans in their respective countries.
• Review and provide constructive feedback on the draft roadmap to ensure it aligns with national priorities and regional objectives.

Qualifications for Consultant

• Previous proven experience in working with women-led organizations and networks.
• Proven in-depth knowledge and understanding of current discourses in humanitarian aid, gender-based violence, and the CtA.
• Proven expertise in roadmap or strategy development in MENA, preferably within humanitarian sectors.
• Strong knowledge of locally led GBV mitigation, prevention, and response strategies.
• Ability to integrate different experiences, methodologies, and approaches from a diverse range of stakeholders, organizations, and technical experts from multiple sectors.
• Familiarity with the social, cultural, and political context of Lebanon, and Iraq.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills, with fluency in English and Arabic.

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1 https://www.calltoactiongbv.com/general-documents

Timeline
The consultancy is expected to commence on 15, Dec 2024, and conclude by 15, Feb 2025, with a maximum of 60 consultancy days allocated to complete all activities.