Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Rapid Assessment Consultant At American Bar Association

Call for Expressions of Interest

Increasing Access to Justice and Holistic Services for Survivors **

Of Gender-based Violence in Sudan -Sudan based consultant

Rapid Assessment

1. Introduction and context

Gender based violence is harmful and life-threatening, and is a health, protection and human rights issue that violates international human rights law and principles of gender equality.

Since the revolution in 2019, the Sudanese Transitional Government has made positive efforts to address GBV, including the steps taken towards the ratification of CEDAW and UNSCR 1325. Violence against women and girls and gender-based violence however remains largely unaddressed at the national and local levels. Sudan still suffers from lack of adequate human and organizational resources with experience and skills to handle GBV cases which affects survivors’ access to available services in a safe, client sensitive, trauma informed and confidential manner. Access to formal justice institutions by survivors of violence is still a challenge for several reasons, moreover, the institutions responsible for prevention and response to GBV are still operating within a predominant patriarchal system and pursuant to discriminative legal frameworks, and lack the required capacity and specialized approach to handle GBV cases. The few existing GBV service providers are too poorly networked and resourced to meet survivors’ essential legal, psychosocial, economic, and medical service needs. Community members lack an essential, basic understanding of GBV. This is exacerbated by the absence of gender equality legislation to comprehensively address violence against women which is prevalent in Sudanese society.

Compounding this, women and girls face a series of social, cultural barriers to pursuing justice for GBV and lack agency, information and knowledge to access justice in the communities where they reside. This leaves victims even more vulnerable to repeated and unchecked abuse.

2. The program

The Women and Girls Empowered (WAGE) consortium is implementing an 18-month program addressing gender-based violence (GBV) in Sudan. The program is implemented by American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) and Search for Common Ground. The program will work with Sudanese civil society and justice sector actors to increase access to justice and holistic services for GBV survivors. The objectives of the program are to empower women led/women serving CSOs and women leaders with knowledge and skills to lead community driven initiatives to mitigate drivers of VE and prevent and respond to GBV; To enhance GBV service providers’ capacity and collective accessibility to survivors in need of legal, psychological, medical, economic and reintegration services; and to enhance the capacity of the Sudanese justice system to investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate GBV cases in a survivor-centered manner.

3. The Rapid Assessment

A rapid assessment will be conducted to provide the program implementers information about the organizations providing services to GBV survivors in Sudan and their areas of coverage, intervention modality, specialization/type of service and target beneficiaries of the organizations. The assessment will also provide baseline information about the knowledge, skills and capacities of the service providers including lawyers, to provide services, including those that are client centered and trauma informed.
The findings of the assessment will inform and guide program activities, speaking to both partner capacity building and improved sector-wide coordination.

Objectives and Outcomes of the Assessment**

The overall objective of this rapid assessment is to provide a mapping of existing services for GBV survivors in Sudan, accessibility to and the quality of those services. The assessment will also identify the practical needs of survivors and challenges faced by survivors in accessing services.

It is anticipated that the assessment will:

Provide up to date information about the implementation of holistic GBV service provision in Sudan; deepen the partners’ understanding of the range and quality of services offered by providers; provide an understanding of the mechanisms for reporting GBV cases and provide a baseline assessment of, and concrete recommendations to improve service provisions for GBV survivors, as well as programmatic actions that can be taken to help partners implement these improvements.

Methodology**

The rapid assessment will use a mixed method approach using both primary and secondary data. It will be conducted through desk research methods including a literature review, key informant interviews and collection of information through individual questionnaires/surveys, capacity assessments, and focus group discussions. The consultant will develop survey tools and interview guides, conduct data analysis and compilation and report drafting and submission. Innovative approaches will be utilized to ensure adherence to COVID-19 protocols. Project partners will work with the consultant to identify respondents and targets.

4. Scope of work

The program seeks to engage a consultant to conduct the rapid assessment. The consultant should have knowledge and experience with holistic approaches to GBV response and prevention and capacity strengthening. The consultant should be based in Sudan.

The specific deliverables include the following: –

a. Prepare an inception report

b. Conduct a rapid assessment of the existing services for GBV survivors in Sudan and prepare a preliminary report

c. Present the assessment findings in a validation meeting with the program partners

d. Update the report and prepare a final version of the report

e. Participate in a round table event, organized by the program partners, to discuss the findings

5. Experience required

· Advanced degree in social science, gender, development studies or related discipline

· A minimum of five years of experience working in GBV programming and coordination and significant experience in GBV prevention and response in Sudan

· Proven experience and technical skills in monitoring and evaluation of GBV program/project implementation, research and analysis

· Experience in capacity assessments/strengthening highly desired

· Strong familiarity with Sudanese social, cultural context and gender dynamics

· Fluency in Arabic and ability to communicate in English

· Excellent research, drafting, documentation, presentation and reporting skills

· Attention to detail and respect for tight deadlines