Consultant- Policy Formulation and Development Support to Bangsamoro Women’s Commission

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) as a global pandemic. Currently, almost all countries are facing the same crisis. On March 8, 2020, a state of public health emergency was declared in the Philippines through Proclamation No. 922, s. 2020, in order to capacitate the national government to immediately act to prevent the loss of life and mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. Luzon island and most parts of the country are under stay-home orders due to the movement restrictions and community quarantine measures imposed since March 16, 2020. Data from the Department of Health (DOH) shows that the National Capital Region (NCR) is the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the country is doing its best to mitigate or stop the spread of the disease and find ways to treat the infected, and revive the economy that has suffered countless losses.

The BARMM and neighboring areas of Mindanao are dotted with municipalities which have continued to experience deep-set community conflict throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Waves of land dispossession and resettlement typify the histories of these communities, which often resemble a patchwork of Muslim Moro, non-Moro indigenous people (IPs) and Christian settler identities. Since land tends to be the primary economic resource in these conflict- and poverty-stricken communities, spikes in forced displacement remain common and are often driven by ethnicity or clan-based claims. Polarization of power has weakened the social fabric of these communities and left them as a battleground for clan feuds (rido), interethnic disputes, as well as clashes between government forces and independentist and extremist groups. While the CAB supported the formation of the Transitional Justice and Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) to understand the drivers of local conflict, inclusive and actionable transitional justice and reconciliation is still lacking in a region inundated by turbulent political dynamics and strained public resources. A lack of institutional understanding of local experiences, perspectives and power dynamics at the community level is often regarded as major hindrance to conflict prevention, while a lack of inclusive, community-driven peacebuilding initiatives has left many groups resorting to violence to settle disagreements. The COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing community quarantine across Mindanao have acted as a conflict multiplier, with hostilities’ resumption or intensification throughout BARMM and neighboring regions, but particularly in key areas of the South Upi Municipality, the fractured cluster of municipalities termed the SPMS box[1], and in the neighboring Municipalities of Midsayap and Pikit in Cotabato Province (commonly known as North Cotabato).

With this, UN Women, in partnership with IOM and UNFPA is currently implementing an 18-month  a project entitled “Promoting conflict prevention, social cohesion and community resilience in BARMM in the time of COVID-19 through transformation of women ex-combatants, marginalized women and youth into agents of peace”. BARMM agencies such as the BWC is tasked to co-implement specific “`outputs such as Output 2 which states that, “Gender-responsive, locally-inclusive and culturally-sensitive approaches to conflict prevention are mainstreamed into BARMM legislation, policies and programmes”.

[1] SPMS Box – reference to explain

The consultant, will provide support to Bangsamoro Women’s Commission (BWC) in the implementation of both Peacebuilding Fund Phase 3 (PBF3) in terms of Policy Formulation and Development on Conflict Resolution, Conflict Mediation and Peacebuilding     for the activities and events covered in the contract period.

The Objectives of this Assignment are:

1. Support the development of normative content including support to  the development of drafts, analysis and knowledge tools related to BARMM and provincial level policies on prevention of violence and conflict, Conflict Resolution, Conflict Mediation and Peacebuilding
2. Support in building the capacity of Bangsamoro Women’s Commission, BTA Women’s Caucus and  Women Sanggunian members in pushing for adoption of gender-responsive and gender-inclusive policies for BARMM;
3. Support the localization of the BARMM Regional Action Plan for Women Peace and Security (RAP-WPS) by reviewing and enhancing the drafts from LGUs, CSOs and BARMM agencies including the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).
4. Support the development of new gender-responsive policies for BARMM in response to emerging context and challenges in the region.

Deliverables

Finalized and approved Communication and Campaign materials that reflect high quality, result-based standard and format established by UN Women.

1. Inception Plan for the Consultancy detailing broad strokes strategies to achieve the deliverables
2. Concept Notes and After Activity Reports for building the capacity of BWC, BTA Women’s Caucus and women Sangguniang Panlalawigan/Panglungsod (SP) Members on gender-responsive policy development
3. Final Versions of  localized and enhanced  RAP-WPS with IRR
4. Policy proposals for new gender-responsive policies in response to new gender issues and challenges.

1. Expected deliverables, timelines and payments

Knowledge and experience:

• Demonstrated knowledge developing tool, knowledge products and policy briefs on  gender equality programming in the government and women empowerment, peace and security in the Philippines;
• Excellent writing skills, with significant written work on the security sector, peace and security and/or gender mainstreaming in the Philippines;  
• Fluency in English and Tagalog.

Corporate competencies:

• Demonstrates integrity by modeling the United Nations’ values and ethical standards;
• Promotes vision, mission and strategic goals of the UN and UN Women;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Ability and willingness to work as part of a team to meet tight deadlines and produce high quality work.

Confidentiality and Copyrights

• All documents compiled by or received by the Contractor in connection with this contract shall be property of UN Women, shall be treated as confidential and shall be delivered only to duly authorized UN Women officials on completion of the work or services under the contract.
• In no event shall the contents of such documents or any information known or made known to the Contractor by reason of its association with UN Women be made known by the Contractor to any unauthorized person without the written approval of UN Women.