Terms of Reference for Research Consultancy

Terms of Reference for Research Consultancy

EuropeAid/154792/DH/ACT/Multi **

General Background

Oxfam is an international confederation counting 19 organizations working together with partners and local communities in more than 90 countries. Oxfam has been working in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel (OPTI) since the 1950s, a country office was established in Jerusalem in the 1980s. Oxfam mainly works in the most vulnerable communities, in Gaza, East Jerusalem, and Area C.

Project Background

Naseej is a regional project that connects women voices and actions to end violence against women in the MENA region. The project will tackle Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in conflict and occupation affected areas, through channeling financial support to women rights and civil society organizations (WROs, CSOs, and CBOs) to prevent and respond to SGBV. This will be done in parallel with technical and capacity building support to strengthen capacities in these organizations to support their work. in conflict and occupation affected areas.

The Project targets the 3 fragile and conflict-affected countries of Yemen , Iraq, and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT – West Bank, in particular, Area C, East Jerusalem, Gaza Strip) and it is funded by the European Union (EU).

The project’s overall objective/Impact is to contribute to more gender-equitable societies in Iraq, Yemen, and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) in which women and girls live free from violence across all spheres of life. The Specific objective of the project is to support women’s rights civil society organizations (WROs) in the target countries to effectively prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) during conflict

The Intermediate Outcomes of the project are: 1) partner WROs show improved organizational capacity to function more independently and effectively to deliver prevention, response, and advocacy programmes/initiatives on ending SGBV, 2) SGBV is less socially acceptable in targeted communities, including among men and boys, and 3) Oxfam and WRO partners more effectively influence national and

international policy and decision makers on SGBV policy and legislation and international humanitarian law (IHL) obligation

Description and Objective of Assignment:

Oxfam seeks to hire a consultant (an individual consultant, consultancy firm/company, research institute or Civil Society Organisation) to conduct a national comprehensive research on SGBV in oPt, specifically the social norms that drive SGBV, and women and girls’ survivors of SGBV experiences in accessing SGBV services . This research will also examine SGBV under occupation, and inter-linkages between household, community, and institutional violence with a focus on the most vulnerable and under-researched groups of women and girls including women and girls with disabilities. Another area the research will focus on is referral systems/mechanisms (national referral system, SOPs, and other community based referrals) .

The main objectives the assignment are:

· Examine social norms that are drivers of SGBV against women and girls (including women with disabilities), and SGBV being exacerbated by the Israeli occupation on different levels (household, community and institutional violence)**

· Research community perceptions and attitudes towards SGBV, women and girls (including women with disabilities) survivors of SGBV who seek SGBV services**

· Explore the perception of CSOs towards SGBV services, and awareness raising activities which they provide to combat SGBV

· Map existing SGBV services and Explore attitudes and perceptions towards SGBV services and existing referral systems **

· Identify obstacles and challenges that face women and girls (including women with disabilities) in safe access to SGBV services and referral systems **

· Identify coping strategies of women and girls (including women with disabilities) survivors of violence and as well as communities’ as a whole to combat SGBV**

Scope of Work

Under the objectives outlined above, The selected consultant will:

· Collect data from various stakeholders (relevant ministries , CSOs WROS, INGOs, research bodies, coalitions, donors) to address the objectives of the assignment

• Share a list of documents that will be used for the desk review of existing literature
• Adapt and tailor the questions for in depth interviews and focus group discussions based on Oxfam’s feedback in English, including arranging and organizing field testing of the questionnaire, during questionnaire development;
• Design the data collection tools and methodologies;
• Prepare a detailed schedule for the actual data collection process;
• Recruit and manage a team of experienced enumerators/research assistants, train them where necessary supervisors for the data collection. (final number to be determined in consultation with the Oxfam team).
• supervisors (including arranging all logistics, such as finding venue, printing, stationary, etc.).
• Prepare all required field work logistics as appropriate (printing, transportations, logistics, etc.).
• Analyze and document the results of data collection and prepare a draft report for comments by Oxfam.

· The selected consultant/researcher should submit a report with the following components: research methodology, approaches and tools, in depth interviews questions, focus group questions timeframe, list of stakeholders (to be interviewed), sample size and locations/localities , action plan. The inception report will be reviewed and approved by Oxfam team before the commencement of the research study.