Myanmar: Consultancy on Gender base Violence, Myanmar Situation Analysis - Baseline

Location: Mrauk-U, Rakhine State, Myanmar

Application Deadline: 29^th August 2016

Languages required: English, Rakhine/Myanmar would be an asset

Starting date: ASAP

Duration of the contract: 30 working days

About the Organization

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) has been operational in Rakhine since 2008 when it initially responded to the devastation caused by cyclones Nargis in the Ayeyarwady Division (2008) and Giri in Rakhine State (2010) and as such possesses extensive knowledge and understanding of the operating environment. As a consequence of the inter-communal violence in Central Rakhine in June and October 2012 the crucial humanitarian needs of the displaced communities triggered a considerable re-orientation of the DRC program in Rakhine in early 2013, resulting in an increased focus on displacement and addressing humanitarian needs. In Rakhine State, DRC is currently delivering shelter, community infrastructure, Water Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), Non-Food Items (NFIs), livelihoods and protection (including child protection) assistance, to Internally Displaced People (IDPs) and conflict-affected populations. DRC furthermore serves as the Camp Management agency for approximately 68,000 IDPs in rural Sittwe.

Background - Scope and rationale of the Consultancy

In 2013 a rapid assessment on the situation of women and girls was conducted in Sittwe, Myebon and Pauktaw camps, identified gender-based violence (GBV) as a major protection concern, with GBV found to be widespread in both IDP camps and host communities.[1] According to the assessment findings, the most prevalent form of gender-based violence in Myanmar is intimate partner violence. It further identified major threats which increase the risks for gender-based violence, particularly to women and girls in the areas of displacement, such as sexual violence and domestic violence. The increase vulnerability of female headed households, including widows, and families with a large dependency rate, for example families with many daughters due to dowry customary practice, are at a higher risk of GBV. For mediation and reporting of protection issues such as sexual violence, communities – including Muslims and Buddhists - report to the village/camp leader. For Rakhine IDPs, it was reported that these issues can be reported to the village leader who later reports to police or village administrator, and follow in line with legal procedures if needed, although the existing government services also have very limited capacity to respond to such cases. For host and IDP Muslim communities, they report to the village/camp leader and also to committees. If the cases are mediated or reported for further action, the committees liaise with the other village/camp leaders or report to the security forces in the camp. The assessment however acknowledged the lack of data.[2]

A recent research paper by the Gender Equality Network reveals that women in Myanmar experience many forms of violence throughout their lives, in different places and by a range of men.[3]Types of violence included sexual assault and harassment, non-partner rape, as well as emotional, economic, physical and sexual intimate partner violence.[4] Additionally, it has been well documented[5] that women displaced by conflict or natural disaster adopt negative coping mechanisms to provide for themselves and their families. These new strategies often place them at further risk of GBV. Without safe economic opportunities, women resort to harmful strategies, such as engaging in survival sex or forcing daughters into early marriage.[6] Violence is a major obstacle to women’s and girls’ development, and to the welfare and development of their communities and societies as a whole. Further, although Myanmar is bound by just a few international human rights treaties, it did ratify the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and, on 30 June 2015, the Parliament approved the signing of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.[7]

DRC is currently developing a more comprehensive protection programme for the areas of Kyauktaw and Mrauk-U in Rakhine State, including the GBV component to address the unmet needs for gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response services.In this area (Kyauktaw and Mrauk-U in Rakhine State), as no GBV-related assessment has been conducted- although the information produced by the assessment referred to above sheds some light on types of GBV as well as threats and community practices - DRC is seeking a qualified consultant or team of consultants to lead and implement a GBV baseline.

The assessment’s overall objective is to provide DRC with a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of gender relations and gender based violence in the area of the project implementation, by conducting a situational/needs assessment and developing a theory of change (ToC).

Its specific objectives are:

· Seeks out information on the context, which populations are most vulnerable to GBV and how it occurs (including gender norms);

· Collect the minimum information needed to inform and launch an appropriate response to sexual violence -- include a multi-sectoral needs assessment to ascertain risks and multiple needs (for prevention and response services) of crisis-affected communities.

· Provide information to allow DRC to determine whether their GBV services are needed; whether they should intervene; and if so, what the scope, scale, and effectiveness of their intervention should be given existing resources

· Understand which livelihoods activities are currently being undertaken by women, options for other livelihoods and income generation activities that would be culturally appropriate.

· Develop a GBV ToC that provides a roadmap that will ultimately guide the development of the Logical Framework (including indicators) and the M&E plan

Core Research Questions

To achieve these objectives, the study will seek to answer the following core research questions:

Context and Stakeholder Analysis

· Understanding the context can include issues that are specific to the context but not found everywhere such as harmful traditional practices, early marriage, and human trafficking between others as well as understanding which groups are specifically vulnerable to gendered violence in specific contexts (i.e., women and girls, men and boys, adolescents, the LGBT population, people with disabilities, children, prisoners, and older people.)

· To distinguish and clarify the varying context in which GBV occurs by examining the cultural, political, legal, physical, and socioeconomic environment of different social groups within the population

· To examine power relations within communities and how they affect the prevalence or otherwise of GBV and the ability for survivors to report. This should include an analysis of the relations between neighbouring Muslim and Rakhine villages, a perception survey and recommendations on building trust between communities. To gather information about the current services available, including a full mapping of actors (3Ws) in the locations.

Gender Roles

· To consider gender roles and power relations within the targeted communities (i.e. analysis of the specific socio-economic circumstances of men and women)

· To analyse traditional roles (publically and privately) of men, women, girls and boys, including but not limited to: accepted levels of education and participation in the labour market for men, women, boys and girls, access to information sharing networks, access to technology, access to personal or family income and control of the family purse strings.

· To collect information about the current community support systems in place for women, girls, men and boys, including women’s groups and village committees and their effectiveness

Gender Based Violence

· To collect and analyse information on the most prevalent forms of gender based violence and how this varies according to each community

· To report on the population affected and how women and girls’ experiences vary wherever possible

· To gather information on community attitudes to GBV: if some forms such as IPV and early marriage are viewed as positive, for example

· To analyse current systems of reporting GBV and levels of trust in the services available for survivors (medical, legal, safety and security etc.), including barriers to accessing services for survivors

o Include access to traditional justice mechanisms – what type? Who carries out? How satisfied with these?

· Identify services that are not available would be used and recognized as having value by the community

Gendered market assessment

· Gathers information on current livelihoods opportunities available to women and explores culturally appropriate and market-oriented income generation activity options, based on an understanding of the market conditions in each village.

· Gain an understanding of what livelihoods opportunities would put women at risk of violence due to their perceived increased economic power in the household. This could include an analysis of who controls the household ‘purse strings’ and how both women and men budget household money.

· What jobs or economic opportunities would women feel would most benefit them? What gaps in goods or services available at the village level could women-led businesses fill?

o Did they have access to these at any time in the past?

o Do they have access now?

o If not, what do they feel they need to gain access?

· In considering what types of income generation activities are accessible and appropriate for women, assess what types of materials they will need to carry out the activity and whether they have safe, affordable, regular access to any consumables. Analyse the risks that might arise with sourcing materials from outside the village and identify mitigating techniques.

Theory of Change

· Develop an approach to the assessment that allows for a changing of methodology and/or questioning of basic assumptions according to the evidence collected

· Allow for the inclusion of results outside of the scope of the assessment if this assists with a clearer overall picture of gender dynamics

· Produce recommendations for programming that are designed to create an overall change in the patterns analysed

Duties, Responsibilities and Deliverables

The Consultant will be based in Mrauk-U, Rakhine State. The Consultant will receive technical support from the DRC Protection Coordinator for Rakhine and the Mrauk-U Project Manager, and will report to the DRC Program Manager for Rakhine on safety and other non-project matters.

Support will be provided to undertake the needs’ assessment, including staff and translators.

The assessment is expected to involve a mix of qualitative and quantitative components involving both primary and secondary data. The specific design of the study will be appropriate to answering the above research questions, while taking into account the unique sensitivities and challenges of the local context, and avoiding overlap with other ongoing or recently completed assessments. It is critical to include all stakeholders as agents of change, consult them to define key GBV intervention activities, in particular at the outset of the project.

Duties and responsibilities include:

o Submitting a proposal and work plan for completion of the consultancy;

o Carry out an assessment to ascertain the capabilities and needs of village leaders and decision makers;

o Train the staff on data collection and use of the tools;

o Provide a final report summarizing activities undertaken during the consultancy period, analysis and recommendations.

Deliverables:

1. Proposal, including work plan and overall methodology (ToR), sampling approach, development of questionnaires, interview guides, etc.

2. Database and transcripts of information gathered;

3. Draft report;

4. Final report, including ToC and recommendations on the project and work-plan design.

Profile of the Candidate

o Legal background, professional experience with GBV programming;

o At least 5 years conducting GBV related assessments or evaluations in humanitarian or development contexts, with a focus on fragile and conflict-affected settings.

o Should be familiar with the Myanmar and Rakhine context.

o Excellent writing and communication skills combined with proficiency in English

o Working experience with International NGOs and cross-cultural competence

o Ready to deploy within 2-3 weeks of offer (Desirable)

[1]IASC GBV area of responsibility (AoR) Rapid Response Team (RRT) Mission Report, Rakhine and “Context Analysis” and “Concerns and Risk Analysis” documents produced by Rakhine Protection Working Group, 2015

[2]IASC GBV area of responsibility (AoR) Rapid Response Team (RRT) Mission Report, Rakhine and “Context Analysis” and “Concerns and Risk Analysis” documents produced by Rakhine Protection Working Group, 2015

[3]Myanmar scholars argue that Myanmar’s culture conceals and silences the widespread inequalities faced by the majority of Myanmar women. The widespread cultural phenomenon of hpon– an abstract concept that refers to men’s inborn and innate superiority over women – is an example of how men’s power and dominance over women is justified and naturalized, particularly in Myanmar Buddhist culture. Other authors argue that women’s low position in Myanmar have contributed to the country’s low levels of social and economic development. Where some equality does exist, it is enjoyed only by women of higher socio-economic classes, and even then, only within a strictly prescribed female role. These gender inequitable structures make women more vulnerable to abuse.

Gender Equality Network, Behind the Silence: Violence against women and their resilience, Myanmar Research Report, February 2015. Accessible at http://themimu.info/sites/themimu.info/files/documents/Ref_Doc_GBV_AOR_RRT_Report_on_Women_Protection_Rakhine_Feb2013.pdf

[4] GBV AOR, Rapid Assessment Protection situation of Women and Girls -Rakhine Humanitarian Response, February 2013; Gender Equality Network, Behind the Silence: Violence against women and their resilience, Myanmar Research Report, February 2015. Accessible at http://themimu.info/sites/themimu.info/files/documents/Ref_Doc_GBV_AOR_RRT_Report_on_Women_Protection_Rakhine_Feb2013.pdf and http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs21/GEN-2015-02-Behind_the_Silence-en-red.pdf

Comment: none of the assessments/reports reflect the situation in Kyaktaw and Mrauk-U

[5] http://www.un.org/en/women/endviolence/pdf/VAW.pdf 2

[6]Preventing Gender-based Violence, Building Livelihoods. WRC, 2011. Accessible at http://www.cpcnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Preventing-GBV-Building-Livelihoods-WRC.pdf

[7] Despite the signing and ratification of these treaties, there remains a substantial gap between them and the implementation of rights protected by the treaties in practice. Further, the Myanmar government has performed no assessment regarding the compatibility of existing Myanmar law with its obligations under international law. The ‘Rule of Law assessment’ (2013) identified at least 15 existing laws incompatible with Myanmar’s international law obligation. To those laws, it should be added the recent 2014 interfaith marriage bill which aims to prevent interfaith marriages of Buddhist women (although not men) in an effort to protect ‘nation, race and religion’ of the Myanmar state.

We only accept applications sent online on www.drc.dk under Vacancies (*click here*). Please send your application, in English, no later than 29^th August 2016.

The applicant in her/his proposal should address:

1. CV and Expression of Interest;

2. Initial technical proposal, outlining how the applicant aims to meets the assessment’s objectives and core research questions, the methodology and workplan.

3. Financial proposal (the financial proposal should be “all-inclusive”, this means that all costs --professional fees, travel related expenses, communications, utilities, consumables, insurance, etc.-- that could possibly be incurred by the Consultant are already factored into the financial proposal.)

· Need further information?

For more details on this position please contact Maria Sol Beker, DRC Protection Coordinator at maria.sol.beker@drcmm.organd/or Helen Brooks, Project Manager at helen.brooks@drcmm.org.

The partners are equal opportunity employer and consider all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, national origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status or physical or mental disability.