Consultant

I.Background

In adopting CARE International’s program approach, CARE Vietnam has shifted the focus of our work from changes at the sectoral or geographical levels, to that of impacts for particularly marginalised and vulnerable groups of people – our program Impact Groups.   CARE recognises that the key to achieving equitable development outcomes lies in shifting deeply rooted, structural underlying causes of poverty which contribute to exclusion and vulnerability of particular groups in society.  Our Programs aim to achieve lasting impact at a broad scale with these specific groups through addressing underlying causes of poverty, including vulnerability to disasters, gender inequality and social injustice through a set of coherent interventions.

Two programs have been designed by CARE Vietnam to date. One focuses on significant and lasting change for Remote Ethnic Minorities - who are land poor, have weak resilience to hazards and shocks, and in particular women; and the other focuses on Socially Marginalized people – including people living with HIV, people who inject drugs, sex workers, sexual minorities, and female migrants in urban settings.  This program seeks lasting change for socially marginalized groups in urban settings who experience denial of realization of multiple rights, live and work in unsafe environments.

CARE Vietnam’s Strategy identifies the empowerment of women as a key pathway to equity; moreover, GBV has been identified as one of the barriers to achieve significant and lasting change for both impact groups. CARE Vietnam conducted deeper analysis investigating the vulnerabilities with both impact groups and found conventional gender norms and structures for women and men confined and resigned them to strict gender roles and unequal power distribution.

Recent GBV research in Vietnam has produced quality data sets on GBV prevalence and incidence. However, the data is often not disaggregated by ethnicity or other factors such as HIV status.

II.Purpose of the Consultancy and Scope of Work

CARE is seeking a Vietnamese national Research Consultant to conduct secondary data GBV research using multiple sources (INGO/VNGO/CBO documents, project reports, multi-lateral and bi-lateral reports and documents, journal articles, etc.) to investigate gaps in GBV research as it affects remote ethnic minorities (REM) and socially marginalized people1 (SMP). More specifically, the consultant will be responsible for the following activities:

1.Collect GBV data through multiple sources for an in-depth desk review. Contact and communicate with INGO/VNGO/CBO, multi-laterals and bi-laterals to collect recent (within 5 to 7 years) reports and documents, as well as journal articles on GBV as it pertains to REM and SMP.  Map available data, investigate the quality of the data, and identify gaps in the data.
2.Conduct a policy review of gender related laws and strategies and potential emerging policy issues related to GBV and also gender and GBV as it relates to REM and SMP.  Support a GBV advocacy event for members of the GoV, in collaboration with key stakeholders, from multi-lateral and bi-lateral groups.
3.Conduct quantitative analysis using SPSS on raw data collected on a GBV costing survey.  The analysis will look at any determining factors for GBV as it relates to REM and SMP (for example, disaggregated for ethnicity and HIV status).

III.Methodology

The methodology will be mutually agreed between the Research Consultant and Coordinator Consultant, and approved by CARE Vietnam.

The consultant will:

a.Submit a workplan for the consultancy
b.Submit a detailed methodology for the assignment
c.Review CARE’s research documents related to impact groups, raw data from a Women’s Health Survey, as well as other relevant documents for desk review
d.Submit an outline with initial references to be used for the desk review
e.Communicate regularly with Coordinator Consultant to provide updates on the progress of the consultancy
f.Provide a final GBV gaps in research and policy document, one on REM and one on SMP, maximum 35 pages each, excluding annexes and references.
g.Support an advocacy event by drafting the agenda, suggesting panel members and invitees
h.Conduct a presentation on the findings and recommendations to CARE Vietnam and relevant stakeholders

IV.Inputs

25 days (depending on funding availability and acceptance of a work plan and schedule agreed by Coordinator Consultant and CARE Vietnam)

V.Deliverables

a.Two final desk review documents, in English, demonstrating consideration of feedback from CARE and CARE partners on the draft.  Deadline beginning of March 2013. The report should be no more than 35 pages (excluding annexes) and consist of, but is not limited to:
Cover page
Table of contents
List of abbreviations and acronyms
Executive summary (maximum two pages with recommendations)
Introduction
Background
Methodology
Limitations
Findings and discussion
Conclusion
Recommendations
b.Annexes
c.Input on agenda and list of suggested invitees for the advocacy event
The consultant will provide CARE with all information collected during this assignment.

VI.Timeline

This consultancy will take place between December 2012 and April 2013. The desk review document will be due the first week of March 2013.

VII.Consultancy Management

The Research Consultant will report to the Coordinator Consultant.  CARE Vietnam staff will ensure effective administration support for the consultancy.

VIII.Selection Criteria

- Required qualification for the consultancy includes the following:
- Research skills: Previous experience in conducting qualitative and quantitative analysis.  Previous experience using SPSS.  Successful experience in capturing gender, vulnerability, and other specialist analysis in research processes.  Writing sample in English of previous research conducted in Vietnam where applicant was the sole or senior researcher should be submitted.
- Knowledgeable of existing GBV networks, services and key players in Vietnam
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience on GBV in Vietnam
- Ability to review and highlight key issues in densely written Vietnamese policy documents
- Good English written language skills
- Excellent and demonstrable communication skills

Interested parties should send their cover letter demonstrating that they comply with the selection criteria, CV and English writing sample to [email protected]
Due to the volume of applications, it is not possible to respond to all applicants or to establish telephone contact for enquires or feedback for individual applicants. Accordingly, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

The deadline for applications is 26 December 2012.

** Child Protection
CARE International in Vietnam is committed to protecting the rights of children in all areas we work around the world. Applicants are advised that CARE International in Vietnam reserves the right to screen candidates to ensure a child-safe environment. Further information can be found in the CARE Vietnam child protection policy.