Local NGO

Deadline: 15 February 2021

Location: Chiredzi and Runde Districts, Zimbabwe,

Start date: To be communicated with successful applicant

Introduction

A local NGO working in the area of promoting and advancing women’s rights, including women with disabilities is looking for qualified consultant to develop a Gender Sensitive and Disability Inclusive Community Disaster Risk Reduction and Management guideline. The organisation aims to empower women in their diversities economically, politically and socially through amplifying their voices in all local and national processes, creating platforms for engagement, advocacy and capacity building. Its focus is on creating platforms and community centred interventions which support women to access their constitutionally provided rights as well as ensuring women influence national policy and development processes and taking part in decision making processes.

In its effort to reduce the inequalities and increased vulnerabilities for women and particularly women with disabilities in the context of COVID 19, the organization is currently implementing a project aimed at increasing the influence of women with disabilities in their diversity, in demanding quality services delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this project efforts will be made to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. The needs assessment conducted has revealed absence of a gender and disability sensitive community disaster risk reduction and management for improved service delivery for women and women with disabilities during natural disasters and emergencies like Cyclones and COVID-19 pandemic.

Reports and researches on disaster preparedness indicate that the rise in natural disaster cases normally increase the vulnerability of women and especially of women with disabilities. This assertion dovetails well with the findings we obtained during the needs assessment exercise which informed this project where women and women with disabilities reported multiple challenges brought by COVID-19 into their lives. A research commissioned by the organisation on the impacts of COVID19 on women with disabilities has shown that there are limited spaces of engagement yet because of limited resources and preparedness, local councils are constantly reprioritising and allocating resources on a regular basis.

The Civil Protection Act (2001) seems to outline the actions and duties to be taken by duty bearers in times of natural disasters and emergencies. However, it falls short in specifying specific interventions, actions and aids for hard-to-reach women and women with disabilities who are most affected groups during disasters as caregivers and mothers. It falls short in terms of providing a holistic approach to Disaster Management and Risk Reduction from a gender and disability perspective. The COVID-19 Response Plan developed by the government has been criticised by development practitioners, activists and CSOs for assuming that a community is homogeneous setup thus it does not take into account the needs of women and women with disabilities in this time of a humanitarian crisis. Besides the current policy and legal frameworks does not explicitly provide clear resilience strategies aimed at reducing, managing and recovering from disasters. Within this context the organisation seeks to engage a consultant to conduct a gap analysis of the country response plan during disasters and emergencies and develop a gender sensitive and disability inclusive Community Disaster Risk Reduction and Management guideline that speaks to the issues and needs of women in general as well as women with disabilities.

Consultancy objective and purpose

The objectives of the assignment are: To produce a gap analysis report focussing on challenges faced by women and women with disabilities in times of disasters from a gender and disability perspectives by end of February 2020; To develop a gender sensitive and disability inclusive Community Disaster Risk Reduction and Management guideline for women and women with disabilities by end of February 2021.

NB** Special reference must be made to impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on women and women with disabilities.

The guideline shall be used as an advocacy tool as the organisation engages authorities such as policy makers, Civil Protection Unit, Zimbabwe Gender Commission, local authority officials, CSOs amongst others. The advocacy will be centred on ensuring quality service delivery for women and women with disabilities in times of emergencies and natural disasters. The guideline shall be also used to raise awareness and educate women and women with disabilities to continue demanding and utilise services such as SRHR, GBV reporting, human right violations, health amongst other services during natural disasters such as COVID-19 pandemic.

Methodology

The development of the guide will adopt a mixed-method approach that involves the use of both quantitative and qualitative methods, including the use of secondary data and information to leverage existing knowledge and analysis, the collection of primary data from targeted informants, focus group discussions with women and women with disabilities and targeted use of participatory consultation techniques. Although the analysis will draw information from existing studies, it should have practical issues from the women and women with disabilities by capturing voices based on lived realities. The consultant is expected to analyse the existing Policy and Legislative frameworks on disaster management and risk reduction to deduce barriers and opportunities for improved service delivery to women and women with disabilities.

Timeline

The development of this guide is expected to be conducted in February 2021. Selected consultants are expected to commence data collection from the beginning of February 2021 and submit the final report by end of February 2021.

Expected deliverables

The consultant is expected to submit the following documents: Gap analysis report showing the barriers and challenges faced by women and women with disabilities; First draft- the consultant will submit a draft guideline for review and validation by stakeholders and beneficiaries within the agreed time frame; The Consultant is required to make an oral presentation of the gap analysis report and the draft guideline to the organisation’s program team; Final Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Guideline - after review and validation of the first draft, the consultant will produce the final document within the agreed time frame.

Technical requirements for bidders

At least a master’s degree preferably social sciences, local governance, social work, development studies or any related field; Minimum of 8 years professional experience working with women, persons with disabilities and disaster management; Proven experience of developing similar guidelines/manuals/curricula and training on these topics. Sample work to be provided with the application stating clearly the role that the consultant played in that process; Proven experience in gender issues, working with rural and vulnerable communities particularly women and women with disabilities; Must be committed to respecting deadlines and deliverables; Fluency in English and Shona is a must.

NB The organisation believes in equal opportunities thus qualified women and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply and will be given preference.