Shoqata Gender, Paqe e Siguri është duke zbatuar projektin “Forcimi i një përgjigje të koordinuar të ofruesve të shërbimit për të menaxhuar rastet e të gjitha llojeve të dhunës ndaj grave në Bashkinë Durrës dhe Kavajë” në bashkinë Durrës e Kavajë, mbështetur nga UN Women, Sida. Për nevojat e këtij projekti SHGPS hap thirrjen për për ekspert sipas TOR-sa bashkëlidhur:
Terms of Reference for expert in conducting awareness raising events with the community members in the targeted areas (Expert on informative sessions) for the UN WOMEN Project “Strengthening the coordinated response of service providers to manage cases related to all forms of VAW in the municipalities of Durrës and Kavaja"
Background
Albania has made progress in the two last decades in respecting and promoting gender equality and addressing domestic violence (DV), gender-based violence (GBV) and violence against women (VAW) through improving national legislation and policies and aligning them to international human rights standards. Nevertheless, violence against women continues to be a serious concern which was reaffirmed by the most recent data provided by the third Population based National Survey on Violence against Women and Girls (PBNS- VAWGs)[1] in 2018 conducted by INSTAT where one in two (52.9%) Albanian women have experienced one or more forms of violence (intimate partner violence, dating violence, non-partner violence, sexual harassment, stalking) during their lifetime. As per the data received from the Police Directorate, Durres Region was presented with the highest rate of the violence, with 20.8 violated per 10 thousand inhabitants, of whom 3.5% are juveniles and 96.5% are adult. Violence against women in the Durrës Region is 32.0 women per 10 thousand inhabitants.
The 2018 EU Report for Albania[2] also acknowledges the high prevalence of violence against women in Albania and recommends that efforts should be stepped up to address violence against women through cross-sectorial and local coordination mechanisms, provide more services to women and improve their access to justice. In addition, EU Progress Report 2019[3] on Albania reiterates the need to further improve institutional mechanisms for protecting victims of domestic violence, guaranteeing gender equality and providing minimum health and social services, especially at the local level.
Local Referral Mechanisms (LRMs) are formally established in majority of municipalities in Albania, including municipality of Durres and Kavaja, which are in line with the Decision of the Council of Ministers (DCM) no. 334/2011 that codified the process for establishing the CRMs. Several assessment analyzing the functioning of the CRM/LRM states that they are functional in majority of municipalities (35) including the Municipality of Durres and Kavaja with varying degree of effectiveness. [4] Multi-disciplinary Technical Teams (MTT) function with varying degrees of effectiveness and efficiency across the municipalities in coordinating, communicating and cooperating among its members to identify, refer and respond to cases of domestic violence.
As per specific analysis of the functioning of LRM in Durres, overall, it is assessed that progress has been made in the establishment and functioning of LRM, yet there is a long way to make it fully functional and provide on-site comprehensive multi-disciplinary services. Addressing violence against women requires long-term commitment, human and financial resources, capacities as well as keeping it on the agenda of central and local governments and international donors to further progress in preventing and eradicating it. MTT members in Durres and Kavaja are trained in DV/GBV legal framework, but they are subject to frequent changes (particularly prosecutor, court, bailiff, employment, health) leading to temporary disruptions in the functioning of MTTs and calling for continuous trainings of MTT members. MTTs do not have stable members (particularly core members such as LCDV and GEE, police, CSOs, health and court) therefore being not very effective in providing real time response to reported cases of domestic violence/gender-based violence.
Typology and availability of multi-disciplinary services for women and girls’ victims of domestic violence in Municipality of Durres and Kavaja continues to be limited and underfunded, although there are noted efforts by these municipalities (particularly Durres Municipality) to improve availability of services on site regarding emergency shelters, housing and women’s economic empowerment. The most challenging part is the provision of medium and long–term rehabilitation and re-integration services in social housing programs at local level.
According to the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA)[5] conducted in Albania following the November 2019 earthquake, women and girls are disproportionately impacted by the earthquake as they are pushed further towards traditional roles and activities. Women and girls in these communities are now faced also with the impact of COVID 19 pandemic, which is expected to further widen gender inequalities and exacerbate their socio-economic situation. One of the greatest threats to women affected by the earthquake remains gender-based violence, now increased by the impact of COVID-19.
In the light of the above considerations, intra-institutional cooperation and availability of services on site are very important and facilitates reintegration of women and girls’ victims of GVB. It is important that MTT members coordinate their services on site to maximize their contribution to social and economic reintegration of this target group. System needs not only time, but also resources (human and financial), political will and multi-stakeholder coordination and monitoring to make it functional. Advocacy and awareness raising campaigns at local level with well-targeted messages against DV-GBV and VAWG for a diversity of target groups has proven to be a key effective strategy in changing communities’ attitudes, behaviours and beliefs that tolerate GBV-VAWG, challenging and combating gender stereotypes, promoting positive images of women and girls, preventing men and women, boys and girls from becoming victims of violence (VoV) or perpetrators and informing public at large and VoV on available services to address the problem
Rationale
Aiming at addressing gender-based violence of women affected by the earthquake, which is now increased by the impact of COVID-19, the AGSP has proposed an which is going to be focused on: Support functioning of referral mechanisms in targeted municipalities; Support and strengthen capacities of service providers to respond to the needs of survivors of all forms of VAW; Raise awareness among men and women and boys and girls on all forms of violence to encourage reporting and demand for emergency support services to women and girls victims of GBV. They are all closely linked relating to both content and implementation timelines. In overall the proposed intervention is expected to contribute toward reducing gender inequalities in the post-earthquake and COVID-19 recovery process, through ensuring equal distribution of resources and benefits. It will also promote the integration of a gender perspective in emergency response to better respond to women and girls’ needs.
About the Project
The specific objective of this action is “to increase the capacities of local stakeholders, including local government authorities, service providers and communities in Durres and Kavaja Municipality to effectively respond to GBV and support GBV survivors in the context of disasters and pandemics”. It is in line with the overall goal of this call for proposal as well as the related national and local policy documents, including: the Third National Strategy on Gender Equality (NSGE)20 and its Action Plan 2016- 2020, the National Action Plan 2018–2020 for the Implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 “On Women, Peace and Security” and Local Gender Action Plans of Durres Municipality developed in compliance with the European Charter for Equality of Women and Men at local life and approved by the respective municipal councils .
The expected results of this action are:
(1) Municipalities of Durres and Kavaja are capacitated to ensure a functional Local Referral Mechanism, able to prepare and respond to needs of women and girls’ survivor of violence and potential victims, including during emergency situations, through a tailored capacity building programme. Indicators include: number of cases managed by the LRM as the result of the project’s interventions;
(2) Capacities of local service providers to respond to the needs of survivors of all forms of VAW in the municipality of Durres and Kavaja are strengthened. Indicators include;
- Number of Immediate Emergency Protection orders issued by the Police;
- Number of protection orders, Immediate Protection Orders issued by the Court;
- Number of medical reports issued by health care centres;
- Number of cases reported by teachers;
(3)Community members (men, women, boys and girls) have increased their awareness on all forms of violence and women and girls’ victims of GBV, supported with services, including emergency services. Indicators include:
- Number of women and girls receiving legal aid services;
- Number of women and girls receiving psychological services;
- Number of women and girls receiving immediate sheltering and other emergency services;
- Number of women and girls receiving long term (integration services), including rent bonuses, vocational training , support for employment, child care, etc.
Purpose of the Service
Under the expected result -3, the consultant will lead the awareness raising events that will be organised in the frame of the UNWOMEN “Strengthening the coordinated response of service providers to manage cases related to all forms of VAW in the municipalities of Durrës and Kavaja” project in Albania.
Scope and focus of the assignment is planning, organizing and reporting of awareness events, aiming to address the gender-based violence (including in emergency situations), which has now been exacerbated by the impact of COVID-19 .
The consultant will organise four awareness raising activities, at the project targeted locations, which will be organized in the form of awareness raising meetings and are expected to target 280 community members – 14 awareness raising events * 20 participants.
The awareness events will aim to inform the community members on all forms of violence and encourage them to report and seek emergency assistance services for victims of GBV women and girls, including service-supported emergency services.
Tasks
The consultant will be required to lead on all the tasks below, in consultation with both Project Coordinator:
- Support preparatory works including logistical arrangement;
- Events programme planning and organization;
- Support AGSP planning, organizing and reporting of awareness events which will be developed and implemented in the local administrative units of Golem, Ishem, Manez and Sukth. Events will particularly enhance community members' knowledge of DV-GBV-CAWG and LRM-VE services;
- Knowledge management and documentation of key events proceedings and prepare information events for AGSP website;
- Review/finalize the presentation documents for the awareness events (meeting and sessions).
- Liaise with AGSP in facilitating preparation, printing, and distribution of materials.
- Compile the event report, and present to the AGSP.
The consultant will have to comply with Association for Gender, Security and Peace” (AGSP) policy and procedures as well as apply professional and ethical guidelines that respect human dignity, anonymity and confidentiality of the interviewees.
Milestones and inputs
- Detailed work plan for the awareness events for each targeted area, that fulfil the project requirements and established indicators;
- Events knowledge management, preparation of awareness raising information and materials;
- Prepare a report for each event;
- Compilation and submission of final report.
Approach and Methodology
The approach will be mixed, including the consultant’s personal experience, review of similar tools and frameworks, interaction and interviews with AGSP and related local stakeholders. The consultant will be answerable to the Project coordinator.
Time frame
The specialists will be engaged for a period of approximately 14(fourteen) working days.
Skills and qualifications required:
- Educated to Master’s Degree level in law, social science subject, women’s rights or other relevant subject.
- Significant experience of undertaking women rights activity, NGO previous experience would be an advantage.
- Experience of working within a dispersed team, remaining self-motivated, using initiative and responding appropriately to constructive feedback.
- Able to reliably access the Internet, as well as relevant national policy/planning documents and surveys.
Consultant has to travel to targeted areas, Municipality of Durres administrative unit of Sukth, Ishem, Manza and Municipality of Kavaja, Administrative Unit of Golem.
Application process
Interested consultants should submit their curriculum vitae (CV) and a letter of motivation. The letter of motivation should briefly describe how the consultant intends to undertake this assignment for the UNWOMEN project, and possible sources of information/data. Applicants should also explain how their professional experience matches the skills and qualifications listed in above.
CVs and letters of motivation should be submitted by email to shoqatagps@gmail.com until 30 December 2021, 17:00(local time).
Ownership & Payment
Final ownership of all findings and final product remains with AGSP. Any publication related to the product will require written authorization from AGSP.
In terms of payment, that is according to AGSP payment policy on fees and terms of payment set out in the contract attached.
[1] National Population Survey, Violence Against Women and Girls in Albania, 2018 - Albania_VAWG-pop-survey.pdf (unwomen.org)
[2]EU Albania 2018 Report - 20180417-albania-report.pdf (europa.eu)
[3]EU Albania 2019 Report - 20190529-albania-report.pdf (europa.eu)
[4] Final Report: “Analysis of the functioning of the Coordinated Referral Mechanism of cases of domestic violence at the local level in Albania”, December 2019.
[5] Albania Post – Disaster Need Assessment, February 2020: Albania Post-Disaster Needs Assessment | UNDP in Albani
