Timor-Leste: Consultancy for Gender and Social Inclusion Power Analysis for iWASH+

Apr 2, 2019 | Plan International
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Plan International is an independent development and humanitarian organisation which works in 71 countries across the world, in Africa, the Americas, and Asia to advance children’s rights and equality for girls.

Background

From 2017-18, Plan International and its local partners, through support from the Partnership for Human Development (PHD), implemented ALFA (open defecation free) and sustainable water initiatives in Aileu and Ainaro Municipalities. Aileu Municipality was officially declared ALFA in September of 2018. In Ainaro Municipality, through joint collaboration with UNICEF and its partners, toilet coverage had reached 99% by early 2019.

The Sustainable Water in Municipality (SWiM) project was implemented in Remexio Administrative Post in Aileu with partner, FADA. The project included water supply improvements, women engagement in water committee (GMF) management and further strengthening of GMF management overall. The approach of FADA in supporting women in Remexio to take leadership roles in GMFs proved successful, resulting in an increase of women’s involvement in management of GMFs from 39% to 100%, with women taking on Chefe GMF positions in 50% of the targeted aldieas. To achieve the result, FADA engaged men and women in target communities through dialogues supplemented by strengthening the leadership and public speaking skills of women living in these communities. Implemented in parallel to FADA’s work, Plan and its partners were able to increase access to water in Remexio AP from 41% to 91%, including schools and health facility locations, through hardware interventions including small-scale water system repairs and improvements as well as newly constructed systems.

Both the ALFA and SWiM initiatives were implemented in partnership with the Aileu and Ainaro local government authorities and SMASA through their respective ALFA Secretariats.

Building on the success of both the ALFA and SWiM initiative, the Inclusive Water, Sanitation and Hygiene plus Nutrition (iWASH+) aims to scale up the approaches to cover all of the areas in Aileu and Ainaro Municipalities by 2021, with a transition of the program approach to Municipal Authorities to continue implementation and monitoring beyond 2021. The goals of the iWASH+ project are broadly outlined below:

Overall Objective: Improved health and nutrition outcomes through gender and socially inclusive WASH, in 5 Administrative Posts in Aileu and Ainaro Municipalities by 2021

  • Outcome 1: Strengthened national and sub-national (Aileu and Ainaro Municipalities) capacity to pursue inclusive and nutrition-sensitive WASH aligned with SDG 6 targets
  • Outcome 2: 5 Administrative Posts in Aileu and Ainaro Municipalities have universal access to at least basic level WASH services
  • Outcome 3: Plan TL, partner CSOs, Municipal Administrations and communities pursuing transformative gender change and inclusion within WASH programs and monitoring change
  • Outcome 4: WASH sector actors have evidence based approaches to deliver more inclusive and sustainable WASH services*

The four outcomes are heavily interlinked and revolve largely around the practical implementation of WASH activities and improvements in communities, schools and health posts described under Outcome 2. Both to enable effective and efficient implementation and strengthen local civil society, the project will be implemented by Plan Timor-Leste in partnership with key Timorese agencies FADA, FHTL and RHTO.

Rationale for Consultancy

The project promotes gender transformation and social inclusion using a twin-tracked approach, both integrating gender and social inclusion into core WASH activities alongside specific activities targeting equal decision making and shifts in power. By working with men, women, girls and boys the project aims to tackle the root causes of inequality by enabling the voice and decision making power of marginalised people both household and at community levels, particularly through GMFs.

In order to consolidate the gains achieved through the ALFA and SWiM initiatives and to further inform and refine future programming with local government and local NGO partners, a gender and social inclusion power analysis will be conducted in April –May 2019. The aim of the power analysis will be to better understand the gender and social inclusion power dynamics in target areas and leverage influential leaders to support change in this realm.

Objective of the consultancy

Setting the stage for more transformative WASH programming in Ainaro and Aileu Municipalities, the consultancy seeks to understand how gender and social norms, beliefs and practice contribute to women and men's influence to the success or lack of success in sustainable WASH outcomes.

Timeframe (proposed)

8 April – 10 May 2019

Locations

Sampled aldieas in Remexio and Lequidoi Administrative Posts in Aileu Municipality and Hatu Udo and Hatu Builico Administrative Posts in Ainaro Municipality

Methodology

The consultancy will consist of desk study review of recent gender and social inclusion research conducted recently in Timor-Leste to understand similar themes that may cut across from other sectors to the WASH sector. Field work will consist of focus group discussions with men and women (including persons with disabilities) in sampled communities in Aileu and Ainaro Municipalities in order to get a broader perspective of attitudes relating to gender and social inclusion in the overall target areas. Specific sampling will focus on Remexio AP to better ascertain the degree to which measurable transformative change has occurred where women are leading GMFs and share management roles with men. The data collection in Remexio will supplement representative sampling in the non-intervention areas in Lequidoi AP in Aileu and Hatu Udo and Hatu Balico APs in Ainaro. The research results will be compiled and a detailed set of recommendations for informing future programming and replication. The consultancy will be carried out with FADA, whose staff will have a key supporting role in developing the sampling methodology and supporting, with the Consultant, field data collection and documentation.

Tasks proposed

  • Desk Study of gender and social inclusion analysis research carried out recently in Timor-Leste, including Plan’s experience in the first phase of the implementation
  • Developing data collection tools in consultation with FADA and Plan TL’s Gender Advisor and PHD’s Technical Lead - Access and Equality. Tools should capture contextually adapted themes related to but not limited to WASH perspectives. The tools would be used to explore:
    • Gendered division of labour
    • Household decision making
    • Control of productive assets
    • Claiming right to leadership and public decision making
    • All components above should include people with disabilities, in particular women and girls
    • Carrying out research using appropriate data collection tools in Remexio and Lequidoi APs in Aileu Municipality and Hatu Udo and Hatu Builico APs in Ainaro Municipality
      • FDGs with men and women, including persons with disabilities, in sampled aldeias
      • KIIs with local leaders, women’s support groups and DPO when available in each Municipality
      • Provide overall analysis based on data collection, while comparing and contrasting findings from each location. Suggested lines of inquiry could include:
        • What inequalities and harmful social and cultural norms that affect women and men's including people with disabilities’ ability to achieve and maintain sustainable WASH outcomes;
        • Analysis of any positive outcomes identified in the field data and underlying drivers for success. This may include improved management practises of GMFs, and, if available, the success of similar program initiatives identified within the region eg. Indonesia to serve as a comparison between some of the best practices that might be applicable, including some lessons learned, to advise the program in Timor-Leste.
        • What factors / drivers are required to bring about transformative change, including engagement of boys and men.
        • What are the potential barriers women and persons with disability, particularly women and girls, face in WASH and how can these be overcome? This would include barriers faced by different types of disabilities eg. women with physical impairment to women with vision impairment
        • What are the potential risks and barriers involved in achieving transformative change that women and persons with disabilities face in their communities?
        • What are the gaps in inclusive programming in WASH based on the field findings, Including issues /gaps in menstrual hygiene management?
        • What is the impact of having or not having active groups or local organizations dedicated to support the aspirations of leadership and participation of women and persons with disabilities in the target areas?
        • Provide recommendations for future iWASH+ programming priorities, including:
          • Identified actions that the program can implement to promote equality in women and men's, including persons with disabilities, to support positive WASH outcomes for years to come.
          • Proposed standard approach to transformative change so that similar initiatives may be carried out elsewhere in Timor-Leste
          • Identification of other organizations in target area that could be trained and have capacity to carry out recommended methodologies.

Deliverables

  • Survey plan
  • Research tools and raw data
  • Presentation of preliminary key findings
  • Provide Gender and Social Inclusion Power Analysis with recommendations for future programming and annexes; Suggested outline would include:
    • Executive Summary
    • Methodology
    • Limitations
    • Key findings
    • Discussion
    • Recommendations
    • Conclusion
    • Annexes

Travel

  • Travel will be mostly by vehicle which will be arranged by Plan TL.

Payment

  • Payments will be based on:
    • Satisfactory accomplishment of the deliverables based on the ToR tasks
    • Submission of invoice for services based on timesheet.

Qualifications of Consultant

Formal qualifications (required):

  • Masters level degree (or undergraduate level coupled with appropriate practical experience) in a relevant field, such as gender, social justice, WASH, international development, child and human rights, etc.

Practical skills and experience (Required):

  • Demonstrable expertise in gender and social inclusion, especially in the context of Timor Leste.
  • Demonstrable experience (3-5 years) in designing and conducting quantitative and qualitative research/evaluation and including the development and use of qualitative data collection tools and analysis using participatory methodologies, particularly in rural communities in Timor Leste.
  • Performed Lead Consultant functions in similar assignments.
  • Ability to meet deadlines and respond to requests and feedback appropriately and in a timely manner
  • Understanding of country level policies, framework and strategy on water, sanitation and hygiene preferred
  • Strong analytical skills
  • Excellent report writing skills in English
  • Experience in undertaking participatory survey methodologies, particularly with children, and community engagement and consultations
  • Excellent and demonstrated understanding of Child Protection, Gender Sensitivity, disability inclusion and ethical issues in research

Timorese nationals strongly encouraged to apply.

Any questions, please direct to John.McGown@plan-international.org