Myanmar: Climate, Security and Gender Consultant
Aug 20, 2020
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International Alert
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For over 30 years, International Alert has been working to build positive peace and reduce violence, working across conflict lines and with all parties to conflicts.
1. BACKGROUND
A growing body of literature focuses on the intersectionality between gender, the climate crisis and peacebuilding – yet recommendations from that literature are rarely put into practice. Climateadaptation programming has often remained conflict-insensitive, and peacebuilding and social cohesion programming often overlooks the effects of the climate crisis on social cohesion. We must be able to better articulate, alongside conflict-affected local communities, how both women and men sustainably manage their natural resources, yet still economically benefit from them, thus adapting to climate change. In this search, we aim to contribute to a body of work that highlights how in addressing the climate crisis through natural resource management practices we are, in turn, supporting communities in the peacebuilding process.
2. OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
International Alert is implementing a multi-year, multi-country research project on conflict and peacebuilding financed by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID). As part of this project, Alert will be producing a guideline paper that reflects learnings on the gender, climate and security nexus, with a global overview, but with a focus on Myanmar amongst two other geographical zones (Mali and Lebanon). In this context, International Alert is hiring a consultant / consultant team (national or potentially combination of national/international) to produce information products on the evidence, frameworks, policies and programming avenues around the intersectionality of gender, climate and security in Myanmar.
3. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The consultant is responsible for:
• Participating in internal consultations on the gender, climate and security nexus. In this process, the consultant will attend and actively participate in four dedicated webinars and four community of practice sessions for each focus area. Starting in September through to December.
• Establishing networks. In this process, the consultant will engage with government, academia, and civil society actors with the objective of exploring what is the state of gender, climate and security nexus policies and programming in Myanmar.
• Produce three information papers. In exploring the gender, climate and security nexus in Myanmar, the consultant will produce three internal information papers reports that cover each of the four focus areas (context, frameworks and policies, partnerships). The consultant will also support the International Alert HQ Peacebuilding Advisory Unit on production of a fourth information paper with programming reflections for Myanmar.
• Support production of Global Guidelines: Review and comment on global guidance paper based on insights from Myanmar experience and issues.
• Organise a (possibly virtual) roundtable for national stakeholders to discuss the global Guidelines produced: Identify participants, lead on invitations and logistics, write brief summary report on event discussion.
International Alert is responsible for:
• Making sure the consultant is included in internal consultations and programme reviews.
• Providing clear guidance for the elaboration of deliverables.
• Providing feedback and suggestions on draft deliverables in a clear and timely manner.
• Processing payments according to the contractual agreement in a timely manner.
4. DELIVERABLES AND TIMETABLE
| Activity | Deliverable | Timeframe | |
| 1 | Focus area 1: Context of gender, climate and security nexus in MyanmarReview who are the key players in the country, and in the region, who work on the nexus of climate, gender, and security, or on parts of the nexus. Is there a need, an appetite to work on these issues? What do they do? Are there means of collaboration? Do they have specific thematic areas of focus i.e. water, forestry, etc. Are there transborder groups? Information gathered used for internal discussion and production of stakeholderanalysis alongside SWOT for Info Paper #2. | Internal Information paper (5-8 pages) | Mid-October 2020 |
| 2 | Focus area 2: How are international frameworks and policies on international climate adaptation and WPS standards applied in Myanmar?Examine the security, climate and gender nexus through global frameworks and agendas with a focus on UNFCC National Adaptation Plans and the Women, Peace and Security National Action Plans. Particular focus on COP 26 and national commitments. At a regional/national level what frameworks or policies exist to support the gender, climate and security nexus. What are the opportunities for engagement, for policy recommendation to the government and developmentpartners? | Internal Information paper (10 pages) | End of October 2020 |
| 3 | Focus area 3: Review findings of pastprogramming in natural resource management and gender programming | Input into HQ-ledInformation product (3-5 p. note) | End ofNovember 2020 |
| 4 | Focus area 4: Identify external case studies on the nexus and explore possible partnerships, collaborations or complementary programming opportunities | Information product (8-10 p. note) | End of December 2020 |
| 5 | Review of the Global guidance note on Gender, Climate and Security nexus | Input to the Global Guidance Note | December2020 – end of January 2021 |
| 6 | Organising a final national roundtable with Myanmar stakeholder to review the global guidance note (potentially online) including identification / invitations to relevantparticipants, co-facilitate the discussion. | Participant invitation list, write brief event report (2-3 pages) | December 2020 – January2021 |
The maximum total budget available for this assignment is 6,000 GBP (equivalent to about USD 7,800 on current exchange rates).
To apply, please submit a brief proposal detailing the relevant experience and qualifications demonstrating the suitability for this assignment, as well as the proposed methodology and work plan (number of days per deliverable / fee rates).
Questions and Proposal can be submitted to myanmar@international-alert.org
Closing Date: Monday, 17:00, 24 August 2020
Anticipated start date: asap, ideally available for some inception meetings starting 1 September.
Please note that the consultant will be expected to work independently with limited logistical support from the International Alert Myanmar country office. Most of the assignment can be delivered home-based, with the option of working from the International Alert Yangon office or conducting meetings there as needed. All publications will remain International Alert property.
All activities have to be completed by end of January 2020 at the latest.
Essential requirements
| Advanced degree in international relations, political science, and/or development studies. |
| Strong network and insights into the landscape of relevant actors in the climate, security andgender nexus from government and civil society side. |
| Demonstratable experience in conducting research on sociological and/or political analysisrelated to climate, natural resource management, security and conflict in Myanmar |
| Experience of working on climate change, gender and/or climate adaptation in Myanmar |
| Capacity to interpret trends, risks and events and make plans to mitigate them, combining depth of understanding of local nuance with the ability to draw out policy level analysis andrecommendations |
| Strong writing and communications skills in English, ability to conduct interviews and meetingsin Myanmar language |
Desirable requirements
| Understanding of governance and peacebuilding issues relating to climate change and genderin Myanmar |
| Understanding and familiarity with conflict-sensitive approaches to development |
| Familiarity with gender and development concepts, and experience of implementing gender-sensitive programmes |
| Experience in informal translation and interpretation between international staff and localstakeholders |