TERMS OF REFERENCE
1. Nature of consultancy:
UNESCO is seeking a junior consultant to support communication activities linked to the UNESCO regional and country portfolio on school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV), including ending bullying/discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity/expression (SOGIE). The consultant will work with senior UNESCO and partner staff at UNESCO Bangkok, country offices and partners to operationalize related regional and country-level projects.
2. Purpose of the assignment:
According to universal human rights principles, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (article 26), every human being has the right to education. Bullying and harassment can violate this right by interrupting the attendance and participation in school of those affected, and the quality of learning and school life more broadly.
According to the Education For All Global Monitoring Report 2015, gender-based violence in school settings is widespread and bullying on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression (SOGIE) and cyber bullying are also recognized as areas of concern, but globally and in the Asia-Pacific region, there is little evidence that increased awareness of the school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) is translating into effective action.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) learners suffer exclusion, harassment and discrimination including bullying from other students and even school staff. In the same way as discrimination based on race, sex, colour, disability or religion is unacceptable, so is discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
In December 2011 UNESCO convened an international consultation to address school bullying on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression with ministries and departments of education and academia from more than 25 countries, UN agencies, and non-government organisations (NGOs). The findings of the consultation were combined into a publication entitled Education Sector Responses to Homophobic Bullying.
UNESCO’s three-year project “Education and Respect for All: Preventing and Addressing Homophobic and Transphobic Bullying in Educational Institutions” with financial support from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of the Netherlands has strengthened evidence generation and advocacy in Asia and other regions. UNESCO is also a partner in UNDP’s ’Being LGBT in Asia’ initiative, funded by USAID and the Embassy of Sweden in Thailand, and through this has highlighted these forms of exclusion and violence as human rights violations.
Within this portfolio, UNESCO has conducted an Asia-Pacific Consultation on School Bullying on the Basis of SOGI/E held June 2015 and released the first-ever regional report on bullying, violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, initiated a regional #PurpleMySchool campaign.
UNESCO is seeking consultancy support to advance the UNESCO portfolio on SRGBV and SOGIE-related bullying, violence and discrimination and the implementation of regional and country activities.
3. Deliverables
· Communications plan for the dissemination of regional and country-specific SRGBV and SOGIE reports, tools and other communication products
· Report on dissemination results and development of database for future dissemination efforts on related themes
· Template for English-language communication products for national consultations in China, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand, generated through liaison support to national Thematic Working Groups
4. Estimated Duration of Contract:
Contract to be initiated as soon as possible for three months. Consultant is expected to work 80% full-time equivalent, preferably from 1 February through 29 April 2016.
5. Official Travel Involved:
The consultant is expected to work onsite at UNESCO Bangkok. No travel is involved in this contract.
6. Qualifications
· Advanced degree related to a social science - including education, human rights, gender studies, development studies, public policy or public administration;
· Demonstrated experience working in the thematic areas of gender and sexual diversity, gender-based violence, and prevention of bullying and violence;
· Demonstrated experience in developing communication plans and supporting country-level advocacy work, preferably on the above themes;
· Familiarity with the Asia Pacific region is essential;
· Previous experience working with the UN/multilateral/bilateral institutions an asset;
· Demonstrated ability to work under time pressures to deliver
Application
Interested candidates shall submit to HIV Prevention and Health Promotion Unit, UNESCO Bangkok Office (hivinfo.bgk@unesco.org) a written proposal by 27 January 2016 which should comprise:
· An up-to-date curriculum vitae, and
· Approach and methodology for the assignment.
· The amount to be charged for the assignment, which shall be quoted in US dollars.
Download the Call for Consultancy