ICMP is seeking to contract a gender and intersectionality consultant to support the advancement and mainstreaming of gender equity and diversity across ICMP’s Middle East North Africa (MENA) Syria Program. This is a home-based/remote position.

Organization profile

Every year, millions of people around the world go missing as a result of conflict, Human Rights abuses, disasters, organized crime, irregular migration, and other causes. Be part of a growing international organization that is dedicated to tackling this global challenge.

The International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP) is a treaty-based international organization with headquarters in The Hague, the Netherlands. Its mandate is to secure the cooperation of governments and others in locating missing persons. As the only international organization tasked exclusively to work on the issue of missing persons, ICMP maintains field programs throughout the world. To learn more about ICMP click here.

Background to the consultancy

The main objective of the gender and intersectionality Analysis is to provide recommendations, frameworks, and indicators that ICMP Syria Program can use to advance gender and diversity mainstreaming and counter Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in current and future programming.

Specifically, the consultant will:

• Identify power relationships and disparities along gender lines and assesses how different intersecting identities (age, religion, ethnic group, class, sexual orientation) impact the access to and participation in the process of search and identification of missing persons in the context of Syria
• Identify opportunities to increase responsiveness to and active participation and engagement of women, gender nonbinary and LGBTI+ beneficiaries and vulnerable populations in the missing persons’ process
• Produce capacity-building guidelines for ICMP’s Syria program to support local partner organizations with a focus on women, gender non-binary and LGBQTI + led organizations
• Recommend strategies and actions to advance Gender Equality and an intersectional approach to enhance ICMP’s gender equity and diversity mainstreaming efforts
• Produce a Gender Analysis Framework and Action Plan to inform ICMP’s current and future programming in the Syria/MENA region
• Provide recommendations to enhance ICMP’s efforts to prevent and counter GBV, strengthen ICMP’s gender safeguarding plan, and improve the development of ICMP’s gender policy
• Suggest gender equality and diversity and intersectionality indicators to better measure progress of ICMP’s gender equality and diversity mainstreaming efforts in the context of Syria

  Requirements

  • Advanced university degree in gender studies, sociology, social work, development studies or related area
  • Five years of relevant professional work experience working on similar assignments. Familiarity with the issue of missing persons would be an advantage.
  • Proven experience in conducting field-based gender assessments and gender analysis in the MENA region, working with civil society and women-led organizations
  • Demonstrated experience in delivering high quality reports on time in a consultancy environment
  • Demonstrated experience in program reviews and capacity assessments
  • Sound understanding of risks related to primary research, and how to mitigate these. This should include mitigation of any safety, or repercussion risk to participants as well as mitigation of re-traumatization should sensitive issues arise.
  • Professional fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic
  • Proven experience displaying cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.
  • Demonstrates a gender and inclusion sensitive approach to primary research, and safeguarding planning for such research
  • Access to a reliable computer and internet connection
  • Available during Central European Time working hours, Monday to Friday (8 hours per day)

    Duration: Starts immediately until 31 March 2023, estimate of 25 working days

    Methodology

    The gender and intersectionality analysis will rely on the remote collection of data from ICMP staff members and program members.

    The following methods are required to conduct the analysis:

    • Desk review: this will entail the review of the program documentation such as progress reports, baseline reports and policy papers carried out as part of the program. A strong analysis is recommended based on these materials primarily as well as other materials from related ICMP programs.
    • Primary Data Collection: this should include surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions with selected individuals and groups. The data involving these methods should be collected remotely, given the limited time and travel resources.
    • Secondary data collection: this could entail the review of non-program documents about missing persons that can contribute to the understanding of the context.

      Supervision and management of the data collection process

      • A designated ICMP Program Officer will provide overall support and facilitate Coordination with program staff members and other focal points on data collection and engagement with program beneficiaries.

        Safeguarding, data collection and management ethics and management of data collection process

        The following safeguarding and ethical standards are to be guaranteed at every stage of the evaluation:

        • Informed consent: Respondents will be fully informed of the purpose of collecting the data, what data is to be collected, how the information/findings will be used, any potential adverse impacts of participation and who will have access to the findings.
        • Voluntary participation: Respondents will not be forced/pressured to participate but will be made aware that their participation is voluntary and are free to participate or withdraw at any point of the data collection process without fear of retaliation.
        • The anonymity of respondents: The gender and intersectionality analysis will maintain anonymity and will not disclose the full identity of respondents in data collection and management. In cases where quotes are to be used in the report, the respondents’ permission will be sought first.
        • Confidentiality :ICMP and the consultant will ensure that the information provided by respondents is kept secure and will not be made available to unauthorized individuals.
        • Do no harm: ICMP and the consultant will ensure that there is no negative impact of the analysis process on the respondents, beneficiaries, and the enumerators in terms of any physical, psychological or political consequences (stress, pain, anxiety, diminishing self-esteem or an invasion of privacy). The data collection process will make sure that the enumerators do not make any promises, whether material or in any other form, to respondents or any other individuals.

          Dissemination / publication / audience

          • The primary audience for this report is ICMP. Although free to discuss with program staff members and beneficiaries on anything relevant to the assignment, under the terms of reference, the consultant is not authorized to make any commitments on behalf of ICMP. All data collected as part of this consultancy belongs to ICMP and public dissemination of the data and evaluation products can only be done with the written consent of the ICMP.

            Key Deliverables

            Inception report with methodology, work plan and data collection tools

            The consultant will prepare a research methodology, work plan and data collection tools at the onset of the analysis process. ICMP will review a draft English version of the inception report and provide consolidated feedback to the consultant. The consultant will be responsible to translate any data collection tools into Arabic.

            A preliminary report in English:

            The report will provide draft findings and recommendations responding to the objectives (section 5 above) identified in these terms of reference. ICMP will provide consolidated feedback on the preliminary report. A template will be agreed upon between ICMP and the selected consultant.

            A final report in English:

            The report will detail the methodology applied, analysis of findings and practical recommendations following the template agreed upon for the preliminary report. The final report should not exceed 25 pages (excluding annexes), include a brief executive summary, and be accompanied by a maximum of 10 slides with the summary (PowerPoint presentation). Additionally, ICMP will expect the consultant to present a summary of the findings and recommendations in a closing event.

            Expected start date: Immediately

            Review of applications will begin on 16 January 2023; however, the position will remain open until filled.

            ICMP is committed to maintaining an environment of mutual respect, where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants. ICMP believes that diversity and inclusion among our staff are critical to our success as a global organization, and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented individuals from a thoroughly diverse range of candidates. ICMP is proud to be part of the International Gender Champions network.

            ICMP may cancel this recruitment without notice, or may decide to offer a position with different duties and/or contract length.

            ICMP does not request payment during any stage of the selection process.