Background
Participation of women in peace and security activities is a central principle of UNSCR 1325. The UN Secretary-General 2004 report on Women, Peace and Security (S/2004/814) challenged member states to “analyze obstacles to increasing women’s representation in peace operations and humanitarian responses, develop and implement NAP for Implementation of UNSCR 1325, recruitment strategies aimed at increasing the number of women and set indicators and benchmarks for women’s equal participation in all aspects of elections process, based on a review of good practice.”
Over the past decade there has been growing recognition of the importance of women's engagement in all aspects of conflict and post-conflict societies. Women's rising position as "agents of change" rather than merely as "victims" is seen through the numerous women worldwide who have persevered to initiate transformative change within their societies. Changes in legislation, political structure and social behaviour will happen most efficiently when there is inclusion and participation between all of society’s stakeholders, CSOs, international organisations, members of parliament and governmental institutions.
Protecting and advancing women’s political, economic and social rights has been considered a main obligation derived from the accession to the EU. The government has developed a comprehensive legal and institutional framework.
Although Albania has continuously shown the political will and gradually established the structures for promoting gender equality, in practice, there is limited implementation. Challenges related to the compatibility with international standards, harmonization between existing laws and implementation of legislation are particularly affecting marginalized groups, including women and girls. An inclusive and equal society is a safer society[i], states Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation. Including marginalized groups in political participation will provide a basis for peace and security in Albania.
Albanian women’s political participation and social capabilities is unequal to that of men’s. According to Swedish baseline study of 2013 “40% of women (in Albania) believe that women have no right to decision-making in local government because it is a place for men. Even though respondents are aware of existent laws and on women’s rights and gender they believe they are not implemented or enforced effectively.” If this belief changes into a more equal and inclusive organisation of society the implementation of UNSCR 1325 advances. When women have equal political participation they contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and human safety.
Although Albania has made remarkable progress particularly by increasing the number of women in government to 30%, there are still challenges ahead[ii] as women make up only about 20 % of Members of Parliament, and especially in the local government where only 12% of local councillors and only 1% of mayors are women.
Even though Albania is a UN member state it has not developed a NAP for UNSCR 1325. Some resolution principles were implemented as part of institutional sub-strategies, including Ministry of Interior Action Plan on Diversity and Human Resources Management Strategy at Ministry of Defence. Recently the 2011 UNWomen assessment report on Albania was discussed, claiming lack of structures for ensuring adequate representation of women in security institutions and their participation in peace and security initiatives.
It is necessary for Albania to build momentum and willingness for a contextual NAP on UNSCR 1325, using experiences from other Western Balkan states. Developing NAP 1325 as tool for policy coherence and effectiveness can be the beginning of a process effecting real and meaningful change. It will raise awareness of women as political agents with right to human safety and develop inter-agency, cross-sectorial partnerships strengthening UNSCR 1325 accountability. NAP development is an entry point for women’s rights and empowerment and for acknowledging Albania’s commitment to Women, Peace and Security.
Rationale
AWSP recognizes the close links between the issues of peace, security, development and promotion of gender equality and women’s human rights. Indeed the right approach towards the UNSCR Resolution 1325 sets out how countries like Albania could promote and implement the objectives among others also related to diplomatic advocacy and policy-making across the interrelated areas of peace, security and development. UNSCR 1325 is assessed by many governmental and civil society actors in the country as an important watershed, marking local, regional and global recognition of the unique and disproportionate impact of conflict on women and girls. In a reality where quota of women representation is regularized by law to 30%, however domestic violence still remains a social-cultural problem, international tools such as UNSCR 1325 highlights the critical role of women in conflict prevention, peace negotiations, peace building and post-conflict reconstruction and governance.
About the Project
The goal of this programme is to ensure that women's rights, particularly in peace and security areas in Albania are protected by the enforcement of national and international legislation, and a National Action Plan (NAP) for UNSCR 1325 is in place. The objective is to contribute to protecting and promoting women’s rights in Albania by raising awareness and advocating for the development and enforcement of national and international legislation; although Albania’s progress in legal framework mechanisms is visible, the pace is too slow due to the difficult political, economic and social situation.
The specific objective is to ensure that women civil society organizations are strengthened and actively engage and advocate for the enforcement of national and international legislation for women rights like UNSCR 1325 and its sister resolutions. The Association for Women with Social Problems (AWSP) and its implementing/strategic partners believe that an informed and empowered civil society, an aware general public including boys and men, can engage strongly with policymakers and advocate for greater respect and enjoyment of women’s equal rights.
Through CSOs capacity-building, public awareness raising, media training, coordination meetings with CSOs and policy-makers, monitoring of implementation of UNSCR 1325, this programme will contribute to women’s empowerment.
Purpose of the Service
The overall objective of the Baseline survey is to assess the situation and establish bench mark indicators to inform the monitoring and evaluation plan and form platform for the impact evaluation.
Scope and focus of the assignment
The consultant will lead the baseline survey process for the UN WOMEN “Women Rights - From Concept to Albanian Reality” project in Albania. It is intended that the baseline assessment will provide baseline data for:
· Relevant legal and policy framework;
· women’s participation in governance;
· Percentage of women in peace negotiating teams and detailed breakdown of gender issues addressed in peace agreements;
· women’s participation in the justice, security sector, and peacekeeping missions;
· number and percentage of women participating in each type of constitutional or legislative review (including security sector review);
· CSOs in task force/committees/working groups on UNSCR 1325 and 1820 (out of total task force members);
· number and percentage of SGBV cases reported, investigated, prosecuted and penalized;
· number and quality of gender-responsive laws and policies;
· number and nature of provisions/recommendations in the truth and reconciliation commission (TRC) and other transitional justice reports on women’s rights
· number and percentage of pre-deployment training and post-deployment programs for military and police incorporating UNSCR 1325, UNSCR 1820, international human rights instruments and international humanitarian law;
· Allocated and disbursed funding marked for women, peace and security (WPS) programs to CSOs and government;
· Level of awareness among public on Resolution 1325 in the targeted region.
Tasks
The consultant will be required to lead on all the tasks below, in consultation with both Project Coordinator and Project Officer.
i. Review of project documents and understanding the project design and contextual framework
ii. Design tools and methodology projection for data collection of both qualitative and quantitative data. The baseline tool should be able to capture country-level data in the above bench mark indicators mentioned key areas:
iii. Field test the baseline survey tools;
iv. Conduct data processing: (1) primary processing , comparison and validation of files, clean files, tabulations
v. Analyze and synthesize data; and prepare report
vi. Preparation of initial report
vii. ·Discussion with AWSP/Operation 1325 staff and local stakeholders on initial report. Revision of initial report as per feedback from AWSP/Operation 1325.
viii. Report preparation
ix. Submit the electronic final report.
The research consultant will have to comply with Association for Women with Social Problems (AWSP) policy and procedures as well as apply professional and ethical guidelines that respect human dignity, anonymity and confidentiality of the interviewees.
Milestones and inputs
- Review of project documents and understanding the project contextual frame work Design of baseline assessment tools and data collection methodology
- Pre-test and review of data collection tools
- Data collection in all project targeted areas
- Analysis of data
- Preparation of preliminary report
- Revisions and preparation of Draft final Report
- Compilation and submission of Final report
Approach and Methodology
The approach will be mixed, including the consultant’s own Professional personal experience, review of similar tools and frameworks, interaction and interviews with AWSP and Operation 1325 staff and other stakeholders, such as Ministry of Social Affair and Youth, Ministry of Interior Affair, Ministry of Defence, prefectures included in project (Shkodra, Lezha, Tirana, Kukes, Vlora and Berat), AWEN, other women and youth NGOs.
The consultant will be answerable to the Project coordinator.
Time frame
The specialists will be engaged for a period of approximately 10(ten) working days.
Skills and qualifications required:
- Educated to Master’s Degree level in a social science subject, women’s rights or other relevant subject.
- Significant experience of undertaking desk reviews, as well as rapid assessments &/or evaluations.
- Significant experience of collecting and analysing quantitative and qualitative data from small-scale sample surveys.
- Able to provide evidence of producing high quality assessment/evaluation reports in English, and working within tight timeframes.
- Experience of working in a 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.
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 1325- From concept to Albanian reality 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 rezoluta1325al@gmail.com and copied shoqatagrave@yahoo.com by 3rd May 2016.
Ownership & Payment
Final ownership of all findings and final product remain with AWSP. Any publication related to the product will require written authorization from AWSP.
In terms of payment, that is according to AWSP payment policy on fees and terms of payment set out in the contract attached.
