Consultancy – SGBV Counselling: Review of Practice, Guidance and Tools Adaptation

Introduction

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) was founded in 1952 and currently has 150 Member Associations (MAs) and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 146 countries. IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all with the vision that all people are free to make choices about their sexuality and well-being, in a world free from discrimination. IPPF recognises that the achievement of the highest attainable standard of sexual and reproductive health is not possible when gender equality and human rights are not respected, protected and fulfilled.

IPPF advocates a human rights-based, client-centred, ‘do-no-harm’ approach to providing healthcare and supporting all survivors affected by Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) and is dedicated to scaling up work at the community level, including humanitarian contexts, to prevent SGBV and respond to the needs of all survivors. IPPF’s work focuses on both SGBV services delivery, prevention, and advocacy-focused programming. The SGBV services delivery component, which is the focus of this consultancy,includes providing quality and accessible first-line clinical support and referrals for clinical, psychosocial and protection services. The SGBV programming component includes shifting social norms that are the root cause of SGBV, contributing to behavioural change and community mobilization, youth engagement, advocacy and campaigns, gender equality, and disability and social inclusion analysis.

IPPF is seeking to hire a consultant to support Member Associations (MAs) to identify best practice and tools to provide GBV counselling as part of their SGBV services. Specifically, IPPF aims to provide guidance on how MAs can 1) provide high-quality individualized counselling to SGBV survivors and 2) integrate GBV counselling with minimum SGBV service requirements, which require MAs to provide first-line clinical support to survivors of violence and referral mechanisms for clinical, psychosocial and protection services.

Objectives

The focus of the consultancy will be to review existing SRH counselling capacities, resources, and approaches implemented by thirteen MAs engaged in the SPRINT programme, and to provide guidance on integration of high-quality SGBV counselling. To ensure feasibility of implementation, integration recommendations should follow a survivor-centred approach and consider service provision workflows. All revisions and adaptations will be based on current inter-agency and internal guidance and will keep into consideration the specific mandate and characteristics of member associations as SRH service providers.

The consultant will:

1. Conduct a succinct review of existing capacities, approaches, models, resources and interests within the 13 Member Associations that are part of the SPRINT programme. This includes:
2. Conduct a desk review of existing IPPF materials and inter-agency guidance on SGBV counselling. (3 days)
3. Develop, coordinate, and conduct 20 key informant interviews (KIIs) and consultations with IPPF staff and SPRINT Member Association SGBV focal points and champions to understand existing needs, gaps, assets and opportunities. (7-10 days)
4. Develop an assessment matrix on existing capacities and gaps on SGBV counselling which incorporates information from the key informant interviews and existing materials from MAs shared after KIIs. (5-7 days)
5. Write a simple assessment report (10 pages maximum) with a summary of findings on capacities and gaps on existing SGBV counselling, and comprehensive list of recommendations and ways forward to address the support needs identified. The full matrix should be attached to this report as an appendix. (4 days)
6. Organize a restitution of findings to key IPPF staff to discuss the recommendations and ways forward, in view of the next step of the consultancy. (1 day)
7. Develop a succinct toolkit (30 pages maximum) on SGBV counselling that provides guidance for MAs to understand 1) what SGBV counselling is, 2) how SGBV counselling should be conducted, 3) how to develop concrete strategies for connecting SGBV counselling to SRH counselling, and 4) a list of additional simplified/adapted resources to concretely engage in SGBV counselling. This includes:
8. Develop easy-to-use guidance on SGBV counselling. Pending MA availability, this deliverable will include a 1–2-hour virtual co-creation meeting with MA representatives. (2 days)
9. Develop 3-5 tools on adapting existing resources for SGBV counselling. (6 days)
10. Conduct a restitution and validation with IPPF key staff and incorporate feedback. (2 days)

Key deliverables

• Informed consent form and interview guide for Key Informant Interviews.
• Assessment Report with completed analysis matrix attached as an annex.
• Toolkit with easy-to use guidance and tools on SGBV Counselling.

Essential qualifications and professional experience required

• University or post graduate degree in psychology, social sciences, sociology, anthropology, social work, public health, education or related topics.
• Education or training on psychology and psychosocial support ideally in both development and humanitarian contexts.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience on mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) or individual counselling for SGBV survivors.
• Experience in conducting SGBV/MHPSS assessment, research, and analysis.
• Experience with developing resources which are easy to understand for colleagues with a wide range of professional and educational experience.
• Familiarity with IPPF, or previous experience working with IPPF and/or Member Associations or other development/humanitarian organizations is desirable.

Timeframe

This work is to be completed within 3 months, for a level of effort of 27-35 working days.

Fees

Fees must be quoted in USD. Please indicate daily rate, as part of your financial proposal.

How to apply

Expressions of Interest

Consultants interested in this role with a demonstrable experience in outlined skill set, should provide:

• A brief cover letter (no more than two pages) outlining their experience against the requirements listed above and their quote to complete the work;
• A CV describing relevant experience for this role including examples of previous work in relation to the TOR;
• Financial proposal and indicative work plan.

Application materials should be sent to Hema Annadorai at hannadorai@ippf.org with the subject line “Application: Consultancy – SGBV Counselling”.

Deadline for proposals: 19 September 2024