Background

As an entity dedicated to gender equality, UN Women in Bangladesh works with key partners ranging from government, UN organizations, international and national NGOs, and civil society in development and humanitarian settings to enhance gender equality and empowerment of women in Bangladesh. In Cox’s Bazar, UN Women supports targeted programming and the coordination of gender mainstreaming for an evidence-based response, building capacities of humanitarian stakeholders, including government representatives, and local actors to achieve their gender commitments.

August 2022 marked the fifth year since extreme armed violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state prompted a massive influx of Rohingya refugees into Bangladesh. The speed and scale of the mass displacement in 2017 invoked a critical humanitarian emergency in Bangladesh and prompted urgency in delivering a gender-responsive response to this cross-border crisis. About 950,000 Rohingya refugees live in the refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar and on Bhasan Char Island, close to half a million of which are women and girls. While during the last five years, Rohingya refugees have shown resilience and the government and people of Bangladesh have generously hosted them, pre-existing gender inequalities, GBV, and discrimination continue to be perpetuated and exacerbated. The dependence of all the Rohingya refugees on humanitarian and protection services is a significant concern. Recent reports on the situation in the Rohingya refugee camps show that the security situation is declining, and that gender-based violence in the refugee camps is increasing. A rapid and well-coordinated response, supported by gender data and analysis and gender-responsive humanitarian action, is needed urgently by all humanitarian actors to respond to the needs of vulnerable women and girls.

UN Women Sub-Office in Cox’s Bazar is working actively to ensure the response to the Rohingya refugee crisis fully responds to the specific needs and priorities of women and girls, through coordination support and targeted programming in Cox’s Bazar. Reporting to the Gender in Humanitarian Action (GiHA) Coordination Specialist and with a matrix reporting line to the Head of Sub-Office, the National GiHA Knowledge Management Officer will provide information and knowledge management assistance to the work of the GiHA Working Group, which is co-chaired by UN Women and UNHCR. S/he will work in close collaboration with members of the GiHA WG, inclusive of UN and other humanitarian agencies and civil society.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall management of the UN Women Head of Sub-Office and the direct supervision of the GiHA Coordination Specialist, the Information and Knowledge Management Consultant will:

• Provide direct administrative support to the GiHA WG calendar management; updating the membership list; and preparing and sending meeting invites.
• Support the development of GiHA WG meeting minutes and event reports, ensuring feedback from GiHA membership is collected and incorporated.
• Support the GiHA Coordination Specialist in following up on the implementation of the GiHA WG Work Plan, coordinating tracking and reporting on progress.
• Coordinate and support the development of (minimum 2) GiHA WG knowledge/information products, collecting data from GiHA WG members and from sector working groups as relevant and finalizing on the basis of feedback.
• Support the development of a Gender Alert, assisting the GiHA Coordination Specialist in the preparation of the methodology, and collecting data and analysis from the GiHA WG and Sector Working Groups as relevant, working with UN Women Sub-Office monitoring staff to generate inputs from key actors. Ensure related knowledge and information are stored in a safe and effective, and where required, confidential manner.
• Update and maintain a catalogue of GiHA WG information/knowledge products, coordinating with the Inter-Sector Coordination Group (ISCG) to ensure these are incorporated in the ISCG website.
• Organize forums and/or platforms (minimum 3) for GiHA WG members to share knowledge amongst themselves, as well as with Sector Working Groups, bilaterally or multilaterally.
• Connect with the regional GiHA WG to disseminate knowledge generated from the Rohingya crisis to other humanitarian contexts, and to bring knowledge generated from other emergencies to the Rohingya crisis.

Prepare a brief end of consultancy report, summarizing key deliverables, lessons learned and recommendations moving forward (2 pages and annexes).

Deliverables

– GiHA WG email established based on updated GiHA WG membership list. (Membership list to include key information on thematic/sectors of members as relevant, and information on their organizations and contact details).

– GiHA WG meeting agendas and final minutes.

– Draft GiHA WG 2023 Work Plan and updated GiHA WG TOR.

– Written progress update vis-à-vis the GiHA WG Work.

– Final draft of Gender Alert developed through a coordinated process.

– Final drafts of (minimum 2) GiHA WG knowledge/information products prepared and finalized based on feedback.

– Regularly updated catalogue of GiHA WG information/knowledge products available on the ISCG website.

– Minimum 3 forums and/or platforms organised to support knowledge sharing related to the GiHA WG.

– End of consultancy report, summarizing key deliverables, lessons learned and recommendations. (Report to include as annex finalized GiHA WG meeting minutes and event reports).

Payments

Payments for this consultancy will be monthly, based on a monthly progress report of satisfactory submission of deliverables as identified above.

Deliverables Time Frame Payment Milestone

Contract period and work location

The consultancy is based in Cox’s Bazar and for four (4 months), starting from the contract start date, expected 01 May 2023 up to 30 August 2023.

Supervision and performance evaluation

The national consultant will receive guidance from the Gender in Humanitarian Action Coordination Specialist, with a matrix line to UN Women Head of Sub-Office, Cox’s Bazar.

Travel and DSA:

No DSA will be paid at the duty stations. If unforeseen travel outside the duty station is required for this assignment, upon prior agreement/approval from UN Women such travel expenses shall be borne by UN Women and the individual contractor/SSA shall receive a per-diem not to exceed the United Nations daily subsistence allowance (DSA) rate in such other location(s) and actual travel cost.

Competencies

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder engagement

Leading by example

Required Skills and Experience

• A master’s degree in social sciences, gender studies, international relations, development studies, communications, or related area.

Experience and Skills

• Minimum 3 years of demonstrated work experience in humanitarian action with a dedicated focus on gender equality and empowerment of women and girls.
• Experience of sectorial coordination and understanding of the Rohingya refugee response in Cox’s Bazar. Experience of sectorial coordination in the context of humanitarian aid and demonstrated understanding of the Rohingya refugee response in Cox’s Bazar.
• Practical skills in knowledge management.
• Work experience with the United Nations system or with I/NGOs, with good knowledge of the UN Women mandate and of United Nations procedures.

Language and report writing skills

• Excellent command of Bangla and English (oral and written).
• Knowledge of Chittagonian and/or Rohingya a significant asset