TERMS OF REFERENCE RESEARCHER for the South-South-North Learning project on Social Reproduction FOR ROSA-LUXEMBURG-STIFTUNG SOUTHEAST ASIA – REGIONAL OFFICE IN VIETNAM (RLS SEA)
1. Introduction
The Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung (short forms the “RLS” or “Rosa”) originated from the registered association in Germa-ny once called "Social Analysis and Political Education" and founded in Berlin in 1990. In 1996, the RLS was recognised by the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) as its close political education institution. The Party of Democratic
Socialism transformed itself into “Linkspartei” (“Left Party”), which together with the so-called “WASG formed the new party “Die LINKE” (“The Left”) in 2007. Nowadays, the RLS is affiliated with this German political party and works closely together with “The Left” worldwide.
The RLS has become a provider of civic education and a centre for progressive social research in both Germany and throughout the world. As one of six party-affiliated political foundations in Germany it supports partners in developing countries striving for social justice, strengthened public participation and economic development. In April 2009, the RLS Regional Representative Office for Southeast Asia was opened in Hanoi (Vietnam) managing activities and partnerships in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
In the Southeast Asian region, Rosa embraces the mission of assisting transformation countries, such as Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam to a socially just, sustainable, participatory and democratic society. Currently, it is cooperating with approximately 15 partner organisations like academic institutions and “grass-root” organisations as well as state partners on a variety of issues within the three components of social justice, socio-ecological transformation (SET) and participatory politics.
RLS SEA seeks for a consultant to compile a research on the theme of “South-South-North Learning Project on Social Reproduction”, detailed as bellowed.
2. About RLS‘ South-South-North Learning Project on Social Reproduction
In November 2015, RLS Berlin, together with the regional offices from Southeast Asia, Latin America and East Asia had organized a kick-off workshop to work on the theme of ‘South-South-North’ learning project: Social reproduction, social protection, social rights and gender relations. Transformative social alternatives in East and South-East Asia, Latin America and Europe: a learning journey”
Social reproduction is Maxist concept, defined as the reproduction of social inequalities throughout generations such as social gap, class, poverty and gender division, etc. The processes through which the fundamental structures and relations of society continually recreate the existing status of production in which the structures of dominance of one group over another are maintained.
We aim to explore the interconnectedness of social protection, social rights and social reproduction with regard to gender relations and options of emancipatory oriented social-ecological transformation with feminist point of view.
The aim is to establish a process of collective learning about politics of social security and social reproduction in each local contexts and how gender-just and socio-ecological ways of social reproduction can be developed, how it is understood in local situation.
Moreover, we would like to follow a path of collective learning from these situations: How can strategic, political and social aspects of gender-just and socio-ecologically sustainable ways of social reproduction be developed and framed? How are the actors confronted with contradictions and obstacles of their engagement, and how do they tackle them?
In the end, the learning journey will hopefully allow to overcome the global South-North division with innovative political strategic knowledge as well as with knowledge that allows us to understand dynamics and forces operating similiarly in favour or on the contrary against provisioning of social reproduction and social security in different regions of the world.
We have identified the overall goal of the project: Social security is accessiable for all human beings, taking into account solidarity and ecological aspects with the 3 basic components including migration, care and social security system –gender relations as cross-cutting issues.
3. About the baseline study
The study shall give a brief overview over and characterization of the actual situation of politics and policies related to social security in Vietnam. This shall more be like a general overview.
The main part of the studies shall operate more analytical, relating to empirically based descriptions of two main areas of social policies, with two focal points:
-> poverty reduction politics
-> pension system/care for the elderly
as part of social reproduction and each with regard to state level, societal level (civil society) and practical political level.
Sub-questions which might be addressed:
- What effects of class and gender aspects do these politics produce?
- Which kind of main contradictions can be seen between different actors, levels of politics and political goals of
different actors involved?
- What are obstacles which cause exclusion and for whom especially? (e.g. economic crisis or economic development in relation to social security; neoliberal politics; austerity politics; economic logics of restructuring these fields of politics difference of urban and rural situations; migration-related effects?)- Which role does the state play in organizing these politics? How much are communities, families and private systems are taking over responsibilities?
- What kind of alternatives for the respective fields of politics are discussed? good examples for that? We hopefully generate by these aspects to follow that the studies allow for comparability and clear results.
The expert/researcher is responsible for designing(including an activities plan and time frame) and implementing a research focusing on the topic mentioned above. The research is one part of the South-South-North learning project.
The study ? volume should encompass between a number of about 33.000 and 49.500 characters, including spaces, including references, statistics and annotations (which is between 10 and 15 pages on average). But please take the number of character as reference, only.
Language for the research should be in English.
4. Application
- The researcher should have at least five years of experience working in the field of public policy, social sciences, civil society and governance programs for institutions in the Vietnamese context;
- Possession expertise and experience in social security, , gender equality, especially knowledge of socio-ecological transformation would be an added advantage;
- Proven track record of researches and publications, references with international standard.
- Excellent analyzing skills.
- Fluent in English and excellent English writing skill.
We would like to invite interested candidates to submit their application in English including the most updated CV and rate offer with detailed costs to Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhu Trang – Project Manager at the email address [email protected] [1] latest by 14th August 2016.
Further information can be obtained at RLS website at http://rls-sea.de/ [2].
Only candidate who submit all above-mentioned require documents will be considered. Inquiries are only accepted before the application deadline. Please refrain from phone inquiries. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.