Consultant for Project Gender Mainstreaming

TERM OF REFERENCE

CONSULTANT FOR PROJECT GENDER MAINSTREAMING

Overview

The International Center (formerly known as Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation -VVAF) is an America non-profit organization based in Washington, DC. IC-VVAF established a representative office in Hanoi in 1994, and have been active in humanitarian assistance programs and development asistance continuously since that time. IC-VVAF has also addressed the consequences of war through advocacy and service programs in Vietnam for the last three decades. As a cofounder of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, IC-VVAF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997. Now working under The International Center, IC, focuses on disability support, mine action, and mental health programs.

The Moving Without Limits Project

Under the financial support of United States Agency for International Development (USAID), IC is implementing the Disability Support Project named “Moving without Limits” in the three provinces of Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam and Binh Dinh from July 2015 until September 2022. This project aims to improve the accessibility of the people with mobility impairments in Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, and Binh Dinh to quality and affordable assistive devices.

Three specific objectives of the project include:

1. Improved availability of quality assistive technologies/ devices (AT/AD) for people with mobility impairments in Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam and Binh Dinh provinces;
2. Improved capacity related to AT/AD for the health sector workforce at national and sub-national levels; and
3. Improved advocacy for policies/regulations and information sharing related to AT/AD.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objectives, a wide range of activities will be implemented in the three project provinces as well as at the central level.  AT/AD service provision is implemented following the the relevant steps to service delivery, this includes need assessment and prescription, AD procurement, fitting, user training and follow-up, maintenance and repair. These steps in service delivery are required in order to ensure that people with mobility disabilities receive appropriate and quality AD.  The project also promotes the integration of health care for people with disabilities (PWDs), which includes AT/AD service delivery into the existing health care system, and mobilizing non-specialists at the community levels to recognize, assess, manage and follow-up of care for PWDs.

The project recognises the significant gap in human resource within rehabilitation services, especially in relation to assistive technology, and considers practical solutions for filling the gap.  In doing so, the project applies the following mixed approaches including (i) build capacity for both high skilled health professionals at the national level in technical assistance towards complicated cases, and support building capacity for lower level service providers when needed; (ii) task shifting, defined as the delegation of tasks to existing or new cadres with either less training or narrowly tailored training in order to deliver specific and basic rehabilitation/AT solutions. 

Thus, IC will support in improving the capacity of rehabilitation and AT workforces for both national and provincial levels, for both high and less skilled service providers.

Access to assistive technology cannot be improved without appropriate and available policy and governance, IC works closely with the line ministries and other involved partners to support the development of the AT/AD service delivery framework as a part of the National Rehabilitation Strategy 2021-2030, and engages in advocacy to encourage the inclusion of more assistive devices covered by the health insurance scheme. In addition, IC has continued to improve awareness and encourage information sharing of AT/AD related issues. 

Context of Assignment

Cross cutting issues such as gender have yet to be considered within the context of assistive technology, and as such, the project has conducted a research to examine the influences of such factors on access to assistive technology, with a broader focus on the supports required to increase independence and quality of life for all persons with disabilitiesthe project. Findings from this research will help to plan gender mainstreaming within all project activities.

On the other hand, to enhance the capacity of the human resource related rehabilitation services, especially in relation to assistive deveices, the project plan to conduct building capacity acitvities through various trainings and seminars which is tailored to specific needs of the health and non health wokers. The project consistently seeks to review its capacity building activities to ensure a comprehensive and systematic process from TNA, design and deliver traininings and following up with the participants. 

In order to address the highlight project needs, IC is seeking the support of a consultant to work with the project team in the gender mainstreaming in project activities, review and develop capacity building activities to ensure a comprehensive and systematic process and assist in data analysis and drafting the report for annual assessment report.

1.         DUTY STATION

Duty Station:                              Hanoi and project provinces

Duration of Assignment:               December 2020 – March 2021

2.         OVERALL RESPONSIBILITIES

• To provide technical support for gender related activities for the ‘Moving Without Limits’ project

3.         SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant would be expected to carry out the following activities

• Develop gender mainstreaming action plan based on findings from gender analysis research report.
• Integrate message of gender sensitivity into existing training including development of the key content for the related training sessions, TNA, pre/post test for the related content, report template and tools for following up after the training
• Conduct trainings for health service providers in provinces
• Coach provincial project staff on following up and report on gender related issues

4.         DELIVERABLES AND TIMEFRAME

Note: Evidence of input can occur in the form of emails, track changes in documents and reports.  

5.         SUPERVISION AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION:

The consultant will work under the direct supervision and evaluation of the Project Officer with support from other project staff.

6.          SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:

Qualifications and Experience Required:

• Post Graduate Degree in social science or relevant areas.
• At least 5 years of experience in gender mainstreaming and/ or gender planning.

Other experiences:

• Experiences in development of materials and delivery of trainings on gender issues, gender mainstreaming and/or follow up.
• Experience of working with diverse stakeholders is an asset

Language requirements:

• Fluent in English.

Competencies:

• Teamwork, professionalism, flexibility and an understanding of working with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Having a vision, dedication and ability to learn, high sense of responsibility. 
• Willing to accept business travel in Vietnam and overseas

7.       APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Individuals interested in this job are invited to submit your applications in English, including copies of relevant certificates and references, either by email (to [email protected] ) or by post (to The International Center, R.103-203, B3 Building, Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Vietnam).

Please state “Application for the <position>” in the subject line or on the envelope. The short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Deadline for submission: by 2^nd December 2020.

For further information, please contact:

Ms. Hua Thi Thu Len – Receptionist

Tel: (84-24) 3733 9444, ext: 9

Email: [email protected]