Terms of Reference (TOR) for a gender sensitive baseline study of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) prevention and response programme in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Knowledge and skills of consultant/s required:

i) Significant demonstrable experience and skills in a similar baseline (mixed methods).
ii) Significant demonstrable experience, qualification and/or skills in conducting gender analysis and/ or gender sensitive baseline including use of relevant conceptual frameworks for analysis of gender relations/empowerment.
iii) Significant expertise (qualification and/or skills) and experience in the area of international development/ social research in relation to Sexual and Gender Based Violence response/ prevention, women’s empowerment, gender equality, disability inclusion.
iv. Knowledge and/or training in Monitoring and Evaluation systems and methodologies (participatory, qualitive and quantitative approaches).
v. Management of SSPS, MS Excel or other programme for analysis of statistics and coding for qualitative analysis.
vi. Experience/ knowledge of Eastern DRC or the Rwandan/Burundian border (essential) DRC national.
vii. Experience working with Catholic structures/ community-based originations and women’s / disability groups.
viii. Fluency in French (essential).
viv. Fluency in local languages and English (highly desirable).

Introduction: A UK Government’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) funded grant to implement a 3-year programme (February 2021 to January 2024) in Eastern DR Congo through four local implementing organisations: CDJP Bukavu, BDOM, AJV, OLAME in collaboration with SCIAF (Caritas Scotland).

A specialist consultant/s is being sought to conduct a gender sensitive baseline study in country for the above programme. These ToR provide the basic expectations for the study and give guidance on the methodology, timeline, process, management and expected outputs.

Programme background: The focus is to prevent Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) as well as to increase effective response/service provision for SGBV survivors to improve their health, legal, socioeconomic and gender equality status. It will be implemented in three territories of Kalehe, Kabare and Walungu located in South Kivu province of Eastern DRC.

The programme takes a holistic six-pillar approach to respond and protect survivors (via psychosocial, medical/surgical, legal and livelihoods support) combined with gender-transformative action to tackle underlying drivers of SGBV (via protection and prevention). The change expected is prevention of SGBV and improved health, legal, socioeconomic and gender equality status of 3,000 SGBV survivors by January 2024. Changes will be incremental over three years via enhanced capacity of service providers to protect and respond to SGBV effectively. This will be achieved through four mutually reinforcing outputs as listed below in table 1.

South Kivu province has been plagued by decades of recurrent conflict, displacement and human rights violations; institutions in the region are fragile and need support to combat discrimination, inequality and poverty. Armed groups are still active in some programme intervention areas, sporadically clashing mainly for control over mineral resources. Nearly 1.7 million new displacements were recorded in 2019, primarily in South and North Kivu and Ituri provinces. SGBV is a pervasive problem, where rape is used as a weapon of war. Currently state response is weak with the National SGBV strategy underfunded leading to a lack of quality response services and socio-economic reintegration. Legal services are dysfunctional, partly why SGBV is not reported or investigated. Police and magistrates are inappropriately trained and traditional/religious leaders need support as SGBV cases may be settled by customary laws. Children born of rape are often not registered at birth, impeding citizenship and inclusion/access to education and healthcare. The health systems are already fragile, without enough hospital beds and a severe shortage of trained health workers. Women are often unaware of their rights to access services. harmful attitudes, behaviours, practices and norms are underlying drivers of SGBV in DRC. COVID-19 is amplifying existing inequalities that women and girls face, such as unequal access to healthcare but also through devasting secondary effects of the virus including gender-based violence, child marriage, unintended pregnancies and maternal deaths. DRC had 13,526 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 344 deaths as of 07 December 2020.

Expected programme Impact, Outcome, Outputs, dates, project participants:

Programme Impact: Contribution to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 - gender equality and empowerment of women and girls to eliminate Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in three territories of South Kivu Province of Eastern DRC.
Programme Outcome: Prevention of SGBV in the 3 territories of Kalehe, Kabare and Walungu and improved health, legal and socioeconomic status of 3,000 SGBV survivors (97% female, 3% male) and their families by January 2024.
Output 1: Enhanced capacity of 452 service providers (minimum 30% female) to protect and respond to SGBV effectively (capacity building)
Output 2: Enhanced access to services to respond to the physical/medical, psychosocial and legal needs of 3,000 SGBV survivors and their children (service provision)
Output 3: Economic empowerment, assets and knowledge for 900 SGBV survivors (70% female/30% male) and their male family members to help recovery and prevention against SGBV (gender and socio-economic empowerment)
Output 4: Community mobilisation in 3 territories with 390 key influencers/youth to help change attitudes, behaviours and social norms to prevent SGBV and promote gender equality (prevention and behavioural change)
Implementation dates: February 1st 2021 – January 31st 2024.
Project participants: 3,842 direct comprising 3,000 SGBV survivors and their families (includes 7.5% or 225 People with Disabilities) + 452 service providers + 390 key influencers (local/ faith leaders, gender champions, model couples, youth).

Purpose of consultancy: The programme is seeking to procure the services of a consultant/s or team in order to:

1. Serve as the baseline (reference starting point) to assess programme progress, change and impact. The baseline will be one of the main data collection exercises for the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) plan against which the logframe will be measured throughout the programme cycle.
2. The baseline must include a systematic gender analysis to complement existing gender analysis already undertaken. Specifically:
   -collect and analyse information on gendered power relations between men/boys and women/girls; challenges and comparative differences in areas such as access to and control of resources/rights, sexual division of labour, decision-making etc
   -Support the effective measurement and monitoring of if/ how changes occur during the programme in social/gender norms and power relations.
3. Use the baseline study findings to help inform the programme MEL plan by (i) identifying any learnings to inform the behavioural change programme strategy (output 4) (ii) recommend if any modifications to the logframe and draft MEL are required in relation to Means of Verification, indicators, milestones and targets (iii) sharing findings with key stakeholders for their meaningful participation.

Key outputs and expectations of the consultancy baseline study:

• Prepare and submit inception report (a guiding template will be provided for this purpose).
• Articulate a quantitative and qualitative methodology to explain how both types of data will be fully integrated
• Define relevant composition and selection of respondents based on the sample size specified in the logframe. Must include appropriate representative number of females/ males; by age and People with Disabilities
• Design draft of data collection including (i) survey questionnaire for target community members AND SGBV survivors (ii) focus groups that can be repeated annually by the trained enumerators/ implementing programme team (iii) draft survey questionnaire, draft interviews forms, probable questions). (Not all logframe indicators will be measured by the baseline – see table 1).
• Train enumerators/ implementing programme team on data collection techniques/ tools and ongoing monitoring of baseline indicators.
• Test pilot of tools (survey questionnaire and any digital options).
• Conduct quality controlled primary data collection
• Analyse data
• Conduct results validation workshop with key stakeholders and programme team (optional as relevant).
• Compile draft gender sensitive baseline report (including annexes). A guiding template will be provided with final submission required electronically in English and French in Microsoft Word.
• Incorporate feedback of implementation programme team into the final gender sensitive baseline report.
• Adhere to the schedule timeline deadlines as per the contract.

Methodology: Whilst the selected consultant/s can propose tools and methods, it is expected they are developed in close consultation and written agreement with the Programme team. The baseline study must consider:

• A mixed methods qualitative and quantitative approach that is clearly articulated, systematic and shows inclusivity/ sensitivity to the SGBV programme theme, target groups and context.
• Use and rationale of preferred conceptual framework for gender relations analysis.
• A gender sensitive approach fully integrated into the method, data collection, analysis and findings. Includes adequate representation of females to capture and amplify their voices via single sex groups, conversations or Key informant interviews (KII) with local women’s groups. Considering confidentially/sensitivity of SGBV Key Informant interviews with stakeholders and secondary data analysis may instead be required.
• Surveying of male and female members within a household (and men/women separately as relevant) to determine gender relations and power dynamics and how they are reproduced.
• Desk review of existing secondary data sources where available to triangulate with primary data findings. Before selecting or using these, consideration must be made on the coherence and reliability of the information sources for the area/population targeted.
• A review of the outcome statement, outputs and log-frame indicators including means of verification (sources) to identify the tools and methods necessary.
• Disaggregation of data by sex and gender pertaining to age, geographical location, socio-economic status etc The study must be inclusive of Person with Disabilities and capture key intersections of age and disability.
• The baseline must adhere to confidentiality and secure data protection guidelines.
• Clear explanation of a coding plan (through software or manually) to analyse qualitative and quantitative data.
• Adherence to Bond’s Evidence Principles and Checklist.
• Compliance with SCIAF and implementing partners’ safeguarding policy/ code of conduct and international good practice of ethics and protocols, particularly safeguarding children and vulnerable groups such as SGBV survivors, girls and people with disabilities.
• Include appropriate use of digital solutions in the design (such as SMS, phone, email, Survey Monkey).
• Data collection needs to be planned / carried out following DRC government guidance to prevent spread and infection of COVID-19

The baseline should include information on some of the following key elements (for details refer to table 1 below).

• Mapping of the current situation, comparative sex and gender differences for men/boys and women/girls in areas such as education (literacy, educational attainment); legal and health services (access, status, quality); socio-economic status, annual income levels; household structure composition, livestock levels, access to and control of resources, sexual division of labour, participation in leadership, decision-making in household/community level etc.
• Changes (increases/decreases) in quality of life* such as access to health/legal services; increased knowledge and skills; greater/lower sense of self-worth and confidence; more/less equal gender relations; savings.
• Prevalence, type and impact of SGBV at household and community level.
• Prevalence and level of stereotypes and gendered beliefs, bias/discrimination at the level of institutions, communities and households.
• *Note these questions relate to a SCIAF standard indicator & specific survey questions will be supplied. Results must be triangulated to complement other indicators to assure reliability

Key stakeholders: Programme implementation teams in Bukavu, South Kivu: CDJP Bukavu; OLAME; AVJ; BDOM (their specialised disability and psychiatric centre for Person With Disabilities); Based in Scotland, UK: SCIAF

Community/parish level: Catholic parishes, Diocesan Women’s/ Youth Committees; Local Authorities, administrators and local leaders across 3 target territories; 8 General Reference Hospitals; 31 SGBV listening centres

South Kivu provincial level actors: Provincial Government Health Division and Inspectorate; Ministry of Justice and Provincial Police Inspection Unit; Congolese police and army; Provincial Coordination of Mental Health; Provision Division of Gender, Family and Social Affairs; nited Nations FPA Human Rights Protection Cluster.

Table 1. Target outcome, outputs, indicators, source and sample size/ type

Impact indicator % of individuals who report reduced prevalence and experience of SGBV in 3 territories Source** Baseline/ Key informant interviews

Outcome: Prevention of SGBV in 3 territories of Kalehe, Kabare and Walungu and improved health, legal and socioeconomic status of 3,000 SGBV survivors and their families by January 2024

indicator 1: % of targeted SGBV survivors who report their lives have improved as a result of the project
Source Baseline/ annual survey across the programme; Focus groups
SGBV survivors: Sample size: Year1: 300; Year2: 350: Year3: 400. 5% margin of error, 95% confidence rate

indicator 2 % of target community members (3000; approx. 50% M/F) who report at least one positive attitude/ behavioural change in their lives to prevent SGBV and protect survivors
Source: Baseline / annual survey across the programme, Focus groups
SGBV service providers, key influencers and community members. Sample size: Y1: 300; Y2: 350: Y3: 400. 5% margin of error, 95% confidence rate

indicator 3 % of SGBV survivors and their male family member (900 with 30% Male /70% Female) with increase in household annual income/ assets
Source: Baseline /Annual survey across the programme
Sample size: Y1: 200; Y2: 250 Y3: 300 with 5% margin of error, 95% confidence rate

indicator 4 % of targeted SGBV survivors (3,000) who report participation in decision-making in at least 2 out of the following 3: (i) participation in community events/ roles/ groups (ii) control and ownership of income/assets (iii) own healthcare
Source: Baseline / Annual survey across the programme, Focus groups
Sample size: Y1: 300; Y2: 350: Y3: 400. 5% margin of error, 95% confidence rate

Output 2: indicator 1 Percentage of trained health service providers (male/ female) who achieved satisfaction of service to SGBV survivors
Source: Baseline / Annual survey across the programme
SGBV survivors: Sample size: 300; Y2: 350: Y3: 400. 5% margin of error, 95% confidence rate

indicator 2 Number of trained legal service providers (male/ female) with improved awareness of national laws on SGBV/ PWDs
Source: Baseline / Annual survey across the programme
Legal service providers include police offices, judges, court clerks. Sample size: 150 with 5% margin of error, 95% confidence rate

Output 4: Indicator 1: % of targeted community members (approx.3,000) across 3 territories who recall hearing or seeing at least one specific message on violence against women and women's rights/ gender equality
Source: Baseline / Annual survey across the programme, focus groups. Sample size: 400 with 5% margin of error, 95% confidence rate.

Indicator 2: % of targeted community members (approx.3,000) across 3 territories who recognise trained key influencers as champions in preventing SGBV/ protecting survivors
Source: Baseline / Annual survey across the programme; Focus groups.
Sample size: 400 with 5% margin of error, 95% confidence rate