Terms of Reference: Support to the Commonwealth of Dominica to develop an implementation plan for the Domestic Violence Protection Act

Job Description

1. Context: ICR Facility and project

The Investment Climate Reform (ICR) Facility is set up to support African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) partner countries and regional institutions in their private sector structured dialogue process to create a more conducive business environment and investment climate. It aims to improve the business environment and investment climate in these countries. The ICR Facility is co-funded by the European Union (EU), the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF), together with the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the British Council. It is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ), the British Council, Expertise France, and Stichting Nederlandse Ontwikkeling organisatie (Netherlands Development Organisation, SNV).

The ICR facility has three components of activities:

• Technical Assistance for Business Environment and Investment Climate Improvement
• Strengthening national and sub-regional development financial institutions
• Compile and mainstream lessons learned and good practices

In the context of its mandate, the ICR Facility seeks to provide technical assistance to the Bureau of Gender Affairs of the Commonwealth of Dominica. The Bureau of Gender Affairs is a unit under the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Social Services. Originally set up in 1980, it has evolved as the unit responsible for the administration of gender issues, including men and women’s affairs. It intends to institutionalize gender in national policy, in collaboration with government and non-government organizations.

The Government of Dominica has set up a National Resilience Development Strategy (NRDS) 2030[1] that outlines the country’s priorities to pursue sustainable economic growth by becoming climate resilient and following people-centered development. It is a national multi-sectoral policy document for the period 2018-2030, which identifies various strategies to advance gender equality.

In April 2023, a New Domestic Violence Act was approved in Parliament in Dominica which entered into force on July 1st, 2023. The Act intends to provide greater protection for victims of domestic violence and to make provision for the granting of protection orders and related matters.

“Violence can undermine women’s economic empowerment by preventing employment and access to income.” Violence against women limits their ability to exercise agency and reduces women’s economic empowerment. It also has a direct negative impact for businesses and countries.[2] “Where a woman suffers abuse from her husband, her health and psychological well-being are threatened and her capacity to work and function socially are impaired. If she is not able to work, she is forced into a subordinate position, both psychologically and economically, and the cycle of violence persists. Legal protection is crucial to reduce impunity and open avenues for redress.” (Women Business and the Law, World Bank Group, 2023).

2. Objective of the request

The objective of this request is to set up an implementation plan for the 2023 Domestic Violence (DV) Protection Act. The project will be implemented through dialogue with all stakeholders implied in the process (Health, police, judicial system, etc…).

This assistance will be designed to be gender-inclusive and throughout the exercise the consultant should analyse the participation of both women and men in the economy as well as businesses and organizations owned/run by both women and men equally, as well as youth under 35 years old.

The works should be implemented in a collaborative way through consultations, interviews, workshops and public-private dialogue.

3. Scope of work

SNV, on behalf of the ICR Facility will provide technical assistance to develop the strategic implementation plan.

The Bureau of Gender Affairs will provide support for the organization of the meetings, establishing and facilitating key contacts, provision of required data, and missions (online and in potential visits from the consultant/s), with arranging the agenda and meetings. It will identify a point of contact for day-to-day activities.

The Bureau of Gender Affairs will have staff involved in the project (one to three people) all along the project to provide this support, share local knowledge and experiences and also to get involved in the project and gain deeper knowledge on the methodology and actions to be deployed.

The project will be implemented with a participatory approach all along the project, with consultation and dialogue with private and public stakeholders.

The Bureau of Gender Affairs will lead this stakeholder engagement process with its own staff (or additional support provided by other donors, such as the intern coming around July 2024 for one year with Canada’s support).

The contractor shall provide the following services:

1. Assessment
   • Provide support to analyse the Dominica Domestic Violence Protection Act 2023 to identify gaps, ambiguities, or areas requiring strategic attention and any other relevant piece of legislation or regulation related to DV.
   • Support in the identification and mapping of key stakeholders (in particular agencies providing support services, including Health, police, judicial system, etc…).
   • Support in the identification and analysis of existing statistics.
   • Support in the assessment of existing support services (the provider, their location and their cost to survivors), including:
     • legal aid
     • psychological support
     • health care services (medical treatment)
     • physical support
     • safe housing counselling
     • police assistance
     • counselling support
     • livelihood support) at no cost
     • emergency rescue services at a single location.
     • government mechanism or agency overseeing the implementation of legislation and policies on violence against women
     • budgetary allocation is devoted to violence against women risk mitigation, prevention, and response programs
   • Provide support to the consultation process
     • Interviews with agencies (remote and in person if travel takes place).
     • Assist the Bureau of Gender Affairs in executing consultations with public and private sector organizations to gather inputs from the frontline service providers, communities, survivors, and advocacy groups.
     • Workshop: to identify issues and challenges and proposals.
2. Stakeholder engagement process: working group and Peer to Peer exchange (P2P)
   • Assist and advise the Bureau of Gender affairs in establishing a multidisciplinary Working group by key stakeholders, contribute to the assessment, coordinate activities and prepare for implementation. The working group might include: government agencies, NGOs, law enforcement, and community leaders. The on-the ground activities are fully implemented by the Bureau of Gender affairs.
   • This working group will be a space to exchange and follow up with key agencies as the internal procedures are developed.
   • Provide support in the organization a Peer-to-Peer exchange online meeting with peers from other countries that have successfully implemented DV acts (for example Trinidad and Tobago Jamaica or Saint Lucia).
3. Prepare implementation plan
   • Provide support in the analysis and review of international and regional good practices (Trinidad and Tobago Jamaica, Saint Lucia, …).
   • Based on findings of the assessment, provide support to elaborate the strategic implementation plan that could include some of these points (data, stakeholder engagement, training and capacity building, advocacy, communication and/or monitoring and evaluation). Clearly outline goals, objectives, action plans, and timelines.
   • Review the proposed Monitoring and Evaluation framework to evaluate the strategic implementation plan’s effectiveness over time.
   • Review the protocols and procedural steps developed for relevant procedures, and provide support to develop trainings will be identified for specific stakeholders for the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force and the Bureau of Gender Affairs at least.
   • Provide support for the final meeting/workshop with public and private stakeholders to validate the implementation plan (online or in person to be defined), to gather input and feedback and agree on implementation timeline, and socialize information and process.
4. Additional support for other SNV project
   • Provide support to prepare and deliver a training on Rights based advocacy for micro and small-scale businesswomen in Nigeria. The training is a “Training of Trainers” for members of a business association.
   • Provide support in another Women Economic Empowerment project in ACP economies, as required.

[1] https://finance.gov.dm/en/news/publications/national-development-strategies

[2] Violence against women and the macroeconomy: The case of Ghana. Srinivasan Raghavendran, Kijong Kim, Sinéad Ashe, Mrinal Chadha, Felix Asante, Petri T. Piiroinen, Nata Duvvury. 2021.

Qualifications

The position is open to individual consultants or firms with the following credentials:

• Minimum of master’s degree in international development, trade, economics, finance or other related studies.
• Minimum 10 years of experience working on gender issues, women economic empowerment. Knowledge on addressing domestic violence issues is a plus.
• Experience on policy/regulatory environment, business environment reforms, and Public-Private Dialogue.
• Experience providing technical assistance to the public and private sector in ACP economies.
• English language proficiency.

Additional Information

Timeline, deliverables and time allocation

• Assessment: 75 working days after contract signature (up to 12 expert days).

• Stakeholder engagement (working group and P2P meeting): 95 working days after contract signature (up to 4 expert days).

• Prepare implementation plan: 105 working days after contract signature (up to 7 expert days).

• Final workshop: 125 working days after contract signature (up to 2 expert days).

• Additional support for a rights based advocacy project in Nigeria and other projects as required. To be confirmed in writing by the SNV manager: Date is yet to be defined (15 days).

Level of effort: total number of expert days is 40.

The number of days/travel/workshops and the budgets will be contractually agreed as maximum amounts. Assessment will be based on qualification and rate.

Period of assignment The project shall last from July 15, 2024 to April 30, 2025.

Submission date: Monday July 8th 2024, COB.

Financial quote: Please submit your CV and financial quote (daily rate).

Selection criteria (Attributes, Maximum Score/100):

• Understanding of the ToR = 5
• Experience in conducting similar assignment = 15
• Technical Proposal = 50
• Financial Proposal = 30

Travel
The country of assignment will be the Commonwealth of Dominica. Travel arrangements may be defined according to Covid-19 restrictions. In the worst-case scenario, all communication may need to be virtual.

Workshops, Training
The contractor implements virtual meetings and workshops as defined above and supports the organisation of physical meetings with the Bureau of Gender Affairs. The consultant will draft the agenda, advise the selection of attendees, prepare content and facilitate the workshops.

• For virtual meetings, the consultant ensures s/he has appropriate software to invite for virtual meetings / video conferences / webinars. No budget is provided for this.
• For physical workshops, the consultant will work closely with the Bureau of Gender Affairs to organise these meetings. The ICR Facility will cater for the costs (venue, catering) of holding a physical meeting. The meeting logistics will be organised in coordination with SNV HQ.

Communication
The contractor shall share communication materials i.e Photos, videos, report on events, relevant opinions, with the ICR facility throughout the intervention. Depending on each case the consultant may also be required to produce communication pieces such as audio or video interviews to local stakeholders or blog posts about the intervention.

Data collection
The contractor will be acting as an independent data controller of personal data being processed in connection with the contract and shall comply with applicable obligations under the data protection legislation including, especially, the European General Data Protection Regulation.

About the Organization

SNV is a global development partner, deeply rooted in the countries where we operate. We are driven by a vision of a better world: A world where across every society all people live with dignity and have equitable opportunities to thrive sustainably. To make this vision a reality, we need transformations in vital agri-food, energy, and water systems. SNV contributes by strengthening capacities and catalysing partnerships in these sectors. We help strengthen institutions and effective governance, reduce gender inequalities and barriers to social inclusion, and enable adaptation and mitigation to the climate and biodiversity crises.

Building on 60 years of experience we support our partners with our technical and process expertise and methodological rigour. We do this in more than 20 countries in Africa and Asia with a team of approximately 1,600 colleagues. By being adaptable and tailoring our approaches to these different contexts, we can contribute to impact at scale, resulting in more equitable lives for all.

To delve deeper into SNV's initiatives, explore our website at www.snv.org.