Request for proposals for Consultancy on Gender, Displacement and Durable Solutions in East Africa and the Great Lakes Closing Date: 20 May 2025 Type: Consultancy Themes: Gender/Protection and Human Rights Terms of Reference (TOR) for Consultancy on gender, displacement and durable solutions in East Africa and the Great Lakes 1.Who is the Regional Durable Solutions Secretariat? ReDSS is a secretariat working on behalf of 14 international and national NGOs working on forced displacement in East Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Great Lakes region. We were established in 2015 in response to a desire by the NGO community to be more proactive in shaping durable solutions policy and programming in the region. Our team works both a regional and country level and focusses on the translation of evidence and research into policies and programmes that can better deliver for displacement-affected communities. We do this through a range of activities, including: convening key stakeholders at multiple levels to produce consensus around collective actions that can be taken; supporting new evidence generation through commissioning and undertaking research and analysis; and building the capacity of key actors through delivering training and developing tools and guidance. We do not implement programmes directly, and by maintaining this distance are better able to play a neutral role across the system. 2.Purpose of the consultancy ReDSS seeks to undertake a study to support understand how gender has been considered in durable solutions responses in East Africa and the Great Lakes and provide recommendations on how to strengthen this. This includes support in the development of practical guidance and identification of best practices for gender-sensitive durable solutions policy, planning and strategy. This should provide a broad framework for assessing the extent to which gender considerations are integrated in policy and planning in East Africa and the Great Lakes, with case studies across three contexts in the region, including a mix of internal and refugee displacement crises. This work is foundational to the work of ReDSS and its members across the region and will act as a basis for ensuring that our engagements with key partners is appropriately informed by a gender lens. Dissemination of the findings will be integrated into various events and engagements over the coming period, including support to development and implementation of a regional strategy by the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) as well as national durable solutions planning and policy processes. The consultancy must place a strong emphasis on the inclusion of the voices of displacement affected populations. The work will include primary data collection with IDPs, refugees and host communities. It will equally be guided by a Research Advisory Group which will be made up of refugee and IDP-led civil society and womens rights organizations. Other experts may equally be invited to join, as relevant. Priority in selection will be given to consultants who are from or have direct experience engaging with displacement-affected communities, particularly in the region. 3.Background Amidst record displacement globally, the need for pathways and engagement towards the realization durable solutions for refugees and displaced populations is critical. This can only be inclusive and effective when there is recognition that women, men, girls and boys experience displacement differently, and often face distinct barriers to the achievement of durable solutions. Additionally, power dynamics and gender norms can influence the levels to which and ways in which women, men, girls and boys are engaged in decision-making surrounding durable solutions and mobility, from the household level up. While gendered analysis and evidence is growing and there is increasing recognition across responses of the need for gender-sensitive programming, policy and planning, there continue to be significant gaps. Often conversations around gender-sensitive approaches continue to be framed around exposure to violence. It is well documented that experiences of displacement can increase risks of sexual and gender-based violence, including sexual exploitation and abuse, rape and domestic violence. These risks cut across cycles of displacement from initial movement through secondary movements, the often-protracted period in displacement, and return, resettlement/relocation and (re)integration. While further analysis of these dynamics as well as programming and policy shifts are undoubtedly necessary, gendered dynamics to the achievement of durable solutions affect all aspects of the experiences of displacement affected communities. IASC identifies 8 criteria for the achievement of durable solutions[1]; these reflect rights which are necessary to the achievement of durable solutions, but equally reflect areas where challenges remain in many countries in the region. Each also bring distinct gender dynamics. For example, conservative gender norms may impact womens ability to access livelihoods, with particular impacts for female-headed households; conversely, experiences of displacement can sometimes mean a broadening of gender roles that expose women to new opportunities for work and/or development of their skills. Women also often face particular challenges claiming their HLP rights. Or, for example, the experience of men particularly young men and boys can often be distinctly impacted by community tensions, impacting their safety and security in areas of displacement or return. These dynamics vary significantly from one context to another, and while they may be known or assessed to a certain extent for example through research, gender-sensitive data, or monitoring and gender analysis completed to inform programming it is unclear the extent to which these inform durable solutions processes. This is also as gender norms at country and local levels can also influence the level of buy-in for specific gender-sensitive analysis, objectives or interventions. Gender capacity in displacement responses both among response actors and Government agencies tend to be systematically underfunded; in the context of increasing funding gaps across the globe, it is also unclear how this will impact levels of gendered analysis, advice and sensitive programming. The breadth and complexity of these dynamics and the multiple challenges of ensuring they are properly assessed and addressed in displacement responses suggests that gathering lessons learned and best practices and developing practical guidance could support ensuring that national and regional displacement policy, planning and strategy is gender-sensitive. 4.Objective of the consultancy Building on existing evidence and practice, ReDSS seeks to commission a consultant to conduct a study that will help identify practical guidance and best practices for ensuring gender-sensitive durable solutions planning, policy and programming. Given the broad scope of the durable solutions agenda and the cross-cutting nature of gender dynamics, the work is proposed to be conducted in three phases: Integration of a gender lens into existing durable solutions frameworks and approaches The consultants will be expected to undertake an extensive literature review, with a particular focus on literature relating to displacement dynamics in ReDSSs region, to explore what is known about the particular effects of forced and protracted displacement on different genders including what data and statistics are available. This should cover both the drivers of vulnerability and resilience, and the potential factors implicating durable solutions responses and processes. It should also provide initial conclusions on the extent to which gender considerations have been included in durable solutions planning strategy and policy in the region to date. This should consider UNHCRs understanding of durable solutions, the established IASC framework on durable solutions as well as the gender accountability framework and other regional and global frameworks on gender in emergencies. Emerging thinking being developed by the ReDSS coalition that focusses on tackling economic, social and political barriers to solutions should also be considered, particularly in framing the findings. A short inception phase will provide an opportunity for the consultants to propose and finalise an approach with the ReDSS team. This initial phase should also include the establishment and engagement with the Research Advisory Group described above to ensure strong inputs from those with lived experience of displacement, with particular emphasis on civil society leaders and organizations led by women and/or displacement affected communities. If required, this engagement could be complemented with consultations with other stakeholders. At the end of this phase, the consultants should produce: A report summarizing the findings of the initial consultations and literature review, presenting an overview of gendered barriers to durable solutions in the region. A framework for assessing how gender has been integrated into durable solutions processes in the region, to support completion of phase 2 (see below). 2. Review of how gender has been integrated into durable solutions processes in the region The consultants will be expected to undertake rapid gender reviews of durable solutions processes in three countries in the region, with the countries to be identified during the first phase. ReDSS has tentatively identified Burundi, Uganda and Somalia as countries of focus, though there is opportunity for discussion on this. Selection should be based on criteria to be determined with ReDSS and the Research Advisory Group, but aim to provide a range of experiences that speak to the diversity of forced displacement in the region, with an Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4149373/rfp-ro01-003801-consultancy-gender-displacement-and-durable-solutions-east-africa-and-great-lakes
