Starting date : 17 January 2011
Extended Closing date : 10 February 2011
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
PROJECT ON
Designing and Implementing an Impact Evaluation of the Safe Cities Free
of Violence Against Women and Girls Project in India (Phase II)
Background
Violence against women and girls is a global pandemic of alarming
proportions: according to available country surveys, 15 to 76 per cent
of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence in their
lifetime. Millions of women and girls face sexual harassment and
assault in public spaces every day, on city streets, parks, public
transportation and their routes to and from work and school. Though a
universal phenomenon, especially relevant in a globalized and
urbanizing world, sexual violence against women and girls in public
spaces is largely unrecognized and ignored by policies, programmes and
budgets. The dearth of reliable, specific and comparable data also
contributes to this problem and the lack of public and political
attention that it requires.
A
cornerstone of UN Women’s efforts to advance gender equality, end
violence against women and bring women’s rights to bear on local
governance and decision making is its work on the neglected issue of
sexual violence
and other forms of violence in public spaces. To create a catalyst for
policy attention, public awareness and innovative responses, UN Women
has launched a new flagship initiative, the Global Programme on Safe
Cities Free of Violence against Women and Girls.
The
initiative is inspired in particular by the recent experiences within a
Regional programme in Latin America, which was initiated with the
initial support from the UN Trust Fund to Eliminate Violence against
Women and in general draws on years of accumulated expertise in women’s
safety and prevention of pioneering women’s grassroots and networks, UN
sister agencies (such as UN HABITAT and UNICEF), experts in diverse
fields (e.g. urban planning, geography, communications, etc) and local
authorities.
The
programme aims to develop the first proven model on how to
prevent and reduce sexual violence and harassment in public spaces for
eventual adaptation by local authorities and other decision-makers
worldwide, in partnership with grassroots women’s organizations and
community groups.
This model is intended to be capable of upscaling in many local
contexts—furthering women’s empowerment and gender equality, while
enhancing the quality of city life for all. Focusing on slum areas,
impoverished neighborhoods and excluded groups, these efforts will work
to empower women and their communities in diverse settings in five
cities: Cairo (Egypt), Kigali (Rwanda), New Delhi (India), Port Moresby
(Papua New Guinea) and Quito (Ecuador).
Reflective of the goal
to develop and test a safe city model, the Impact evaluation
component is an integral part of the design of the Global Programme.
In each of the participating cities UN Women is seeking a strong
partner institution to lead this critically important aspect of the
programme.
In
particular, the impact evaluation will determine the extent to which
the programme has 1) reduced gender-based violence, 2) increased
mobility of women and girls in public spaces, and 3) increase awareness
about and enjoyment of women and girl’s rights to access and use public
space
Three main options of
impact evaluation design are to be considered:
experimental evaluation, using randomized trials with control
and treatment groups; quasi-experimental evaluation, involving
cluster trials (to compare the interventions’ effects on beneficiaries
with comparable communities in which the intervention was not
implemented); and a comprehensive pre- and post-intervention
evaluation (without a comparison or treatment/control group).
The IE design will
include incorporation of gender equality and human rights approaches,
participatory techniques, application of qualitative and quantitative
methodologies, construction of counterfactuals to help to assess impact
attribution, and a longitudinal study involving ex-ante
(baseline), mid-term, post (end line) and ideally; ex-post
assessments (after projects end or the initial implementation phase
ends).
The rigor of the impact
evaluation of the Global Safe Cities model will be enhanced by using
a variety of innovative and participatory methods and forms of
documentation throughout the duration of the programme, including
participatory techniques such as “the most significant
change”, mapping, establishing of local observatories and use of
audiovisuals, videos, and testimonials, which can best support the
generation of knowledge, and ultimately dissemination of progress and
results.
Context in India
Women living in New
Delhi experience high levels of insecurity and harassment in
buses, on streets and in
other public spaces, and ‘eve teasing’ of women and girls is all too
common. (See:
http://jagori.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/report-on-baseline-survey.pdf
and
http://www.unifem.org.in/violenceagainstwomen.html)
With an emphasis
on creating an overarching strategy to create safer cities for women
and girls, the project will focus on some of the following - needed
policy and legislative reforms; urban planning and design of public
spaces; civic awareness; improvements in public transport and policing;
provision and maintenance of public infrastructure and services; and
expanding access by survivors to legal assistance, justice and other
supports.
The Department for Women
and Child Development, Government of Delhi, JAGORI, UN Women are the
main partners. Inspired by Jagori’s recent campaign, which includes TV
spots such as Staring Hurts, the project will develop a
multimedia prevention and educational drive for community mobilization.
A larger number of stakeholders have already been consulted and more
are to be engaged in its development, including the Departments of
Education and Transport of the Government of Delhi, the Delhi Police,
women’s rights groups and United Nations agencies (UNICEF, UN Habitat
UNDP, UNESCO and UNFPA).
Key activities
UNIFEM is requesting for proposals from qualified organizations to
undertake the following tasks within Phase II of the Safe City New
Delhi project:
v
In consultation
with UN Women impact evaluation experts, develop a methodology (that
is gender, age and culturally appropriate) for a scoping study to
gain a deeper understanding of the nature of sexual violence (SV) and
harassment in selected two areas to help refine the project design (
including specific interventions) and the IE strategy. Inter alia, it
will need to ensure that adolescent girls’ experiences of SV and
harassment in public spaces are included as a distinct focus.
v
Provide support
the main project partners - The Department for Women and Child
Development, Government of Delhi and JAGORI to develop a robust project
design {based on results of the initial base-line research undertaken
by JAGORI and New Concept Information Systems between January and March
2010 that covered all 9 districts of Delhi and strategic framework
developed in response to it) refine the theory of change and
intervention logic model following consultations with stakeholders in a
targeted workshop
v
Undertake
analysis of existing base-line research and determine if supplementary
surveys are needed to ensure comprehensive coverage of the refined (as
a result of the stakeholders workshop) theory of change
v
Provide support
the main project partners (The Department for Women and Child
Development, Government of Delhi and JAGORI) to develop a participatory
monitoring system, which could include safety observatory that provides
a more stable system to collect and analyse data from a wide gamut of
sources on sexual violence and other forms of violence (health, police,
schools, etc), or “a real life feedback mechanism” - to track change
over the course of the “Safe Delhi” project
v
In consultation
with Global Impact Evaluation partner, develop a specific Impact
Evaluation (IE) strategy, including the initial document and advanced
version, upon validation by key stakeholders.
v
Undertake a
mid-term evaluation in 2013
Project Sites
The project will be
implemented in two locations in two districts of Delhi state. The
decision on the selection of the intervention sites will be made by a
Steering Committee chaired by the Minister Prof. Kiran Walia.
The selection of the
intervention sites will be based on the following considerations:
v
The level of SV
and harassment (areas with high rates being prioritized)
v
Socio-economic
indicators – areas with characteristics of inequality and exclusion
v
Availability of
and actual or potential engagement with women’s grassroots groups,
including those working with adolescent girls.
v
Existence of or
the potential for effective, efficient, available and accessible
referral services in the area.
v
Local authority
support for project implementation in the areas.
v
No or limited
direct exposure to other Safe City activities in New Delhi
Project Phases:
v
PHASE I
(2009-2010) - development of initial project profile, building of key
partnerships and conducting of the initial base-line study.
v
PHASE II
(covered by current TOR) 2011-2013: development of Impact Evaluation
Strategy, supplementary baseline if required, advanced project design
(scoping study, baseline for interventions), building key stakeholders
partnerships at the sites of interventions, establishing of monitoring
system, beginning of project interventions, mid-term evaluation;
v
PHASE III:
2013-2015 Fine-tuning of the project on the basis of mid-term
assessment, continuation of interventions and on-going monitoring of
project activities and results.
v
PHASE IV:
End-line assessment (The end-line will begin after completion of the
directed by the programme interventions - ex-post).
Time Frame of this TOR:
Phase II March 2011 – February 2013 (2 years)
Guidelines for the Submission of
Proposals
What is the format for the
proposal?
Given the above details, the proposal
(7-10 pages) should
contain, at minimum, the following:
-
A brief technical proposal which includes:
l
Institutional profile: brief
description of relevant experience as a primary implementing agency on
social research and evaluations. Specific experience in designing and
implementing impact evaluation research (both quantitative and
qualitative) on gender, gender based violence using participatory
methods should be clearly stated. Details of past research projects and
achievements as a result of work undertaken must be spelled out in the
application
l
Names and short bio notes of
the research team that will undertake the work (even though CVs in
Appendix), indicating which, if any are sub-contractors.
Details of how much time will be given by each individual member in the
team, especially by senior staff must be clearly stated.
l
Key components of
the impact evaluation strategy to be employed
l
Detailing the
design and methodology for the base line data collection, including
quantitative and qualitative components, mid term review, end line
assessment and ongoing monitoring processes and systems to be put in
place. Views on the initial baseline conducted by JAGORI and New
Concept Information Systems in 2010
available on http://jagori.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/report-on-baseline-survey.pdf
and how this may be supplemented may be spelled out
l
Logframe (articulating key
Outputs, SMART indicators and means of verification (see template
below)
l
The proposed two
year work plan based on the general timeframe given above (see work
plan template below)
2. A budget
proposal (in
Excel with detailed footnotes or with a separate line-by-line budget
narrative).
Programmatic costs must comprise at least
70% of the total budget.
The Breakdown of financial costs could include:
Personnel; Training of researchers and community observers, Data
collection, Data entry, Data analysis and presentation; Equipment
(specify); Contractual services (specify); Monitoring (including
travel, other); Dissemination, Organizational support (communications,
materials – this should not exceed 7% of the total budget); Audit. The
budget for 2011 and 2012 should be presented in separate excel sheets.
Applicants should include Annexes (supporting documents) such as
detailed CVs of lead technical staff proposed for work on this project,
managerial and communications staff, organization brochure, and
examples of previous work and projects relevant to the assignment.
What criteria will be used for
the selection of the organization /consultant team?
Organizations/Consultant Teams will be selected on the basis of
technical (70%) and financial (30%) assessments. First a technical
assessment will be undertaken. The technical
and financial proposals should be submitted separately.
The assessment will review the following;
-
Track record of
undertaking social research, including research in the area of
violence against women/gender based violence
-
Technical expertise
and demonstrated capacity to design and implement
evaluation of development projects, including
impact evaluations involving use of qualitative and quantitative
methods, including large scale randomized surveys;
-
Level of relevant
expertise of staff committed to this project
-
Soundness of the
methodology proposed
-
Realism of work plan
to complete the assignment
-
Financial management
capacity and competence, including appropriate arrangements for
budgeting, expenditure control and accounting
-
Familiarity with
United Nations Evaluation Group and UN WOMEN norms, standards and
ethical code of conduct (http://www.uneval.org/normsandstandards/index.jsp?doc_cat_source_id=4
)
When is the proposal due?
The deadline for submission of
proposals is 31 January 2011. Proposals received after
the deadline will not be considered.
To whom should the proposal be
sent?
Submissions should be sent in hard copy with a signed cover letter
mentioning “Proposal to design and implement an Impact Evaluation of
the Safe Cities Free of Violence Against Women and Girls Project in
India” in the subject line.
The submissions should be sent to:
Ms. Shahnaaz Basha
C/O Registry
UN Women South Asia Regional Office
19 A Rajdoot Marg New Delhi – 110021
Fax: 91-11-26119130
Electronic submissions may be sent to
registry.india@unwomen.org
UNIFEM will not consider
applications:
·
Submitted by individuals
without any organizational affiliation;
·
Submitted by organizations that
do not have a legal status in the country of operation;
·
Submissions that have
incomplete documentation, including blank or missing annexes.
In
cases where two or more organisations submit a joint proposal, the name
of the organization that is taking the overall responsibility for
satisfactory completion of the work, financial administration and
reporting and overall accountability to UN Women must be clearly
stated. A copy of the MoU between the two organizations must be
attached. Relevant details related to the collaborating organization
with clear roles and responsibilities in design, implementation and
monitoring of the proposed project should also be mentioned
Ideal Profile for IMPACT
EVALUATION (IE) IMPLEMENTING PARTNER (IP)
It is envisaged that the partner is likely to be an academic or
non-profit research organization, but other possibilities will be
considered. Organisations that are not able to meet all the above
requirements ‘in house’ may establish appropriate collaborative links
with individuals or other organisations to strengthen their
credentials. The proposal should demonstrate a written agreement
between the organization-applicant and the potential collaborator
regarding specific scope and terms of existing or proposed
collaboration.
The selected partner will:
I. Have a strong track record in:
-social
research, including large scale and substantive studies of sensitive
issues in developing countries, such as research of sexual violence
-evaluation
of development projects, including impact evaluations involving use of
qualitative and quantitative methods
-
work on programmes involving complex institutional environments such
as, for example, UN agencies, governments, other national and
international institutions, and civil society
-writing
reports and publications which have made a significant contribution to
legislation, public policy, programmes or learning in the field of
development practice and studies
-delivering
reports and publications on a tight schedule and in coordination with
and input from multiple partners, stakeholders and collaborators
-promoting
use and dissemination evaluation findings
II. Commit to this assignment staff with expertise in:
-quantitative
and qualitative research in gender equality, women’s empowerment and/or
gender-based violence/violence against women
-design
of experimental, quasi-experimental and rigorous ex-ante and ex-post
evaluation strategies
-design
of population surveys, including delivery methods, sampling processes,
sample size, power calculations, survey instruments and non response
and response validation issues
-survey
management, including implementation planning, workforce training and
management, quality control and data processing
-advanced
data analysis, including selection and use of appropriate parametric
and non-parametric inferential techniques, content analysis (for
qualitative data)
-qualitative
research methods including, for example, document reviews, in-depth
interviews, focus groups, direct and/or participatory observation
-experience
with participative evaluation techniques, such as ‘the most
significant change’ evaluation approach, “making the case” and other
-managing
the ethical issues that arise with research into sensitive
gender-related topics and the use of experimental/quasi experimental
research designs
III. Be able to demonstrate capacity for or competence in ensuring:
-policies
and procedures covering, for example, research codes of conduct, staff
safety and data protection
-financial
management, including appropriate arrangements for budgeting,
expenditure control and accounting
-language,
including ability to communicate well in English (orally and in
writing); knowledge of other UN language is an asset
-workforce
management, including ability to mobilize and manage survey teams with
capability to carry out data coding and data entry
-technology,
including information technology for data handling, data analysis and
disaster recovery
-adequate
workspace, including appropriate premises and office support services
IV. Have the following additional attributes:
-political
independence, reputational credibility and a commitment to gender
equality
-resilience,
including ability to withstand staff turnover and other unforeseen
developments
-willingness
to work within the UN Evaluation Group’s Norms and Standards.
LOGICAL FRAMEWORK
FORMAT
Results |
Indicators |
Means
of Verification/Sources of Information |
Assumptions/Risks |
Goal –
|
|
|
|
Outcome 1 –The
project is expected to contribute towards the achievement of this
result, collectively with other development partners. |
|
|
|
Output 1.1 – The
project will be directly held accountable for this result. |
|
|
X –
not needed |
Activity 1.1.1 |
X –
Not needed |
|
X |
Activity 1.1.2 |
X |
|
X |
Activity 1.1.3 |
X |
|
X |
Output 1.2 - The
project will be directly held accountable for this result. |
|
|
X –
Not needed |
Activity 1.2.1
|
X –
Not needed |
|
X |
Activity 1.2.2 |
X |
|
X |
Activity 1.2.3 |
X |
|
X |
Outcome 2 –
The project is expected to contribute towards the achievement of
this result, collectively with other development partners. |
Link
to relevant indicators. |
|
|
Repeat as in above |
|
|
|
IMPLEMENTATION
WORK PLAN FORMAT
Outcome |
Output |
Output Indicator |
Key
Activity |
Implementing Partner(s) |
Timeframe
(6
monthly units) |
Budget Amount |
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