Country: Central African Republic
Closing date: 08 Dec 2017
ToR: A research on women participation to the peacebuilding process in The Central African Republic
1.Context and justification
The CAR is witnessing a complex emergency where competition over resources and power combined with deep-rooted economic and social grievances, nurture a deadly conflict. Ongoing mediation efforts on the part of African leaders, religious groups and the UN Mission in the CAR have not made the expected headways to peace. Moreover, bursts of violence that regularly erupt in many areas have pushed away the slight glimmer of hope for sustainable peace. Thus, there is a need to think out of the box and develop innovative strategies to end this violent armed conflict.
The value of investing in women for peace building efforts is crucial. In context of fragility, which involves settings highly affected by crisis and post-crisis, women can undoubtedly play an operational role in building peace. Because men are fighters, women become breadwinners and caregivers for their families. Thus, they have to keep their families safe and think of their wellbeing. In this new role, in order to build an environment conducive to their better future, they influence social cohesion and peace processes. In some communities, acting as mothers, grand mothers, wives and sisters they are involved in community for peace sensitization work. In other milieus, they are engaged in influencing activities to convince the combatants to lay down their arms. Because women are likely to play a crucial role as a key element in the stabilization of the CAR, the Bangui Forum (which laid the ground work for the current institutional arrangements) and the National Recovery and Peacebuilding Plan (RCPCA 2016-2021,) recommended that women be involved in peacebuilding mechanisms at both the local and national levels. This should have helped contribute to a transformative peace process inclusive of women’s needs and voices.
Although women´s contribution to building peace is noticeable within non-formal peace building processes at community level (local peace committees, informal mediation with commanders of armed groups,) formal peace-building efforts unfortunately in CAR, give little room to women's participation. Thus, few women are part of established peacebuilding processes. Although many women attended the Bangui Forum, no women were included as signatories of the latest Sant’Edidio peace agreement in Rome nor within the African Union mediation team.
Many reasons could explain this situation. The persistence of deep-rooted social perceptions and continuous gender discriminations all along the life cycle (linked to their roles as mothers, wives, and children caretakers,) and their poor social status. Community structures, which however adhere to the equity principles, have low female presence. Few women are represented in local governance structures. Many of them are poorly educated or trained to advocate for their rights. Further, their lack of knowledge on women’s rights hinders their ability to navigate within harmful socio cultural barriers. (For example, in some regions in CAR, women are not given the space and support to engage outside of their communities.) In addition to that, their reproductive role takes over other roles. Furthermore, their lack of financial autonomy and the absence of effective policies to enhance women’s participation in public affairs deepen gender gaps in peace process participation.
As a rule of thumb in CAR, women occupy very little political space, even though they account for 50.2% of the population and the law of numbers favors them. The current government only includes four women out of 23 members (17.39 %). At the level of the National Assembly, there are 12 women out of 140 members of parliament (8.57 %.) At the local level, according to the UNDP, 20 women, hold positions of mayors out of 177, which account for 11.30%. Moreover, of the six newly established institutions, a woman heads only one.
Nevertheless, the constitution of the CAR underlines the principle of equality between men and women. In the same vein, the RCPCA highlights the critical role of women in reconciliation and peacebuilding processes, while emphasizing their vulnerability in a context where various structural fragilities coexist. The whole country is characterized by rampant and pervasive poverty within a fragmented society. In addition, acute insecurity combined with political and economic tension, feed community violence and aggravate the vulnerability of the population. In this context, the government of CAR has reaffirmed its commitments to the principle of equity between men and women. At the international level, he adhered to global protective women´s rights frameworks namely the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Sustainable Development Goals (Article 5) or more specifically the Convention of Kampala on IDPs and the UN Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. These commitments are also exemplified at national level within strategic frameworks that point out the critical role that women play in promoting peace, security and reconciliation (the Bangui Forum and the RCPCA.)
Oxfam in CAR, within the Governance for active citizenship programme, is committed to promote women’s leadership in solving problems that affect communities. Recommendations from this study will be instrumental to address key issues that impede women to be effective agents for change in peace building processes. Thus, the study will tackle the five key following aspects:
- Who arewomen involved in peace building processes? What is their profile? What does peace mean for these women? How would they define it? What motivates them? Do they have skills to achieve greater results?
- How are women involved in peace building efforts?** How do they contribute to build peace? How and where do they perform? What kind of activities do they carry out? Where does their contribution go? Who support them? What role do their communities play vis a vis this engagement? How are their husbands, fathers, brothers or other people supportive? What barriers (social, structural, legal, etc.) prevent them from performing better?
- What topic do they focus on?
- What difference do they make? What impact do their activities have or what difference are they making at local and national level? Why does it matter if women are involved in peacebuilding? Is their contribution valued? How do they influence decision-making processes at national levels?
- What opportunities do they have to perform better?
Assessing the real situation of women in peacebuilding processes will help build capacities of women in order to foster a continuous dialogue with populations on issues affecting their lives including reconciliation and building peace.
This research will reinforce a well-established field of research in Women, Peace and Security by exploring within a new context, the CAR, the strategic and practical role of women in peacebuilding and reconstruction
2.Objectives The general objective of this study is twofold: - Analyze the experience of women's participation in peacebuilding processes and especially the ways they perform at the local level.- Analyze the legal framework for women's participation in peacebuilding, in local settings, in order to guide future influencing to strengthen this participation. 3. Specific objectives:This research should explore how women are involved in peacebuilding at the local level. Its objectives are as follows: 1. To gain a deeper understanding of what women’s involvement in local peacebuilding looks like. – What motivates women, what support women peacebuilders currently have – e.g. from women’s local CSOs and/or decision makers? Why women’s involvement in local peacebuilding makes a difference to peace – including positive? Concrete examples of what has worked 2. To identify clearly which activities do women undertake to build peace.3. To explore the specific case of women’s involvement in peacebuilding in Bria4. To develop a stronger rationale/influencing framework for women’s involvement in local level peacebuilding. How are they supported by the Government, donors or others stakeholders? And how the current legal framework is supportive or hinders this participation? 5. To develop a clear set of recommendations for the enhancement of women’s participation in the CAR peacebuilding efforts**.** 4. Expected results**- An analytical report on women's participation in peacebuilding processes at local level and levels of support for women’s engagement: Women's profiles, motivations, spaces allocated to this participation, content and modalities of participation. Identification of structural, institutional and socio-cultural barriers and obstacles to women's participation in peacebuilding processes at the local level.- An in-depth analysis of women’s activities including results achieved - A specific monography on women’s engagement in peacebuilding in Bria - An in-depth literature review of the existing legal framework on women's participation with a focus on gaps to be filled out with regard to international conventions that CAR is party to.- A set of recommendations and strategic lines of actions to promote the participation of well-informed women leaders and levers to be activated both at local and national levels.
- Methodology
This research will combine a mix of approaches and will necessarily include:
A literature review to assess the legal framework for women's participation, especially at the local level; - A qualitative study, based on interviews with resource persons and focus group discussions, will collect specific information on the modalities of women's participation in local peace processes and their perception;
The observation on the field will capture the environment of women's participation in peace processes at the local level.
Expected outputs
A final report including, main findings and recommendations to strengthen and promote the participation of women in peace processes, particularly at the local level.
A methodological note that summarizes approaches, tools and tasks selected for the present consultation.
An annex listing all contacts of interviewed persons.
A directory of active women peacebuilders
7.Duration of the study
The study is scheduled for 30 working days within Oxfam’s areas of interventions of Bria, Batangafo, Paoua and Bangui.
8.Institutional Arrangements
A technical committee composed of members and partners of the Governance Program and the Gender Protection Unit of Oxfam in CAR will coordinate the study. It will be responsible for the validation of all expected documents: Methodological note, interim report and final report. They will also have to approve the dissemination process.
- Study cost
Oxfam in CAR will cover the cost of this study. Its estimated budget amounts to 15 000 euros.
10.Evaluation grid
The selection committee will only consider technical and financial offers, which respond to the following criteria:
Phase 1: Technical Analysis of the offer
· Experience and expertise in women participation in peacebuilding
· Working experience on data collection on the field will be an asset
· A clear methodology with logical sequences and a realistic execution plan
· Respect of deadlines, relevance of evaluation tools*Phase 2: Analysis of financial offers*.
The contract will be awarded to the most competitive bid.
- Qualifications / special skills or knowledge required of the consultant
· Competencies
Planning and organization: Ability to identify priority activities and assignments, allocation of appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work.
Communication: Excellent written and spoken communication skills in French and English. Excellent listening skills.
Experience in conducting research in rural areas.
Curiosity and open-mindedness: ability to ask questions to clarify, and exhibit interest in having two-way communication; demonstrate openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Teamwork: ability to work collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; ability to solicit inputs by genuinely valuing others' ideas and expertise; willingness to learn from others, and ability to work in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment. Capacity to work with transparency; capacity to build trust in colleagues.
Qualifications:
Education: Master or professional research training in social sciences, feminist studies, sociology, political sciences, public affairs, law or local development.
Practical expertise in peacebuilding, gender, post conflict interventions and reconciliation is a strong asset.
Experience in developing countries is important. Work experience in Central Africa is an advantage.
Professional Experience: At least 3 years of work experience in the area of peacebuilding and gender promotion is required for this assignment. The candidate should also a good command of international conventions, which protect women in conflict and post conflict settings).
Experience with International Organizations is an advantage.
Languages: For this position, fluency in written and spoken English and French is essential; ability to work in Sango is an asset.
Conducting research: have conducted at least one similar study in a fragile country in the following areas: reconstruction / peacebuilding, reconciliation or social cohesion
Other Skills:
The candidate must be able to foster cooperation among a diversity of public officials and relevant stakeholders.
Excellent command of women’s rights instruments
good analytical skills, very good organization, autonomy, good time management
Excellent computer skills are required in the complete Microsoft Pack Office.
13.Status / Salary
As mentioned in Part 11, the Consultant will be in charge of providing a detailed budget (amount which includes his/her salary and the cost of the air ticket (for international trips in economic class.) The budget does not include the cost of accommodation and international travel.
How to apply:
The application should involve the following documents:
A methodological note describing the recommended approach and tools adapted to the target audience with a realistic implementation plan.
A technical specification describing the study outcomes and a plan of activities with a timetable, knowing that the implementation period will take place between 10-22 December 2017.
A detailed and updated CV
Two samples of published work in the same area
A detailed financial offer.
Please send your CV and motivation letter by the 8th Dec at latest, at the following mail: gouvernancerca@gmail.com indicating in the subject of your mail "Ref. Etude Women Participation"
Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interviews.