TERMS OF REFERENCE 

SENIOR NATIONAL CONSULTANT TO IDENTIFY TRADITIONAL PRACTICES THAT ARE IN LINE WITH INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AND PRODUCE NATIONAL GUIDELINESS

I.  Position Information	

Type of vacancy: Senior National Consultant
Duty Station: Monrovia, Liberia 
Languages: English 
Posting: External
Bureau: Africa
Duration of Assignment:  26 days 	

II. Organisational Context 	
The European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) are embarking on a new multi-year programme, called the ‘Spotlight Initiative (SI). SI is a global partnership to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. 

The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General and the European Union (EU) High Representative and Vice President (HRVP) was launched in September 2017. The Spotlight Initiative in Africa is going to be implemented in 8 countries: Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Uganda and Zimbabwe.  The focus for the African initiative is GBV, SRHR and Harmful Practices (HP). Six UN agencies namely, ILO, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF and UN Women are participating in the Spotlight Initiative.

Liberia has an estimated population of 4.8 million, roughly half of which is under the age of 18, with a median age of 18.7, but the country will not reap the benefits of this demographic dividend unless the situation of women and girls improves. With strong patriarchal social norms and entrenched, socially accepted violence against women and girls, Liberia currently ranks 177 out of 188 countries on the overall measures used to determine the gender inequality index. Rates of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), harmful practices (HPs), female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage and teenage pregnancy are all high, while access to sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) is low.

The programme is going to be implemented in Liberia’s five most-affected counties, and it was formulated through an extensive and inclusive participatory process. This process identified the priority interventions needed to tackle violence against women and girls by addressing structural causes, thus ensuring sustainability in six key areas of intervention;

1.	Legislative and Policy Framework
2.	Institutional Strengthening
3.	Prevention : Changing Norms and Behaviours 
4.	Response : Delivery of quality essential services
5.	Management of Data and Information
6.	Strengthening Women’s Movement and Civil Society Organisations
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is one of the responsible UN agencies participating in the implementation of the Spotlight initiative. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UN Human Rights) is the leading UN entity on human rights. The General Assembly entrusted OHCHR with a unique mandate to promote and protect all human rights for all people. The United Nations human rights programme aims to ensure that the protection and enjoyment of human rights is a reality in the lives of all people. UN Human Rights also plays a crucial role in safeguarding the integrity of the three interconnected pillars of the United Nations – peace and security, human rights and development.	
III. Functions / Key Results Expected	

The National Senior Consultant is expected, with the support of a national expert, to identify and map Traditional Practices that are in line with International Human Rights Principles, draft a policy guidance on aligning Traditional Practices with International Human Rights Principles and designing an advocacy plan to promote the endorsement of the policy document by relevant ministries and amongst Traditional Leaders. 

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships: This position is located in the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Liberia. Incumbent  report administratively to the Deputy Chief who is the supervisor.	

Responsibilities:  Within delegated authority, the Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:   
 
I.	Monitoring, analysis and reporting
•	Engaging with traditional leaders, civil society and relevant Ministries to gather information regarding Traditional Practices in the 5 counties where the Spotlight is being implemented. These are: Grand  Gedeh, Nimba, Lofa, Montserrado and Grand Cape Mount

•	Provide technical advice in the identification and mapping of Traditional Practices that are in line with International Human Rights Principles 

•	Leading the drafting of a national guidance on aligning Traditional Practices with International Human Rights Principles 

•	Designing an advocacy strategy on the adoption of the policy by relevant traditional leaders and Ministries 	

V. Deliverables 	

The National Consultant, under the leadership, guidance and decision-making authority of the Deputy Representative provides inputs in a timely manner to inform results reporting and overseeing implementation schedules, deliverable and budgets as articulated in the programme document under Pillar one.

The following key outputs are expected:

1.	A draft and final document outlining the methodology of the project;
2.	Documentation, including minutes and notes, from meetings held with with traditional leaders and civil society in Grand  Gedeh, Nimba, Lofa, Montserrado and  Grand Cape Mount to gather information about Traditional Practices
3.	Documentation, including minutes and notes, from meetings with relevant Ministries, including the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Gender and Social Protection to gather relevant information for the project
4.	The draft and final document mapping Traditional Practices that are in line with International Human Rights Principles 
5.	The draft and final national policy on aligning Traditional Practices with International Human Rights Principles 
6.	A draft and final advocacy plan, including a budget, to promote the endorsement of the policy amongst relevant Ministries and Traditional Leaders  	

VI. Knowledge and Competencies 	
a)	Expert knowledge  on  fundamental human rights principles, particularly those related to harmful traditional practices;
b)	Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines related to human rights;
c)	Ability to identify gender, social and economic factors related to traditional practices:
d)	Extensive knowledge of harmful and positive traditional practices in West Africa;
e)	Basic knowledge of institutional mandates related to the position and of UN human rights methodologies;
f)	Good analytical and research skills, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the human rights situation
g)	Proven experience working with a variety of stakeholders including Traditional Leaders, civil society and government;
h)	Proven experience writing reports and policy documents 
i)	Capacity to monitor human rights-related matters and to propose possible means for their resolution, including assisting in advocacy efforts;
j)	Ability to identify information relevant to human rights, synthesize significant amounts of information and to produce human rights analysis drawing on all available sources of information, including open sources	

VII. Recruitment Qualifications	

Education:	Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, Human Rights, Sociology, Gender studies, Law, Development Studies, or International Relations. (1 st Degree with a minimum of 7 years progressive experience in Human Rights work will be considered in lieu of a Master Degree)	
Language Requirements:	English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.  

VIII. Signatures - Post Description Certification	
Incumbent (if applicable)
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Chief Division/Section
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