TERMS OF REFERENCE
PREVENTION OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE (PSEA) INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT
General Information
Title of Consultancy: Implementation of the PSEA policy in PIH Lesotho
Type of Contract: Individual Contract – Consultant
Direct Supervisor: Lesotho Human Resources Manager
Estimated Start Date: July 2022, End date: December 2022
BACKGROUND/Context
Partners In Health (PIH) is a global social organization committed to working alongside the communities it serves to establish meaningful local partnerships and build delivery systems that increase health care access, utilization, and quality for all. We are a global health and social justice organization that responds to the moral imperative to provide high-quality health care globally to those who need it most. We strive to ease suffering by placing patients at the center of all care, meeting not only their physical, but also their mental, emotional, and daily needs so that they can recover from illness and maintain good health. We bring the benefits of modern medicine to those who have suffered from the overt and subtle injustices of the world, in the past and in the present. We refuse to accept that any life is worth less than another. PIH prioritizes programming that tackles the root causes of poverty and disease in rural, underserved populations. It believes that taking a rights-based approach to health systems strengthening is key to achieving universal health coverage.
PIH is founded upon the principle of public sector accompaniment – we work at the invitation of governments to strengthen local capacity and resiliency through training, service delivery, research, strategy development and policy formulation. Over the past thirty years, and across twelve countries, PIH has developed a rural healthcare delivery model that is community-based. PIH’s work is person-centered, youth friendly, gender responsive and committed to achieving health equity. We consider our patients our bosses, not our beneficiaries. Our team of global practitioners supports the translation of effective clinical services, policies, evidence-based programs and curricula across geographies
Justification:
All forms of sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) by PIH personnel, and associated personnel are a blatant violation of human rights and a violation of the position of authority over those we partner with. PIH is actively engaged in efforts to improve the reporting of SEAH, offering support to survivors of SEAH, and promoting accountability. PIH has replicated the six (6) guidelines of the UN Secretary-General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (ST/SGB/2003/13) which are basis for rolling out our PSEAH work. The organization is taking all necessary steps to reduce the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse of the communities we partner with and work alongside. We are currently focused on establishing and improving safeguarding systems and policies on PSEAH across all our care delivery and university sites, including effective response and accountability systems across the organization.
In order to achieve this, PIH seeks the services of a PSEAH Consultant who will work closely with the Regional safeguarding/PSEAH Advisor and the Lesotho Human Resources Manager to coordinate the implementation of Policy on the Prevention from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment.
Specific assignment:
Under the supervision of the Regional Advisor and Lesotho Human Resources Manager, the consultant will support implementing the PSEAH policy work in Lesotho.
This entails designing and carrying out awareness-raising activities with staff and
communities; developing a contextualized PSEA training package, developing capacity of PSEAH staff and focal points., assisting community consultation and design of effective complaints mechanisms; working closely PIH Lesotho leadership to conduct risk assessments and design effective mitigation strategies; provide support and coaching on safe recruitment procedures, and assist with mapping survivor support resources.
Scope of Work:
The PSEAH Consultant will help roll out the PIH PSEAH policy in Lesotho, and their primary responsibilities will be as follows;
Organizational Policy: Develop PSEAH policy roll-out action plans for the Lesotho site. The consultant will support the implementation of the PSEA policy, ensuring that all the standards are implemented guided by the PIH PSEAH implementation dashboard.
Organizational Management and HR Systems:
Develop a standard clause to commit to a zero-tolerance policy on SEAH for all contracts.
Develop recruitment procedures in accordance with local laws, checking for prior involvement in SEAH or other safeguarding concerns.
Work with HR to ensure that procedures (such as strict reference checks) are adopted and implemented to avoid hiring people with records of sexual exploitation and abuse-related offenses if such procedures are not already in place.
Develop induction package and procedures for new staff
Training: Conduct awareness sessions on sexual exploitation and abuse for PIH staff, interns and volunteers, and other organization associates.
Train PSEAH focal points on their roles and responsibilities
Reporting: Support Lesotho site in the contextualization of reporting mechanisms and procedures for staff, patients and beneficiaries and communities, including specific for children, to report SEAH allegations that comply with core standards for PSEAH policy reporting (i.e. safety, confidentiality, transparency, accessibility). These mechanisms should also cover procedures for handling allegations. These should be translated into a clear complaint mechanism in Lesotho local languages.
Survivor Assistance: Develop guidelines to ensure survivors of SEAH receive immediate professional assistance or referral to relevant service providers.
Investigation: Train key staff in PIH Lesotho (Leadership, HR and SEAH focal points) processes for managing allegations and investigations for SEAH and set up the Lesotho country investigation team
Main duties and responsibilities of the PSEAH Consultant regarding program:
1.PSEAH mainstreaming in Care Delivery Sites:
- Review internal procedures and policies, and make recommendations on the inclusion and introduction of PSEAH clauses and measures (e.g. Operations, Procurement, Partnerships and Clinical).
- Conduct risk assessments and design effective mitigation strategies for the various programs and operations in Lesotho care delivery sites
- Ensure that internal procedures are in place for PIH staff and associates to report incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse, and harassment
- Develop external complaints mechanisms, reports, and questions to track alleged acts of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by employees and workers of PIH or of partner or affiliated organizations.
- Develop and document referral mechanisms to other specialized organizations in a secure and confidential manner and in line with agreed country referral pathways.
- Ensure that all resources related to complaints are available and are in line with the applicable grievance procedures with HR.
- Review all other policies of PIH Lesotho to ensure alignment to the PSEAH /safeguarding policy
- Consultancy Progress updates:
- Provide regular updates on lessons learnt and best practices to PSEAH community of practice forum and within PIH Lesotho internal /external networks
Deliverables
- Provide monthly report to the Lesotho HR Manager and the Regional Advisor on the status of PIH Lesotho’s PSEAH implementation update basing on the main responsibilities and terms in this document.
- Develop recommendations on enhancing PIH’s safeguarding/PSEAH work to include PSEAH measures, including HR manuals, procedures, safeguarding policies etc.
- Established complaint mechanisms for PIH Lesotho care delivery site programs that can be accessed and used by staff, patients, beneficiaries and communities
- Documented referral pathways for survivor support
- Risk assessment template and completed risk assessments for PIH Lesotho programs
- Contextualized training materials for existing staff and for induction
- Other materials and deliverables as stated in the Scope of Work
Desired competencies, technical background and experience
PSEAH consultant should have the willingness and ability to understand PIH’s model of accompaniment and support in the countries where we work. Should be adaptive in implementation and with sensitivity and accountability.
a) Education:
Advanced university degree (a Master’s Degree desirable) or equivalent in gender studies, social anthropology, Law and Human Rights, Sociology, or another field related to PSEAH.
b) Experience:
At least 6 years of humanitarian or development experience, including in emergency settings on human rights and violence prevention and response, in particular sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence.
Experience in child protection.
Experience with developing training materials, conducting workshops and other capacity building activities
Experience in and knowledge of IASC policies and guidance related but not limited to PSEA, and Gender based violence(GBV)
c) Values, Principles and Skills:
- The consultant’s approach to work must be both gender and race sensitive and must not display any elements of discrimination.
- Be willing to actively promote a trusting, supportive environment that fosters inclusion, confidence
- Ability to mentor and work with individuals with diverse educational and cultural backgrounds
- Strong written and spoken English and Sesotho skills and ability to communicate clearly with a variety of stakeholders
- Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, work under pressure, and meet deadlines
Work experience in resource-limited settings and/or rural areas
Commitment to Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Harassment
PIH is committed to safeguarding staff, children and communities with whom we work and partner with, are treated with dignity and respect and protected from sexual exploitation, abuse and sexual harassment. A range of pre-employment checks will be undertaken in conformity with Partner in Health’s PSEAH policy. Partner in Health will request information from applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment.
By submitting an application, you confirm your understanding that you will be subject to safeguarding background checks and reference checks as part of hiring procedures.
Expected Timeframe
The consultant is expected to conduct all requested deliverables presented in this terms of reference within 6 months. The expected starting date is in July 2022.
How to apply
Interested candidates with relevant skills and experience are encouraged to send their offers to PIH Lesotho at [email protected] not later than 15th/7/2022.
The offer must include:
- CV for the consultant, including previous experience
- Proposed consultancy plan and outline
- The financial offer in dollars including the withholding tax
Note: All offers must be submitted in English.
For more information, please contact Tholoana Mohapi at: [email protected]