Term of Reference (ToR) Consultancy Service for Policy Review on Intersectionality in Selected Institutions

Term of Reference (ToR)

Consultancy Service for Policy Review on Intersectionality in Selected Institutions

Study Location: Kathmandu

BACKGROUND

Samari Utthan Sewa (SUS) was established in 2008 and is registered with the District Administration Office (DAO) of Chitwan under registration number 73, in accordance with the Social Welfare Act and Rules of 1992. As a member-based, non-profit, non-governmental organization, SUS is also registered with the Social Welfare Council under registration number 24740 and has obtained a tax exemption certificate from the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) of Nepal, with PAN number 302808852.

In line with its mission, SUS is currently implementing a project titled "Strengthening the Dalit Queer Movement in Nepal." This initiative builds upon a previous project, "Pursuing the Rights and Dignity of Dalit Queer People through Art and Activism in Nepal," which was a collaborative effort between the KIOS Foundation, Finland and SUS aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of Dalit Queer individuals in Nepal.

The primary objective of the current project is to strengthen the Dalit queer movement, enabling communities to reclaim civic space through grassroots, community-based efforts and constructive local alliance-building. Additionally, the project seeks to address existing gaps in the implementation of constitutional and legal safeguards designed to protect the rights of vulnerable groups. Furthermore, this initiative aims to expand its partnerships with other national and international LGBTIQA+ movements.

SUS would like to request for Expression of Interest (EOI) from individuals or organisations for the Policy Assessment of Selected National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) in Nepal through an intersectional lens.

CONSULTANCY SUMMARY

The Consultant will conduct a policy assessment/review and prepare a 2–4-page policy brief that highlights the findings and gaps in the organizational policies of the National Human Rights Commission, National Dalit Commission, National Women Commission, and National Inclusion Commission, concerning effacing intersectionality. This brief should be based on an assessment report. 

OBJECTIVES:

The objectives of the assignment are as follows:

1. To assess the level of integration of intersectionality within the policies of selected national institutions.
2. To identify gaps in these policies and provide actionable recommendations to improve inclusivity.
3. To deliver a comprehensive policy review report that outlines key findings and recommendations.

SCOPE FOR THE STUDY

Review Relevant Documents: Review the Human Resources and GESI/Inclusion policy of the National Human Rights Commission, National Dalit Commission, National Women Commission, and National Inclusion Commission, concerning effacing intersectionality. Use a structured intersectionality lens to evaluate how policies address the overlapping challenges faced by different identities. Utilize secondary data and past reports to supplement primary data, and analyse data and insights.

Draft the Policy Brief: Prepare a draft policy brief that includes:- An executive summary of the findings, Methodology, Identification of key gaps in effacing intersectionality and recommendations for policy improvements.

Stakeholder Consultation: Develop a stakeholder matrix to ensure diverse and inclusive representation of stakeholders, including policymakers, feminist organizations, and civil society organizations (CSOs) focused on LGBTIQA+ rights, to validate the findings through interviews or a consultation workshop for gathering diverse perspectives on the impact of policies.

Finalize the Policy Brief: Incorporate feedback from stakeholders and finalize the policy brief for dissemination.

DELIVERABLES:

The Consultant is expected to deliver the following:

• A draft policy brief for review within a given timeframe.
• A finalized policy brief incorporating feedback from stakeholders within a given timeframe.
• A presentation of the findings and recommendations to relevant stakeholders, if required.

REPORTING LINE:

The Consultant will report to the Project Coordinator at Samari Utthan Sewa (SUS) and will provide regular updates on progress throughout the assignment.

BUDGET:

The budget for this assignment will be determined based on the Consultant's qualifications and proposed work plan.

TIMEFRAME:

The duration of this assignment will be in-between 25th December to 8th January. The estimated maximum working days would be 15 days within the assignment period. The proposed timeline for this assignment is as follows:-

REQUIRED QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE:

The consultant must have the following qualifications and experience:-

• Advanced degree in social sciences, public policy, or a related field.
• Proven experience in policy analysis, research, and report writing.
• Familiarity with caste, gender and sexuality issues and the context of Dalit and LGBTIQA+ movement in Nepal.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

EVALUATION CRITERIA:

The evaluation method will be technical competency, experience, and cost-based selection. A two-stage procedure shall be utilized in evaluating the proposal, a technical evaluation, and a financial evaluation. The proposal/EOI will be ranked according to their combined technical and financial scores the weights of 75% for the technical proposal, and 25% for the offered price.

TECHNICAL EVALUATION:

For the valuation of the technical proposals, SUS shall take the below criteria and weights into consideration. SUS reserves the right to discard offers below a technical score of 75 points.

APPLY TO:

Interested candidates should submit their EOI with CV, a cover letter detailing their relevant experience, budget and a sample of previous work related to policy briefs or similar documents by December 24, 2024, to samari.utthan@gmail.com. Qualified and committed Nepali individuals or firms are strongly encouraged to apply. The selected applicant will be invited for a final discussion and contract signing.