Job Description
Strengthening the Capacity of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities and Civic Participation of Youth and Women with Disabilities in Governance in Masvingo, Matabeleland South and Mashonaland Central Provinces of Zimbabwe
1.0 Introduction
Leonard Cheshire Disability Zimbabwe (LCDZ) wishes to engage a qualified and experienced consultant to conduct a baseline study for the project – Strengthening the capacity of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and civic participation of youth and women with disabilities in governance in Masvingo, Matabeleland South and Mashonaland Central Provinces of Zimbabwe. LCDZ is co-implementing the project with CBMG Zimbabwe with co-funding from European Union (EU) and CBM Ireland.
Leonard Cheshire Disability Zimbabwe (LCDZ) is a non-profit making disability service organisation registered as a Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO 36/80). The organisation envisions a society in which every person with a disability can enjoy their rights and can fulfil their potential. Its mission is to enable persons with disabilities to improve their quality of life and to campaign for the removal of the barriers which hinder them. LCDZ values and promotes a culture of disability inclusion, openness and self-sustenance through implementation of various projects throughout Zimbabwe.
CBM Global Disability Inclusion is a Christian international development organization, registered in Germany and the Netherlands, with over 115 years of experience dedicated to ending the cycle of poverty and disability. Driven by its vision of an inclusive world where all people with disabilities enjoy their human rights and reach their full potential, and its mission to fight poverty and disability, CBM Global works closely with persons with disabilities and their representative organizations to address poverty, exclusion, and injustice. Since 2022, CBM Global has operated in Zimbabwe as a registered Private Voluntary Organization (PVO 01/22), with a central office in Harare and a presence across nine provinces, collaborating with government ministries and local partners to promote disability rights and inclusive development. As a dual mandate organization, CBM Global operates in both development and humanitarian contexts, with its Inclusion Advisory Group (IAG) offering expert guidance in both areas.
Duties and Responsibilities
Background to the Project
According to ZIMSTATS (2022), 9.2% of Zimbabwe’s population are persons with disabilities. In their diverse constituency groups, persons with disabilities still face fundamental barriers to equal participation in all aspects of life. They are frequently left out of decision-making processes in Zimbabwe, both at community and national levels and an estimated 20% of persons with disabilities in Zimbabwe lack identity documents and are excluded from key governance processes such as voting in local and national elections (NASCOH, 2021). Despite the rights of persons with disabilities being specified in the National Constitution of 2013, the UNCRPD ratification in 2013, the National Disability Policy of 2021 and the current Persons with Disabilities Bill that is under review by Parliament, disability rights and commitments have not fully been translated into concrete actions.
Persons with disabilities and their representative organisations, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) lack voice and have limited and fragmented access to influence policy decisions and governance processes at local and national levels. All too often the voices of persons with disabilities are not heard in local and decision-making platforms and processes, nor in formulation of legislation that affects them. At national level, persons with disabilities remain underrepresented in Parliament and other decision-making bodies. As a result, they cannot effectively contribute to the identification and rectification of the many specific and substantial problems they face. It is therefore imperative to make the voices and decisions of persons with disabilities heard and considered by building the capacity of OPDs, as representative organisations, to play a full role in governance and development processes.
Whereas OPDs are vehicles for mobilising, representing and defending the rights of persons with disabilities, it has been observed that these entities sometimes encounter areas where organizational capacity could be further strengthened, particularly concerning internal governance, transparency practices, and long-term sustainability. Specifically, some OPDs are yet to develop more robust governance frameworks and comprehensive internal policies and procedures to guide their operations. Furthermore, enhancing program and financial management skills, including the capacity for resource mobilization, is an ongoing area of further development for OPDs. In terms of organizational structure, there are opportunities to further develop overall capacity and foster greater inclusive participation from diverse groups, such as youth and women with disabilities, beyond specific impairment focuses. Refining the definition and identification of priorities for policy advocacy, as well as ensuring these fully reflect the priorities of persons with disabilities, is also an area of potential growth.
In addition to their diverse capacity levels, some OPDs often have a limited understanding of the UNCRPD and the SDGs and how to use them to advocate for the realization of disability rights. They also often have limited active consultation with their constituencies, which include youth and women with disabilities, resulting in limited grassroots structures for launching coherent and effective advocacy campaigns at multiple levels. Consequently, they may not be as effective in influencing their priorities or working with relevant authorities and institutions to achieve development objectives that are inclusive of persons with disabilities. These capacity challenges lead to difficulties for many OPDs in securing the visibility, credibility, funding, or sustainability necessary for achieving their mandates.
2.1. Project Context
Six OPDs, from Matabeleland South, Masvingo and Mashonaland Central provinces are targeted to transform them into dynamic, and self-sufficient organisations able to steadfastly develop and implement campaigning, and advocacy activities; generate their own funding and conduct regular meetings of members and consultations with other community members and civil society groups on disability rights and inclusive development. 3,000 persons with disabilities (estimated 2,000 females, 1,000 males) in three provinces of Zimbabwe. The constraints faced by the target group are substantial and varied.
2.2. Project Strategies
The project seeks to empower persons with disabilities with knowledge about their rights as well as governance and methods of advocacy. Persons with disabilities are supported in policy bench marking and gap analysis, including producing policy briefs that will be shared with policy makers. The rationale being that persons with disabilities who are well informed of and aware of their rights and entitlements, can vocalize their needs and advocate for improved provision and access to local quality social services. The project integrates Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and economic resilience. This seeks to reduce the impact of climate induced disasters that exacerbate the cycle of poverty and disability.
2.3. Project Impact
OPDs are strengthened as a movement that advocate for and influence governance and policy making processes using inclusive grassroots structures in the Masvingo, Matabeleland South and Mashonaland Central provinces.
2.3.1. Outcomes
1. OPDs have improved organisational capacity and support functions to promote and influence fulfilment of rights of persons with disabilities, especially women and youth.
2. Persons with disabilities, especially women and youth have increased awareness and agency on rights and governance issues at all levels.
3. A strengthened disability movement (OPDs, Disability Committees) and allies holds duty bearers and decision makers accountable to disability inclusive development commitments.
4. OPDs and their constituency are capacitated to influence, and support building of inclusive resilient communities for all.
2.4. Outputs
1. OPDs strengthen their own organisational, institutional and strategic development capacities to mobilise, represent and defend the rights of persons with disabilities.
2. OPDs strengthen their members’ capacities to influence local and national level processes for legislative, policy and programmatic reform.
3. OPDs are supported to be part of a wider movement that share common goals of justice, human rights and democracy, and use the platform to hold decision makers and duty bearers accountable for disability inclusive public policy delivery.
4. OPDs and their constituency are equipped with knowledge on DiDRR, SGBV and inclusive, cohesive and resilient communities.
3.0. Purpose of the Baseline Study
The baseline study seeks to measure the current status of all the indicators of the project. The indicators are presented in the Logical framework of the action attached as an Annex to these terms of reference.
3.1. Objectives of the Baseline Study
The specific objectives of the baseline study are:
• To measure the current status of the project outcomes and output indicators as outlined in the project logical framework.
• Proffer recommendations for effective delivery of the program
3.2 Methodology
The consultant is expected to propose a suitable methodology, which will include both quantitative and qualitative approaches.
.4 Ethical Considerations
The consultant and team should adhere to the standard research and evaluation ethics/principles. The assignment is to be carried out according to the following standard ethical principles, and norms.
1. Confidentiality and anonymity: The Baseline Study team must respect the rights of individuals who provide information, ensuring their anonymity and confidentiality is guaranteed. The consultant will comply with Zimbabwe national laws on Data Protection and adhere to LCDZ data protection policy.
2. Disability inclusive: The consultant and Baseline Study team must ensure the inclusion of persons/children with disabilities during their work.
3. Independence: The survey should be free of bias of any nature. In this regard, the consultant is recruited for his/her ability to exercise independent judgment.
4. Validation of information: The consultant and Baseline Study team will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the collected information while preparing the reports and will be ultimately responsible for the information presented in the report.
5. Intellectual property: The survey team shall respect the intellectual property rights of the institutions and communities that are under review. All materials generated during the survey are the property of LCDZ and can only be used with written permission.
6. Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse (PSEA) and Child Safeguarding
The consultant and Baseline Study team should adhere to LCDZ PSEA and Child Safeguarding policy. In case any breach of these policies, the contract of this Baseline Study may be terminated immediately, and necessary procedure including reporting to the police may be followed.
3.5 Baseline Study timeline
The entire Baseline Study process is expected to take a maximum of 30 days.
4.0 Consultancy Fee and Payment Terms
The successful consultant will be paid 60% upon signing the contract and the remaining 40% after the submission of the final report.
Qualifications and Experience
Required Qualifications and Expertise for Lead Consultant /Entity
The consultant shall have the following qualifications and expertise:
• A minimum of a post-graduate University degree in Development Studies, Social Sciences, Monitoring and Evaluation, Disability Inclusion, or equivalent.
• At least five years’ work experience in development work and a minimum of three years of consulting experience as a team leader.
• Knowledge of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and current trends in disability programming will be an added advantage.
• Experience in participatory methods of research, gathering and synthesizing the perspectives of persons with disabilities from different constituency groups.
• Good knowledge of gender mainstreaming and inclusion issues.
• Good inclusive facilitation and presentation skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• At least three similar assignments completed (with support letters from the clients).
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