West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project 2 ( - Тендер #55901453)

NOTICE AT-A-GLANCE

• Project ID

P175525

• Project Title

West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project 2

• Country

Western and Central Africa

• Notice No

OP00302524

• Notice Type

Request for Expression of Interest

• Notice Status

Published

• Borrower Bid Reference

GH-MESTI-439981-CS-CQS

• Procurement Method

Consultant Qualification Selection

• Language of Notice

English

• Submission Deadline Date/Time

Aug 02, 2024 05:00

• Published Date

Jul 26, 2024

• CONTACT INFORMATION
• Organization/Department

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

• Name

Peter J. Dery

• Address

Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Ministries Accra

• City

• Province/State

Western and Central Africa

• Postal Code

• Country

Western and Central Africa

• Phone

0244842128

• Email

vanlare28@hotmail.com

• Website

DEVELOPMENT OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE SERVICES MAPPING AND DEVELOPMENT OF A SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE/SEXUAL HARASSMENT (SEA/SH) PREVENTION AND RESPONSE ACTION PLAN

• REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (REoI)

The Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) is seeking for technical assistance to prepare an efficient, effective, and comprehensive Gender Based Violence (GBV) service provider mapping to enhance the smooth implementation of the Grievance Redress Mechanism developed for the implementation of the WACA ResIP 2, a World Bank founded project. This consultancy will assess GBV risks in the project area, develop a GBV and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Sexual Harassment (SH) prevention and response Action Plan, and provide information on services and referrals available to project related Gender Based Violence, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment (GBV/SEA/SH) cases that may occur during project implementation in selected communities within six coastal MMDAs of Greater Accra and Volta regions. The successful completion of this task will contribute to enhancing access of project benefits to women and girls and to the implementation of the broader West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project II (WACA ResIP II). The WACA program is a flagship multisector resilience investment project of the World Bank, designed to reduce the natural and man-made risks such as coastal erosion, flooding, pollution and climate change that is affecting coastal communities in West Africa. To achieve this goal, WACA is to boost the transfer of knowledge, foster political dialogue among countries through the mobilization of public and private finance to tackle the issues with focus on country projects, regional integration, and other support activities.

• PROJECT BACKGROUND

Sectoral context

The West Africa Coastal Area (WACA) Program was created in response to countries’ request for solutions and finance to help protect and restore the ecological, social, and economic assets of coastal areas addressing erosion and flooding. West Africa’s coastal communities are highly vulnerable to the impacts of coastal erosion, flooding, and pollution. Coastal retreat is resulting in the loss of housing, assets, and land, and solutions are expensive and uncoordinated. Degradation of coastal and marine ecosystems is leading to significant and potentially irreversible loss of critical ecosystems such as beaches, wetlands, and mangroves which are key for livelihoods, food security, and storm protection. These physical challenges, coupled with the broader crises driven by energy, fertilizer, and food shortages, rising interest rates and debt levels, and COVID-19 pandemic impacts are leading to low economic growth and increases in poverty. These challenges are often transboundary, multisectoral, and beyond the ability of one country or development partner to finance or effectively address.

To address these shared regional challenges, the WACA Resilience Investment Project (RESIP) 2 was approved by the World Bank in December 2022. The project supports site-specific grey, green, and hybrid physical investments, and social subprojects at the community level to achieve measurable increases in protection from coastal erosion and flooding, pollution control, and to promote climate-resilient and nature-based coastal development. Project activities are expected to directly benefit people at project sites in the three beneficiary countries, who live along the coast and depend on it for their livelihoods.

The project consists of one regional integration component and three country projects in The Gambia, Ghana, and Guinea-Bissau, each with the same design and organized in three components, namely, policy, investment, and coordination. As part of WACA ResIP2, Ghana is benefiting from a $155 million investment in its blue economy ($150m IDA; $5m PROBLUE grant). This regional integration project also supports The Gambia ($45m), Guinea Bissau ($30m), and WAEMU ($16m).

The National Gender Policy (2015) provides guidance on the direction of the Government to enhance equitable development for women and men, girls and boys across the various sectors of the economy to achieve sustainable development. A report from the Accra Regional Office of the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU), in 2020, indicated that 31.9% of Ghanaian women have faced at least one form of domestic violence - physical, economic, psychological, social, or sexual.

GBV lays a huge economic cost on survivors among other costs and is therefore a development issue. For example, a report by Institute of Development Studies (IDS), Ghana Statistical Services (GSS) and Associates (2016) stated that in Ghana, a third of women report to have experienced at least one type of domestic violence in the previous year, with young and rural women being more exposed than older and urban cohorts. The most common form of domestic violence is economic violence (13%), followed by social violence (12%), psychological violence (9%), physical violence (6%) and sexual violence (3%). Furthermore, women with disabilities are over two times more likely to have experienced sexual or physical abuse than women without a disability.

WACA ResIP2 Ghana

WACA ResIP2 in Ghana is designed to address the three key challenges to unlocking the potential of its blue economy: coastal erosion, flooding, and pollution; ecosystem degradation; and institutional fragmentation. While the ultimate objective of the project is to strengthen the resilience of coastal communities, the project’s overarching strategy to achieve this outcome is to focus on strengthening Ghana"s blue economy, and to restore and protect critical coastal ecosystems which provide essential services to nearby communities, including income generation and protection against natural disasters.

The WACA ResIP2 Ghana project has conducted a Gender Assessment and prepared Gender Based Violence Action Plan during the implementation of the PPA phase of the project. This was to ensure that the design and implementation of WACA ResIP II project interventions addresses key gender gaps in coastal resource management as well as prevent SEA/SH. This is also to help the project promote gender equality initiatives of the government and meet the World Bank Corporate Requirement on Gender tag as well as comply with the applicable Environmental and Social Standards (ESSs). The Action Plan details the operational measures to assess and mitigate the risks of gender-based violence, most notably sexual exploitation, and abuse (SEA) and sexual harassment (SH), and how they will be integrated over the life of the project. This includes procedures for reporting, responding, and managing grievances related to such abuse.

The project comprises four components as with all other countries with WACA investments. Component 1, which involves strengthening regional integration, is implemented by WAEMU and therefore no allocation is made for Ghana. Component 2 of the Ghana project aims to strengthen institutional and policy frameworks for coastal development, protection, and natural resource management, excluding fisheries. Component 3 supports physical interventions at multiple sites across Ghana to protect communities from coastal hazards and restore critical coastal ecosystems, and social investments to directly benefit coastal communities which includes a community driven development approach to livelihoods. Component 4 supports National Coordination and implementation of the project.

Under Component 3, the project will support site-specific grey, green, and/or hybrid physical rehabilitation and infrastructure investments at the following sites:

• Korle Lagoon: Construction of a new jetty to prevent sedimentation; Stabilization of eroding lagoon embankments; Dredging sediment and removal of old bridge foundations to improve the outflow of water from the lagoon. These activities directly build on flood management activities of the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) project.
• Densu Delta: Improved spatial planning and enforcement capacities to mitigate further encroachment into the delta ecosystem; Hybrid physical measures to address the coastal erosion and inundation faced by communities near Dansoman; Reforestation of areas along the Densu river, upstream of the reservoir to mitigate flooding.
• Keta Lagoon: Hybrid measures to address coastal erosion (specific sites TBD, studies ongoing); The project will also support the protection and restoration of mangroves at the Keta Lagoon Complex; Development of a national blue carbon strategy and a pilot project for mangrove areas.

The project is implemented under the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF) of the World Bank, and the environmental and social (E&S) risk classification is High. The following E&S instruments have been prepared and disclosed by the project: Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP), Labour Management Procedures (LMP), Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF), Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF), Gender Assessment and Gender Based Violence (GBV) Action Plan, and Environment and Social Commitment Plan (ESCP).

The Project is implemented by MESTI. The project implementation unit (PIU) under the supervision of MESTI, will ensure the daily execution of the project. The PIU will coordinate implementation of activities with beneficiary agencies, including Ministry of Works and Housing, and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and will organize national meetings and workshops, participate in regional workshops, and conduct priority communication activities required to ensure that the project is understood by the beneficiaries and all other stakeholders. The PIU will also be responsible for monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities.

Grievance Mechanism: WACA ResIP2 has developed a Grievance Mechanism (GRM) that seeks to address and resolve project-related grievances or complaints from stakeholders and affected persons promptly, fairly and in a manner that is acceptable to all parties for the Project’s implementation period. Every effort will be made to (i) ensure that complaints from aggrieved stakeholders are channeled to the project implementation unit (PIU) for resolution, (ii) Seek solutions to any tensions and conflicts during the entire project implementation process, (iii) Identify and implement appropriate and mutually acceptable actions to address complaints, (iv) Respond in a timely manner to the needs of complainants, (v) ensure that complaints are adequately addressed with corrective actions considered much as possible and (vi) Ensure that appropriate and mutually acceptable redress actions are identified and implement.

• OVERALL OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF WORK

The overall objective of this assignment is to support the PIU at MESTI to identify Gender-Based Violence (GBV) risks in the project area, and to prepare a comprehensive Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Sexual Harassment (SH) prevention and response plan, and a GBV Service provider mapping and referral pathways for the project. This will assist in addressing identified GBV/SEA/SH risks and specific needs of referral cases of project affected persons within the project"s target communities. The service provider mapping shall align with the overarching project"s goals and promote community participation in the GRM process.

The specific objectives of this assignment are:

• Conduct a thorough mapping of existing GBV services, including health, legal, and psycho-social support, across project intervention areas.
• Assess gaps and challenges in current GBV service provision and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Develop a robust SEA/SH Prevention and Response Action Plan tailored to WACA"s operational context and stakeholder needs.
• Strengthen awareness and capacity among WACA staff and partners on gender-sensitive approaches and SEA/SH prevention strategies.

• DETAILED TASKS

To achieve the assignment objective, the selected consultant will undertake the following tasks:

Task 1: Preparation of Inception Report

The Consultant will prepare, in coordination with the assigned staff at the MESTI, an inception report including methodology and a workplan for this consultancy. The deliverables and related timing specified in the workplan will be agreed with MESTI and the World Bank.

Task 2: Undertake GBV Service Provider Mapping for WACA Operational Area

Review existing literature, reports, and data on GBV services in project intervention areas:The consultant will undertake GBV Services Mapping for the Project covering all the MMDAs and make district specific inventory of GBV service providers to inform referral of GBV/SEA/SH cases during the GRM implementation. The consultant should review existing literature, national policies and regulations, project reports, and data on GBV services in Ghana and project intervention areas. In this regard, the consultant should undertake a review of the GBV Service Provider Map (SPM) of World Bank-funded Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development Project (GARID) and update it to cover coastal communities and Districts within the WACA ResIP 2 area in the Greater Accra Region.

Conduct consultations with key stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and community-based organizations: The consultant should conduct consultations with key stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, community-based organizations and health facilities through a structured and participatory approach. This should involve organizing meetings, workshops, and focus group discussions to gather insights on current GBV service provisions and SEA/SH prevention strategies. Stakeholders should be engaged to identify challenges, gaps, and opportunities in addressing gender-based violence and sexual exploitation and abuse/harassment within the project"s operational areas. These consultations aim to foster collaboration, ensure inclusivity of diverse perspectives, and build consensus on effective interventions to enhance service delivery and safeguarding measures across the WACA project"s target regions.

Map available GBV services, identifying locations, types of services offered, and accessibility criteria: The consultant should map available gender-based violence (GBV) services by conducting a comprehensive assessment to identify and document the locations, types, and accessibility criteria of existing services. This mapping exercise should involve collecting detailed information on health facilities, shelters, counseling centers, legal aid services, hotlines, and other relevant support mechanisms for GBV survivors within the project"s geographic scope. The consultant should utilize geographic information systems (GIS) and conduct field surveys where necessary to verify data accuracy and update service provider details. The mapped information should be compiled into a detailed inventory that includes service availability, operational hours, referral pathways, and accessibility criteria such as proximity to communities and transportation routes. This mapping effort aims to enhance coordination among service providers, improve access for survivors, and inform the development of targeted interventions under the Sexual Exploitation and Abuse/Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH) prevention and response action plan within the WACA project framework. Based on results from the mapping exercise, the consultant will submit to MESTI an interactive web-based map showing GBV service providers within the WACA ResIP 2 area. The interactive web-based map will have back-end attributes detailing directories, location, server, and information on operations of the server providers.

Analyze gaps and challenges in service provision, particularly in relation to geographical coverage, quality, and responsiveness: The consultant should conduct a thorough analysis of gaps and challenges in gender-based violence (GBV) service provision, focusing on geographical coverage, service quality, and responsiveness. This analysis should involve assessing the extent to which existing services meet the needs of survivors across the project area, considering factors such as accessibility, affordability, cultural appropriateness, and inclusivity. Through consultations with service providers, government agencies, NGOs, and community-based organizations, the consultant should identify barriers that hinder effective service delivery, including resource constraints, insufficient infrastructure, and gaps in referral networks. The findings should be synthesized into a comprehensive report highlighting key challenges and recommending strategies to address them, aiming to improve GBV service delivery and ensure that survivors receive timely and effective support under the Sexual Exploitation and Abuse/Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH) prevention and response action plan within the WACA project framework.

Task 3: Development of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse/Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH) Prevention and Response Action Plan

Conduct a situational analysis to understand the prevalence and risk factors of SEA/SH within WACA operations: The consultant should undertake a comprehensive situational analysis to assess the prevalence and underlying risk factors of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Sexual Harassment (SH) within the operations of the West Africa Coastal Areas Management Program (WACA). This analysis should involve reviewing existing data, conducting interviews and focus groups with staff and stakeholders, and analysing reported incidents. The aim should be to identify trends, vulnerabilities, and contributing factors specific to WACA"s operational contexts, ensuring a nuanced understanding of SEA/SH dynamics. Findings should inform targeted interventions and policy recommendations to mitigate risks and enhance prevention efforts.

Develop a contextualized SEA/SH Prevention and Response Action Plan, incorporating prevention strategies, reporting mechanisms, and victim support frameworks: Building on the situational analysis, the consultant should develop a tailored SEA/SH Prevention and Response Action Plan for WACA. This plan should outline specific prevention strategies, including awareness campaigns, training initiatives, and policy enhancements aimed at creating a zero-tolerance culture towards SEA/SH. It should establish clear reporting mechanisms, ensuring confidentiality and accessibility for victims. Additionally, the plan should integrate comprehensive victim support frameworks, including psychosocial assistance, legal guidance, and medical care referrals, to ensure holistic support for survivors. The action plan should be aligned with international best practices and tailored to address the unique operational context of WACA.

Task 4: Train Relevant Stakeholders on Gender Based Violence, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse/Sexual Harassment (SEA/SH) and case management

The consultant will train all relevant stakeholders including the identified GBV Service Providers on GBV/SEA/SH and Case Management, appropriate referrals, and resolution of GBV and related complaints in conjunction with the established Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) and its operator under the project.

Facilitate workshops and training sessions with WACA staff and partners to build capacity in SEA/SH prevention, detection, and response: The consultant should conduct workshops and training sessions to build the capacity of WACA staff and partner organizations in SEA/SH prevention, detection, and response. These sessions should cover topics such as understanding SEA/SH dynamics, recognizing early warning signs, utilizing reporting mechanisms, and providing victim-centred support. Practical scenarios and case studies relevant to WACA"s activities should be used to enhance participants" skills in identifying and responding to SEA/SH incidents effectively. The training should promote a culture of accountability and responsibility among staff and partners, fostering a safe and supportive environment within WACA operations.

Draft operational guidelines and protocols for implementing the Action Plan: ensuring alignment with WACA"s safeguard policies and international standards: The consultant should draft detailed operational guidelines and protocols to guide the implementation of the SEA/SH Prevention and Response Action Plan within WACA. These guidelines should specify roles and responsibilities, procedural steps for reporting and responding to incidents, and protocols for conducting investigations and disciplinary actions. Emphasis should be placed on ensuring compliance with WACA"s safeguard policies, local legal frameworks, and international standards such as those outlined by the United Nations and other relevant bodies. The guidelines should undergo rigorous review and consultation with stakeholders to ensure clarity, effectiveness, and adherence to best practices in SEA/SH prevention and response.

Present the final Action Plan to stakeholders for review and validation: The consultant should present the finalized SEA/SH Prevention and Response Action Plan to key stakeholders within WACA for review and validation. This presentation should include a comprehensive overview of the action plan"s objectives, strategies, and operational guidelines, highlighting how it addresses identified risks and vulnerabilities. Stakeholder feedback should be solicited and incorporated as necessary to ensure buy-in and ownership of the action plan. The consultant should facilitate discussions to clarify any concerns, refine implementation strategies, and secure commitments for resource allocation and support. Following stakeholder validation, the action plan should be finalized and formally adopted, marking the beginning of its implementation phase across WACA operations.

• CONTRACT TYPE AND DELIVERABLES

MESTI will enter a performance-based lump-sum contract and payments shall be made against actual deliverables as indicated below.

Table 1. Deliverable and Payment Schedule

• REPORTING AND COORDINATION

The Consultant will work under the supervision of the Project Coordinator of WACA ResIP at MESTI. The Consultant will work in close liaison with PIU. The consultant will report to MESTI in line with the deliverables for the duration of the assignment.

• DURATION

The consultant is recruited as part of the implementation of the WACA ResIP 2 Project. The contract is scheduled for 4 months starting from the commencement date. The consultancy is subject to a service contract renewable based on performance.

• REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience and Expertise of the Firm:

• Highly organized entity with the ability to produce quality work and meet tight deadlines;
• Proven experience in working on similar projects and assignments of this nature or related field. Proven track record of having successfully completed at least one similar assignment;
• Demonstrable experience with stakeholders’ engagement with local communities, government institutions and international organizations; Experience working in Ghana or Africa will be an added advantage.
• Track record of delivering within the contract period

• Expertise: The firm should possess expertise in social sciences, gender studies, public health, or related fields, with a focus on gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual exploitation and abuse/sexual harassment (SEA/SH). Demonstrated experience in conducting similar consultancies related to GBV service mapping, SEA/SH prevention, and response action plans.

• Technical Proficiency: Proficiency in conducting situational analyses to assess prevalence and risk factors of SEA/SH within operational contexts. Capability in developing comprehensive SEA/SH prevention and response action plans, integrating prevention strategies, reporting mechanisms, and victim support frameworks.

• Research and Analytical Skills: Strong research capabilities to analyze gaps and challenges in GBV service provision, including geographical coverage, quality, and responsiveness. Experience in conducting inventory mapping of GBV services, identifying locations and accessibility criteria.

• Consultation and Stakeholder Engagement: Proven track record in conducting consultations with key stakeholders, including government agencies, NGOs, and community-based organizations, to gather inputs and validate findings.

Team Composition

The required key professional experts and their qualification and experience are outlined below:

CLOSING DATE/ CONTACT

Proposals detailing how this activity of interest will be undertaken with clear goals, activity timelines, methods to achieve the set targets, a budget and curriculum vitae must be submitted alongside the application to the email addresses or address below by 2nd August 2024:

Address:

The Project Coordinator,

West Africa Coastal Areas Resilience Investment Project (WACA ResIP) 2,

Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI)

Box M32

Accra-Ghana

E-mail:

frank.lare@mesti.gov.gh

daniel.nortey@mesti.gov.gh

For further clarification, kindly contact the following:

Procurement Specialist

Phone no.: 0302662626/0244-842128

E-mail: frank.lare@mesti.gov.gh

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