The Inter-agency Working Group on Reproductive Health in Refugees Situations
will be undertaking a global evaluation of reproductive health for refugees
and internally displaced persons.  Work on this evaluation is expected to
start in early September 2002 (pls see attached terms of reference).

Interested candidates should send their application to the Health and
Community Development Section at UNHCR Geneva (email: HQTSØØ@unhcr.ch or
fax: 41 22 739 7366).  The application closing date is 15 July 2002.

Should you have any questions, please contact:

Ms. Kate Burns
Health and Community Development Section
UNHCR Headquarters - Geneva
Tel. 41 22 739 8003
Email: [log in to unmask]

OR

Dr. Wilma Doedens
Humanitarian Response Group
UNFPA - Geneva
Tel. 41 22 917 8315
Email: [log in to unmask]


Provisional Terms of Reference for a Consultant to Coordinate the Global
Evaluation of Reproductive Health for Refugees and Internally Displaced
Persons

Background
In 1995, UNHCR, UNFPA, WHO and a number of other actors held an Inter-agency
Symposium on Reproductive Health in Refugee Situations to promote the
introduction or strengthening of appropriate reproductive health activities
in refugee and internally displaced person (IDP) settings.

More than 50 governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and UN
agencies participated in the Inter-agency Symposium on Reproductive Health
in Refugee Situations held in Geneva, in June 1995.  The major
accomplishments of this conference were:
- The establishment of an Inter-agency Working Group on Reproductive Health
(IAWG) to facilitate the objective of strengthening reproductive health (RH)
programming in refugee situations.
- The outlining of a set of RH services for implementation in refugee
situations, including a minimum package of services to be provided at the
outset of an emergency.
- The publication of the Inter-agency Field Manual on RH in refugee
situations.  First issued in 1995, then field-tested, revised and reissued
in 1999.  The manual has been translated into four languages (French,
Portuguese, Russian and Spanish).
- The recognition of RH as an essential, integral part of primary health
care and assistance to refugees.  Continued advocacy, funding and technical
assistance were agreed upon as key factors in the implementation of adequate
RH programmes in refugee situations.

It has been seven years since the Symposium took place and the IAWG was
established.  It is now time to take stock of what has been achieved in
pursuit of the overall objective of strengthening RH programmes for
refugees.  At its April 2002 meeting, the IAWG endorsed the plan put forth
by UNHCR to evaluate the effort to institutionalize RH care in programmes
serving refugees and IDPs.  It also formed an Inter-agency Steering
Committee consisting of UNHCR, UNFPA, IMC, CDC, Population Council, the
Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children, and Columbia University
to guide the evaluation process.
Evaluation Purpose
It is important to evaluate the global response to strengthening RH through
policy development, training, implementation of programmes, IAWG's efforts
to institutionalize RH services in refugee and IDP settings in order to:
- enhance accountability to refugees and IDPs;
- document the work of organizations and individuals that have been involved
in the process taking into account what has already been done in this
respect; and
- identify lessons-learned and gaps in services in order to expand the
quality and scope of the provision of RH services to refugees and IDPs.

Overall Objective
To evaluate the provision of RH services to refugees and IDPs, based on the
framework for implementation as outlined in the "Inter-Agency Field Manual
for Reproductive Health in refugee situations."

Terms of reference
Following are provisional terms of reference for the potential consultant.
The Inter-agency Steering Committee and the consultant chosen to coordinate
this evaluation project will agree on the final terms of reference.  The
consultant will be reporting directly to the Steering Committee.

Phase One
Under the guidance of the Inter-agency Steering Committee, the consultant
will coordinate the evaluation process.  Initially, the consultant will be
contracted for a period of five months (August - December 2002) on a part
time basis (50%).   During this period, in coordination with the Steering
Committee, she/he will develop a workplan and qualitative and quantitative
evaluation methodologies (such as structured questionnaires, checklists, and
guidelines for focus group discussions, participatory, beneficiary-based and
self-evaluations). The consultant will undertake field visits, backstop and
provide orientation to evaluation teams doing self-evaluation, conducting
field visits and desk research.  In addition, she/he will prepare the first
progress report on the evaluation process.

Phase Two
Based on progress made at the end of December 2002, the consultant may be
extended for another seven months covering the period January-July 2003.
Activities and a timeline for the second phase of the evaluation process
will be outlined by the consultant and the Steering Committee and will
include further field visits, quarterly progress reports, compilation and
analysis of the evaluation findings and preparation of the final evaluation
report.
The consultant is expected to undertake at least 4 field visits (2 in the
first phase of the contract and 2 in the second phase) either on her/his own
or as part of evaluation teams to be selected in coordination with the
Steering Committee. The consultant will also be meeting periodically with
the Steering Committee either in Geneva or New York. The initial meeting
will take place in early September 2002.  She/he will have to make her/his
own travel and accommodation arrangements but UNHCR and IAWG members will
provide logistical support.

The consultant and the evaluation teams will be guided by the specific
objectives of the evaluation, i.e.:
1. To take stock of the range (comprehensive, partial or minimal) , quality
of RH services provided to refugees indicating the reasons for success and
the factors that inhibit the implementation of the services.
2. To identify gaps between current knowledge and practice.
3. To develop further practical training, planning and implementation tools
for the various components of RH on the basis of lessons-learned and new
insights gained over the last seven years.

The consultant selected for this project should have:
1. proven technical expertise in RH and gender issues as well as field
experience with regard to refugee and/or IDP situations;
2. experience in both qualitative and quantitative evaluation methodologies
in several evaluations for international and non-governmental organizations;
3. strong track record in the management of research/evaluations;
4. excellent oral and writing skills in English, knowledge of French is
important;
5. good networking skills.

The final compilation of the different evaluation studies will conform to
specifications to be set by the Steering Committee.  UNHCR will exercise no
editorial control over the final report but will format and copy edit the
report prior to publication in close consultation with the Steering
Committee.  The report will be launched at a big event in early 2004 and
will be widely disseminated through various channels.


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