GPC Consultant Development IDP Handbook

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

H (no hardship)FamilyCONS Local2024-10-01September 10, 20241. General Background of Project or Assignment:
The Global Protection Cluster (GPC) is a network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), international organizations and United Nations (UN) agencies, engaged in protection work in humanitarian crises including armed conflict and climate change-related disasters. The GPC is mandated by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC), led by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), governed by a Strategic Advisory Group (SAG), co-chaired by the GPC Coordinator and an operational NGO, and serviced by a multi-partner Operations Cell. The GPC unites members, partners and communities working on the full gamut of protection activities, including in four specialized Areas of Responsibility (AoRs): Child Protection (CP), Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Housing, Land and Property (HLP) and Mine Action (MA).
At the end of 2023, 68.3 million people remain internally displaced due to conflict and violence, according to UNHCR latest Global Trends Report. The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has doubled over the last 10 years, with women, children and marginalized groups often facing the greatest impacts and expose to protection risks. While some return home relatively quickly, tens of millions get trapped in long-term displacement of five to 10 years or longer. The urgency to prevent and respond to protection risks and need, to prevent internal displacement and to find durable solutions to protracted situations is particularly acute in light of new and ever-lasting conflicts and growing climate-related disasters.
In 2010, following a provisional release and field testing exercise from 2007, the Handbook for the Protection of Internally Displaced Persons (‘Handbook’) was officially released in four languages, with input from some 107 organizations and entities in 18 countries, as a principle tool of the GPC, developed by a GPC working group. The goal of the Handbook is to address displacement related protection risks and needs faced by civilians, whether due to conflict and human rights abuses or natural disasters, and in the pursuit of protection outcomes.
Since the release of the Handbook, there has been a growing body of new initiatives related to the response to internal displacement, including the UN Secretary-General’s (SG) High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement and SGs Action Agenda on Internal Displacement, the IASC Protection Policy 2016 (including recommendations from the 2022 review of its implementation and subsequent guidance) and most recently the Independent Review of the Humanitarian Response to Internal Displacement, which includes a follow through action: ‘The IASC and ERC should promote better knowledge and use by RC/HCs, HCTs and IASC member agencies/INGOs and their staff of the UN Guiding principles on IDPs and core IASC guidance on IDP issues including the IDP Protection Handbook, IASC Protection Policy, Framework for Durable Solutions, and Operational Guidance on Protection in Natural Disasters..’.
The GPC is now undertaking to identify the key updates needed to the Handbook based on policy and practice developments over the past decade and a consultative process for revisions that draws on the expertise of diverse protection actors.
The Handbook provides operational guidance and tools to support effective protection responses in situations of internal displacement. Specifically, the Handbook seeks to:
• ensure staff members are familiar with the core concepts, principles and international legal standards that form the framework for protection work;
• assist staff in operationalizing these concepts, principles and legal standards and in carrying out their protection responsibilities;
• improve understanding of the particular protection risks faced by internally displaced women, men, boys and girls of all ages and various backgrounds;
• provide guidance on how to prevent and respond to the protection risks faced by IDPs through a range of different activities;
• enhance staff skills for carrying out protection work; and
• promote a consistent and well-coordinated protection response in different operations
It is divided into six parts. These six parts and their individual chapters are interconnected, but they can also stand alone as self-contained modules.
• Part I covers the foundations of protection. It sets out core concepts, approaches and humanitarian principles for protection work and provides an overview of the legal and institutional frameworks for the protection of IDPs.
• Part II outlines skills, both professional and interpersonal, which are required to support protection work.
• Part III focuses on building a protection response, providing guidance on how to assess and analyse a protection situation; develop protection strategies for response; and monitor and evaluate protection programmes.
• Part IV provides guidance on how to prevent, mitigate and respond to specific protection risks and rights violations commonly faced by IDPs, suggesting actions for supporting IDPs to realize their rights and for the State to fulfil its protection responsibilities.
• Part V provides more detailed information about key protection activities that contribute to an effective protection response, identifying the operational challenges that may arise and the principles that should guide our action.
• Part VI focuses on durable solutions and the importance of having a solutions-oriented approach to protection. It is largely based on the Framework for Durable Solutions developed by the Brookings-Bern Project on Internal Displacement with the support and guidance of Representative of the Secretary General for the Human Rights of IDPs.
• Part VI provides practical suggestions for the application of this Framework in Field Operations
It is used by practitioners, particularly staff on the ground, engaged in responding to internal displacement. This includes not only human rights and protection staff but also humanitarian and development actors more broadly and as a source of information and guidance for all partners involved in a protection response, including State authorities and civil society.
2. Occupational Safety and Health Considerations
To view occupational safety and health considerations for specific duty stations, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
Specific Occupational Safety and Health Considerations to this assignment (if applicable):
N/A
3. Overall Purpose and Scope of Assignment:
The purpose of this consultancy is to undertake preparatory work for the revision and updating of the Handbook, which includes:
Duties and Responsibilities:
• Carry out a short scoping review of relevant initiatives on internal displacement and protection that links content/recommendations with potential revisions to the IDP Handbook. These initiatives will be further defined at the outset of the consultancy and will include UN Secretary-General’s (SG) High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement and SGs Action Agenda on Internal Displacement and work of the Office of the Special Advisor on Solutions, the IASC Protection Policy 2016 (including recommendations from the 2022 review of its implementation and subsequent guidance), Independent Review of the Humanitarian Response to Internal Displacement, Framework for Durable Solutions, and Operational Guidance on Protection in Natural Disasters, ICRC Professional Standards for Protection Workers, GPC policy and guidance, other relevant guidance including on AAP, AGD, GBV, , Child Protection, disability inclusion, Mine Action, HLP, Climate etc. The review will comprise:
o A table linking the results of the scoping review to relevant chapters and sections in the Handbook with recommendations for their revision
o Carry out consultations with key stakeholders on the Handbook’s current use and how a revised Handbook can best add value/support enhanced protection response
o Include recommendations on the thematic areas of each of the 7 Parts of the Handbook, with recommendations on any adjustments / additional Parts or Sections based on the results of the scoping review
• Review the list of the 134 organisations who contributed to the first draft of the Handbook (listed in Annex 3 of the Handbook) and work with country Protection Cluster teams to develop an updated list with email contacts, with an emphasis on local organisations.
• Develop a terms of reference for a GPC working group / the GPC SAG for revision of the Handbook.
• Developing a workplan and timeframe for inclusion consultations and a collaborative revision process of the Handbook.
• Review the RefWorld digital platform and make recommendations for a more user friendly online platform / tool and feasibility of hosting it on the GPC website in consultation with the website developer.
• Give a presentation to the GPC Ops Cell and AoRs and to the GPC SAG based on the final deliverables and recommendations.
The methodology of work will be further defined by the GPC Ops Cell and the consultant.
4. Required level, qualifications and work experience:
Level of responsibilities required (mark as appropriate) for individual contractors and fellows:
Entry Level Support Mid-Level Support Senior Level Support Local Professional Level Junior Level Professional Senior Level Professional
OR
The assignment is for an Individual Consultant
Qualification and experience required (degree required, years of work experience, field of expertise, language required):
- University Degree in social sciences, international law and policy.
- 6 to 9 years' experience working in protection within the IASC inter-agency environment with a focus on internal displacement at field and headquarters level.
- Previous working experience in protection, durable solutions and displacement issues.
- Understanding of humanitarian coordination processes, IDP responses in different contexts and recent inter-agency developments related to the IASC and the broader UN.
- Excellent computer skills, including MS Word, Excel, Access and database software.
- Demonstrated organizational skills, including the ability to work independently and productively with multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
- Flexible attitude to work productively in a team environment, and to handle requests or issues as they arise.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to successfully and effectively liaise with people in a wide range of functions in a multi-cultural environment.
- Proficiency in written and spoken English. French, Spanish or Arabic is desirable.
- Excellent drafting skills and ability to write concise, field-oriented and practical guidance, with demonstrated experience.
5. Monitoring and Progress Controls (report requirements, periodicity, format, deadlines):
a. The following deliverables are to be shared with the supervising manager as they are developed for feedback and subsequent revision by the consultant before submission of final versions :
I. Develop a work plan in line with the purpose and scope of the consultancy within the first week (week 1)
II. Carry out the scoping review (by Oct 31st) and consultations and produce the draft table of results and recommendations (by Nov 30th )
III. Produce the list of partners with contact details by Dec 31st
IV. Produce the draft ToR for the GPC Working Group / the GPC SAG by Nov 30th
V. Produce the draft workplan and timeframe for consultations by Nov 30th
VI. Produce draft recommendations on the digital platform by Nov 30th
VII. Produce and deliver the presentation to the GPC Ops Cell and AoRs and to the GPC SAG by Dec 10th
VIII. Adjust the table, ToR, workplan etc based on feedback from the GPC Ops Cell and AoRs and SAG by Dec 31st
b. Work on the basis of time employed: Yes No
The final product:
Delivery periodicity: 31st December 2024

 

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This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Home-Based

Yes