ILGA Asia is looking for an Independent Consultant for development of online training program
Terms of Reference
Title: Consultant (Development of Online Training Program and Facilitation of Online Training on Human Rights and UN Mechanisms)
Duty Station: Home-based
Expected duration: 30 working days between June and August 2020
Deadline for submission: 25 May 2020
Type of Contract: Consultancy
General background
ILGA Asia is the Asian Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, representing East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and West Asia. The Region was first established in Mumbai in 2002. Our vision is a world where Asia is a safe place for all, where all can live in freedom and equality, be properly informed in the nature of sexual orientation and gender identity & expression and sex characteristic (SOGIESC) rights, have access to justice, and diversity is respected.
Our missions are:
To promote universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the elimination of all forms of discrimination and stigmatization based on SOGIESC in Asia and including the specific provisions of the UN conventions and covenants specified in the Constitution of ILGA;
To work for the equality of all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity / expression and sex characteristic, as well as liberation from all forms of discrimination and stigmatization; and
To empower and support LGBTI communities, organizations and individuals in Asia, while encouraging community building and networking.
A strategic plan was developed to actualize the vision of ILGA Asia, covering 2017-2019. One of our strategic objectives is to strengthen the capacity of LGBTI civil society engaging with human rights mechanisms (ILGA Asia Strategic Plan 2017-2019). We are committed to provide training on human rights, especially engagement in UN mechanisms and documentation of human rights violations.
Although sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristic are never explicitly mentioned as grounds of protection in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or other UN Conventions, these human rights instruments have been utilized by the LGBTI community worldwide to raise their issues at the United Nations, to fight against violence and discrimination, and to influence policy changes in their own countries. In 2016, for the first time ever, the Human Rights Council created a new mandate - the Independent Expert on protection agaisnt violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity - the first institutionalized mechanism within the UN system that will focus on the rights of LGBTI persons. The mandate holder’s role is to assess implementation of existing international human rights instruments, identify good practices and gaps, and to engage in dialogue with various stakeholders in improving the human rights situations of LGBTI people. The mandate creates yet another opportunity for the LGBTI community in Asia to engage with UN mechanisms to protect and promote their rights.
Likewise, LGBTI civil societies in Asia, along with other human rights defenders, have been using UN mechanisms to promote and protect the rights of LGBTI people in the region. Issues related to sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics in many Asian countries have been covered in the reports produced by UPR, CEDAW, CRC, etc.. To which extent these mechanisms contributed to legal and policy changes are still to be evaluated. However, thanked to these instruments, LGBTI civil societies have been able to bring attention of their governments and public at large to violence and discrimination facing LGBTI people, and open dialogue with governments and policymakers in their countries.
Building on the prior progresses and filling in the gaps in the region, ILGA Asia and other partners were organizing several training workshops for LGBTI activists in the region to strengthen their skills and knowledge in using and integrating UN mechanisms in their advocacy strategy, and sharing best practices as well as challenges and concerns in their work. The training emphasized on complementing national advocacy strategy using various tools including different UN mechanisms, lobbying with the government, social campaigning, etc. while providing space for LGBTI activists to discuss their wellbeing, share healthful skills and practices, and create a plan for self-care.
Our most recent initiative was a series of training of LGBTI trainers for LGBTI civil society in Asia at the regional levels, and subsequent training organized by these trainers at the national level. We target groups of 2-3 LGBTI activists who have been engaging with UN mechanisms from each country, and help them to strengthen their skills to deliver knowledge to their peers. 5-6 countries will be selected for each training of trainers, bringing the size of each group to around 15 activists.
One training of trainers took place in December 2019, and participants of that training developed 5 different plans to work with their community on human rights mechanisms, including organizing a training workshop in their country. This series of training is aiming at overcoming the diversity of LGBTI communities in Asia with different cultural, social-economical background and political structure, which makes it challenging to have a one-fit-all model to be useful for everyone to learn about human rights mechanisms. Each national training is delivered in native tongue of the local community, with training materials translated and adopted to fit the local context.
Due to Covid-19 outbreak across the world, lockdown and travel restrictions in almost every country have made it at most impossible and at least dangerous to organize in-person training as planned. At the same time, it is also uncertain when the outbreak will end and whether life will ever return to the same as before. Therefore, ILGA Asia and our partners in this initiative have taken a step forward in changing our approach in building capacity for LGBTI community on UN mechanisms by developing online learning program that allows everyone to learn from within their own room. We also recognize the differences between in-person training and online learning, so further exploration of these differences and strategies to overcome these challenges, and taking full advantage of online learning are our top priorities.
ILGA Asia is looking for a consultant to support us and our local partners in developing an online training program catering to the aforementioned needs, looking at fully understanding the cons and pros of the methodology and going beyond copying the in-person training program and making it an online one.
Objectives
The consultant will support ILGA Asia and its partners to realize and achieve the following objectives:
To understand the challenges and opportunities brought by online learning;
To explore the strategies and tools available for developing online learning on the subject of human rights and UN mechanisms; and
To acquire the skills and techniques in facilitating online learning, taking into consideration the health, safety, and wellbeing of all the participants.
Scope of work
The consultant is expected to deliver the following results:
A brief needs assessment report of ILGA Asia’s local partners in developing and facilitating online training program;
Webinars on how to develop and facilitate online training program on the basis of the needs assessment;
Review and feedback to ILGA Asia and local partners on their online training program;
Evaluation of the completed programs and recommendations to future activities.
Assignment duration:
The consultant will work a total number of approximately 30 consultancy days for this assignment ranging fromgeneral. June to August 2020.
Bidders have to make their own estimate of the time and travel taken to complete the assignment in line with this TOR and use the estimate as the basis of financial proposals to be submitted.
It is noted that ILGA Asia will bear the cost to hold the online webinar where the consultant will present the assessment and training content. Online meetings with stakeholders and beneficiaries will be organized by ILGA Asia as recommended, however, the consultant is expected to be active in suggesting the agenda, methodology and timeline for these meetings and operation in
Provision of Monitoring and Progress Controls
The consultant will work under the supervision of and report to ILGA Asia Executive Director.
Qualification
Extensive experience in developing and running MOOCs, preferably in the field of social sciences, humanity, social work, international development and human rights;
Experience working with SOGIESC diversity;
Strong analytical, conceptual and facilitation skills;
Good command of speaking and writing English;
Interested consultants will be asked to tender a proposal outlining the steps they would take.
Instruction for submission
Consultants or consulting firms interested in this call for proposals should send the following documents to info@ilgaasia.org with the subject “[Name] Submission of proposal: ILGA Asia Online Learning”:
CV of the lead consultant and team members (if applicable)
Technical proposal outlying the methodology and timeline
Financial proposal including the hourly rate of the consultants and the cost of conducting the evaluation
For more inquiries regarding this call, please direct your email to info@ilgaasia.org with the subject “INQUIRY: ILGA Asia Online Learning”.
