Agreement for Performance of Work (APW) – Technical brief documenting the situation of Gender and Health in Papua New Guinea

BACKGROUND

In 2020, the global community marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the subsequent adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. This Platform, which was unanimously endorsed by 189 countries served as a “blueprint for advancing global gender equality”, and mandated that all stakeholders, including UN organizations, Member States and civil society take action towards gender equality, including incorporating gender equality perspectives and concerns into all policies and programmes.

Since the Beijing Platform, we have experienced significant milestones and progress towards gender equality and health equity in the Western Pacific Region, including the adoption of regional and national resolutions, policies and legislations on Women, Health and Development; the integration of a gender and equity lens in regional and country health strategies and programs; and the achievement of key health and development indicators for both men and women. Of most recent (2019), a regional “For the Future” Strategy was adopted by all WHO Member States in the Western Pacific—a Strategy that puts gender and equity at its very center. In adopting this Strategy, Member States recognize that gender equality and health equity is imperative to accelerating their commitments towards achieving the SDGs and in ensuring that the region becomes the healthiest and safest WHO region.

In Papua New Guinea, gender equality has become more prominent in the development landscape over the past few decades. For instance, with the establishment of the Office for the Development of Women in 2006, the focus on women’s empowerment was formally recognized as a development issue. Further, the approval of a National Policy on Women and Gender Equality 2011–2015, officially put women’s empowerment on the agenda and promoted gender mainstreaming as a strategy to achieve this goal. To build on this achievement, a National Health Gender Sector Policy was developed in 2014, with a goal to integrate a gender perspective into the health sector, including legislation, policies and programs at all levels of the health system. Despite of this progress at a policy level, however, significant gender inequalities persist within the country.

For instance, many women do not achieve higher education, which then perpetuates a cycle of early marriages and motherhood at a young age, which ultimately makes it difficult for women to establish themselves within the workforce. At the same time, men in Papua New Guinea are often more likely than women to be engaged in risky health behaviours, including abuse of substances including tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, areca nut and kava use. They are also more likely to perpetuate violence against women and other male youths. These risky behaviors do not only impact the health of male individuals today, but if left unaddressed, have the potential to accumulate through the life-course, compound in older age, and be transmitted across generations.

In terms of COVID-19, women have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. For example, in many households, women are responsible for the majority of unpaid care work and domestic duties. With school closures amid COVID-19, the domestic workload of women has only increased, exacerbating the financial struggle for many with job losses and wage cuts.

Additionally, with many groups unable to leave their homes during COVID-19, gender-based violence is on the rise. Furthermore, many organizations that provided funding for women’s health centers have had to divert the funding toward addressing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic—making already inaccessible services even more difficult to obtain. Though the number of COVID-19 cases reported in official documents is already high, studies and institutions suspect that the number is actually much higher. The pandemic brings high mortality rates and government-instilled quarantines have led to businesses temporarily closing or shutting down completely. As a result, women’s health has not taken priority.

Being aware of the gendered impact on health in Papua New Guinea, as well as recognizing the changing national context due to COVID-19, the SDH/VIP team at WPRO, in collaboration with the Gender and Equity team at the WHO Country Office in Papua New Guinea, is seeking an external consultant who can support in the development of a technical brief documenting the situation of Gender and Health in Papua New Guinea. The ultimate purpose of this technical brief is to guide a future revision of Papua New Guinea’s 2014 National Health Gender Sector Policy to ensure that its updated version adequately account for and addresses the multi-faced needs and challenges facing individuals representing diverse communities today.

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The purpose of this APW is to support the work of SDH/VIP with a technical brief documenting the situation of Gender and Health in Papua New Guinea.

WORK TO BE PERFORMED

Develop a technical brief documenting the situation of Gender and Health in Papua New Guinea that can be used to guide a future revision of Papua New Guinea’s 2014 National Health Gender Sector Policy to ensure that its updated version adequately account for and addresses the multi-faced and gender-driven needs and challenges facing individuals representing diverse communities today.

Method(s) to carry out the activity:

Output 1: A technical brief with an accompanying slide-deck presenting the situation of Gender and Health in Papua New Guinea.

Deliverable 1.1

• • Collect and analyse relevant quantitative and qualitative information and data to gain a better understanding of gender and health in Papua New Guinea, including the multi-faced needs and challenges facing individuals representing diverse communities today, and opportunities for action.
• • Conduct a series of key Informant Interviews and/or Focus Group Discussions to (a) obtain information on what key stakeholders perceive to be gender-driven barriers to effective coverage of health services, and (b) to feed into other parts of the study. 
• • Based on review, develop a draft technical brief (.doc format), with an accompanying slide-deck (.PPT format) presenting the situation of Gender and Health in Papua New Guinea, to be shared with the regional WHO SDH/VIP team and the WHO Country Office Gender and Equity team in Papua New Guinea for their feedback.
• • Based on feedback, finalize technical brief and accompanying slide deck.

Kindly refer to the attached Terms of Reference for the detailed, expected Outputs/Deliverables for this project.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

Education required:                  

Candidates must possess at least a Master’s Degree in Public Health, or a Master’s Degree in a related field such as Social Work.Additional education is an asset.

Experience required:

• • At least seven years of practical experience working in public health, particularly in the field of gender and equity.
• • Ample experience of collecting and analysing qualitative and quantitative data and evidence, and summarizing findings into strong written narratives.
• • Experience conducting barrier analyses.
• • Previous work experience from the Western Pacific region, preferably from Papua New Guinea.
• • Previous experience of having worked in multicultural and multidisciplinary settings, preferably within the United Nations System.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

A thorough knowledge of practical gender and equity-based approaches to reach vulnerable or marginalized groups. Familiar with gender and equity related issues within the Western Pacific region. Excellent writing and communication skills. Familiarity with the goals and procedures of international organizations (UN system, donors, nongovernmental organizations), including those set forth through WPRO’s For the Future vision paper and five-year strategy.

Functional skills and knowledge:

• • Ability to collect and analyse quantitative and qualitative data and evidence.
• • Ability to summarize evidence, form conclusions and make recommendations from information provided.
• • Skills to facilitate discussions involving individuals representing a wide range of sectors and disciplines.
• • Ability to draft products, including written narratives and reports, which clearly and concisely communicates key findings of analysis.
• • Ability to work independently and deliver high quality work on time.
• • Computer proficiency in Outlook, MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Language requirements:

Good spoken and written English.

Competencies:

• • Producing results - Produces and delivers quality results. Is action-oriented and committed to achieving results.
• • Moving forward in a changing environment - Is open to and proposes new approaches and ideas. Adapts and responds positively to change.
• • Fostering integration and teamwork - Develops and promotes effective relationships with colleagues and team members. Deals constructively with conflict.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Place of assignment:

The contractor will undertake the work in their own workplace/country of residence. Regular communication with the regional WHO SDH/VIP team and the WHO Country Office Gender and Equity team in Papua New Guinea (by video conference/teleconference or similar) is expected.

Contract duration:

1 February – 30 April 2022 (3 months)

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit the following documents to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 24 December 2021

• • Curriculum Vitae (for individual contractors/team members) or Company Profile (for institutional applications)
• • Expression of Interest (cover letter). The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position
• • Technical and financial proposals. The proposals should include methodology, cost and timelines

Please use Tender Notice No. 159844 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.